I've been looking for a pocket GPS for some time, primarily for use with a paper OS map when walking in the hills, but also as a basic navigation device in the car. My list of requirements were:
- can display positions in the British OS map grid units - enough battery life for a day's walk - can use rechargeable batteries - comes with a built in basic road map - can download additional maps via my PC
After reading many reviews of the models from Garmin and Magellan, the 2 most popular manufacturers of GPS units, I decided to go for the Garmin eTrex Legend. It would have been nice to have a digital compass as fitted to the top of the range Vista model, but that would have
added 50% to the price and it also consumes more battery power. Having a digital compass means that you don't have to be moving to know where North is; however, you only have to take a dozen steps for the GPS to calculate the same information. Also, whereas the Magellan documentation only mentioned the use of AA alkaline batteries, the Garmins have the choice of alkaline, Ni Cad, NiMH or Lithium which you can select from the set-up menu.
I ordered the Legend from Amazon on a friday afternoon and it arrived at 9AM the following monday (well done Amazon!). My first impressions was that it is a robust little unit that fits well in the hand. I am left handed and the manual says it is intended to be used in the left hand, but I prefer using my right. The protective rubber around the side has a delightful tactile quality to it which contributes to the well-made feel of the transparent blue case. Fitting the batteries (2 AAs - not provided) is easy and pressing the power button starts the set-up procedure. First use usually takes a few minutes while the GPS finds where in the World it is, but after that, it only takes a few seconds. While there is a comprehensive owner's manual in the box, there is also a very handy quick start guide to get you up and running quickly. It is printed on a waterproof paper so that it won't get damaged in the rain. The last 2 items in the box are a handy neck strap and a cable to connect the GPS to a PC computer (serial, not USB!) so that you can download additional maps and data, and also updated firmware from the Garmin website.
The screen is quite small and only has a 4 level grey scale, but that seems quite up to the task. A colour version is available for about £300, but that was way over my budget.
My first outing with the Legend found me constantly looking at the display as I was walking, amazed by how it recorded every twist and turn of the footpath. The OS grid reference of the GPS accurately positioned me according to the OS map with remarkable precision, making me wonder which I admired the most: the technology behind GPS or the skill of the pre-digital OS map makers! One small downside is that you can loose the satellite signal when passing through a wood, but it soon comes back once you have a clear view of the sky. A useful feature is 'trackback' where you can retrace your path back to the start. I can imagine this been very useful on the hills when the mist comes down and you need to get back to the car park. There are many more features available to help you plan, track and record your route which the owner's manual describes in detail.
Using the GPS in the car when mounted on a dashboard mobilephone cradle provided a strong signal. The Legend tracked the route well, but because the base map lacks detail, it does not follow the road exactly. For that I would need to download detailed maps into its memory. While the display is nothing like as detailed as you see on dedicated navigation units in cars, it does give you the approximate position of all motorways, A and (most) B roads in the UK and Europe, together with village, town and city names. Garmin produce detailed road maps on CD which can be downloaded onto the Legend. These cost about £100, but I hope to pick up a cheap second hand copy on Ebay soon.
In conclusion, I'm very pleased with the Legend. It does exactly what I hoped it would and with both the build quality and the range of software available, it should give me many years of useful service.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
very helpful by (100%):
