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Handheld Satellite Navigation System (GPS)

With increased internal memory and the traditionally easy to use layout of the eTrex family, the eTrex Venture is a step above the original eTrex. Load what you need when you need it into this light weight and stylish unit.

Its an Etrex

Reviewed By: Brad Gurr - Brandon, Manitoba

This Etrex is an excellent value. It performs as an Etrex should and I'm very happy with it. It has upgrades from the base model that should prove usefull. It worked well right out of the box WO upgrades

GPS - Garmin ETREX Venture

Reviewed By: Dale Fivecoat - Otsego, Michigan

MY father in-law got me hooked on geocaching and we used a Megellan #315 GPS, And it seems like to figure that one out you have to be a rocket scientist. So I decided to try a garmin etrax venture. Since I got this gps I have found out that it is very user friendly and easy to use. It's easy to add waypoints manually and download the from the internet. Easy to navigate thru the screens. And for the cost I highly recommend this one to anyone that ask. : )

Excellent

Reviewed By: Catherine Schlesinger - Chandler, AZ

This is the first GPS I have ever owned and purchased not only Garmin brand due to recommendations from friends but also from Vanns on the recommendation of friends. Thanks for not disappointing me on either!

eTrex Venture

Reviewed By: Charles Paglia - Ocala, FL

The capability of this tiny unit continues to amaze me. Great ergonomics, large screen, and ease of operation make it a great value. Vann's customer service in incomparable.

E-Trex Venture

Reviewed By: David Groves - Colleyville, Texas

This GPS is simple, user friendly and easy to use. Within 5 minutes of inserting the batteries you will have a very accurate GPS Position. The quick reference guide will provide plenty of information. Ten minutes after I ahd it up and running I had it providing NMEA-183 data to my laptop and mapping software. This is avery feature packed unit at a great price.

Garmin Etrax Venture

Reviewed By: Larry Allen - Volga, West Virginia

Being a search and rescue team member, I depend on several navigation items. After having used numerous GPS devices, the Venture is the simplest and best that I have used.

It acquires signals quickly and reliably. The ability to download waypoints and tracks to a mapping program makes report writing extremely easy and accurate.

The size, weight and battery consumption makes this a very easy device to carry into the backcountry. Other models have required that I carry numerous batteries. The Venture has proven to operate for at least 12 hours on the two batteries.

The waypoint marking system is very helpful as we can make clues and critical points in clear text language. This eliminates confusion as to which waypoint number was what item.

Delivery and customer service were a 5+. I had the device operating in the field within four days of when I ordered it via the website. The follow-up information on shipping and customer information clearly demonstrates a very positive customer service attitude.

Modern Marvel

Reviewed By: Michael Branciforte - Gainesville, Florida

The Garmin Etrex Vista is by far the most dynamic and reliable GPS device I have ever worked with. Under any conditions this little wonder performs better than any other. For the money, there is not better deal. Whether you are using all the neat gadgets like barometric altimeter or navigation maps, you will be amazed at the ease and beauty of this product.

Great tool for serious outdoors use

Reviewed By: Tim Kohler - San Jose, CA

The Garmin Venture is a great way to plan trips or review where you've been. Easy to use interface that allows even text entry fast via the joystick. It picks up signals quickly and has a fair response even in trees. It's small and light weight and runs for a while, even on NiMH rechargables. I recommend the Venture rather than the eTrek because of the joystick, better navigation features, and fun tools like sun and moon predictions. Unless you NEED a barometer and compass, get the Venture instead of the Summit. The manuals do a good job of describing the device and features, but not GPS and how to use it. If you are new to GPS, I recommend a good GPS book like "GPS made Easy" also.

Etrex Venture, Overall Very Good

Reviewed By: Richard Funderburg - Madison, WI

This gps works well, and I only have a few issues with it. I was able to use the unit without reading any of the manual. It has a nice, high resolution screen with white backlight. There are only five buttons, which are easy to learn. Please note that I immediately upgraded my gps software to 2.20 (see garmin's website).

The interface is composed of 5 different screens: Satellite, Map, Naviation, Trip Computer, and Main Menu.

The satellite screen shows where the gps expects to see satellites, and the signal strength from each. This is usefull if you can't get a consistent signal. It also shows your coordinates and the approximate accuracy. 16 ft. accuracy is about as good as it shows, and sometimes it will get up to a couple hundred feet, if you don't have a strong signal.

The map screen shows the points of the internal city database, your waypoints, routes, and the automatic trail marker. This screen is easy to use and understand. However, panning on this screen is a little tricky. Usually you use the click stick to navigate to the menus at the top of the screen. When you are panning, you need to first push the "PAGE" button to get out of panning mode. You can think of the page button as an ESCAPE key on your keyboard. It gets you out of any windows that may pop up too.

The navigation screen shows your current heading, an arrow to your destination (or next point on a route), and two user defined fields. These include things like current speed, average speed, degrees off course, trip odometer, and many others. One of the most interesting, I think, is the Velocity Made Good statistic. It shows how fast you are moving toward your destination (not just your current speed), so if you are going straight at your destination it is your velocity, but if you are going perpendicular to your destination it is zero.

The trip computer page shows eight different user definable fields in small text mode, and four in large text mode. Large text mode is useful if you are using the gps in a vehicle, where you cannot look the gps for a long time to spot your data. While this page is useful, I do have one problem with it. You cannot select all of the fields that you can select from the navigation screen. For example, you cannot select the Velocity Made Good statistic in this screen. This does not make much sense to me, and is one of the reasons I am giving the unit 4 stars for performance. Also there is no option to show your current heading in degrees. It only shows the 8 basic directions.

The main menu allows you to enter waypoints, make routes, and set up the GPS. It is easy to use, and shows the current time and battery remaining. When entering waypoints, you must use the click-stick (little joystick) to select letters from a pop-up keyboard. This is a slow process. I suggest using Garmin's Mapsource software (if possible) to enter waypoints using your computer.

Battery time will vary by brand of battery, but I would say that 20 hours is a little bit optimistic on battery saver mode. I bought some cheap rayovac batteries and they only lasted about 8-10 hours on battery save mode. Your mileage will vary.

Overall, I am very satisfied. You get a lot for the money.

eTrex Venture

Reviewed By: Russell Beams - Twin falls, Idaho

I recently purchased the Venture and find it most useful and superior to the original eTrex which I have also used.
I have not yet had a chance to test it in the field but have tested the various functions from inside my home and in the car with great success. To my surprise it locked onto the satellites and generally stayed locked on.
The "click stick" makes navigating the various screens quick and easy. Adding and deleting waypoints is a snap.
I do find the track and route features cumbersome and it takes lots of practice.
All this combined with its small size and economic value make this a true winner!

Garmin etrex venture

Reviewed By: Randy Wahler - Thermopolis, Wy.

I give the Garmin etrex venture five stars. It is very user friendly. I was able to use it immediatly after picking it up. I used the quick reference book first. I will be using it a lot and will have all the confidence in the world in the product.

Garmin eTrex Venture

Reviewed By: Ed Maurer - Catasauqua, PA

Received my Venture at work and decided to try it on my lunch 1/2 hour. First impression - this thing is TINY! About the size of a pack of cigarettes. Easy to follow Quick Start Guide had me setting correct time, setting waypoints and navigating within that 1/2 hour! Locked on to satellites faster than other gps units I've tried. If you can use a pc, you'll feel right at home with the Venture. Everything is menu driven and easy to understand. Very powerful receiver - it locks up satellites in my living room. I'm an avid hunter and plan to use the Venture when I scout. This will make finding those stands easy even in the dark without using markings that "advertise" your stands to other hunters. I chose this model because of it's ability to store multiple routes and its one handed operation. The advantages of gps are tremendous for the serious hunter. The Venture's silent operation, easy to read display, nice rubber grip around the edges, long battery life, and powerful memory mean it will accompany me on all my hunting activities. The INCLUDED pc interface cable and the ability to download information from the MapSource program make this model the best value on the market,in my opinion.

Garmin etrex venture

Reviewed By: W. Alan Huffman - Wichita, Kansas

Recieved in short order, in good condition. Very easy to understand, have already begun use. Its light weight, waterproof, and the screen is larger that many handhelds of a larger overall size. I'll probably buy an extra.

Garmin Etrex Venture

Reviewed By: Jonathan Ho - Chicago, IL

This is a wonderful product, simple to use, good for traveling in your car or on your boat. Also has many user friendly functions that are definately a MUST for some applications!

Not So Hot

Reviewed By: pat ahern - Portland, Oregon

I initially liked this unit. I had a recurring problem that would turn of the gps when the tracking feature was on, making that feature self defeating. I contacted Garmin, and found out that the unit I had purchased new had had 4 software updates that had not been updated, one of them affecting the tracking feature. I could have downloded the updates, but in doing so, it would have wiped out all of my recorded waypoints. They offered to do it at the factory, so I sent it in. Got back a replacement that had a defective click stick, wouldn't download data, and still had the tracking problem. Then went out with a friend who had a Magellan sporttrak pro, and compared reception. In several areas, when I could not get a satellite, she was getting two to three. In addition, the Sporttrak Pro has a larger screen and graphics, and is much easier to read. Sporttrack has a $50 rebate till June 30th, making the price close enough to the Venture to go in that direction, which I did.

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