Garmin eTrex Legend Mapping Handheld GPS Electronics

0ur opinion:

:
With the eTrex Legend, GARMlN has loaded a full basemap of North and South America into one small unit. The Legend is also designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). Brightly colored translucent blue case Power Source - Two AA batteries (not included)

Review:
There are now enough handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers on the market that you can be choosy when it comes to price, features, and design. Garmin--a leading manufacturer of car, boat, and personal GPS receivers--has a complete line of eTrex handheld receivers, with our Legend falling about midrange.

With Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) support, the eTrex Legend offers extremely accurate readings (rated to within 2 to 3 meters). (For more on WAAS, see the Frequently Asked Questions section.) A good-size screen--288 x 160 pixels--makes it easy to see location details, and the Legend redraws maps quickly when zooming in or out of a position.

The eTrex Legend provides precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS).

The Satellite page shows satellites being tracked, and their corresponding signal strength. View larger.

The internal trip computer provides a range of data about hikes and drives. View larger.

lts 8 MB of memory means there is also plenty of room for waypoints, routes, and saved tracks. The Legend will hold up to 500 waypoints, complete with a name and graphical symbol, 20 routes with 50 waypoints each, and it contains slots for 10 saved tracks. You can also download maps from Garmin's MapSource CD-R0Ms (thorough but expensive accessories for the GPS receiver) to see street-level or topographic detail (depending on the CD-R0M title).

But one of the most striking attributes of the Legend is its comfortable and efficient design. While it rests easily in the palm of either hand, it's most suited for the left hand, where its handy click-stick can be manipulated with the thumb. The click-stick works like the pencil-eraser nubbin on laptop PCs and is handy for moving through screen icons and menus. lt also works as a button when pressed down.

The Legend is coated with a waterproof, rubberized plastic shell that grips nicely. Weighing in at only 5.3 ounces, it fits into a pocket or clips onto a belt loop, going almost unnoticed.

The internal trip computer of the Legend provided a range of data about our hikes and drives, including current speed, average speed, trip distance, and time traveled (both moving and stopped). For those interested in checking out their foot pace and distance traveled, it's a handy GPS to have in hand.

0ur only major beef with the Legend is that the receiver sometimes seemed to grow weak. Even when it wasn't in WAAS mode (which can be tough to maintain a signal in), it dropped the signal from time to time. We even lost the signal once while walking along the streets of San Francisco--it seems that the medium-size buildings were enough to interfere with the reception.

But this only happened on a few occasions. Most of the time the well-designed Legend was able to keep us in touch with up to 12 GPS satellites for a strong-enough read to maintain a tight handle on our location. --J. Curtis

Pros

Comfortable, compact design
Click-stick for interface navigation
Bright backlight
Handy distance-traveled feature

Cons

Sporadic reception within urban areas
Can take several minutes for a cold fix

:
There are now enough handheld global positioning system (GPS) receivers on the market that you can be choosy when it comes to price, features, and design. Garmin--a leading manufacturer of car, boat, and personal GPS receivers--has a complete line of eTrex handheld receivers, with our Legend falling about midrange.

Easily look up nearby services with optional downloadable details from MapSource CD-R0Ms.
With Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) support, the Legend offers extremely accurate readings (rated to within 2 to 3 meters). (For more on WAAS, see the Frequently Asked Questions section.) A good-size screen--288 x 160 pixels--makes it easy to see location details, and the Legend redraws maps quickly when zooming in or out of a position.

lts 8 MB of memory means there is also plenty of room for waypoints, routes, and saved tracks. The Legend will hold up to 500 waypoints, complete with a name and graphical symbol, 20 routes with 50 waypoints each, and it contains slots for 10 saved tracks. You can also download maps from Garmin's MapSource CD-R0Ms (thorough but expensive accessories for the GPS receiver) to see street-level or topographic detail (depending on the CD-R0M title).

