Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS
Like all the Garmin eTrex units, the Venture HC GPS is compact, lightweight, and waterproof.
Compact dimensions of 4.2-inch height, 2.2-inch width, and 1.2-inch depth make it very portable. It has a small, 1.3-inch wide by 1.7-inch high, bright and readable color display with 176 x 220 pixel resolution. The Venture HC GPS runs on 2 AAA batteries and weighs only 5.5 oz with them installed. It will operate for up to 14 hours on one set of batteries--a respectable, but not spectacular, run time. Five buttons located on the sides and a joystick on the front panel make operation an easy, one-handed affair. The placement of the joystick makes right-handed use a bit awkward. The unit will record 500 waypoints and a whopping 50 routes. It has a simple basemap of North and South America (European and Pacific versions are also available) with highways, lakes, rivers, coastlines, airports, cities and towns. Don't expect too much from the basemap, though--it is very basic. However, a generous 24 MB of internal memory allows you to load detailed maps of your choice from mapping software such as Garmin's MapSource products. The device connects to a computer with an included USB cable. The high-sensitivity receiver excels at sniffing out satellite signals and holding them, even in tough environments that would defeat lesser receivers. WAAS correction makes it accurate to within 3 meters 95% of the time. The Venture HC GPS is optimized for geocaching, with a geocaching mode that allows you to easily download waypoints directly from geocaching.com. In this mode you can mark locations "found" right from the device. Some users report frustration with the lack of an electronic compass and less than optimal waypoint name ordering. The Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Its mapping capabilities and geocaching mode make it a great choice for geocachers, as well as hikers, hunters, and other outdoor users who need a basic mapping handheld unit. Smart GPS Reviews HOME
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