Want to learn more about using GPS with your metal detecting hobby? Come to this forum and ask any questions you may have. Andrew Kalinowski from Burlington, Ontario, Canada who along with his friend, Ron Wilson, operate the GPSNuts website is the moderator/instructor in charge of this forum. He is the consumate expert on GPS and related software.http://www.findmall.com/list.php?16Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:46:48 -0600 Phorum 5.2-dev http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1085740,1085740#msg-1085740 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1085740,1085740#msg-1085740
I guess I have a really antique garmin etrex OR perhaps I am the antique in this situation.

Can someone let me know IF it is possible to take coordinates and place them INTO this garmin etrex and have it guide me there? I dont think it can, however I may be missing something.

It seems this particular gps only allows you to KNOW where you currently are and it will trace where you HAVE BEEN BUT it will NOT allow you to ENTER coordinates of somwewhere you want to find OR retrieve your current coordinates either.

Is this correct?
click here for the etrex online manual

I guess I have a unit that doesnt do what I want, unless I am missing something. If anyone has the time to spare or already knows this answer, please let me know.

Thanks
Tony
-------------------------------------------------




eTrex®

* Features
* Images
* Specs
* In the Box
* Accessories

Outdoor enthusiasts, geocachers and anyone looking for adventure will love this little yellow wonder. eTrex combines intuitive, easy-to-use features and a rugged exterior into a lightweight package that is only four inches high and two inches wide. The result is a lightweight GPS navigator that literally fits in the palm of your hand.
Built for Adventure

You can operate your eTrex with just one hand using five buttons, which are located on either side of eTrex within easy reach of your fingers. Thanks to its bright yellow case, eTrex is easy to find in your boat or backpack. And, eTrex is IPX7 waterproof, so it can take an accidental splash or dunk in the water and still continue to perform.
Find It and Go

With eTrex, your adventure can last and last up to 22 hours on just 2 AA batteries. While you roam, you can store up to 500 waypoints in memory for easy retrieval. Just enter the point you want to go to, and eTrex points you to your destination (no street or terrain maps). To get home, use Garmin's exclusive TrackBack® feature to reverse your track log and help you navigate back to your starting point.

eTrex: Find adventure. Find fun!