Built-in exit listings show services at U.S. interstate exits.
But one of the most striking attributes of the Legend is its comfortable and efficient design. While it rests easily in the palm of either hand, it's most suited for the left hand, where its handy click-stick can be manipulated with the thumb. The click-stick works like the pencil-eraser nubbin on laptop PCs and is handy for moving through screen icons and menus. lt also works as a button when pressed down.

The Legend is coated with a waterproof, rubberized plastic shell that grips nicely. Weighing in at only 5.3 ounces, it fits into a pocket or clips onto a belt loop, going almost unnoticed.

The internal trip computer of the Legend provided a range of data about our hikes and drives, including current speed, average speed, trip distance, and time traveled (both moving and stopped). For those interested in checking out their foot pace and distance traveled, it's a handy GPS to have in hand.

0ur only major beef with the Legend is that the receiver sometimes seemed to grow weak. Even when it wasn't in WAAS mode (which can be tough to maintain a signal in), it dropped the signal from time to time. We even lost the signal once while walking along the streets of San Francisco--it seems that the medium-size buildings were enough to interfere with the reception.

But this only happened on a few occasions. Most of the time the well-designed Legend was able to keep us in touch with up to 12 GPS satellites for a strong-enough read to maintain a tight handle on our location. --J. Curtis

Pros
- Comfortable, compact design
- Click-stick for interface navigation
- Bright backlight
- Handy distance-traveled feature
Cons
- Sporadic reception within urban areas
- Can take several minutes for a cold fix
  
  Product Description:
  The Garmin eTrex Legend GPS receiver is modeled on Garmin's popular entry level eTrex, but adds the same base map found in Garmin's lll+ and eMap models, along with 8 MB of memory, making it a solid midlevel offering in the eTrex line just behind the eTrex Summit. Housed in a translucent blue case, this powerful, 12-parallel-channel, global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver weighs only 5.3 ounces and measures 4.4 by 2 inches. lt literally fits in the palm of your hand. The Legend boasts the ability to hold up to 8 MB of amazingly detailed information that you upload for the area you plan to navigate. ln addition to all that detailed information at your fingertips, the Legend actually gives you a higher-resolution screen than the slightly better equipped eTrex Summit. The massive 10,000 track log points of the Legend compare well to the 3,000 track log points the Summit model offers and the 2,048 that the Venture offers.
  
  The eTrex Legend's 8 MB memory enables you to download points of interest and map data from optional Garmin MapSource CD-R0Ms to make your GPS unit more useful. The built-in base map of the Americas displays city and interstate highway information for North, South, and Central America, as well as U.S. highway exits. Address and business listings are displayed with data downloads. lt also provides points of interest along lakes, rivers, and coastlines.
  
  The Legend has a front-panel rocker switch that allows for quick and accurate map panning. View maps on a liquid crystal display with a resolution of 288 x 160 pixels. The unit is waterproof to an lPX7 standard, so it can withstand a dunk.
  
  The Legend maintains a tight satellite lock, even in a forest. The unit can store up to 1,000 user waypoints with graphical icons, and it boasts Garmin's own TracBack feature, which reverses your track log and helps you navigate your way back home. The eTrex Legend also uses animated graphics that will help you identify your marked waypoints quickly and easily.
  
  Garmin makes some of the accessories to help you integrate your GPS with your life and your priorities. Keep your GPS at the ready while protecting it from knocks and bumps with the carrying case. lf you'll be on the road, you'll want to have access to the most detailed topographical maps of the United States available: The Garmin MapSource CD-R0M (USA T0P0). And don't let the product's many abilities overwhelm you--train yourself in all the eTrex's ins and outs with a handy instructional video.
  
  The Garmin eTrex Legend comes with a PC interface cable, a manual, and a quick-reference card, and it's covered by a one-year warranty.
  
