Author Topic: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?  (Read 8138 times)

Garmin etrex 20, 30, etrex touch 25 and 35. What's the difference? What's important? What's good for cycle touring especially with limited charging opportunities? Can you use them like cycling GPS unit to track route and log it (strava or Garmin connect linkage possible?).

Are the touch internal battery and the 20/30x are external? Are the 20/touch 25 basically very similar and 30/ touch 35 are similar?

Any come with bike mounts?

Just seen etrex 30 for £19 0 at cotswolds. A good price?

Cudzoziemiec

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #1 on: 24 July, 2018, 11:57:53 pm »
The Etrex touch are touch screen, the others have a wiggly button to press. A joystick type thing. I think all the etrexes use AA batteries. I don't think any of them come with a bike mount, as they're primarily intended for hiking. Handlebar mounts are readily available from Garmin for IIRC £14 or on ebay from a tenth of that including postage.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #2 on: 25 July, 2018, 12:06:27 am »
Is there anything better for £190?

Kim

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #3 on: 25 July, 2018, 12:28:06 am »
Difference between a 20 and a 30 is that the 30 can speak to some[1] Ant+ sensors (chiefly heart-rate monitors); that it has a barometric altimeter to reduce the error inherent in reading elevation from GPS; and a magnetic compass so the map/arrow always points the right way[2], even when you're not moving.

I expect the difference between a 25 and a 35 is similar.  IIRC the 'x' models are just a minor improvement to the screen.

The little joystick thing is often infuriating (particularly for text input) if you're used to modern touchscreen devices, but it has the substantial advantage that it can be operated while wearing thick gloves.

All eTrex units are excellent at recording a track of where you've been - unlike the cycling-specific Edge units, they'll quietly get on with it in the background at all times, rather than expecting you to press a button to start and stop the recording, so you don't end up with the problem of it not recording your ride because you've forgotten to press something.  They're less good for racing/training analysis for the same reason.

The navigation features are broadly similar, and work best if you're prepared to put a bit of time and effort in, both learning how best to use it to suit your style of navigation (do you want it to tell you what to do, display a line to follow, or just be a waterproof backlit map with a 'you are here' arrow that you never have to turn over?), and at your computer creating the relevant routes/tracks to upload to the unit before you set off.

Anything AA-powered is a no-brainer for touring.  Expect to get 2-3 days of use from a decent set of NiMH batteries, slightly less from alkalines.

The handlebar mounts for the modern eTrex units are often referred to by retailers as the Oregon/Dakota mounts, as they fit those units as well.  It's not as compact as the Edge series brackets, but it's designed so that the back of the unit is more comfortable in your hand, without sticky-outy bits to click into the mount.  They work well, although the cheap eBay copies can sometimes be too loose.


[1] Conspicuous omissions (compared to the Edge) are wheel speed sensors[3], and cadence sensors that aren't combined with a speed sensor.  Yes, this is ridiculous.
[2] This doesn't work very well when it's attached to a bike on account of the metal, but it's a welcome improvement if you use it for walking.
[3] Much like having a barometric altimeter, the logic behind this is that it gives a more accurate measurement of speed/distance than GPS alone.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #4 on: 25 July, 2018, 08:34:22 am »
Thank you for the summary.

One by product of the smartphone take up is the almost common conductive material in gloves to allow touch screen use. In walking brands it's been around a few years now. I wonder if the joystick will survive for many more GPS generations. Looking into satmap units it's part of their big idea based on the founder's experience of military electronics as used by squaddies. Touch screen supposedly a bad idea for durability. Gorilla glass 6 out now and I suspect durability will become a non issue for touchscreens.

With these GPS units do you need a computer to upload routes? Is there anyway of linking with your phone? I'm thinking if I decide to get one it'll be to put our proposed route on it (website for route gives gpx and other format route files out for download). If we change very loose plans because of what we find there we'll be without computer wanting to re-route. It's going to be a case of Internet cafe I guess or manual entering. No new gpx download to phone then sync across somehow? Would he difficult getting usb-c cable to GPS unit and no BTLE on the gps.

