Garmin GPS - eTrex "H" vs. eTrex "Personal Navigator"

Author

eTrex "H" vs. eTrex "Personal Navigator"

Jon Danniken

2007-12-25, 10:33 am

Hello,

I have the opportunity to purchase either the Garmin eTrex "H" or the Garmin
eTrex "Personal Navigator," both for about the same price.

I notice that on the Garmin website, that both models are identical, except
for the feature described as, "High-sensitivity receiver," and a 17 hour
battery life, in the eTrex "H" model.

My question is what this actually means. Does this mean it will pick up the
signal faster, and/or in areas with more tree cover? Additionally, how
does it go about doing this (both units are described as "WAAS enabled," and
is it a significant difference?

The comparison page on garmin for these two is located here:

http://tinyurl.com/2cvq5h

Thank you for any advice you can give me on this,

Jon

Han

2007-12-25, 12:33 pm

"Jon Danniken" < jonREMOVETHISdannike
n@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:5tcl3aF1cr8opU1
@mid.individual.net:

> Hello,
>
> I have the opportunity to purchase either the Garmin eTrex "H" or the
> Garmin eTrex "Personal Navigator," both for about the same price.
>
> I notice that on the Garmin website, that both models are identical,
> except for the feature described as, "High-sensitivity receiver," and
> a 17 hour battery life, in the eTrex "H" model.
>
> My question is what this actually means. Does this mean it will pick
> up the signal faster, and/or in areas with more tree cover?
> Additionally, how does it go about doing this (both units are
> described as "WAAS enabled," and is it a significant difference?
>
> The comparison page on garmin for these two is located here:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2cvq5h
>
> Thank you for any advice you can give me on this,
>
> Jon
>
Go for the high sensitivity receiver, IMO.

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

Jon Danniken

2007-12-25, 12:33 pm

"Han" >
> Go for the high sensitivity receiver, IMO.

Thanks, Han. I am still trying to figure out if it is just marketing hype
and exactly what the difference is. THey are both WAAS enabled.

Jon

Han

2007-12-25, 12:33 pm

"Jon Danniken" < jonREMOVETHISdannike
n@yahoo.com> wrote in
news:5tcsdrF1d4cclU1
@mid.individual.net:

> "Han" >
>
> Thanks, Han. I am still trying to figure out if it is just marketing
> hype and exactly what the difference is. THey are both WAAS enabled.
>
> Jon
>
I think it is a different chip (set). I believe that the sensitivity and
speed is greatly improved over "old" chips. At least, my new 60CSx is
vastly better than my old Etrex Vista. Acquisition price then and now were
similar in inflation-adjusted dollars, but of course the 60 CSx is more
expensive than the units you are looking at (my gadget freakiness). Please
also look for any rebates for the hardware AND he software that you might
want. Especially the shareware. Do you know exactly what you want the
unit for?

--
Best regards
Han
email address is invalid

Jon Danniken

2007-12-25, 10:33 pm

"Han" wrote:
> I think it is a different chip (set). I believe that the sensitivity and
> speed is greatly improved over "old" chips. At least, my new 60CSx is
> vastly better than my old Etrex Vista.

Thnks, Han, that is the sort of information I am looking for.

Jon

Jack Erbes

2007-12-26, 4:33 am

Jon Danniken wrote:
> "Han" >
>
> Thanks, Han. I am still trying to figure out if it is just marketing hype
> and exactly what the difference is. THey are both WAAS enabled.
>
> Jon

The H models use a MediaTek GPS chip set that is of higher sensitivity
and performance than the chip set used in the other model.

I'm not familiar with all the details on the other chip set and the
specifics of the difference in performance but the MediaTek chip sets
are supposed to have performance that is comparable to the SiRF III chip
sets.

Garmin has been using the SiRF III chip sets in the 60 and 76 Cx and CSx
models and the improvement in performance in those models, over the
previously used chip sets, is considerable. Most people consider them
to be the best available as far as sensitivity and performance.

