Will a Garmin Etrex Legend allow me to track a route?

Question

I am an avid fisherman and fixing to buy a handheld GPS system to take along. I am 99% set on the Garmin Etrex Legends, but have one question. I often travel to a fishing hole before dark, sometimes 15-20 Miles. When leaving and heading back to dock, it is dark and often visibility is bad. Will this GPS allow me to track an exact route that I took to get to the location and reverse it to return home. I travel the river channel to miss obstacles, and at dark it is hard to do.

Answer 1

Any of the etrex family will allow it.



I am assuming that you are considering one of the newer models, either the H or the HCx. The old one without any letters behind the name is not as good.



The H indicates the newer high sensitivity receiver for more accurate readings of your location.

Both will allow you to load maps if you want to get lake maps. The x model has basicaly unlimited map space since it can use a 2 gig memory card for the maps. With the H model and with WAAS (a system for correcting for atmospheric issues) turned on, you can expect 10-20 foot accuracy in the US, which is about as good as any unit priced for home use can do. There are engineering units ($$$$$) that can, with the subscription to DGPS transmitter (more local corrections than WAAS), get you to well within an inch of your location. I have been in a car used to create road maps and we mapped the edges of a drivers training track to within 1 cm GPS accuracy (the driving probably was not that accurate).



If you use certain lakes frequently, you can use the Mapsource program that comes with the unit to create (with data from a couple trips) a better map for the routes and add waypoints for particularly bad items or good fishing spots that you are willing to let friends know about.



I agree with the other poster that some sort of light is also a good idea. With WAAS enabled you can expect to have a 10-20 foot accuracy on the location (better the farther south you are in the US but I got very good readings in Canada). Depending on the channels in your lake and the speeds you go, you may need a light to watch for rocks or logs. A standard headlight is a narrow beam that shows you things farther ahead. A fog light would be good for areas where you need to turn more often but at lower speeds.

Answer 2

Calibration merely must be executed for GPS receivers with an digital compass. mutually as your form has a compass show, it would not have a separate compass geared up-in. one element to objective is letting your GPSr "bake." locate an open section like a container or parking zone that has a stable view of the sky. permit the GPSr relax for 20-30 minutes to receive the latest almanac, which tells the GPSr which satellites to seek for. I additionally ought to ask what makes you think of your GPSr is off. whilst you're evaluating it against geocaches, this is a mistake. First, there is the final GPS errors of 30ft or so. integrate that with the adaptation between your GPSr and the hider's GPSr, plus the adaptation in atmospheric situations on the time the cache became into hidden, and the errors will merely compound. in case you like a real attempt of whether or no longer your GPSr is off, analyze it with a USGS geodetic benchmark that may no longer scaled. one extra element to envision is the datum putting on your GPSr. make certain that's desperate for WGS84. if your GPSr continues to be wonky, attempt doing an entire reset on it.

Answer 3

the better gps units do usually allow that, i cant say for certain with that one though.



http://www.garmin.com/us/products/onthewater

might be able to get a more detailed view of what they offer, and a look at the owners manual, on garmin's website.



i would also suggest perhaps installing a set of lights, i've seen automotive fog lights (with stainless construction) used on boats as lighting for navigating in the dark more then once. fog lights dont cast a direct bright light, they cast a WIDE but still fairly bright light.

the best gps system still wont tell you there is a log or something floating in your path.......



one of the shops i worked at, service manager went on a pre dawn fishing trip with the customer and his new gps system. out the marina and straight into a channel marker. and i'm not talking he just bumped into it, if it was any more dead center with the 45 mph impact speed, he would of split the boat in half.

Answer 4

Calibration in simple terms should be carried out for GPS receivers with an digital compass. whilst your type has a compass demonstrate, it would not have a separate compass equipped-in. one element to attempt is letting your GPSr "bake." locate an open section like a field or vehicle parking zone that has a sturdy view of the sky. permit the GPSr relax for 20-half-hour to receive the main cutting-edge almanac, which tells the GPSr which satellites to look for. I additionally could ask what makes you think of your GPSr is off. in case you're comparing it against geocaches, it truly is a mistake. First, there is the final GPS errors of 30ft or so. integrate that with the adaptation between your GPSr and the hider's GPSr, plus the adaptation in atmospheric situations on the time the cache replaced into hidden, and the errors will in simple terms compound. in case you decide on a real try of despite if or no longer your GPSr is off, evaluate it with a USGS geodetic benchmark that isn't scaled. one greater element to benefit is the datum placing on your GPSr. make effective it truly is desperate for WGS84. in the experience that your GPSr remains wonky, try doing an entire reset on it.