GPS Review – Garmin eTrex Summit

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver

April, 2004
by: J. Chartwell

Introduction:

The eTrex Summit is small and it has only five buttons on the sides of the unit for easy operation and unobstructed view of the screen. The eTrex line also includes the basic eTrex, Camo, Venture, Vista, and Legend. All 6 eTrex units are in similar cases but vary in color. The eTrex Summit has map support for Garmin�s MapSource CDs.

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver package

What You Get:

  • The Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver
  • lanyard
  • owner�s manual
  • quick-start guide

Optional accessories:

  • Carrying case
  • Belt Clip
  • Auto Power Adapter
  • PC data cable
  • Data Cable (bare wires)
  • Bicycle Mounting Kit
  • PC Cable/Auto Power Adapter
  • MapSource Map Data CD-ROMs

What It Does:

All information needed to operate the eTrex Summit is found on five main display screens called ‘pages.’

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver normal skyview
Garmin eTrex Summmit GPS receiver advanced skyview

The Skyview Page displays the eTrex Summit�s receiver status. It also shows the strength of the satellite signals that are being received. In the �Normal Skyview� mode it displays (in animation) the satellites, satellite signal strength, and the estimated location accuracy. The �Advanced Skyview� mode displays the satellites the eTrex Summit is locked onto, each satellite�s assigned number, their approximate position in the sky, and their individual signal strengths.

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver map page

The Map Page shows where you are, where you’ve been, displays waypoint names and symbols, and shows where you’re going. The map can be oriented northward or you can choose to have it rotate so that your direction of travel is always at the top of the screen. The scale can be adjusted anywhere from 200 feet to 800 miles.

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver pointer page

The Pointer Page uses a compass to show your direction and travel speed. If you’re moving toward a specific destination, it shows the name of the location, the distance and time to go, and displays a direction arrow in the compass ring. With the simple press of one button, you can display additional information such as maximum speed, position coordinates, elevation, trip timer, trip odometer, time of sunrise and sunset, and bearing. This receiver has an electronic compass; it will give an orientation when standing still. The eTrex Summit has a feature called �Sight �N Go.� It allows you to visually locate a landmark and lock its magnetic bearing. Once a bearing is locked you have the option of creating a projection waypoint or navigating along the locked bearing.

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver elevation page

The Elevation Page will provide you with the current elevation, rate of ascent/descent, and a profile of elevation changes over distance or time. You also have the choice to display a variety of data such as barometric pressure, vertical speed, maximum descent, maximum ascent, average descent, average ascent, total descent, total ascent, minimum elevation, maximum elevation, and 12 hour barometric pressure trend.

Garmin eTrex Summit GPS receiver menu page

The Menu Page allows you to access the more advanced features. From here you can manage waypoints, routes, and tracks. Found here is also the setup feature which allows you to customize the eTrex by changing coordinate systems, distance units, and map datums among other things. It is also where you calibrate the electronic compass and altimeter.

Specifications:

Physical:

Case: Fully-gasketed, high-impact plastic alloy, waterproof to one meter for 30 minutes
Size: 4.4�H x 2�W x 1.2�D (11.2 x 5.1 x 3.0 cm)
Weight: Appr. 5.3 ounces (150 g) with batteries; 3.7 ounces (105 g) without batteries
Display Size: 2.1″H x 1.1″W (5.4 x 2.7 cm) backlit LCD
Antenna: Built-in patch
Temperature Range: 5 to 158 degrees F (-15 to 70 degrees C) (operating)
User Data Storage: Indefinite � no backup battery required

Performance:

Receiver: Differential-ready, 12 parallel channel
Acquisition time: Cold � appr. 45 seconds
Warm – appr. 15 seconds
First time – appr. 5 minutes
Update Rate: 1 second continuous
Position Accuracy: less than 15 meters (49 ft)
1-5 meters (3-15 ft) with DGPS corrections (requires optional differential beacon receiver input)

Navigation:

Waypoints: 500 with name and graphic symbol
Routes: 20
Map datums: over 100
Tracks: 10; automatic track log
Position formats: 18
Electronic Compass accuracy: +- 2 degrees (+-5 degrees at extreme latitudes)
Barometric Altimeter accuracy: 10 ft; Range: -2000 to 30,000 ft

Power:

Input: Two 1.5 volt AA batteries
Battery Life: Up to 16 hours

Price:

Suggested Retail: $229.99
Mean Price Available on Internet: $221.90 USD

Practical Use:

The eTrex Summit is quite small, but not as small as Garmin�s Gekos. It has a band of rubber around the sides, top and bottom, giving a good grip and feel. The rubber-covered battery compartment door helps to resist sliding around on the dashboard or console when used in a vehicle. A bayonet-type latch makes access to the batteries easy.

The manual says it will take up to five minutes to find the satellites when you use it for the first time. My test unit took 3:45 out of the box. Subsequent cold starts were about 45 seconds. During a 1.5 mile �neighborhood test walk,� the eTrex Summit had an estimated location accuracy of as little as 19 feet. Marking waypoints and naming them for selected locations was simple.

The �Goto� feature is fundamental to a GPS receiver. After reaching the most distant point of my walk, and enabling �Goto,� the screen displayed the direction I needed to go to reach my starting point. As I followed the indicated direction, the time to arrival and distance is also displayed. The distance is shown in miles down to one-tenth of a mile, then switches to feet (if units has been set to statute). Upon arriving at my starting point, the distance remaining was within 30 feet of being accurate � pretty good for a 1.5 mile walk.

Another useful function is the �TracBack.� On a separate test I walked to a certain point, then enabled the TracBack on the eTrex Summit. This allowed me to retrace my route back to the beginning. The compass arrow was fairly accurate in guiding me to my starting point. A handy feature was the screen displaying �approaching turn� when I got close to a point where I needed to make a distinct turn.

Testing the eTrex Summit under moderate foliage cover and next to 60-foot sheer cliffs showed that it was noticeably affected by these conditions. It usually maintained a lock on enough satellites for proper navigation. However, it did lose its signal on several occasions.

Cons and Pros:

Cons:

  • Does not support maps
  • Does not support WAAS
  • Difficult to find �hold level� position (necessary for compass accuracy)

Pros:

  • Barometric Altimeter
  • Electronic compass
  • Small size
  • Ease of use

Conclusion:

As one of the eTrex models, its small size can be a plus. However, the small screen size is the price you pay for that. Keep in mind the eTrex Summit does not support maps so if that�s what you�re looking for, you�ll need to consider a different model. The electronic compass uses extra battery power, so you may want to turn it on only when necessary. It costs a little more than the basic models, but the price is probably worth it � you get some extra features like a true compass and barometric altimeter.

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