Garmin eTrex Venture HC

After researching several handheld GPS devices - we bought the Garmin eTrex Venture. We've only used it so far for geocaching and it's worked extremely well - can get us to within a few feet. It's… sometimes slow to pick up the satellites when it first turns on - otherwise, no problems. You're supposed to be able to download geocache coordinates from the geocache website to Garmin GPS units - we haven't tried this yet.

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I finally used this for the first time to find a geocache. Turns out, I chose one of the hardest ones to find (a micro multi-cache) and didn't make it past the 1st location but at least I was able to follow… it quite easily. Inside, I was concerned about the screen contrast and brightness but outside in the light, I was able to see the screen ok without it being lighted. I am a bit concerned about the battery life. Time will tell. I bought 4 NiMH rechargeable batteries to use with it. From time to time I take it out of the drawer and turn it on. It didn't seem like the batteries lasted too long before it told me battery low. I haven't used it enough to tell how long the true battery life is but I want to take it hunting to find the blind and the car. It wouldn't be to cool if the batteries gave out. You usually walk to and from the blind in the dark so the lighted display will be used a lot. Accuracy finding the first geocache was to 14'.

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I bought this because I had gotten lost hunting grouse on state property twice already this year. I figured, why ever get lost when I can have a gps unit for a little over $100. Heres what I like: it… seems pretty tough, and its water proof (does not float though) it picks up satelites quick its icon based menus are easy to work with it is accurate As a hunter, it provides me with all I need If you are savvy enough, you can get topo maps loaded for free it is fully geocache ready (added fun) what I dont like: limited internal storage. 24 megs gives me just enough room for the maps of the areas I hunt in NY and western Ma. no SD card support.(next time I will buy a unit that accepts external storage) other than that, its good. If you are like me and on a budget, this unit will work out very well.

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