Author Topic: I think the wife (Read 1346 times)

rickyp · « **on:** December 08, 2005, 02:50:39 PM »

I think the wife got me an etrex for christmass.
the yellow $100.00 one she knows I wnated just a basic unit to find my truck and hunting fishing spots

do they make an instructional DVD for this unit or is it so easy to use I will not need one?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2005, 07:31:38 PM »

They sell a video for around $17.00. I did it without the video. There is a quick guide, and a manual with it. You might want to try without at first and save a few bucks.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2005, 01:02:56 AM »

I didn't buy a video either.......spend an hour or so with the book.......then power the unit up and fool around with it a little........the next day, read the book again and you should be fine.......

The real key is to use it! The more you use the unit the easier it'll get......and the more comfortable you'll become.........you'll get to trust it instead of arguing with it!.

When you get out of your truck you are going to mark that point by setting a waypoint. At that time you can rename it if you want to.....the first way point will be 001 and I usually rename it to truck......

When you get ready to walk back to the truck you'll do a Go To, and the unit will bring up a list of waypoints after asking you if you want to find the nearest waypoint or waypoint by name. If you only have a few waypoints it really won't matter. There have been times when I've had quite a few and wanted the closest.....

The unit also keeps a track log so you could also do a track back if you wanted to go back the same way you came.....

Also, I don't use the pointer much, but find the map screen more useful.

If you want to cheat a little, I think you can download the instruction manual off Garmins website.......

I think you'll like it.......

Here's the link: http://www.garmin.com/products/manual.jsp?product=010-00190-00

rickyp · « **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2005, 03:18:40 AM »

I have a GPS on my nextel phone that looks that will work close to the same way. but it will not save the breadcrumb trails.
What I want to do with a GPS unit is simple When out scoutting I find a spot I want to hunt I want to mark it, mark the place I put my tree stands. I do this right now on my phone, I will name the stands TS1, TS2 and so on and the place I park my truck will be truck. I want the breadcrumb trails saved because I do not like using the trail markers much scared someone will follow them and take my stand.

Thanks for the link I will check it out and do a litle reading.

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2005, 05:44:37 AM »

I read trough the instuctions on the website and even saved it.
Looking at it they thing may be close to what I want. but I did not see (but I could ahve missed it) If I can sit in my house and input my own waypoints from my paper map and save them then once I get in the field or on the water I can just hit go to and it will take me to it. or if a friend calls me and gives me his location I can put in the long and lat. and get close to him.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #5 on:** December 09, 2005, 07:21:43 AM »

I know I can on my Legend and am pretty sure you can on the basic E-trex. One way to do it is to set a current way point where you are then scroll down and change the lat and lon........and rename the waypoint if so desired.........

Like I say, this is the kind of thing that gets easier as you use the device......

The trip computer is also a very useful thing and you can change to about 40 (I think) different settings such as an odometer,trip meter, speed, velocity made good, ETA , ETA to next way point etc. etc.....

.they really are useful and if you like using it you'll find more and more ways to use it.......If you get frustrated with it then it's another dust collector.......

When I got mine, I'd take it in the car......just set on map...and follow along.....got to trust it that way as I new I agreed with where the GPS thought we were....that's really the weakness of the basic model, no basemap and no way to load a more detail map.......other than that they're pretty much the same......I use mapsource software with mine and Siskoui and others load Topo maps. The unit give elevation and can be used with a hard copy topo map...... The display has a little better resolution on the other models.......

Garmin has a compare feature on it's site.....Compare the etrex with the rest of the etrex line to see the differences......you may want to get the wife to spend a little more and get the legend.......but the basic unit will do what you said you wanted the unit to do......

There was a post that ran for awile that discussed the merits of base models and upper models that you might want to read.