WAAS enabled
Product Images
Product Screen Shots

Download detailed specs

Physical & Performance:
Unit dimensions, WxHxD: 2.0" x 4.4" x 1.2" (5.1 x 11.2 x 3.0 cm)
Display size, WxH: 1.1" x 2.1" (2.8 x 5.4 cm)
Display resolution, WxH: 64 x 128 pixels
Display type: 4 level gray LCD
Weight: 5.3 oz (150 g) with batteries
Battery: 2 AA batteries (not included)
Battery life: 22 hours
Waterproof: yes (IPX7)
Floats: no
High-sensitivity receiver: no
Interface: serial
RoHS version available: yes
Maps & Memory:
Basemap: no
Preloaded street maps: no
Ability to add maps: no
Built-in memory: no
Accepts data cards: no
Waypoints/favorites/locations: 500
Routes: 20
Track log: 10,000 points, 10 saved tracks
Features:
Automatic routing (turn by turn routing on roads): no
Electronic compass: no
Barometric altimeter: no
Geocaching-friendly: no
Camera: no
Outdoor GPS games: no
Hunt/fish calendar: yes
Sun and moon information: yes
Tide tables: no
Area calculation: no
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): no
Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units): no
Picture viewer: no]]> tony (Orlando, FL) Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 07 Nov 2009 18:20:40 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1069413,1069413#msg-1069413 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1069413,1069413#msg-1069413http://www.maptools.com/]]> LabradorBob Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSun, 11 Oct 2009 18:46:38 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1066096,1066096#msg-1066096 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1066096,1066096#msg-1066096I work with and help train search and rescue units. We just got brand new hand held GPS, Garmin E-Trex HCx (H=Highsensitivity C=color x= capability of inserting more memory) and I am working on teaching the folks how to operate that unit.
I can't understand why people are seemingly stuck on Lat and Long. It's a terrible navigation coordinate system for use on land. For ships and aircraft it's probably the best. For land it rots. Check out UTM...Universal Transverse Mercator. It's base 10, not base 60 like lat and long, and every section of the Earth is divided into 1000 meter squares. Each section has a unique identifier that's easy to read. All the Topo maps have UTM already drawn or at least are on the borders. Our new HCxs consistently give an accuracy of navigation within 7 feet. Real quickly now, tell me how many seconds are in 300 meters? Everyone already knows how far 300 meters is and nobody navigates in terms of distance with Lat and long.
The Coast Guard uses Lat and Long in their helos, although they have the equipment and knowledge to use any coordinate system. Did you know there are three kinds of Lat and Long. In the movies and on TV they use degree, minutes, and seconds, Most aircraft use degrees with decimal minutes. Somewhere somebody uses decimal degrees. Anything you ever learned about math isn't going to help a bit in calculation when you are mixing base 60 with base ten.
National Search and Rescue, FEMA (Don't know if that's a good endorsement), the major oil companies, and on and on use UTM.
I can teach anyone to know exactly where they are on a map with UTM and a GPS set up to UTM in about 2 minutes. UTM is not new. There's tons of info about that coordinate system on the net.
Know about Datum? That's the methods used to measure the distance between objects on the surface for the map YOU ARE USING. Most modern navigational maps use WGS84. All the topos used NAD27. If your GPS's datum isn't set to match the map you are using, you can have an error of over 200 meters of where your locations really is. Even though everything else is correct. That's not a problem for a helo flying at a thousand feet as they can easily visually try to locate that spot. However, if you are hiking into a ghost town to find where the saloon was on that 1890 map you found at the library and you are 200 meters off because you didn't set your datum to match the map being used, you are going to be really frustrated. Jim]]> grumpyolman Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 02 Nov 2009 11:34:10 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1023214,1023214#msg-1023214 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1023214,1023214#msg-1023214 flairboater Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumThu, 06 Aug 2009 15:52:33 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1009572,1009572#msg-1009572 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1009572,1009572#msg-1009572That GPS knows where it's at... It needs you to take it to point "B"!

I know... with all the talk about coordinates, waypoints, tracks, plot, maps, compass directions, etc, etc. etc...
makes a fellow want to say.. the heck with it!! If you don't know the very basic things about navigation that new GPS is just something to play with!

The truth is, navigation is very simple... all it is, is finding your way from point "A" to point "B". But you must know the different parts before you're able to understand and see the whole picture.

Most people(with the exception of my wife) can find a house in a town if they know the address.
A friend gives you his address... which is 105 5th Ave., in the city of Little Town, in the county of Bradley, in the state of Tennessee, in the country of the USA. Most people shouldn't have to much trouble finding the country or state. The next thing is to find the county... a state map that list the counties is needed. The next thing you look for is the city, which is Little Town... the county map will show it's location. You pull into the city of Little Town, you look at the street sign and you're on 8th Ave. You make a left turn and the next Street is 9th Ave.... Humm? I going the wrong direction. You turn around and go back the other way, crossing over 8th Ave. and the third street up is 5th Ave. But which way do you turn?
You make a right turn, but the house numbers are getting smaller.. 95...94..93... Yes, house number 105 is in the other direction, right? You turn around and the house numbers are 101...103...and then 105!! This is also called finding
"Point B"!!

Simple..Right!?
You'll have two sets of numbers for your coordinates on your GPS.
When using DMS, DM.MM, DD.DD
The first set is "Latitude"... This set of numbers will get larger going North and smaller going South.
The second set is "Longitude"... This set of numbers will get larger going WEST and smaller going East.
If you are using the UTM system...
Your "Northing"numbers will get larger going North and smaller going South.
Your "Easting" numbers will get larger going East and smaller going West.

So, if you have a GPS, compass, map, and the coordinates to a location, knowing how the coordinates numbers work will help you to better understand this ONE basic form of navigation to direct you to the point you wish to be.

Using a topo map, the coordinates are printed on the edge on all sides of the map.

One note: Be sure to set your GPS to the right "Datum" to match the map! This can be found most of the time in the bottom left corner of the map... an example would be: "1927 North American datum". If you don't set the GPS to match the map's datum, you could miss your mark by several yards! Also know the difference between "True North" and "Magnetic North" in using a GPS, compass, and map.

