Garmin Etrex Hcx Software

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Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: System

Choose “GPS + GLONASS“, “GPS” for a better battery life.

GPS City will show you how to RESET your Garmin Etrex series GPS back to factory default settings. Back up all wanted GPS data using Basecamp or Mapsource as a precaution before starting. Garmin eTrex Legend HCx drivers are tiny programs that enable your GPS hardware to communicate with your operating system software. Maintaining updated Garmin eTrex Legend HCx software prevents crashes and maximizes hardware and system performance.

For outdoor activities you usually do not need WAAS/EGNOS signal corrections (WAAS is only available in North America, EGNOS in Europe). WAAS/EGNOS can provide a better accuracy in certain situations and is recommended for pilots and mariners.

BUT: Activate it, if your preference is “Enable all and hope the best!” (= GPS / GLONASS / WAAS / EGNOS).

Depends on your preferred battery type:
  • Alkaline (not recommended)
  • Lithium (recommended for cold environments and long run-times), e.g. Energizer AA Ultimate
  • Rechargeable NiMH (highly recommended, for daily use): e.g. Panasonic Eneloop AA BK-3MCCE
“Garmin” is recommended:
  • The gps device is supplied with energy when connecting to an external power source (e.g. AC charger).
  • Connecting the handheld to a PC you get the screen “USB Cable Detected. Would you like to go to Mass Storage?“. “Yes“: Activiting the mass storage, you get access to the file system and can copy data or install maps (e.g. with Garmin BaseCamp); “No“: Device is powered by the external source. “Mass Storage“: Mass storage is activated immediately when connecting to a PC.
Screenshots (left to right): “Satellite System” and “WAAS/EGNOS” different settings
  • GPS (WAAS/EGNOS off) Satellites: 05 – 28 GPS
  • GPS & GLONASS (WAAS/EGNOS off) Satellites: 05 – 30 GPS, 65 – 92 GLONASS
  • GPS & GLONASS & WAAS/EGNOS Satellites: 05 – 30 GPS, 36 EGNOS, 65 – 92 GLONASS; “D”: device receives and calculates EGNOS signal corrections

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Display

Turns the backlight off after a given time. Choose a timeout as short as possible for battery saving, timeout depends on your activity and profile.
“Mode“: Choose between “Auto, Day, Night“:
  • Auto: Automatic switch between day / night colors (at sunset/-rise)
  • Day: Color as defined in “Day Color Scheme“
  • Night: Color as defined in “Night Color Scheme“
Capturing screenshots, turn “off” except you need it (tip: after a tour you can capture your trip computer for saving the statistics!)(screenshots are saved in the device folder “Garminscrn“)

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Tones

Choose one, the message beep keeps you informed e.g. when the battery is low or the gps signal lost.
Annoying, turn “Off” (“off” is at the end of the list)
Choose different tones; warnings when navigating with routes from waypoint to waypoint or for autorouting (turn “Early / Final Turn Warning” off when you do not need it)
Different options, e.g. when approaching a POI (turn “Proximity / Speed / Tones / Alarms” off when not in use!)(highly sophisticated topic, have a look Garmin warnings and alarms, in German)
Map orientation, depending on your activity (and profile):
  • North Up: North is always at the top of the display / page, independent of the device orientation (e.g. recommended for hiking without active navigation).
  • Track Up: Direction of travel is always at the top of the page (recommended for active navigation and / or activities like cycling)
  • Automotive Mode: Three dimensional look, direction of travel is always at the top of the page (recommended for automotive use)
When navigating, a guidance text with usefull informations like “Arriving at …” appears at the top of the map (not when using “Routing > Activity > Direct Routing“). “Always” should be avoided, because the text “Ready to Navigate” covers the map, even without active navigation. Best choices are “When Navigating” or “Never“, depending on you activity or profile.
Choose between different informations (data fields, graphics) on top of the map. Depending on your activity and preferences, e.g. “Dashboard > Geocaching” for geocaching. Our preference is “Custom“: “When Navigating > 4 small“, “When Not Navigating > 0” (while navigating you have four data fields as an overlay; when not navigating the map is completely visible).
  • Auto Zoom: Turn off (except for car driving)
  • Zoom Levels: Use “Auto“
  • Text Size: Use “Small” or “Medium“, “Large” is usually too much.
  • Detail: “Normal” map detail level is usually enough
  • Shaded Relief: The shaded relief provides a better visualization (e.g. hill-shades), but in deep woods the darker map screen can reduce the visibility. For a better readability use “Do not show“. When you need the relief choose “Show if Available” or at least “Auto” (shaded relief disappears when zooming in the map).