The new OS GPS units have BTLE on them so they might be heading that way.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #5 on: 25 July, 2018, 08:51:32 am »
I think I've heard some people say that when cycling, the touchscreen can be randomly activated by heavy rain. Possible I misheard that, but I do know my phone's touchscreen doesn't always respond properly when it's wet.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

frankly frankie

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #6 on: 25 July, 2018, 09:29:38 am »
Personally I think touchscreen devices are a safety issue for road users, at least in towns - you can't operate a touchscreen without looking at it, and you can't look at it and concentrate on the road ahead at the same time. 
Regardless, I would certainly avoid the Etrex Touch devices - everything I've read about them suggests they are little more than a rebadged Dakota, I used to have a Dakota for a while and it was awful.

when you're dead you're done, so let the good times roll

fuaran

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #7 on: 25 July, 2018, 09:36:22 am »
The Etrex Touch 35 has Bluetooth. Though not sure what you can actually do with it. It should work with the Garmin Connect app, which will let you upload your tracks (and automatically sync to Strava etc). So saves you having to plug in a cable for that.
Not sure if there's any way of downloading routes over Bluetooth.

frankly frankie

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #8 on: 25 July, 2018, 09:43:16 am »
Ah yes I have successfully connected an Etrex30 and an Android phone, OTG-stylee, and transferred files both ways.  But it depends on the phone, and on the whole it's such a faff I would rather just build a new Route on the GPS itself (which most people seem to think is beyond the pale but I find it reasonably workable).  Anyway, I'm one of those outliers who doesn't normally carry a phone.  :thumbsup:
when you're dead you're done, so let the good times roll

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #9 on: 25 July, 2018, 01:13:20 pm »
Re connecting stuff to the Etrex 20/30. It have found it a bit hit and miss connecting my android tab to the Garmin, even using an OTG lead and a powerbank to try to overcome apparent power issues. Problem solved now for touring as have just got myself an 11.6 inch chromebook for £99. A route can be obtained from cycle.travel with a few seconds internet access. IF (and I stress IF) want to finesse it I can do that with more internet access via wifi (spoons recommended in the UK) and the numbering of the points and other file editing can be done offline with the caret chrome extension. Best if it is then briefly checked online for syntax - that takes second

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #10 on: 25 July, 2018, 01:46:38 pm »
OTG connection was initially a faff, but with the latest Android update it seems to just work.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #11 on: 25 July, 2018, 01:50:50 pm »
OTG connection was initially a faff, but with the latest Android update it seems to just work.
which version of android are you using?

Mine is 6.0

Had the imporession the issue had more to do with my hardware (a Lenovo 7 inch Tab 3) than op system - the Lenovo sometimes tells me there is a power/potential overheat problem and urges me to shut down promptly.

I have managed to connect the Etrex 20 and the Lenovo but it is a bit hit and miss/unnerving. No probs - now have the mini chromebook.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #12 on: 25 July, 2018, 02:00:04 pm »
OTG connection was initially a faff, but with the latest Android update it seems to just work.
which version of android are you using?

Mine is 6.0

Had the imporession the issue had more to do with my hardware (a Lenovo 7 inch Tab 3) than op system - the Lenovo sometimes tells me there is a power/potential overheat problem and urges me to shut down promptly.

I have managed to connect the Etrex 20 and the Lenovo but it is a bit hit and miss/unnerving. No probs - now have the mini chromebook.

7.0.  Moving from 6 apparently made a difference.  I can also now see both the Etrex and its SD card.


vorsprung

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #13 on: 26 July, 2018, 04:38:24 pm »
I have a 20x and it will run indefinitely off a B&M Luxos USB charging port.   When it is running off external power like this the back light is on all the time at night.  The Luxos light and the rear generator powered light and the Etrex20x all work at the same time.  The only annoying feature of this is that if you forget to turn it off when you stop then it will beep when the cache battery in the Luxos USB circuit runs out (after a few minutes) and then ask if you want to switch to batteries.  The default is "no, switch off"

The Openstreet map maps work well but you need a sd card to put them on.  I have a 4GB one that is far too big.  I suppose if I ever get OS maps or something it will come in handy

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #14 on: 26 July, 2018, 06:55:39 pm »
I have a 20x and it will run indefinitely off a B&M Luxos USB charging port.   When it is running off external power like this the back light is on all the time at night.  The Luxos light and the rear generator powered light and the Etrex20x all work at the same time.  The only annoying feature of this is that if you forget to turn it off when you stop then it will beep when the cache battery in the Luxos USB circuit runs out (after a few minutes) and then ask if you want to switch to batteries.  The default is "no, switch off"

The Openstreet map maps work well but you need a sd card to put them on.  I have a 4GB one that is far too big.  I suppose if I ever get OS maps or something it will come in handy

I think Francis explained somewhere why OS maps on an Etrex would be a bad idea (raster graphics, too much detail/clutter, etc).

Kim

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #15 on: 26 July, 2018, 07:08:09 pm »
I think Francis explained somewhere why OS maps on an Etrex would be a bad idea (raster graphics, too much detail/clutter, etc).

I tried a pirate copy to see how well it worked.  Raster graphics mean it's slower than usual, but that's only a problem if you're trying to do the big-picture stuff that's a world of pain on an eTrex anyway.  It also means you have to embrace 'north up', otherwise all the labels spend most of their time upside-down.  Unintuitively, it's the lack of detail that's the real problem: A 1:50k OS map is actually quite coarse compared to a vector map at the 200-80m zoom level that works best for understanding road junctions, and you're liable to overshoot if you try to use it to navigate in urban areas (for values of urban that include every little village with a couple of ambiguous side-roads).

