| Garmin eTrex Venture HC | 
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| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
Buy New: £104.28
New (11) from £97.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 1267
Media: Sports
Fragile: No
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 0 x 0 x 0
MPN: 010-00632-01
Model: 010-00632-01
UPC: 753759072889
EAN: 0753759072889
ASIN: B000UNDLQ2
Release Date: September 13, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Product Description
eTrex Venture HC is an essential for any outdoor excursion. It features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver for peak performance in any environment and includes 24 megabytes (MB) of internal memory, a detailed basemap and crisp color screen. Enjoy Clear Reception With its high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, eTrex Venture HC locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear whether youre in deep woods or just near tall buildings and trees, you can count on Venture HC to help you find your way when you need it the most. Add More Detail eTrex Venture HCs basemap contains lakes, rivers, cities, motorways & major roads, railway lines and coastlines. Venture HC also includes 24 MB of internal memory, so you can load waypoints and routes from the included MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software and add map detail from Garmin's entire line of optional MapSource mapping products. Its 256-color, sunlight-readable display makes it easy to distinguish map details even in bright sunlight. eTrex Venture HC: Lock onto the great outdoors.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 5 Star Gadget !! Great with OS Maps August 31, 2008
Wow, what a neat product!
I have bought the Venture HC, and am absolutely delighted with it.
I use it in conjunction with OS Maps (Memory Map) on my PC and the usability of the combination is superb. I have bought the OS maps for the whole of Southern England (1:50,000) for about 42. I can then view these OS Maps on my PC (this scale shows all footpaths and bridle paths), decide on a route which I want to take, select 'New Route' and then click at various points along the chosen path (creating Waypoints and a path). Once I am satisfied with the route I click 'Export to GPS' and that route is now on my Venture. It as simple as that to load a route.
Once out and about (for me - on my bike with the bike mount kit) the Venture points me to the next Waypoint, and as I pass that it points me to the next one and so on.
When I decide to turn around (assuming I do not have a circular route) then I just tell the GPS to 'Reverse Route' and it takes me back again.
It gives you as much information as you like, course, speed, time and distance to next waypoint, time to Final Destination (based on your approximate speed). You can also choose which units to display this info in, Miles, KM, Nautical Miles etc, and the same for speed.
Once you have completed your journey, you can connect your GPS to your PC, and on your PC you can view the actual route you took, along with seeing the speed of various legs of your journey, altitude gained and lost along the way etc. You can even (really easily) export to Google Earth and see the journey you have made, clearly marked.
For clarity, the OS (Memory Map) Maps which I use, do NOT in themselves transfer onto the GPS (for that you need the MapSource Maps). But the OS Maps are fantastic for plotting your route on before hand, and syncing with your GPS. I have viewed the Mapsource Maps, and whilst they are neat in that they can go onto your GPS, when viewed on the PC they far less detail than you have from the OS Maps, so I am very pleased with the selection I have made.
You also have the ability to print from the OS maps, and for me I use 'ToughPrint Waterproof Paper'. This means I have a waterproof & crease-proof hard copy map to go with the GPS, folded into my pocket for when I need it, and the path I wish to travel loaded onto the GPS having first plotted it on the PC. This may sound hi tech, but believe you me it really is straight forward to do, and for me this is absolutely a 5 star product, and a 5 star combination. I am really delighted with this purchase.
Great Product But High Learning Curve July 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Garmin makes a great number of high quality handheld GPS devices. I particularly chose this one for hiking and remote camping uses. Specially, I purchased a 2 GB mini memory card (SanDisk) and then the Garmin US TOPO 24K (National Parks East, for starts). I was able to pick specific quadrants from the US TOPO CD software and download it to my Garmin handheld through my PC (MAC also works). It worked perfectly. I will admit that the learning curve is high on this and I tend to get excited about electronic devices in general. This took taking the instruction manual and going step-by-step to learn all the functions available.
