Garmin e-Trex H - any good?

[calibanzwei]

Morning all,
I have the opportunity to snap up one of these 2nd hand; i've read into its limitations (no separate compass function, can't load in maps, will have to shell out another £20 for the cable :/ ) but want to know if anyone else has used one and what their opinions are...

Its this one - https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=8705

Cheers

Col

 

[Golb]

I use this device for geocaching. Sometimes I miss a map feature, but overall, for me having to figure out where you are, and how to get to your destination is part of the game.

You can make the datacable easily yourself: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2006/06/how-to-garmin-etrex-data.html

 

[Trango]

The "H" in the name makes it a highly sensitive sensor which makes it accurate. Good.
The bad is this thing doesn't have USB connection so impossible to connect onto any modern day computer. The link above is for a serial connection which are typically not available on computers nowadays. Manually entering coordinates is a massive undertaking. Bad.
Compass isn't needed on a GPS. Once you start moving and the device can figure out where it's going it will provide you with a bearing, hence it does act as a compass as long as you are moving. Good.
Garmin maps are often of bad quality. You're not missing out on that. Good.
You don't need a barometer for altitude neither. Each GPS device is capable of calculating its height. It may not display it but it knows the height, just like it knows your position. Think of it as a 3D position. I believe however when you store a waypoint it will display the height of that waypoint. So you can get a reading after all. Good.

So good accurate sensor as with all new generation Garmin GPS (first gen was horrible in the woods) with absolutely obsolete and worthless PC connectivity.

 

[calibanzwei]

Cheers Golb, looks like I'll have to get my bodging hat one to make up one of the cables

 

[calibanzwei]

Cheers Trango, I've seen that you can pick up a serial-to-USB converter for a couple of quid. No biggy there.

 

[Melonfish]

bugger that i'll pick you up one from work, you just make the connector.

 

[QDanT]

I bought a second hand lead,downloaded the driver, installed no problem plug in lead “bing bong” new device working, turn on Garmin “bing bong” new device working on Com port 3 turn on Mem. map – click GPS - No device found on Com port 1, into set up, Com port 1 showing in box with up and down arrows to change port, but all greyed out ! played about in set up all seemed OK, played about in Device manager all Ok. I got Teddy to sort it out,, both the computer and Mem. map thought a USB device had been plugged in ! when in actual fact it’s a serial device just pretending, changed Mem. map input to serial, Com port box un-greys two clicks to Com port 3 suddenly there’s a circle around our house on the map, just thought I'd share, and it's superb in thick fog where you can't see anything to compass bearing on, and after you get back you can plot your tracks on the map :-
http://teddytourteas.blogspot.com/2011/02/plan-b-four-teddys-of-gragareth.html
cheers Danny

 

[nodd]

I know this is an old post but I bought this for my eTrexH http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_from...RMIN+eTrex,GEKO+GPS&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Works well and had good service no connection to seller just happy customer