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Tracks

  • Do Not Record: Recommended setting when you do not need a track log, e.g. automotive profile
  • Record, Do Not Show: Starts the track log, but the log is not visible on the map.
  • Record, Show On Map: Starts the track log, track is visible on the map. Recommended settings for your outdoor activities (Tip: At the start point, always reset the track and trip data; see next topic).
Recommendation: “Auto” (good choice for most outdoor activities), “Distance” is recommended for hiking, “Time” when using the device as a data logger for geotagging.
Settings for the track log recording interval depending on the “Record Method“, the combination “Auto / Normal” is sufficent, for hiking e.g. “Distance / 10 m / 0.01 mi”

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Track log color on the map, your choice!

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Reset

Deleting all data from the current trip, e.g. like “trip odometer, ascent total” (but not the “odometer” = all recorded distance by the device). Should be done before starting a new trip (alternative: “Clear Track and Trip Data” as described below).
Clears the actual track (active log). Should be done before starting a new trip (alternative: “Clear Track and Trip Data” as described below).
Resets the trip data AND the track log, should be done at the tour start point (immediately before leaving!).
Reset all settings (restores the gps device to factory default settings).

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Page Sequence

Defining the page sequence (page order when pressing the “BACK” key on the device). You have two options:
  • Press the “MENU” key when you are in the “Page Sequence” menu: You can remove/include all pages or restore the defaults.
  • Select one element in the list with the thumb stick: Move / Insert / Remove single items or use the “Add Page” command.

Tip: Keep it simple, remove all pages you do not need!

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Units

Your choice, depending on you region, activity, …
Your choice, depending on you region, activity, …
Your choice, depending on you region, activity, …
Your choice, depending on you region, activity, …
Your choice, depending on you region, activity, … (Hectopascals: international unit)
“Automatic” is recommended.

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Position Format

Format for coordinates. For geocaching and marine use “hddd°mm.mmm’“, otherwise “UTM UPS“
“WGS 84”, except for working with paper maps (choose the same format as the paper map)

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Heading

“Directional Letters” or “Numeric Degrees” are the best choices for many outdoor activities (“Mils” for special use cases)
Only relevant when navigating with compass and paper map (use the standard “True“)
Use “Bearing” (small / large is your choice) as standard, “Course (CDI)” (Course Deviation Indicator) e.g. for sea kayaking
Use “Auto” (“Off” when you do not need the compass, might save some battery)
Screenshots (left to right)
  • Compass: Bearing small, Directional Letters
  • Compass: Bearing large, Directional Letters
  • Compass: Course (CDI), Numeric Degrees

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Altimeter

  • On: auto calibration activated
  • Off: auto calibration disabled
Recommended altimeter calibration methods for outdoor activities:
  • 1st choice: Manually by entering the elevation at your starting point and recalibration on tour (e.g. elevations from mountain tops)(auto calibration 'off')
  • 2nd choice: Manually by entering the elevation at your starting point, on tour using auto calibration 'On'
  • 3rd choice: Use only auto calibration 'On'
'Save When Power On' as altimeter on tour
Calibrate the altimeter by using one of these data:
  • 'Correct Elevation' (e.g. from a paper or digital map)
  • 'Correct Pressure' (e.g. from weather data)
  • 'Current GPS Altitude' (from your gps device; tip: wait some minutes after power on)
Use 'Fixed Elevation'
'Save Always', reads pressure even when the device is turned off
'Barometric Pressure' (use preferably; ambient pressure calibrated to sea level, not compensate for humidity or temperature) or 'Ambient Pressure' (sensor reading from the unit)
Calibrate the altimeter by using one of these data:
  • 'Current Elevation' (e.g. from a paper or digital map)
  • 'Correct Pressure' (e.g. from weather data)
  • 'Current GPS Altitude' (from your gps device; tip: wait some minutes after power on)