You will need to know the basic parts of navigation to get the most from your GPS!]]> Number9 Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumThu, 16 Jul 2009 18:57:59 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1005445,1005445#msg-1005445 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1005445,1005445#msg-1005445I just can't help showing a grin when I read about someone wanting to buy a new GPS with all the " 'bells and whistles'.
They want one that has all the maps... One that has the most waypoints... The most features possible!
THEN... they are ready to navigate to and from any point with their "one" brand new tool... WRONG!

Now, I'm not talking about using a GPS to mark a good fishing spot.. or to find a local drug store in an unknown town.
Using a GPS for "light reasons" requires "light navigational training" and can be a real convenience and a fun toy to have and a nice novelty to play with... but how serious are you? It's been said that a new GPS has gotten more people lost than anything in history! Don't let using a new GPS as your only navigational tool give you a false sense of security thinking you can go to very remote areas without worry. We all know the stories where someone was lost, only to be found dead within a short distance of a main road. This happens to often and this is as serious as it gets!

In remote areas, I use the GPS for only one thing... to help give me my "current coordinates". If you don't know your current location you may have a very hard time locating any other point you hope to reach! If I suspect the coordinates maybe wrong, I will turn on my second GPS to double check... I hate a GPS that doesn't tell the truth!
I also carry an accurate compass, I use the Brunton Pocket Transit.. it will point true! But, I also carry two more small ones just for a quick check along the way.
I print out several detailed maps of different scale, covering an area larger than a location that I plan to be in. I use Maptech software and each map has the UTM coordinates grid overlaid. Being UTM gives me a distance reference by being a grid of 1,000 meters square on any scale map printed.

No, you may not be real serious about hitting a 10 foot square section in the middle of a million acres of forest...night or day... in any weather?
I don't call this being "Serious"... I call it "Life Insurance"!!]]> Number9 Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 02 Nov 2009 13:56:32 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1004761,1004761#msg-1004761 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,1004761,1004761#msg-1004761 SEMPERFI61 Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumTue, 14 Jul 2009 12:08:43 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,991072,991072#msg-991072 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,991072,991072#msg-991072 xwyokid Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumThu, 18 Jun 2009 19:58:36 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,987437,987437#msg-987437 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,987437,987437#msg-987437 fowlercharles Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 13 Jun 2009 06:55:21 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,985822,985822#msg-985822 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,985822,985822#msg-985822 electroman680 Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSun, 11 Oct 2009 00:45:39 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,951044,951044#msg-951044 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,951044,951044#msg-951044
I started off with a Garmin Etrex Venture which was a very good gps receiver, although in heavy woods or clouded conditions it was hard to get a signal at times. Then the screen started to get lines on it and I decided gotta have a new gps.

I have a technique I use and it is the best possible for using a metal detector. I can go wherever I want to go and when I get home know exactly where I have been.

First off I use a good gps receiver. The Garmin gps map80 is, according to many of the reviews I have read, one of the best handheld gps units. It has a dual function where it can also be used as a gps unit in a car. It will not talk to you as many auto gps units do, but it uses a series of signals, those of your choosing, to alert you about one half mile before your turn and then another signal at the point where you make the turn. It of course does not let you know to turn left or right, but you can enter an address; city; etc. and it will take you there. I used my garmin mapit cd and loaded the maps for my locality. This is a small unit which fits comfortably in a shirt or jacket pocket. I run the lanyard through a buttonhole so as not to lose the unit. A while back I was using my Tejon in the woods and noticed that I had not had any signals for a while. I ran it over my shoe and nothing. One of the battery packs had fallen out. I was really mad because I would have to find a Radio Shack, which sells the exact same battery holders that Tesoro uses, plus batteries. Then I thought I would try and use my gps receiver and try and backtrack my trail. I finally managed to find the trail and backtracked and stopped for a moment and looking around saw my battery pack. This would have been all but impossible had it not been for my gps.