The initial reports on the performance of the "H" models (the eTrex
Legend HCx and Vista HCx models primarily) indicated that the H models
were performing better but that they were not surpassing the SiRF III
that was being used in the 60/76 models (which also use a quad helix
antenna that is probably a better performer than the antennas used on
the eTrex models).

There have also been some reports of some satellite acquisition or
re-acquisition problems with the "H" models using the MediaTek chip
sets. That problem is supposed to be resolved by a software update.

I think you can find some info about the details on all of this by
reading the earlier threads in this newsgroup and/or in alt.satellite.gps.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at roadrunner dot com)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Jon Danniken

2007-12-26, 12:33 pm

"Jack Erbes" wrote:
> The H models use a MediaTek GPS chip set that is of higher sensitivity and
> performance than the chip set used in the other model.
>
> I'm not familiar with all the details on the other chip set and the
> specifics of the difference in performance but the MediaTek chip sets are
> supposed to have performance that is comparable to the SiRF III chip sets.
>
> Garmin has been using the SiRF III chip sets in the 60 and 76 Cx and CSx
> models and the improvement in performance in those models, over the
> previously used chip sets, is considerable. Most people consider them to
> be the best available as far as sensitivity and performance.
>
> The initial reports on the performance of the "H" models (the eTrex Legend
> HCx and Vista HCx models primarily) indicated that the H models were
> performing better but that they were not surpassing the SiRF III that was
> being used in the 60/76 models (which also use a quad helix antenna that
> is probably a better performer than the antennas used on the eTrex
> models).
>
> There have also been some reports of some satellite acquisition or
> re-acquisition problems with the "H" models using the MediaTek chip sets.
> That problem is supposed to be resolved by a software update.
>
> I think you can find some info about the details on all of this by reading
> the earlier threads in this newsgroup and/or in alt.satellite.gps.

Thanks Jack, I really appreciate the information. I couldn't find anything
on a firmware update, but hopefully the ones on the shelf right now have
that problem fixed?

Thanks again,

Jon

Dan Anderson

2007-12-26, 3:33 pm

Jack Erbes wrote:
> I'm not familiar with all the details on the other chip set and the
> specifics of the difference in performance but the MediaTek chip sets
> are supposed to have performance that is comparable to the SiRF III chip
> sets.

I just started up a Vista HCx and a 76Cx indoors with my hand
wrapped around the antenna areas. After a minute the HCx had a
poor position lock and the 76Cx hadn't detected any satellites.
It's possible that my hands cover the quad-helix antenna in the
76Cx better than it does the patch antenna in the HCx but the
MediaTek chipset does seem to be able to pick up signals
very well. However, from what I have seen in terms of the
position values computed, I prefer the SiRF III.

See:
http://www.gpsmap.net/ CompareHikes...76
S.html

> Garmin has been using the SiRF III chip sets in the 60 and 76 Cx and CSx
> models and the improvement in performance in those models, over the
> previously used chip sets, is considerable. Most people consider them
> to be the best available as far as sensitivity and performance.
>
> The initial reports on the performance of the "H" models (the eTrex
> Legend HCx and Vista HCx models primarily) indicated that the H models
> were performing better but that they were not surpassing the SiRF III
> that was being used in the 60/76 models (which also use a quad helix
> antenna that is probably a better performer than the antennas used on
> the eTrex models).
>
> There have also been some reports of some satellite acquisition or
> re-acquisition problems with the "H" models using the MediaTek chip
> sets. That problem is supposed to be resolved by a software update.

I haven't had any significant satellite acquisition/re-acquisition
problems with the MediaTek chipset. Earlier versions of either
the Garmin firmware or the chipset firmware may have had some
problems (I had a Vista Cx for a short period of time that
had other problems - have to be careful that I don't mix
them up - approximately last May).

I do remember once recently where the Vista HCx was running for
a while. I turned it off briefly then back on and it didn't pick
up any WAAS satellites (did get the normal satellites). I finally
turned it off and back on and then it picked up the WAAS (#51)
satellite quickly. I don't remember that ever happening before
with the current software versions.

--
Dan
(Email: dan at domain below )
(www.gpsmap.net)

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