Author Topic: Garmin eTrex Camo. (Read 1142 times)

tucoblue · « **on:** November 06, 2004, 04:42:27 AM »

Received the Garmin yesterday. Actually found my way home from the highway which is 499 ft. away. I'm happy.

When I turn the eTrex on it says, "Ready to Navigate Accuracy: 25 ft." Does this mean that the Garmin will return me to within 25 ft. of where I want to be? Is this normal accuracy? First GPS so don't know too much about it plus a bit thick headed with this stuff.

Thanks, Tucoblue.

MI VHNTR · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2004, 03:52:21 PM »

The 25 foot accuracy means that you will be within 25 feet of your selected waypoint. The accuracy can vary quite a bit. There are many variables involved such as satellites available, terrain, WAAS availability, etc. When I had my Garmin Venture the accuracy was at 12-15 feet at times. They are very good units. MI VHNTR

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2004, 04:12:50 PM »

Yes, that's what it means. If you keep zooming in you will see a circle, which indicates the 25 feet of accuracy, and you would be some where in it. That's normal accuracy, on a good clear day you may see 11 feet or 16 feet, it depends on how many satellites your receiver can "hear". If you watch on the satellite screen, the accuracy will continue to improve as each sat. logs into the receiver. Get behind a hill and you might drop a few sats.

Imagine a circle or ring, and think of that as a satellite. When the second satellite is received, the small intersection where the 2 rings overlay would indicate you are some where in the oblique. Add another circle and the oblique gets smaller. Each satellite or ring that gets overlaid makes the area smaller, or more accurate.......

There is a ton written on how gps works.....a good place to start is usgs.gov.....then search their site for gps.

I went to the UBGF national run off this weekend. Beagle clubs are usually in the middle of no where, drove right to it with the gps. I get a little ragging from my friends about it, but after a trip like this one where I was able to show some of them how it really worked, and how simple it is, all they could say is "I've got to get one of those"......sure beats driving the back roads all night with out a clue.......enjoy!

daddywpb · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2004, 12:15:58 AM »

tucoblue,
I don't think that the camo etrex has the circle on the screen. My yellow Etrex doesn't, but my Legend does have the circle. Anyway, accuracy changes constantly. You will enjoy the etrex very much - best thing to come along for hunters since gunpowder.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2004, 02:32:45 AM »

So, a regular Etrex doesn't have the circle? I must be mistaken.....I have a legend and assumed they would have the same look and feel.....

tucoblue · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2004, 02:44:20 PM »

A circle on the screen? If you're talking about the "Compass" when I click "Go To" I have that. It works great.

daddywpb · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2004, 03:36:16 PM »

I think the circle that victorcharlie is talking about gets bigger or smaller as the accuracy changes depending on your position, the clear view of the sky, etc. It is a circle around that arrow that represents you on the map page. My yellow etrex doesn't have that feature - my Legend does.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2004, 04:11:58 PM »

"In many instances the map will display an 'Accuracy Circle' surrounding the 'Position Icon'. The eTrex Legend uses both map resolution and GPS accuracy in defining your location to a point with the circle. The smaller the circle, the more accurate your location. For the most accurate location information, refer to the Satellite Page."

*From the Garmin Legend Gps manual page 16.

License surveyors using professional grade gps units($35,000 instead of the $100 to $1000 for a recreational gps.) will carry with them a current printout of satellites coverage for the area they are working. Many times you will see them go out and set up their equipment. Then they will take a break our do something else unit the time of the best satellite coverage for the area. The professional unit along with computer software is accurate to less then one centimeter.

The bottom line is that the level of accuracy at a given location varies during the day, the week, and the month. For recreational purposes it does not make a big difference. If I can drive 30 miles and find a small hidden Rubbermaid container while geocaching with a recreational gps unit that is great. This is using Lat/Longs taken from a website.

This last fall I found a remote campsite discribed to me by a hunting partner and entering the Lat/Long in my gps obtained off of USGS Topo software for the location.

The Yellow/Camo eTrex is respected by the professionals for recreational purposes.

tucoblue · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2005, 08:55:04 AM »

Have used my etrex camo through the hunting season and am extremely happy with it. A new dimension has been added to my hunting. I have also found geocaching and that is another great adventure. Would have had a GPS a long time ago if I had know how neat they are.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2005, 11:57:03 AM »

tucoblue: You have a good unit. I was at a party yesterday and ran into a friend who is a hunter and user of a gps.

He has had the younger brother of the Camo Etrex, the Yellow Etrex. He is very happy with his Yellow Etrex, but was apologizing for having such a simple unit.

I told him not to apologize for having such a fine tool. The only thing we disagreed on was leaving the compass home. My point is the batteries in magnetic compass never fail, and it works in heavy timber. I would not be surprised that he ends up with a mapping gps down the road. But I bet he will hang on to his Yellow Etrex.

tucoblue · « **Reply #10 on:** February 28, 2005, 06:32:34 AM »

All my life I have carried a compass with me so I won't be without one now even though I have full confidence in my Garmin GPS. The compass on the Garmin orients itself if I take three or four steps but I always check it against the compass. I see no downside to carrying a compass and double checking the GPS.