Second I use a good map program. I use the National Geographic Topographic Map program for the State of Missouri. This has every topographic map in the State. I can use this map program to find areas which may be good for hunting for civil war relics and mark a waypoint on the map program, in fact I usually mark a number of waypoints. I then hook my gps up to my computer via the usb cable and go to the "handheld devices" on my map program and input the data from the map into my gps. My gps then takes me exactly to where I want to go. Sometimes I will mark various turns when I am in the woods or backroads to get me to the point where I want to park. I will also always mark my car with a waypoint when I go into the woods, that way, no matter where I am or where I have traveled I know exactly which direction my car is located and how far away it is. When I get home I can then hook up my gps to my computer and download my tracks and waypoints that I have made that day right into my map program on the computer. When I find a lot of stuff I always mark it with a waypoint. I can then see exactly where I have hunted because a trail is marked out on my map program.

I do a lot of hunting in the fields of Southeast Missouri. These fields are huge and it is flat as a pancake. My gps takes my to the exact spot where I have found stuff previously. I also sometimes will take the map program and find potential spots to hunt. I recently did this near Riddle's Point across from Tiptonville, Tenn. During the civil war there were lots of troops stationed both at Tiptonville and Riddle's Point. The Federal troops all camped two miles from the river, this kept them out of range of the Confederate cannons along the Tennessee shore and the Confederate gunboats. I plotted out the area I wanted to hunt by looking at the elevations on the map program and plotting an area two miles from about the center of the river, which was close to the shoreline during the civil war, and hunted those areas. I found exactly nothing from the civil war, but I hunted and eliminated that whole area.

The gps is a valuable hunting tool for the relic hunter. You can also look at old maps and county maps and find the exact locations of old churches and schools. The gps will take you there every time.

So the advantages of the gps while relic hunting, or treasure hunting are thus:
1. You can mark the exact location where you parked your car and walk straight to your car when you are finished.
2. You can go to areas that would be very hard to find without a gps and a good map program.
3. I can download the tracks showing exactly where I traveled and save them to my map program.
4. I know exactly where the good spots to hunt are located because I mark them as a waypoint

I would be lost without my gps.]]> jhettel Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 20 Apr 2009 11:23:27 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,943192,943192#msg-943192 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,943192,943192#msg-943192 landman Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSun, 17 May 2009 21:45:03 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,904517,904517#msg-904517 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,904517,904517#msg-904517Information Systems and Management: Special Track within EMS
CALL FOR PAPERS
http://www.scirp.org/conf/ism2009/
Beijing, China September 20-22, 2009
============================================================================
ISM is a special track within the 3rd International Conference on Engineering
Management and Service Sciences (EMS2009).
Topics:
Information and Systems Security
Information System Applications
Data Mining and E-Commerce

This conference is sponsored by IEEE Computer Society, Beijing University of
Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing Institute of Technology and Wuhan
University. All papers accepted will be included in IEEE Xplore and indexed
by EI. For more information, please contact: ism@scirp.org]]> leijinghang Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 16 Feb 2009 06:11:03 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,904226,904226#msg-904226 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,904226,904226#msg-904226
Thanks
-Alex]]> akelley Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSun, 15 Feb 2009 17:31:05 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,900663,900663#msg-900663 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,900663,900663#msg-900663 dobbie Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 16 Feb 2009 10:15:47 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,894407,894407#msg-894407 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,894407,894407#msg-894407
I have an old hand held unit for hiking that I love, but can't hook it up to the computer. Any ideas what I can do with the 750 on the computer that will help me in my MD'ing?]]> John 'n' W.Va Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumFri, 01 May 2009 19:20:02 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,886271,886271#msg-886271 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,886271,886271#msg-886271 ralphiejc Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumFri, 06 Mar 2009 22:26:11 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,880754,880754#msg-880754 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,880754,880754#msg-880754 Tseeker Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 10 Jan 2009 20:05:31 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,877751,877751#msg-877751 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,877751,877751#msg-877751
Nancy bought me a Triton 1500 GPS for Christmas, that is the handheld unit which is great for Geocaching, hiking and the like. I then bought an automotive unit for my truck and both have their advantages. Sure, I can mark waypoints of where I found some targets, but I don't need electronic help in remembering that. The truck GPS is a Mio Moov 200 with POI, (Points of Interest) and I thought that is the cat's meow for finding schools, parks and other places to go hunting while traveling in areas I'm not familiar with. I tried it out and and the POI's are fantastic. I pressed Parks and it listed all of the parks in a twenty mile radius from where I was. All I do is press "Go to" and it give me turn by turn directions to the park of my my choice. Schools were just as simple. The POI functions are fantastic and if you ever get a GPS, be sure to get one with a large POI database. Campgrounds, restaurants, police stations........they are all there. BTW, the MIO 200 was $99 at K-Mart. I have tried my hand at Geocaching to keep the hunting instinct fire a going even in the winter with the Triton. That is a lot fun too, but sure won't replace the metal detector come better weather.