I concluded that it might be useful for hill walking, but it's rubbish for cycling.  And I say that as someone who paid for the full set of OS maps in Viewranger - an Android (tablet by preference) being a much better platform for the sort of bigger-picture planning that OS maps are really good for.

The main appeal of OS maps for a road cyclist is the contours, and you can get those as part of an OSM map, or as an overlay to use with eg. the Garmin road maps.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #16 on: 26 July, 2018, 11:41:06 pm »
I've found that OS mapping works well, but you need OpenStreetmap as well for the more zoomed in scales where OS goes blocky. That generally means I use OS in rural areas, and switch to OSM for towns.

That's using a GPSMap 64s (much the same as an eTrex 30, but more buttons). The OS maps are above the OSM, so I leave OSM on permanently, and show OS over the top as desired.

OS includes 1:250k as well as 1:50k. The problem with pure OSM is that all the minor roads turn off if you try to view too large an area, which I commonly do, mostly just using the GPS as a map and making the route up as I go along.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #17 on: 27 July, 2018, 08:57:39 am »
Note about the handlebar mounts: At the bottom of the Etrexes is a little hole thing for threading a lanyard through. Use it and loop the lanyard round your bars, stem or whatever fixed point is handy, otherwise you might find your Garmin bouncing on to the road.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Kim

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #18 on: 27 July, 2018, 02:48:48 pm »
Note about the handlebar mounts: At the bottom of the Etrexes is a little hole thing for threading a lanyard through. Use it and loop the lanyard round your bars, stem or whatever fixed point is handy, otherwise you might find your Garmin bouncing on to the road.

Which isn't to say the handlebar mounts (at least the proper ones) don't hold it securely[1], but it's a small amount of effort to prevent it going flying if something untoward does happen.  A minor off that hurts nothing but your pride and bar tape would be significantly worse if it culminated in your GPS being crushed by a taxi.


[1] The exception is when it's bashed from below by Brompton-stem-mounted water bottles, or kicked by a weary rider mounting or dismounting a recumbent.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #19 on: 27 July, 2018, 05:44:21 pm »
Another exception is when in a dark pub garden you put the Garmin on the mount upside down (and don't notice because it's off – you don't need it now, you're going home and know the way, but it's handier to put it on the mount than anywhere else).
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #20 on: 27 July, 2018, 05:54:45 pm »
Note about the handlebar mounts: At the bottom of the Etrexes is a little hole thing for threading a lanyard through. Use it and loop the lanyard round your bars, stem or whatever fixed point is handy, otherwise you might find your Garmin bouncing on to the road.

+1 learned my lesson the hard way. The mount had proved very good over some very bumpy ground. Then once it fell off. Appeared undamaged when I retrieved it (Etrex 20) from the road but it turned out the linkage with one of the buttons had been spoiled. Sent it back to Garmin and for a very reasonable amount they sent me back a reconditioned basically as new one.

Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #21 on: 27 July, 2018, 06:03:41 pm »

Anything AA-powered is a no-brainer for touring.


Unless you have a dynamo that can charge an external battery pack (i.e. I charge that when riding usually, rather than the GPS unit, which I then plug into the external battery at rest stops)... Which is what I do. Possibly only problematic if cycling very long night time audax rides, where you also need to run the lights at full power, so can't charge the battery.
Old enough to know better, but young enough to do it anyway

Kim

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #22 on: 27 July, 2018, 06:09:45 pm »

Anything AA-powered is a no-brainer for touring.

Unless you have a dynamo that can charge an external battery pack (i.e. I charge that when riding usually, rather than the GPS unit, which I then plug into the external battery at rest stops)... Which is what I do. Possibly only problematic if cycling very long night time audax rides, where you also need to run the lights at full power, so can't charge the battery.

I have one of those.  It mostly powers my phone/tablet.  Sometimes charges AAs for the Garmin on longer tours.  Sometimes charges my torch.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #23 on: 27 July, 2018, 06:28:50 pm »
I run my Etrex on rechargeable batteries. I don't have a way of charging it off the dynamo – heard various reports good and bad of a number of devices for this, but general consensus seems to be that it's best to charge a cache battery or power bank thing while riding and then charge devices off that – but I have noticed that when I connect it to my computer to install or download tracks, it appears to be charging the batteries. I've never left it plugged in to see how effective this is but it seems to suggest you can charge NiMHs in the device.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Kim

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Re: Garmin etrex models - what's the difference and what's important?
« Reply #24 on: 27 July, 2018, 10:38:31 pm »
Nahh, the eTrex won't actually charge its batteries, it'll just use power from the USB port instead of them.