Garmin eTrex Summit HC GPS

The Garmin eTrex Summit HC GPS is a mid-range mapping handheld GPS device. A powerful receiver, bright color screen, compass, altimeter, and the ability to load topographic maps make it an excellent companion for wilderness pursuits.

This Garmin handheld GPS maintains the diminutive size of the eTrex line. It measures only 4.2-inches tall, 2.2-inches wide, and 1.2-inches thick,making it easy to pack and carry.

Garmin eTrex Summit HC Handheld GPS Receiver

The color display is very bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. It measures 1.3-inces wide and 1.7-inches high with a 176 x 220 pixel resolution.

The device is lightweight, tipping the scales at only 5.5 oz with a pair of AAA batteries installed. Battery life is about 14 hours--adequate, but far less than some of the newer high-end receivers.

Like all the eTrex models, the Garmin eTrex Summit HC GPS is waterproof to IPX7 standards and can be submerged to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes without sustaining any damage. Plus, it is rugged enough for extended outdoor use.

Five menu buttons on the sides and a front mount joystick control navigation, allowing easy one-handed operation. However, the joystick placement makes right-handed use awkward.

The high-sensitivity receiver makes for fast acquisition of satellite signals, holding them even in challenging environments such as canyons or dense forests.

The unit can store up to 500 waypoints and 50 routes. It allows 10,000 trackpoints and 10 saved tracks.

A basic basemap is included, with interstates, highways, airports, large cities and some smaller ones, oceans, rivers, and lakes. It also has an interstate exit database with some nearby points of interest such as gas station, hotels, and restaurants.

The real strength of this unit, however is the large 24 MB of internal memory, which allows you to load optional detailed maps from mapping software like Garmin's MapSource products. An included USB cable connects to a computer for this purpose.

The Garmin eTrex Summit HC GPS is very intuitive and user-friendly. The information screens can be customized to show one's preferred data. A thoughtful feature is that the map screen will orient itself to the direction of travel, using the unit's electronic compass.

The barometric altimeter is great for hiking and backpacking, showing the current altitude and recording a trip elevation profile. It also helps predict weather patterns by tracking changes in barometric pressure.

The Summit HC GPS includes extras such as a Geocaching mode, outdoor GPS games, a hunting and fishing calendar for best times, and sun and moon information.

The Garmin eTrex Summit HC GPS is a powerful mid-level handheld GPS device. Ideal for outdoor use, its many strong features provide accurate, reliable navigation for wilderness adventurers.



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