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 enlarge | Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
Buy New: Too low to display
New (61)
Avg. Customer Rating:  101 reviews
Platform: Not Machine Specific
Media: Electronics
Memorabilia: No
Tracks: 10
Batteries: 2
Batteries Included: No
Native Resolution: 176x220
Display Size: 2.2
Includes MP3 Player: 1
Size: Garmin Part #010-00632-00
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.1
Dimensions (in): 1.2 x 2 x 4.4
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: eTrex Venture HC
Model: eTrex Venture HC
UPC: 753759072872
EAN: 0753759072872
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
 Wonderful, having a blast with it Geocaching February 18, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
When you get it make sure the Datum is set correctly otherwise you will get very frustrated. Once the Datum is set its perfect.
 We all make mistakes February 26, 2008
5 out of 26 found this review helpful
Don't bother reading the product description - it's more than a tad misleading. In order to make it function as described you need to purchase a more advanced design and m ore than $100 in additional software. If you really want a GPS that can give you more than a "home's that way", step up a notch or three and plan on another $100 in software. This product will serve the most basic of functions, but little more.
 Very impressed! February 27, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I tried other brand name GPS systems but this one is the best hands down. I primarily use the Venture HC to geocache with my family. The supplied USB cable makes it a breeze to simply download waypoints to the unit or upload data to the included MapSource software. I am impressed with the accuracy and I normally arrive within meters of my intended target. The menu is intuitive and easy to navigate. The battery life so far has been outstanding but I always take a back-up pair just in case. I am right handed and my only complaint would be the location of the rocker button. When I use the Venture with my right hand I cover most of the screen with my thumb reaching across the unit. Overall, I love the Venture HC and I would recommend it to any beginner or intermediate geocacher.
Terrific sensitivity, lots of features, typical (poor) user interface May 8, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The etrex Venture HC is an outstanding GPS. I could tell from my first week of using it that the Venture was sensitive and could get a signal in some difficult environments. However, I was really surprised at its performance on a recent trip to Washington, DC. My previous experience with GPSs in commercial aircraft led me to expect that I would probably have to hold the unit against the bottom of a window at exactly the right angle to have a hope of getting a lock. In contrast, the Etrex Venture HC locked onto its location within two minutes while I was sitting in an aisle seat of a Boeing 717. I was delighted. The unit had no difficulty keeping its lock onto the satellites for the entire trip (until time to power down all electronic devices).
At a more practical level, I loaded the locations of the Washington Metro stations from a (free) POI database before the trip. That turned out to be quite useful despite the fact that I only have the factory-installed base map so far.
The USB cable works well with the GPS, my tablet PC, and Microsoft Streets and Trips. I use the GpsGate software ($12.95) to convert the proprietary Garmin protocol to the open NMEA protocol so that a complete array of free and commercial software will work with the Garmin.
My main criticism is that the user interface takes a while to learn. The push buttons are black with nearly-invisible black identification symbols. The rocker key is very sensitive and appears quite fragile (time will tell). The sensitivity of the rocker key leads to many inadvertent button presses. Finally, the menu system has a maze-like logic similar to Jorge Luis Borges' "Celestial Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge." That is, the user interface is no better and no worse than that of most consumer technology.
All in all I am very pleased with this device.
Very Good Basic Unit - high sensitivity receiver is great June 20, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I used this to replace an older basic eTrex model before a camping trip. I work with GPS in airplanes (that cost more than my car) but was not famiar with outdoor models. It should be noted that the "H" part of the Garmin model names refers to a new-generation receiver that is much more sensitive and I found it to be fantastic- it will locate my position indoors and under a thick rainforest canopy it always found its location within 20 seconds. When in a new location I would say it always located itself within 3 minutes. The only trouble it had in locating itself was when it was under the canopy and against a steep mountainside (and also inside the airliner when I didn't keep it against the window).
This is an older model with an upgraded receiver so the battery life is not as good as other Garmins but at around 7 hours with the screen set to dim it never bothered me. It also has less internal memory than more expensive models so you might have to load base maps more frequently (you might have to pay dearly for some good maps). You can easily up/download tracks and waypoints, which I found to be pretty fun. This comes with WAAS capability turned off by default, probably to save power (it can be turned on easily from the settings page); I'm not sure why someone would want it when hiking. My unit got soaked in the rain several times and had no problems. More expesive Garmin handhelds can figure out driving directions but refurbished car models are going for $100.
General advice: I'm very happy with this model but make sure you get a Garmin model with the letter "H," or another brand with a Sirfstar III receiver for higher sensitivity. The free software from topografix doesn't work as well as the Garmin software that comes with this GPS but I suspect the non-free topografix software may be a bargain (don't waste money on the amazingly detail-free Garmin world map software). I found the array of 3rd party software options overwhelming. Google Earth does not require a $20 subscription to display tracks & waypoints from this GPS, just save your stuff in the open *.gpx format from the Garmin software and open it in the free Google Earth - it's fun.
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