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GPS City Q&A » Outdoor GPS » Would this be a good canyoneering gps?

Outdoor GPS (10 replies)

Item

Original Question

Would this be a good canyoneering gps?

› Garmin eTrex 30

Author

Reply

Christian
San Diego, CA

Original question asked on Oct 3, 2011, 9:29pm

Hopefully by now you've gotten some time to tinker with this new gps as I am interested in purchasing it for canyoneering. I am often in deep canyons, and the description claims this isn't a problem for the eTrex 30. From everything I've read, it's between this one and the 62S. Which do you recommend for canyoneering? Or perhaps you recommend another.

Christian
San Diego

Reply #1 on Oct 4, 2011, 7:15pm

Thanks for the prompt reply. I guess I was trying to go for the cheaper option, but being this my first gps purchase I had to ask. You get what you pay for, right? I think it'll be a good investment regardless. If do seek value, is it safe to do so as long as I saty in GPSMAP series? For example, the 60CSx. Neither the Dakota or Oregon spark my interest.

GPS City
Calgary, AB

Reply #2 on Oct 5, 2011, 7:37am

In most cases the 62S and Etrex will be similar but in a narrow canyon you will notice the GPSMap 62S will work better. The GPSMap 60CSX is a good option but discontinued so future feature support will be limited. It was Garmins most popular handheld for many reasons. You can still get the GPSMap 60CSX but supply is getting low. The GPSMap 76CSx and 78S will work like similar to the 60CSx. The 60CSX and 62S are the more popular because of the exposed quad helix antenna.

Red90
Calgary

Reply #3 on Oct 6, 2011, 1:06am

Are you guys basing this on actual testing? I review a lot of track data and have not been seeing different performance between the 62 series and the Oregons. I'm wondering if you are basing the antenna performance gain on real testing or not. The Glonass support may make multipath performance much better than anything else.

GPS City
Calgary, AB

Reply #4 on Oct 6, 2011, 9:11am

We have not tested it in a Canyon like you would find in the Desert. I have tested the Etrex-30 vs the GPSMap 62S in our office in hard to track situations. The 62S was able to track three to four satellites with decent signal strength. The Etrex 30 in Glonass+GPS mode and the same position and orientation could only track two at very low signal strength. The strength was so low it could not use them. The 62S was able to get a position but the accuracy was very poor, appox 30 meters. The Etrex 30 could not get a position even after 10 minutes.

The 62S has a Quadrifilar helix antenna which is more sensitive and can pick up those low power signals way better. The Patch antenna in the Etrex series has a tough time with those same signals.

Glonass gives the unit more satellites to track but if it can not hear them they will not help. In an urban canyon I can see the etrex working well but in a desert Canyon not as much.

GPS City
Calgary, AB

Reply #5 on Oct 6, 2011, 9:12am

As per the Oregon vs the GPSMap 62S. In most uses people will not notice a difference. It is when you get into the hard to track situations where you will see differences.

GPS City
Calgary AB

Reply #6 on Oct 6, 2011, 5:10pm

I was able to do some more tests and the Etrex 30 is doing better than at first. It takes a little longer to track in hard conditions but eventually it locks in and gets a better position in hard to track situations.

It may be the better unit for Canyoneering. Once it gets the sats it starts to outperform the 62S.

I don't have a canyon close by to test it better. I apologize for the confusion with this unit. It is very new and as we get more opportunities to use it we will be able to provide better information.

Christian
San Diego, CA

Reply #7 on Oct 7, 2011, 8:02pm

Hmmm. I'll do this. I'll purchase this one then. I am going to a canyon on Oct 22, at the latest. Perhaps to another before. Again, this is my first GPS purchase, but both canyons have very narrow and deep sections. One in particular has a chasm that almost blocks off the sky. I'll test it then and report on its performance.

Zed
Brno

Reply #8 on Oct 19, 2011, 6:25am

Interesting debate...
I own an Oregon 450 and I'm very unsatisfied with its performance in even shallow valleys. This new eTrex looks very promissing, so any real outdoor tests and comparisons with Oregon, 62s or "golden standard" 60CSX are very welcome!
Thanks.

Dave
Drummond Island, Michigan

Reply #9 on Aug 13, 2012, 6:36am

Are hydrographic maps available for the eTrex 30?

Roxie
GPS City

Reply #10 on Aug 13, 2012, 7:58am

Garmin does have cartography preloaded on to microSD cards that are compatible with the Etrex 30.
The choices are either Bluechart g2, which is coastal and great lakes coverage, and Inland Lakes which covers most of the inland waterways.

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