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Geocaching

  • Geocache List: Preferably choose 'Show Names' over 'Show GC Codes' (e.g. 'Welcome to Bavaria' instead of 'GC2NJG9')
  • Geocache Style: Select 'Auto'
Number of found geocaches (automatically added, but you can manually edit the number by entering the menu item with the thumbstick)
Define filters for geocaches, e.g. for traditional geocaches
Programing a chirp

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Routing

Choose one method, depending on your activity (e.g. 'Off Road' for the last meters to a geocache)
  • 'Off Road': Straight line from your current position to the destination (e.g. waypoint, geocache) or from point to point (e.g. waypoint to waypoint when navigating along a multipoint route). Direct routing is independent from trails, streets etc. on the map ('over hill and dale').
  • 'On Road ...': Autorouting (= device automatically calculates a route) to the destination, along trails, streets etc. in the map database (requires a routable map), choose your preferred method.
  • 'Prompted': After setting the destination you can choose the 'Guidance Method'.
Selection depends on the activity and your preferences.
'No', except for activities like road cycling or automobile driving (corrects your gps position to align with the road on the map).
'Auto' is normally fine
  • 'Auto': automatic transition to the next point of a multipoint route
  • 'Manual': manual transition to the next point of a multipoint route
  • 'Distance': when you are within the entered distance the device leads you to the next waypoint of a multipoint route
Types of roads you want to avoid when using autorouting.

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Marine

Depends on the used maps (e.g. Garmin BlueChart) and the activity („Fishing“, „Nautical“)
Different marine alarms, e.g. anchor drag alarm

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: ANT Sensor

'Off', except you want to pair / use a heart rate monitor
'Off', except you need it

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: Profiles

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Creating / Deleting / Naming / Moving profiles:
  • Recommendation: Leave the Garmin default profiles as is and create your own profiles.
  • How-to: Activate a default Garmin profile (e.g. 'Recreational', function 'Profile Change' in the main menu), go to 'Setup > Profiles > Create Profile', your new profile has the same settings as the previously activated 'Recreational' profile, then you can rename and tweak the new profile as you like.

Garmin eTrex 20/20x/22x/30/30x/32x Settings: About

Start the 'Trip Computer' page, press the 'MENU' key and customize the trip computer (change the dashboard, style, data fields etc.)
  1. brian on 5. September 2019 at 12:13

    I want to enter a destination by coordinates but when I try to do so the coordinates already entered on the “Enter Coordinates” screen won’t clear. I can type over them, but unless the new ones have the same number of digits, ie two letters 6 digits, the old ones remain. Also, some coordinates in the uk start with SU or SP and so on. There seems to be no way to enter these? What am I doing wrong? garmin etrex 30x

    Reply

UPDATE: This model has been superseded by the new Garmin eTrex 20.

UPDATE: This model has been discontinued. For more current recommendations, please refer to our handheld GPS buyers guide or our Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart.

Hands on with the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx

I’ve had a chance to try out the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx recently. This is my first extended experience with an eTrex model since I purchased my first GPS — an eTrex Venture — many years ago.

One of Garmin’s newer eTrex H-series receivers, the Legend HCx updates the very popular Legend Cx. The “H” stands for high-sensitivity chipset, to ensure great satellite reception under canopy and in other situations where you have a limited view of the sky.

Quick links

More Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx resources
How much does it cost?

