Good and versatile for the price

I have worried me the device for creating GPS-Tracks (logs) and for navigation with motorcycle and bicycle; the arguments were to use the price, the long term with standard batteries, the water resistance and the possibility of cards.

The "brothers and sisters": The etrex10 has no slot for a memory card and only one SW display that has etrex30 addition compass, barometer and a connection for heart rate sensors.

Positives:

* The term is as promised - a "working day" keeps your device from easy, especially if you do not use the backlight
* It can use standard batteries or AA rechargeable batteries are used
* The reflective LCD display is easy to read even in bright light
* The accuracy is good (a deviation of up to several meters, with GPS system to a limited extent)
* The interface looks dated but offers many options and can be adapted well
* About the memory card to card can be retrofitted, there is the OpenStreetMap project maps of the entire world for various purposes (eg bicycle navigation)
* Of course, the Garmin maps can be installed, which I have not tried
* It is sturdy, and after dropping the unit was surprisingly easy to take apart and (with a little skill) repair (made eTrex the way of a single board and the battery compartment)
* There are numerous mounting for a vehicle mounts available
* The record GPS logs in GPX format is excellent possible

Negatives:

* With gloves can be the side buttons operate poorly
* The low-power processor is quite slow. Especially with navigation tasks, the device sets like "memorial breaks" a
* This is a free search for navigation destinations on the device in practice does not make sense possible. The best plays to its navigation destinations previously from your computer to the device, so you have it ready later
* Also, the "push around" the map does in practice little fun - being here and the level of detail plays a role
* The navigation works like at the "big" car navigation systems - but also here the map useless. The best one imagines a view with large directional arrows, and then follows it. As a "signal" to turn comes only a beep signal.

Conclusion:

The eTrex can much. Of course, specialized equipment is better in their field:
A car or Motorradnavi offers a large display, quick search and fast Naviation. However, it requires a fixed power supply, and you can not take just once in your pocket.
A GPS track logger is even smaller and a little lighter - but otherwise has no other function.
And also a Fahrradnavi Although optimized to its range, but less flexible in the applications.

For me, this has eTrex (with minor limitations) served its purpose. For car, where I have a power connection at hand, however, I take a real Navi larger screen.