Again, I think you'll be able to use the unit fairly quick and enjoy it.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:39:00 PM »

rickyp: I think we can help you with most questions if you get the basic etrax. I will download the manual if need be.

daddywpb · « **Reply #7 on:** December 11, 2005, 12:49:37 AM »

The DVD or VHS from GPS Outfitters will be very helpful. It was for me.

tucoblue · « **Reply #8 on:** December 11, 2005, 06:54:14 AM »

Yes, on the basic ETREX, you can manually load the Lat. and Lon. You scroll to "Mark" (Hit "Enter") then highlight the box at the bottom of the screen that shows Lat and Lon (Hit "Enter") and enter the Lat and Lon as you desire. Do it one time and you'll be doing it like a pro.

rickyp · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2005, 03:42:23 AM »

nother question.
I know you can put in symbles for way points. what symbles does it have on it

victorcharlie · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2005, 04:40:26 AM »

Quote from: rickyp

nother question.
I know you can put in symbles for way points. what symbles does it have on it

The downloadable users guide doesn't really say, but it should have most, if not all of these map symbols:

http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/mapLegend.html

Also, see page 19-21 of the users manual for detailed instructions on how to change the lat. and Long. as well as changing symbols.

daddywpb · « **Reply #11 on:** December 17, 2005, 12:38:03 AM »

I don't think you can change the symbols on the yellow Etrex. Siskiyou?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #12 on:** December 17, 2005, 07:03:10 AM »

My short field orientation with the basic etrex did not included changeing waypoint symbols. But after reading the manual I would say that you can change symbols.

Do you want to HACK the basic etrex. There is a lot of information out there on how to hack it, and add symbols beyond the garmin waypoint symbols.

I also found out that there are two different generations of basic etrex out there. The change came in 2002 with firmware 3.0. The newer yellow etrex offer a number of upgrades over the orginal. If you up grade your software at the Garmin home site do not download 3.0 software to your older unit. Read the instructions, and then read them a second time when downloading the firmware.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #13 on:** December 17, 2005, 08:25:28 AM »

Quote from: Siskiyou

Do you want to HACK the basic etrex. There is a lot of information out there on how to hack it, and add symbols beyond the garmin waypoint symbols.

Well, now that you mentioned it........I'd like to know more about the hacks.....any for the legend?

Siskiyou · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2005, 10:42:21 AM »

I do not recall any hack information pertaining directly to the Legend. I am always concerned regarding "hack information." The remaining body parts might be mine.

http://www.etrex.webz.cz

http://www.geocities.com/etrexkb

Garmin software for transferring waypoints from your pc to basic etrex> Garmin Trip and Waypoint Manager Software.

rickyp · « **Reply #15 on:** December 26, 2005, 01:35:15 AM »

well she went out and did it, she got me one, now I ahve to learn how to use it.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #16 on:** December 26, 2005, 11:28:14 AM »

I am glad that you recieved a gps. I recommend geocaching as a great entertaining way of practicing your gps skills.
< http://www.geocaching.com >

There are a lot of caches in your State. Some caches maybe place NOT according to the rules.

Do not get frustrated dealing with the learning curve.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #17 on:** January 02, 2006, 03:46:40 AM »

Hey Ricky.........you had a chance to use your etex much? How do you like it?

rickyp · « **Reply #18 on:** January 02, 2006, 04:20:14 AM »

I have used it twice on the farm I hunt. to try and learn how to use it.
I have used it to mark off distances in the fielsd, and mark my stand and truck. it works well untill I get with in 10 feet or so then it acts screwy and it tells me the truck or tree stand is all over the place one second it is behind me then the next it is to the right and so on this is no big deal as I am standing right beside what ever the way point is.

Siskiyou · « **Reply #19 on:** January 02, 2006, 08:02:24 AM »

rickp: Sounds like it is working. When I am geocaching I use the Compass "Pointer" option. That way I can walk by a cache and the pointer will move with my movements. Realize that satellite coverage does not duplicate itself day to day, hour to hour so there will always be some play in the system.

When you create a waypoint for your use in the field duplication is not a problem because you have been there. The same waypoint will be good for 99% of the people. But when I create a waypoint for a geocache I do some averaging. I will take ten readings over an hour. When I get home I download the ten waypoints to my Garmin MapSource Topo software. The software shows the waypoints on the map but it also provides me a legend with all the lat/longs. I start deleting the outside waypoints, and I quickly find two or three that are duplicates.

I must admit to an embarassing mistake but it was caught by a sharp reviewer. I have a cache that can be approached by boat or by trail. I mistakenly included a waypoint I had created fishing for the trail approach. Hey, it was only in a couple hundred feet of water! :oops: