The Calendar displays dates when waypoints and tracks are saved, and it also displays geocaches that you’ve logged.
Now that we have BirdsEye Topo, there isn’t as much need for custom maps, but hey, you can put a PDF park map on your eTrex, and that’s pretty sweet. Simply choose a track to navigate and it will construct a route of waypoints along the track, add in high and low points, and give you the actual track mileage to each point, as shown at left. I have written before about advanced track navigation, but basically it will give you the best of both worlds when it comes to following a track or route. There is nothing quite like having the map on your device look exactly like the USGS topo in your hand. I absolutely love the BirdsEye topo product. I find it less useful under the dense canopy of the eastern US. While the images below weren’t captured on an eTrex, they should give you an idea of the capabilities…īirdsEye aerial imagery is particularly useful for urban cachers, outdoors lovers in the open landscapes of the American west, and for boaters. Each runs $30 for a one-year subscription imagery you’ve downloaded during that period can still be used, even if you don’t renew. The eTrex 30 is fully compatible with Garmin’s BirdsEye products, including their aerial imagery and topo maps of the US and Canada. I’ll have more to say about geocaching in the performance section of this review. The eTrex 30 also allows you to filter caches, letting you search by size, difficulty, terrain, etc. This gives you the ability to view description, hints, log, etc., in the field. Many of the features found on higher-end Garmin handhelds are now available on the eTrex 30. I’ll talk about this a bit more in the performance section of this review. This may be especially true at northerly latitudes and in urban (and natural) canyons. Theoretically, GLONASS will improve accuracy. There is an option to use GPS only, but no option for GLONASS only.
The one item found on the new eTrex series missing from all other Garmin units is the ability to use GLONASS as well as GPS satellites. If you select another screen (e.g., map) and then press the menu button, you’ll find a context-sensitive menu (shown below at right). You can change the order of items by pressing the menu button. When you power up the eTrex 30, you’re taken to the Main Menu (below at left). The eTrex 30 has a bright but small display that is easily visible in sunlight or with the backlight engaged. Thumb stick – Located on the front of the device, you can toggle it side to side or up and down to navigate menus and pan the map press down to enter a menu command or select a map point press and hold to mark a waypoint.
Back – On the right side moves you back a step in the menu structure.Menu button – (Also on the left side) Brings up a context sensitive menu double-tap to access the main menu press and hold to bring up the Find menu.Zoom in and zoom out buttons – These are on the left and can also be used to navigate menu lists a page at a time.There are six buttons on the eTrex, three on the left, two on the right and one on the front (see image at top of page): NOTE: Much of the following is adapted from my hands on review of the eTrex 20. To see how the eTrex 30 stacks up against other models, check out my Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.The entry level eTrex 10 has a monochrome screen and no ability to add maps.Drop down to the eTrex 20 and you’ll lose the 30’s tri-axial electronic compass, barometric altimeter, wireless data sharing and Garmin chirp compatibility.I’ll get into all the details in a moment, but first let’s look at what separates the eTrex 30 from the other models in the series… Related units