The eTrex 30 is for all purposes, the new Vista HCx, both have barometric altimeters and each have compasses, but, the thirty has a tri-axis compass that permit to appear at the unit perpendicularly to the ground and it will still mark to the north.

Among the improvements are of course the new hi-color screen (Allows BirdsEye maps, like having a Google Earth in your pocket on the path!). Wireless transmission of data via ANT+ that additionally works with heart rate and cadence monitors. And the most vital geek factor, the reception of GLONASS signals!

One of the new things that I like a ton is that everything now is a file, on the Vista HCx to download the files it was necessary to use the Garmin serial protocol, now with the 30, only with connecting the unit to a USB port in the computer it’s possible to get all the captured information in standard-compliant GPX files. This conjointly means that that there’s a 2GB (1.7GB usable) flash storage device within the unit.

Placing GPX files in the correct folders within the unit conjointly displays the knowledge among those in the unit, like waypoints or tracks. It is abundant easier now. In Linux I use gpsbabel to convert backwards and forwards from several formats, in explicit I get pleasure from exploring my visits again with Google Earth and it requires KML files, gpsbabel helps to try to to that precisely.

Conjointly, there’s an Alarm Clock on the unit, I just tested it a 4:30am and it woke me at about two meters from my bed. This is often something I really needed to possess in my Vista HCx, as my traveling wristwatch isn’t that loud, and that i had to use a Casio traveling clock just for that. One less device to carry!

Loading maps is currently method more faster than with the Vista HCx, having each one for Europe and another domestically, takes some seconds, whereas before it took minutes

As continuously, a GPS unit like this, now with a GLONASS receiver, will beat any smartphone on trails and whereas traveling abroad. Here in the tropics close to the Equator I got a fix pretty quick, however not with as several GLONASS satellites as I wished, that’s as a result of that GNSS constellation is best used approach up within the north hemisphere.

The Garmin eTrex 30 User Interface appearance higher, with antialiased fonts and pretty icons, it is now additional sort of a Windows XP UI, whereas within the Vista HCx with its restricted color palette, was like a Windows 3.1 UI. The on-screen keyboard looks to be easier to use, and looks like a miniature version of those included in smartphones.

Physically, the unit is lighter, more compact (A few millimeters additional bulky thorough), easier to handle in your hand, the rocker is in the proper aspect now, smart for right handed, however my muscular memory keeps moving my thumb to the previous rocker position in the Vista HCx. The infamous rubber band used in the Vista HCx that unglued so simply with time looks to be substituted with a a lot of solid rubber sides, currently connected with screws. The micro SD card is placed like a SIM card in an exceedingly phone, beneath the batteries.

Currently, this is something I even have continuously wished that was NOT added… An choice to LOCK THE BUTTONS! Neither unit has the option to avoid the buttons to be pressed whereas having the unit on a backpack or during a holster. I would really like an possibility like in the mobile phones to do that (“Press such and such buttons to unlock”). Several times I even have place my units during a bag to later retrieve them in a weird configuration screen and with a track erased or thus. Read more in my Garmin eTrex 30 Review.

Author: davik8wlwa

This author has published 6 articles so far. More info about the author is coming soon.