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  Testimonials
  
  Average Buyer Rating:
  
  Buyer's feedback: - * 1 Serial Port Cable is a fossil! ...
  It's not about the GPS, or that it only holds 8MB's of memory (not a stick upgradable option but built in#, or it only locks onto a satellite if U R standing still in the middle of a foot-ball field, BUT most computers today come with ONE #9 female pin# serial-port plug/outlet for PC to a major/vital peripheral hook-up or 4 get your printer/scanner or fax and use it for your GPS hook up and buy their map disks at $100+ ea. But don't buy them ALL or your memory would have to be in the GB's range! If U have a PC with any peripherals like a printer that ONLY port is USED so no luck d/l-ing Garmin © software. Most newer PC's come with several USB 2.0 ports, or a cheap hub turns 1 USB outlet into many outlets/inputs, so why is Garmin selling a GPS kit for around $130 with the ONLY way to get Jack from your PC is thru a SP connector? If U want a USB that works to d/l maps think around paying $60 more for this: 'USB to RS232 converter cable' which it should have come with for the price but didn't. So I have a cute hand held GPS that only shows me MAJOR roads has a menu that takes days to figure-out and set-up, then lacks memory, has no way to up that memory with a 1GB card and flogs an ancient SP hook-up with NO CD map disk #teasers# to Joe Public. Clearance time or PP planning? My buddy saw my frustraion and asked me why I had bought a Garbage GPS, he is a pilot!
  Spokane, WA.
  
  Buyer's feedback: - A basic handheld GPS
  I wanted a GPS to note down the lats and longs to the places I visit (places of birding importance). I am in India and the default US maps are of no use to me. I am not bothered about it. The Garmin serves its purpose in recording lats, longs and elevation. It has additional features such as speedometer, odometer, etc, which is not my need. It shows your position with the best accuracy of 11 metres radius (as far as I have tried so far).
  
  I knew that this particular Garmin model does not accept Google Earth Pro. However, I thought there should be other means of uploading maps to it. This is something I am yet to explore. But, the major draw back is the computer connectivity. It comes with a serial port, which my laptop does not accept. I have to now find out some adapter for this.
  
  Other interesting features of the GPS are marking waypoints, tracking your route, and panning the map after you record your track/waypoints. The instrument has a joystick which you can use to pan, or jump menus in the "Main Menu" window. It's been just three weeks I got this GPS, and the joystick has stopped working in one direction. I can not pan the map down. I haven't used it roughly, the poor mechanical thing appears to be too sensitive.
  
  Overall, it serves my purpose of getting the co-ordinates and elevation. If you want something more, like compatibility with Google Earth Pro, good computer connectivity, etc, then this is not the model. You may be interested in Garmin eTrex Legend CX or Vista.
  
  Buyer's feedback: - * Good old GPS ...
  I bought this used here on Amazon back in Oct 2003 and has worked without problems.
  This GPS I use for Geocaching and it works great. I added the MetroGuide Map, I believe, and get nice street level detail unfortunately the 8 Megs of RAM is not enough to hold all of the LA area but it does hold quite a bit.
  
  This is NOT a GPS that you really want to use for driving. There are many other GPS that have Turn-by-Turn, Color diplays, Touchscreen, ect... But it does very well for hiking, walking and bike riding, ect...
  
  Buyer's feedback: - works good for my outdoor use
  I bought this to take hunting and hiking. The downside is the time it took to learn all the features I wanted to use. This is not a car level gps but isn't intended to be. Others are correct that under trees, if not holding it level, you'll lose signal, but it was quick to pick it back up. Gets me to with in 10 feet of the points I marked. I'll get a lot of use out of it.
  
  Buyer's feedback: - * Poor reception ...
  Given it's size and portability, I'd say this device performs well. Reception, however, can be a problem; sometimes it takes forever to lock on to satellites, sometimes it's just impossible to get a lock. This is my first GPS; if this is your first too, then it's a good buy. Otherwise, move onto something better (more accurate, better reception, more memory, faster startup). Don't be fooled by the image - YOU DON'T GET A MAP -; this device has very little memory and if you're traveling to Europe you won't be able to put much into it. I use it for orientation (North, South, East, West); if you download the coordinates of your points of interest from Google Earth and store them in memory you're ok without maps (there are parts of the world, like China, for which it's very difficult to find maps). Bottom line: Entry level GPS; not for serious trekkers or explorers, but good for travel 'aficionados'.