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From: Evan Dallas <Evan_Dallas_at_notes.ntrs.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] eTrex GPS
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 16:07:57 -0700
>From: "arlene" <amartin_at_ilos.net>
>Subject: [Paddlewise] GPS

>I am looking at purchasing a new GPS (my basic and easy to use Magellan 2000
>was stolen). Looking at the Garmin eTrex (really bright, could see at the
>bottom of a body of water) or the Magellan 310 (which floats).  Anyone know
>much about either of these?

I just purchased an eTrex (on sale at REI for $115 +/-) a couple weeks ago.
It's my first GPS, so I don't have a lot to compare it to, but I've been on a
crash-study course since getting and think I've got it pretty much down.  I
think the pluses for it are that it it is compact and extremely light weight;
easy on batteries; has the same 12 parallel channel receiver sensitivity as the
more expensive units; has a very easy-to-learn, intuitive user-interface; has
about 100 map datums (or is that 'data' ?) available; and it's designed to be
easy to operate with one hand (the buttons are all on the side).  The negatives
are that it  has fewer bells and whistles.  There is no mapping capability; you
can only create one route at a time (though you can store 500 waypoints) and
apparently you have to do more keystokes to enter/access the same information
than on the fancier units.  On the other hand, if you use software (some of
which is freeware) to create and load your routes, the single-route limitation
is no big deal (and once your waypoints are recorded, even setting the routes
manually is pretty easy).  It does store up to 10 sets of track points, and with
software you can interchange routes with sets of track points, so that's another
way to get around the single-route limitation.  Even though it is billed as
being waterproof to one meter for 30 minutes, I plan to keep it in a dry bag.

Evan
Woodinville, WA.


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