Newbie questions about Garmin eTrex Legend

linkcj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 26, 2004 Posts: 3

I just received a Garmin eTrex Lengend and the Automotive Pack (w/ Mapsource MetroGuide) the other day for my birthday.

It seems like a pretty sweet system and I've been tinkering around with it.

My question is, does this unit actually give step-by-step instructions to your destination? I've put in a few waypoints and routes on my PC and sent them to the GPS, but I cant seem to get it to tell me how to get to the location. Crying or Very sad

The instruction manual hasn't been much help either. Hopefully, it can do this or else it just seems like an expensive map and not really much use to me.

If anyone is familiar with this unit, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks much!!! Laughing

lbendlin · Posted: Wed Dec 29, 2004 5:29 pm Post subject:

As far as I know the Garmin is a pure topographical GPS unit. You can have it tell you the bearing and range to a certain waypoint, but it cannot give you street routing instructions (unless you combine it with a Pocket PC or PC)
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mupp · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:58 pm Post subject:

If you create a route on your PC (using the auto route option in MetroGuide) you can transfer the route to the Garmin device.

However the route's waypoints will be "simplified" according to some Garmin formula, to save space in the GPS device. I.e. if you created a route that included joining the M25 at Junction 5 and leaving at Junction 20, the route on the PC would be a nice curve around the M25, but the route on the Garmin device would be a straight line across London between the two junctions, which would make the device's route arrow appear to be way off.

linkcj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 26, 2004 Posts: 3

I see. That's pretty useless. I guess I'll just sell it on eBay.

Thanks much for the info guys!!! Smile

mupp · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:18 pm Post subject:

Keep the Metroguide, It'll work with any of Garmin's GPS devices that have PC connection, and will download maps to some of them also.

If you want true autorouting, sell the Legend and get one of the autorouting handhelds like the Legend C, Vista C, or some of the GPSmap models Smile

linkcj · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 26, 2004 Posts: 3

Thanks. I was thinking about keeping the Metro Guide. I thought that it may be compatible with any Garmin unit.

Thanks again.

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