Garmin GPS - Garmin eTrex Legend thoughts

Author

Garmin eTrex Legend thoughts

Racer X

2006-01-08, 11:48 pm

I recently bought a Garmin eTrex Legend (USA version)
for US$170 and here are my thoughts on this device.

1. GPS is just a great thing to have, even with
a not-so-great basemap like the Legend's.
I recommend this product. This is my first GPS and
it offers a good introduction to the technology.

2. The B&W screen is not really so bad a thing.
It is very functional and of course it's a cheap
technology. But I could imagine color would be helpful
for depicting different map features, and higher
resolution might help as well.

3. The device came with a PC cable that
connects to the serial port of my PC, which is
fine for me, but newer laptops have no serial port, just USB.

4. My PC is running Linux (not Windows or OS/X), so
I downloaded gpstrans from Freshmeat.net and it seems
to work just fine for uploading my tracking points.

5. The device is smallish, which it turns out is
good for holding while driving. The rubbery stuff on the
back of the unit holds on to the dashboard pretty well
if you don't want to hold the unit.

6. After 2 days of use, the batteries have finally
run down. A good reason to use rechargeables...

7. When I drove into a wooded area, the GPS accuracy
went down considerably, as in +/- 200 feet.

8. The basemap really is not very accurate. Roads
consist of points 1/4 mile or so apart, and intersections
are sometimes off because apparently the points that
make up roads usually exclude intersections.

9. Not all state roads are included! And many state
roads have very old names (Old XYZ Pike), not the new
numbered designations.

10. The screen will need some kind of scratch
protection. However I tried the "transparent" $20
stick-on kind and I can tell you they are useless;
they cease to be truly transparent when you apply them.

RX

Derek Lyons

2006-01-09, 2:48 am

Racer X <nowhere@noplace.no> wrote:

>3. The device came with a PC cable that
>connects to the serial port of my PC, which is
>fine for me, but newer laptops have no serial port, just USB.

You can purchase USB/Serial converter cables.

http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.js...310%2D00

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

Gene S. Berkowitz

2006-01-09, 5:48 am

In article < Os6dneStadTIKlzenZ2d
nUVZ_s2dnZ2d@comcast
.com>,
nowhere@noplace.no says...
> I recently bought a Garmin eTrex Legend (USA version)
> for US$170 and here are my thoughts on this device.
> 10. The screen will need some kind of scratch
> protection. However I tried the "transparent" $20
> stick-on kind and I can tell you they are useless;
> they cease to be truly transparent when you apply them.

Get the Belkin screen protectors sold for PDAs. They are glass clear.
You probably used a "non-glare" protector, which has a texture that
distorts.

--Gene

tallen

2006-01-09, 5:48 pm

I have the Belkin F5U409 Serial>USB adapter for my Etrex Vista to Dell
laptop and it works the nuts. About $20-30 at Staples. I've used it
for 2 years as a back up while delivering boats on the ocean and it has
never failed me.

defiant1

2006-01-29, 5:48 pm

Using a Legend C. Am happy with it. I have noticed that under medium to
heavy cover the signal does deop off somewhat and can become rather erratic.
Other than that no complaints.
"Gene S. Berkowitz" <first.last@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:MPG. 1e2bd0b25c91e83e9897
05@newsgroups.comcast.net...
> In article < Os6dneStadTIKlzenZ2d
nUVZ_s2dnZ2d@comcast
.com>,
> nowhere@noplace.no says...
>
> Get the Belkin screen protectors sold for PDAs. They are glass clear.
> You probably used a "non-glare" protector, which has a texture that
> distorts.
>
> --Gene

Bob Greschke

2006-01-29, 5:48 pm

"defiant1" <rob. williams**NO_SPAM**1
973@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:KJ4Df.64656$zt1.8651@newsfe5-gui.ntli.net...[color=darkred]
> Using a Legend C. Am happy with it. I have noticed that under medium to
> heavy cover the signal does deop off somewhat and can become rather
> erratic. Other than that no complaints.
> "Gene S. Berkowitz" <first.last@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG. 1e2bd0b25c91e83e9897
05@newsgroups.comcast.net...

Just get a roll of clear packing tape. One roll will last you your whole
life. You will probably even be able to pass it on to your grandkids.

Bob

Gene S. Berkowitz

2006-01-29, 11:48 pm

In article <sIOdnQ2FVp6UnUDeRVn-hA@nmt.edu>, bob@greschke.com says...
>
> "defiant1" <rob. williams**NO_SPAM**1
973@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
> news:KJ4Df.64656$zt1.8651@newsfe5-gui.ntli.net...
>
> Just get a roll of clear packing tape. One roll will last you your whole
> life. You will probably even be able to pass it on to your grandkids.
>
> Bob

Tapes tend to leave a residue behind, which the screen protectors do
not. Also, tape tends to turn yellow with outdoor exposure.

--Gene

Bob Greschke

2006-01-29, 11:48 pm

"Gene S. Berkowitz" <first.last@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:MPG. 1e472f018d1a11769897
1a@newsgroups.comcast.net...
> In article <sIOdnQ2FVp6UnUDeRVn-hA@nmt.edu>, bob@greschke.com says...
>
> Tapes tend to leave a residue behind, which the screen protectors do
> not. Also, tape tends to turn yellow with outdoor exposure.
>
> --Gene

Alcohol gets rid of the goo and you can change the tape every day if you
want to, although I've had some GPSs that have had the same piece of tape on
them for over a year and it never yellowed. Must have been the brand of
tape.

Bob

Gene S. Berkowitz

2006-01-31, 2:48 am

In article <oI-dndSt5YnW50DeRVn-oA@nmt.edu>, bob@greschke.com says...
>
> "Gene S. Berkowitz" <first.last@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG. 1e472f018d1a11769897
1a@newsgroups.comcast.net...
>
> Alcohol gets rid of the goo and you can change the tape every day if you
> want to, although I've had some GPSs that have had the same piece of tape on
> them for over a year and it never yellowed. Must have been the brand of
> tape.
>
> Bob

Ok, so now I need alcohol to remove the goo (and eventually causes
crazing of the acrylic window)
that the tape left behind, instead of simply peeling off the screen
protector, which I don't, because it never needs changing anyway.

--Gene

Darren Dunham

2006-02-06, 5:48 pm

In sci.geo.satellite-nav Gene S. Berkowitz <first.last@comcast.net> wrote:
> Ok, so now I need alcohol to remove the goo (and eventually causes
> crazing of the acrylic window)
> that the tape left behind, instead of simply peeling off the screen
> protector, which I don't, because it never needs changing anyway.

I got a yard of transparent vinyl about five years ago. Cost just over
a buck (including shipping on a promotion). I've cut out pieces for
PDA, GPS, and digital camera LCD displays. There's no adhesive. Small
pieces like this just stick. After several devices and giving pieces to
friends I still have more than half of it left.

Easy to peel off if you ever want to change it. Even on the Palm with
lots of stylus use, I've never bothered. I got two kinds. I think the
thicker 4 mil is the one I prefer.

http://www.hancockfabrics.com/shopp...//www.taos.com/
Got some Dr Pepper? San Francisco, CA bay area
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