Like its predecessor, the Legend HCx has a bright color screen and a micro-SD card slot for loading topo or highway maps. A great handheld GPS, the Legend HCx also autoroutes, so you can add City Navigator maps and a mount, and use it for turn-by-turn highway navigation in your car. The button layout may make it a little awkward for this purpose though; a better choice for dual use might be the Garmin 60CSx.

Related units

  • Step up to the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx to add a barometric altimeter and electronic compass
  • Moving down in the H-series line to the Summit HC or Venture HC, you lose the auto-routing capability and the expandable memory
  • To see how the Legend HCx stands up against other Garmin models, check out my Garmin handheld GPS comparison chart

Garmin eTrex Legend HCx performance

The new eTrex H-series uses MediaTek’s MTK chipset, which compared favorably with the 60CSX’s SiRFstar III chipset during my testing.

The Legend HCx also performed well in accuracy tests. In a hike in a local park with relatively dense tree cover, the accuracy was never worse than 23 feet.

The other thing I noticed in comparing this unit to my 60CSx was the significantly brighter screen on the Legend HCx.

Garmin eTrex Legend HCx layout

I doubted that I would like the button layout but, as Garmin usually does, they’ve made it pretty intuitive. So let’s take a closer look at that before we go any further.

These warrant a little further explanation:

  • Power key – In addition to the on/off function, you can press and release to adjust backlighting, and view the time, date and remaining battery charge.
  • Quit / Page – Press to cycle through pages. This button will also
    terminate the use of any on-screen keyboard or back you out of a menu.
  • Zoom in/out – In addition to zooming the map, on any other screen, use it to scroll through a list or use a slider bar.
  • Menu / Find – Press and hold to see the Find screen. Press and release to display a page’s menu. Press again to get to the main menu.
  • Enter / Rocker – Press down on this “thumbstick” to enter. Move the thumbstick / rocker right-left or up-down to navigate menus or pan the map. You can also mark a waypoint at your current location by pressing and holding.

It may sound complicated, but it becomes second nature very quickly. You can discover most functions in the field. The two press and hold functions (Find and Mark Waypoint) are the only ones you really need to remember. The rest is incredibly intuitive.

Customizing your Legend HCx

One of the great things about Garmin handhelds is that they can be customized to display the information that is most important to you. The hunter, geocacher, cyclist, and hiker will all have different needs.

A great place to start, and a fine example of the degree to which you can customize the Legend HCx, is choosing what pages to display and the order in which they are displayed. To do this, press Menu, then press Menu again. Then press Setup, then Page Sequence. The most useful in my mind are the Map, Compass and Trip Computer screens (shown above at right). Personally, I also add Main Menu, Satellite, Active Route, Find, Recent Finds, Routes and Tracks!

The trip computer screen has lots of options for customization, as you can see. Each field can be changed independently, choosing from a list of 34 options. A “Big numbers” option reduces the number of visible fields to three, providing an easier to read display, a feature that cyclists or the visually impaired may find useful.

Similarly, the compass screen and map screen both allow you to customize display fields.

I also recommend going into the setup menu and exploring each option.

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More Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews

Etrex

Garmin Etrex Vista Hcx

  • Several consumer-authored Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews have been posted at GPS Now.
  • Consumer-written Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews have been posted at Amazon too.
  • Backpack Gear Test reviews the Garmin Legend HCx.
  • About.com reviews the Garmin Legend HCx, giving it a 4 out of 5 star rating.
  • A post about a first geocaching experience with the Legend HCx.
  • A Legend HCx review from a motorcyclist’s perspective.
  • This post compares elevation gain on the Legend HCx with the Vista HCx.
  • A Legend HCx review has been posted at Singletracks.com
  • Geocachers review the Garmin Legend HCx
  • I’ll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some more…

Garmin eTrex Legend HCx resources

  • A PDF version of the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx owners manual.
  • Want to see how the Legend HCx compares to other receivers? Use this Garmin GPS comparison tool.
  • I haven’t found any message forums dedicated solely to the eTrex H series, but there is a UseNet Garmin discussion board and a good Garmin forum at GPSInformation.net.
  • The official Garmin eTrex Legend HCx web page.

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