So...........what are your or other ways to use a GPS for metal detecting?]]> Larry (IL) Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 19 Jan 2009 10:12:31 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,875614,875614#msg-875614 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,875614,875614#msg-875614Thanks in advance,
BarberBill]]> BarberBill Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumFri, 06 Feb 2009 21:38:02 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,866473,866473#msg-866473 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,866473,866473#msg-866473 nirg07 Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumWed, 17 Dec 2008 05:09:18 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,852944,852944#msg-852944 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,852944,852944#msg-852944
Needless to say I'm not much into putting up with this kind of thing and believe I got the wrong person handling this. To me it is almost unbelievable to even have to have this conversation as I'm not asking for anything free. Just what I paid for. So you buyers that are thinking of buying a unit. Pay attention to this thread and you will at least get an idea if they are really a good company or someone you want to avoid.

Thanks for listening...

Guvner..]]> Guvner Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSun, 14 Jun 2009 07:02:21 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,846330,846330#msg-846330 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,846330,846330#msg-846330So, I need to know if the car GPS can be used with batteries and can it be used to hike overland and thru woods? Can topo maps be loaded into these things? I don't see the blurry spot with a 4 inch screen and they are about small enough to slide into a large shirt pocket. My friends Garmin 750 acquired the satellites in a few seconds with no large protruding antenna, altho it was warmed beforehand. My 60CS takes several minutes and won't work under heavy tree cover or in narrow creek valleys. Will the automotive unit still have user settable waypoints, breadcrumb trails, ability to enter in coodinates, and a Goto function? I am gettin tired of bringing tons of road maps with me too or fergetting to bring them and driving in circles in the back country.
Any suggestions guys? I figger I will wait til Xmas or therabouts to get a great price,hopefully well under $300 for a Garmin 760 with Bluetooth phone ability or something similar ?
Thanks-

Tom]]> tvanwho Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumThu, 01 Jan 2009 21:30:21 -0600 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,824252,824252#msg-824252 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,824252,824252#msg-824252Ed]]> cwspur Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumTue, 07 Oct 2008 22:17:48 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,819972,819972#msg-819972 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,819972,819972#msg-819972
I have a Map60cx that is loaded with the North American mapping. I also have the City Select cd for Canadian and U.S. cities. I am going to the UK in November and would like to purchase the City Navigator NT on MIcro SD Card for the UK and Ireland. Will this work with my unit even though I do not have the UK loaded into my internal memory? Thanks.

Gord]]> Gord (Tecumseh) Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumWed, 01 Oct 2008 20:34:45 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,809763,809763#msg-809763 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,809763,809763#msg-809763
steve]]> kaptainkosmic Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumMon, 06 Oct 2008 11:16:29 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,802926,802926#msg-802926 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,802926,802926#msg-802926
Just to say "hi" to all the people sharing this part of the forum !

Got the "H" one week ago, must say I'm impressed, although I have a little problem with the odometer : I don't step 6.600 miles in one day !! :detecting:

But I think it's me. Will retry next week.

All in all, I will go searching for caches during my MD trips.There are plenty of caches in my region.

HH

Nick the Belgian.]]> nick hunter Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 06 Sep 2008 04:19:17 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,792228,792228#msg-792228 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,792228,792228#msg-792228 John(Tx) Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 23 Aug 2008 22:50:46 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,781385,781385#msg-781385 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,781385,781385#msg-781385GOOD LUCK TO YOUALL.]]> TRIPLE-SSS Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 02 Aug 2008 23:49:33 -0500 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,777282,777282#msg-777282 http://www.findmall.com/read.php?16,777282,777282#msg-777282 Wet and Dry Global Positioning System (GPS) Classroom ForumSat, 26 Jul 2008 22:43:11 -0500