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Garmin eTrex Venture HC | 
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| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
Buy New: £93.70
New (18) from £93.70
Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 1010
Media: Electronics
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 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW - UK SPEC - UK STOCK - SHIPPED FAST
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| Features:
| • | 256 colour sunlight readable display | | • | 24MB Internal memory for storing data from Mapsource. | | • | 500 Waypoints and 50 routes | | • | USB interface | | • | Tracklog: 10,000 track points, 10 saved tracks |
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| Editorial Reviews:
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 4 more reviews...
 A real pain in every way October 18, 2008
Viv (Devon, UK)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is our first and will be our last GPS for walking - If the others available are in anyway similar to this, anyway.
We bought this some time ago and managed to get it working. As one of the other reviewers commented, it certainly does have a high learning curve and require a lot of patience to get to grips with. Garmin make you jump through hoops to install this device. For example, why should I have to register online? I have bought it new, I have a serial number - why do I need to register online as well? The instructions that come with the device are not particularly comprehensive, either. You just have a work out a lot of it, yourself.
However, we did get it working and I even invested in MemoryMap mapping software to use with the GPS (excellent - this software is expensive but, worth it).
The final straw was when we had to re-install the PC. After jumping through all the same hoops again, I have mislaid the original licence no that was issued to me online before and am not allowed to re-register. This overpriced device won't work without this and therefore is completely useless, to me or anyone else.
I can still use the mapping software ( 99.00) luckily and am going to stick with map and compass in the future. It is a lot less hassle.
 venture September 21, 2008
vikingman (mongolia)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Bought as an upgrade for my older GTREX model. Compared to the older GTREX the venture has more extensive menus, moveable map reference frame, clearer, brighter display, better satellite tracking and it can interface with my computer via usb cable.
on the negative side, the construction quality of the unit is markedly poorer than that of my older GTREX - switches creak when squeezed and the sides of the unit also move when buttons are pressed (all the ones in the shop were the same).
The toggle button is awful - used to both navigate around the menu and also act as an 'enter' button. Trouble is that when you want to 'enter' it navigates. Very annoying. The toggle switch is proud of the unit so when you put it in your pocket or backpack it merrily takes on a life of it's own as the toggle button gets moved and pressed. Not very smart, garmin.
At night you have to guess the menus to get the backlight to come on! The unit knows when it is night time, so why not have the backlight come on as a default condition at night? Someone is not thinking at Garmin.
The external power (via mini usb) comes straight out of the rear unit, which may work for some vehicle mounted systems, but not mine. You need a lot of clearance for the cable behind the unit.
For these reasons, I wish that i had not bought this model, so think before you buy!
 5 Star Gadget !! Great with OS Maps August 31, 2008
Jon (London)
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
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
Martin A Hogan (San Francisco, CA.)
3 out of 3 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
Mr. Anthony Blyth (JERSEY. CHANNEL ISLANDS)
14 out of 29 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?
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