John Grove - eTrex review

Satellite Navigation with the Garmin eTrex Sometimes, advances in technology are simply amazing. GPS has been around for a long time, but never has it been so affordable as in the shape of the eTrex hand held. The Garmin eTrex is around Ł100 inc VAT. It doesn't have plug in maps, but it can connect via a cable to mapping software on a lap top.
	I've now used the eTrex in angst many times. Each time, I've been able to return to exactly the same spot from miles away, using the direction finder on the eTrex. The accuracy is astounding. Visit a place, and mark it into the memory of the eTrex, and even if the batteries fail (2 x AA last 20 hours) it'll remember the place to within 25 feet. You can store up to 500 different places, giving them your own names. The case for the eTrex is very rugged, and almost completely water-proof - not that I've ever had to find out (in case you're wondering!).
There's a number of different displays, all of which are a great help in so many different travel situations. The screen incidentally has a back light for low light conditions. One of the displays you'll use the most is the direction finder (right). It'll only work if you already know the location you're travelling to. Little help if you've never been there before - you might think - but you can enter map co-ordinates in longitude/latitude, or as a map references (there's a selection of map systems). Once you've a location displayed, the eTrex will tell you the distance, the direction, estimated time of arrival, even the speed of travel - you name it, it'll tell you.
	As you travel, the eTrex automatically lays a bread crumb trail on a map display (left), until it runs out of memory. It is not a real map, but the bread trail it draws gives you a really good idea of where you are in relation to where you set off. If you have waypoints (locations you've previously entered into the device's memory) it'll display those too. If - for example - you were to go for a walk around a dense forest, you'd always know where you were in relation to your point of departure. The eTrex lays a "bread trail" on the display, so you can always back track. Even better than just a bread-trail, it's also possible to accurately retrace your steps - using the back track function. Using the map its drawn, you can easily walk back via a different route if you so wish. Having completed a journey, back track will give you clear directions (via the direction finder screen) back to where you started. As you approach each junction or turning, the eTrex will tell you to turn right or left, or whatever!
Even when you haven't an exact route as such - the direction finder will give you enough as the crow flies information to at least make an intelligent decision about which way to go. Because the eTrex always shows the distance at the same time as direction, you are able to hazard a good guess in most situations.
	There's only a few disadvantages of the eTRex worth noting: It's not a replacement for a map, as the instruction book points out! Although the eTrex can connect to a laptop running GPS software via a cable, the eTrex won't display a map of it's own. As with all GPS devices, the eTrex won't work indoors or anywhere it can't get a clear view of the sky. It takes it's bearings from the numerous navigation satellites in the sky. Check out more on the eTrex by visiting the Garmin web site.