For starters, I simply went outside and turned it on. Within a minute I had several satellite acquisitions and was immediately shown where I was (in the world). The basic map included on the device is not that particularly detailed, so I purchased additional software data. You can read all about the functions that are installed on this unit here at Amazon. Some are marking a waypoint, finding a position, tracking, highway plans, a calendar, alarm clock, calculator, stopwatch, sun and moon schedules and various games. You also have access to its compass and a driving set-up that will tell you your speed, distance reaming (to your destination), estimated travel time, etc. If you were hiking and got lost, you would be able to backtrack your steps, as if you had left markers or `breadcrumbs'.
The unit itself is extremely well made and could survive several `drops' and is waterproof. The display (approximately 2" X 1.5") is plenty for view-ability. The screen actually changes from a bright daytime screen to a nighttime mode. Every function is verified by a slight "beep". Unfortunately, you do need to buy Garmin maps to download to the unit, as the one included is not very detailed and for additional data input, you really do need a mini memory card. But for the price and the number of functions, this is really a good value. Nothing beats a map and compass, but this is a great addition to any hiking that you may do. Also, for driving directions, the only thing lacking is the voice response. I highly recommend you research other Garmin models and all the accessories you might want to purchase for your personal use.
 TOTAL CONFUSION April 28, 2008
8 out of 19 found this review helpful
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A MAP AND COMPASS MAN WHO CAN TELL FROM THE MAP ALMOST EXACTLY WHAT THE ACTUAL GROUND WILL LOOK LIKE SO BUYING AN ELECTRONIC SATELLITE NAVIGATION DEVICE - IN THIS CASE THE GARMIN eTREX HC - WAS THE RESULT OF A WIN ON THE GRAND NATIONAL AND THE THOUGHT THAT THE NEXT TIME I FLEW TO ENGLAND I COULD TRY IT OUT ON DARTMOOR. I LIVE ON THE ISLAND OF JERSEY.
I FOUND THE INSTRUCTIONS TO BE TOTALLY CONFUSING. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WHEN A COMPANY SELLS A PRODUCT THE INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE CLEAR, CONCISE AND SO WRITTEN THAT ANYONE CAN UNDERSTAND THEM. NOT SO IN GARMIN'S CASE I AM AFRAID. ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS:-
1) HOW DO I PLOT A COURSE FROM A TO B.
2) HOW DO I ENTER THE INFORMATION INTO THE MACHINE
3) HOW DO I FOLLOW THE COURSE ON THE MACHINE
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR INSTRUCTIONS IS A MIND BOGGLER. HOWEVER WROTE THEM WOULD APPEAR TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO IMPART INSTRUCTIONS TO OTHERS. I SPOKE TO A MEMBER OF STAFF OF GARMIN ON THE PHONE WHO WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL BUT I STILL FOUND THE INSTRUCTIONS EXASPERATING. OF COURSE YOU ALSO HAVE TO BUY THEIR DOWNLOADABLE MAPS IF YOU WANT TO GO ANYWHERE IN ENGLAND AT A COST OF 135.00!!
WHEN I WENT TO THE WEBSITE THAT THE GARMIN MAN TOLD ME ABOUT I TRIED TO GET TO A PICTURE OF DARTMOOR. ALL IT SHOWED WAS A GREEN AREA WITH NO WORDING OR NAMES. THE GENTLEMAN TOLD ME THAT THEIR MAPS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ORDNANCE SURVEY AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SCALE AND SYMBOLS.
BY THIS TIME I'D HAD ENOUGH SO IT WENT BACK INTO THE BOX AND IS NOW IN THE LOFT WHERE IT WILL BE FOUND AFTER I'M LONG GONE. STICK TO THE REAL METHOD OF NAVIGATION - THE MAP AND COMPASS OR FIND A COMPANY THAT MAKES INSTRUCTIONS BOTH READABLE AND A JOY TO UNDERSTAND.
