I've just purchased a Garmin eTrex Legend for US$170
and after the first day of us, I'm impressed. It is my first GPS
and I am connecting it to a computer running Linux (slackware).

Some random comments.

1. Although my computer runs Linux, retrieving my tracking data
from the GPS was easy using gpstrans, which is at Freshmeat.net.
The device came with the serial cable, not USB, and I had to
configure the serial port in the BIOS, which was not a problem.
Remember to set the GPS to use the Garmin protocol.

2. It's small enough to hold while driving, which is important
because the screen is not huge.

3. The screen, despite being small, is very readable.

4. One day's usage drained two new AA batteries by about 2/3.
It's a good reason to use NiMH rechargeables.

5. A screen protector will be vital for this, I think.

6. The non-color screen is OK, but I could imagine color
being helpful depending on how it is used in the basemap.

7. The basemap lacks some state roads, and a few have
the old, non-numeric names.

8. Roads are pretty jagged on the basemap, like one point
every quarter mile or something.

9. Some intersections were way off. I don't know if it's the basemap
that's off or my GPS, but the error is greater than the +/-
radius reported by the GPS.

10. I have yet to plot my tracking data. I'm not sure which
program is best for that.

Viator

>>2. It's small enough to hold while driving, which is important
>>because the screen is not huge.

I don't know about your part of the world but in the United Kingdom you are
likely to get pulled over and fined for this. I have discovered that I can
wedge mine between the dash and the windshield so that I don't actually have
to hold it whilst driving. I suspect a car mount designed for a mobile
phone might do the same job more reliably.

>>3. The screen, despite being small, is very readable.

If/when your eyes are as old as mine, you will appreciate the "large
figures" option on the trip computer screen too.

>>4. One day's usage drained two new AA batteries by about 2/3.
>>It's a good reason to use NiMH rechargeables.

I never use anything but rechargables. In my experience, a pair of 1700 mah
batteries will drive a Legend for about a day and a half hiking so two pairs
is all you need provided you aren't really roughing it and are therefore
able to recharge overnight.

>>5. A screen protector will be vital for this, I think.

Sooner rather than later. Mine is already badly scratched

>>7. The basemap lacks some state roads, and a few have
>>the old, non-numeric names.
>>
>>8. Roads are pretty jagged on the basemap, like one point
>>every quarter mile or something.

Basemap lives up to its name - it's pretty basic. Of course, you have the
option to upload more detailed maps, and there's the whole new hobby of map
making available to you, should you be so inclined. I would offer you some
software for this purpose but I see that you're not a Windows user so I
don't think you would be able to run it.

>>10. I have yet to plot my tracking data. I'm not sure which
>>program is best for that.
Again, I've no experience of Linux software. I have an application of my
own but it's designed for Windows.

Keith

On 2006-01-08, <x660y@yahoo.com> wrote:

> 2. It's small enough to hold while driving, which is important
> because the screen is not huge.


I wedge mine up on the dash, and leave the big nav arrow on. It's big
enough to see periperally w/out taking eyes off the road.

> 4. One day's usage drained two new AA batteries by about 2/3.
> It's a good reason to use NiMH rechargeables.

Yep.


> 5. A screen protector will be vital for this, I think.

Just put one on mine.

> 6. The non-color screen is OK, but I could imagine color
> being helpful depending on how it is used in the basemap.

yes, I agree, although it would likely be harder on batts.

If we could throw in an SD card I'd be happy.


--
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John McCain 2008 + http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant-runoff_voting

"Keith Sheppard" <keith.sheppard@tesco.net> wrote:

>>>2. It's small enough to hold while driving, which is important
>>>because the screen is not huge.
>
>I don't know about your part of the world but in the United Kingdom you are
>likely to get pulled over and fined for this. I have discovered that I can
>wedge mine between the dash and the windshield so that I don't actually have
>to hold it whilst driving. I suspect a car mount designed for a mobile
>phone might do the same job more reliably.

Why not simply buy the automobile mount designed for the Legend in the
first place?

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

Frater Mus wrote:

> > 6. The non-color screen is OK, but I could imagine color
> > being helpful depending on how it is used in the basemap.
>
> yes, I agree, although it would likely be harder on batts.

Actually the color Garmin handhelds use considerably less power than
the older b&w versions. The LegendC is rated to run up to 36 hours on
a pair of AAs compared to 14 hours for the b&w regular Legend.
>
> If we could throw in an SD card I'd be happy.

The LegendCx takes mini-SD (TransFlash) memory cards and should be
available in a month of so (maybe sooner??).

On 9 Jan 2006 14:55:03 -0800, "peter" <prathman@comcast.net> wrote:

>...mini-SD...

microSD. three orders of magnitude smaller.

>>Why not simply buy the automobile mount designed for the Legend in the
>>first place?
Didn't realise there was such an animal. Mind you, on investigation, I can
see one very good reason. Price.

Here in "rip-off" Britain I found the following prices:

Garmin brand car mount for eTrex: 24 UK pounds

Unbranded car mount for Garmin/Magellan etc: US import about 11 US dollars
including delivery (that's about 6 UK pounds).

Generic mobile phone holder, about 2.50 in any UK high street.

Just who are these GPS manufacturers trying to kid? Ten times the price for
a simple car mount - what's it made of? Solid gold?

Keith

peter wrote:
> Frater Mus wrote:
>
> > > 6. The non-color screen is OK, but I could imagine color
> > > being helpful depending on how it is used in the basemap.
> >
> > yes, I agree, although it would likely be harder on batts.
>
> Actually the color Garmin handhelds use considerably less power than
> the older b&w versions. The LegendC is rated to run up to 36 hours on
> a pair of AAs compared to 14 hours for the b&w regular Legend.


Not really, my old BW Legend was running a lot longer than new color.
With BW, screen is much easier to read with backlight off, while with
color you have to turn on backlight more often, resulting in more power
drain...

Keith Sheppard wrote...
> Here in "rip-off" Britain I found the following prices:
> ...

Look on the bright side, though. We can now buy discount Garmin receivers
for only 20-30% more than the US RRP - plus VAT of course. That must be an
improvement - a rip-off's better than an F***ing rip-off isn't it? ;-)

David

"Keith Sheppard" <keith.sheppard@tesco.net> wrote:

>>>Why not simply buy the automobile mount designed for the Legend in the
>>>first place?
>
>Didn't realise there was such an animal. Mind you, on investigation, I can
>see one very good reason. Price.
>
>Here in "rip-off" Britain I found the following prices:
>Garmin brand car mount for eTrex: 24 UK pounds
>Unbranded car mount for Garmin/Magellan etc: US import about 11 US dollars
>including delivery (that's about 6 UK pounds).
>
>Generic mobile phone holder, about 2.50 in any UK high street.
>
>Just who are these GPS manufacturers trying to kid? Ten times the price for
>a simple car mount - what's it made of? Solid gold?

The automobile mount I purchased is far more articulated than the
generic cell phone mounts I've seen.

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL