Garmin eTrex 30 GPS + GLONASS

can g0 here f0r specs – https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=87774

but I g0t it fr0m here – http://www.ja-gps.com.au/Garmin/etrex-30/

Had f0r ab0ut a full day n0w. Just f0und 0ut, as I suspected, that it receives signals n0t 0nly fr0m the US GPS netw0rk, but als0 the netw0rk that the Russians are building – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS
Presumably named because y0u can see y0ur Ass, gl0wing, that is t0 say, the d0nkey…uhh.never mind..

Here’s s0me quick picys I t00k.

Pretty basic, as the eTrex series is supp0sed t0 be, but this is the better m0del 0f the 3 new eTrex m0dels, the 10, 20, and 30. I w0uld pr0bably rec0mmend the eTrex 10 n0w as the basic unit needed f0r IPX Treks. h0wever really thats just because 0f the price, y0u wanna g0 with a 20 0r a 30.

3 Axis tilt c0mpensated c0mpass. bar0metric altimeter, are ab0ut the tw0 main features the 30 has 0ver the 20. that metal bit y0u see 0n the back 0f the unit, y0u pull that 0ut and turn it t0 0pen up the battery c0mpartment. 2AA’s is all thats required t0 p0wer the unit f0r supp0sedly ab0ut 24h0urs.
Mini USB, which is c0mm0n acr0ss all 3 units, attaches thr0ugh the t0p 0f the back, silic0ne rubber stuff 0r whatever pr0tects that fr0m the weather. y0u can put y0ur 0wn pictures 0n it. y0u can als0 upl0ad ge0caches fr0m Garmin ( f0r which 0fc0urse there are practically n0ne ar0und here..).

Really its just a GPS. Can be accurate en0ugh, t00k a measurement fr0m the back deck and it was 0nly 0ff by ab0ut 2 metres t00 the n0rth, better then previ0us attempts with a unit fr0m a car anyway xD
Can share wireless data with similiar types 0f units. Dunn0 if the 10 0r the 20 can interface 0r n0t, but can be handy t0 share new wayp0ints and tracks with pe0ple 0n the g0 if they’re missing s0mething.

Prel0aded basemap sucks, and the free maps d0nt appear t0 be that great either, but w0uld be better then n0thing. Interfacing with g00gle Earth is g00d, picks up my tracks fine, a little tr0uble getting the actual wayp0ints. 0therwise really its c0ugh up $250 f0r the wh0le map 0f NSW which y0u d0nt want right away but heck, at least it sh0uld be a decent map. 0therwise, w0rking with g00d 0ld paper maps is aaaaalllways an 0pti0n.. muahahhaha

I like this unit, its a little thick because 0f the AA’s, but it w0rks g00d. g0nna take it f0r a test run d0wn the gullys and see h0w accurate the signal is while d0wn there, in the next week 0r tw0.
y0u can select in the unit what type 0f batteries y0u are using, Alkaline, Lithium, Nickel Metal Hydride, dunn0 what that d0es exactly.
Can get the street maps f0r it and d0 turn by turn stuff but there’s n0 talking t0 ya like a pr0per car GPS thank g0d =)

Any 0f y0u guys 0ut there have a GPS 0r are l00king int0 getting 0ne? all I can say is they’re expensive. =)

Hey, n0w y0u can say, I’m getting a GLONASS!