IF YOU LIVE IN JERSEY, BY THE WAY, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE IT ON LAND UNLESS YOU USE LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE. THE BRITISH ORDNANCE SURVEY DOES NOT APPLY HERE AND "DIGIMAP" THE COMPANY WHO DO THE 1:25000 MAP OF JERSEY USE A SERIES OF NUMBERS FOR LAT AND LONG THAT WERE DECIDED BY THE STATES OF JERSEY. NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OTHER GRID SO EVEN UTM / UPS IS NO GOOD.
ANYONE WANT TO BUY AN UNUSED GARMIN eTREX HC IN THE BOX? NOW WHERE'S MY COMPASS?
Excellent on its own, amazing with additional Garmin maps March 22, 2008
59 out of 59 found this review helpful
There are a few reviews of this unit knocking around, though none answered the questions I had when I was looking to buy. So having bought & used now, I thought I'd try and give the sort of review which would have helped me.
Firstly, the unit itself. Build quality is excellent - tough, weather-proof and durable. The unit is fairly small (about the size of a compact digital camera), though the colour screen is a good size and is easily readable. The high-sensitivity nature if this particular model means that it picks up satellites within 20 seconds of a cold-start, even in areas of cover (under trees etc). The accuracy is within about 10 feet. Menus are easy to use - anyone who is able to figure out how their mobile phone menus work will be able to figure this out without looking at the instructions. Battery life is very good - takes a couple of AA batteries which last for ages (still on my first set!). Also means you don't have to mess around with chargers etc - just chuck a couple of spares in your pocket if you're worried!
Secondly, using the unit. There are a number of comments about the basemap in other reviews. It is basic - mainly just motorways, A-roads, large water masses and towns. This is not like your car sat-nav - though it's not supposed to be. I'll be using the the unit when I cycle from Leeds to Liverpool along the canal. The canal isn't on the basemap, but it will give me an idea of where I am in relation to the towns I will pass through or near. For walking/hiking, the unit is easily used with an OS map - the unit will give you your co-ordinates which you can then find on your paper map - simple. The units also has a number of other nifty features - it will track your progress automatically - and at the end of a trek (or during), will tell you how long you've been walking (& how long you spent standing still!), how far, average speed, top speed, etc and will show you on the unit your 'path' of where you've been.
Some walking websites also have downloadable GPS co-ordinates for their recommended walks - you can transfer these onto the unit so it will give you a route which you can follow as you go - helpful if the walk description isn't that good!
The unit however, becomes a whole different thing when you use it with the Garmin Mapsource Topo maps, which can be bought separately (and which I have bought and used). Much is made of the cost of these maps (about 100 for entire UK), but they're still cheaper than buying all the paper OS maps. The maps give you so much more detail on the unit screen (which you can zoom in-zoom out as you wish)- streets in urban areas, but paths, minor roads, railways, rivers, contour lines, etc in the 'wilds' - basically all you need to know exactly where you are/where you're going without an OS map. The Mapsource software also lets you plot walking routes on your PC which you can then transfer, with the maps, onto your unit.
There are comments in other reviews saying that this unit, because it doesn't have a memory card, is unable to be used with the Mapsource maps. Rubbish. The internal memory size does limit the size of maps which you can transfer across, but to give you an example, the internal memory has enough space to hold detailed Topo maps to cover about four fifths of the Lake District National Park - quite some area. Maybe not good enough for anyone walking along distance (Pennine Way, etc), but certainly more than enough for the day-walker.
I hope this helps. In short, excellent item when used with paper OS maps, and a wonderful, amazing unit if you splash out and use with the Garmin Mapsource Topo software.
BaseMap awful March 12, 2008
11 out of 14 found this review helpful
I just bought an "Etrex Ventura HC" to use as an aid for hill walking.
I specifically bought one with a map that shows rivers and lakes (as advertised in the product description above), but when looking at it, the Basemap is too incorrect to even consider using this device.
According to the basemap, the river Thames stops before arriving at London, and there are apparently no rivers or lakes in the lake district.
Very good satalite reception and excelent if you want to know where you are and are using regular maps, but the inbuilt is not suitable, and this model is not designed to use the advanced maps.
This item is being returned.
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