Garmin Etrex 10,20,30 Owners Manual

							eTrex Owner’s Manual 41
Device Information
Specifications
Water 
resistanceRugged plastic, 
waterproof to IEC 60529 
IPX7
Battery type 2 AA batteries,  
(alkaline, NiMH, lithium, 
or precharged NiMH)
Battery Life Up to 25 hours
Operating 
temperature
range From -4°F to 158°F 
(-20°C to 70°C)
About the Batteries
‹ WARNING
The temperature rating for the device 
(page 41) may exceed the usable range 
of some batteries. Alkaline batteries 
can rupture at high temperatures.
Do not use a sharp object to remove 
batteries.
‹ CAUTION
Contact your local waste disposal 
department to properly recycle the 
batteries. 
notice 
Alkaline batteries lose a significant 
amount of their capacity as temperature 
decreases. Therefore, use lithium 
batteries when operating the device in 
below-freezing conditions.
Maximizing Battery Life
You can do various things to increase 
the battery life.
• 
Leave the backlight off when not 
needed.
•  Lower the backlight brightness 
(page 40).
•  Decrease the backlight timeout 
(page 40). 
						

							42 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Device Information
Long-Term Storage
When you do not plan to use the 
device for several months, remove the 
batteries. Stored data is not lost when 
batteries are removed.
Caring for the Device
notice
Avoid chemical cleaners and solvents 
which can damage plastic components.
Cleaning the Device
1. Dampen a clean cloth with a mild 
detergent solution.
2.  Wipe the device with the damp 
cloth.
3.  Thoroughly dry the device.
Cleaning the Screen
1. Dampen a soft, clean, lint-free cloth 
with water, isopropyl alcohol, or 
eyeglass lens cleaner.
2.  Wipe the screen with the cloth.
3. Thoroughly dry the screen.
Water Immersion
notice
The device is waterproof to IEC 
Standard 60529 IPX7. It can withstand 
immersion in 1 meter of water for 
30 minutes. However, prolonged 
submersion can cause damage to the 
device. After submersion, be certain to 
wipe dry and air dry the device before 
using or charging.
Extreme Temperaturesnotice
Do not store the device where 
prolonged exposure to extreme 
temperatures can occur because it can 
cause permanent damage.  
						

							eTrex Owner’s Manual 43
Device Information
Data Management
NOTE: The device is not compatible 
with Windows® 95, 98, Me, or NT. It is 
also not compatible with Mac® OS 10.3 
and earlier. 
File Types
The device supports these  file types.
•  Files from BaseCamp
™ or 
HomePort™
Go to http://www.garmin.com .
•  GPI custom POI files from the 
Garmin POI Loader
•  GPX geocache files
Installing a  microSD Card
The eTrex 20 and eTrex 30 can use 
microSD cards for additional storage. 
Also, some maps are available 
preloaded on memory cards. Go 
to http://buy.garmin.com  for more 
information.
1.  Turn the D-ring counter-clockwise, 
and pull up to remove the cover.
2.  Remove the batteries or battery. 
3.  Slide the card holder 
➊ toward 
the bottom of the device and lift 
up, as instructed in the battery 
compartment.
➊➋ 
						

							44 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Device Information
4. Place the microSD card ➋ in the 
device with the gold contacts facing 
down. 
5.  Close the card holder.
6.  Slide the card holder toward the top 
of the device to lock it.
7.  Replace the batteries ( page 7).
8.  Replace the battery cover, and turn 
the D-ring clockwise.
Connecting the Device to a 
Computer 
notice 
To prevent corrosion, thoroughly 
dry the mini-USB port, the weather 
cap, and the surrounding area before 
charging or connecting to a computer.
1. Connect the USB cable to a USB 
port on your computer. 
2.  Pull up the weather cap 
➊ from the 
mini-USB port 
➋.
➊
➋
3.  Plug the small end of the USB 
cable into the mini-USB port. 
Your device and memory card 
(optional) appear as removable 
drives in My Computer on Windows 
computers and as mounted volumes on 
Mac computers. 
Transferring Files to Your 
Computer
Before you can transfer files, you must 
connect the device to your computer 
(page 44).
1.  Browse your computer for the file.
2.  Select the file.
3.  Select  Edit > Copy. 
						

							eTrex Owner’s Manual 45
Device Information
4. Open the “Garmin” or memory card 
drive/volume.
5.  Select  Edit > Paste. 
TIP: You must put geocache files in 
the Garmin\GPX folder.
Deleting Files
notice
If you do not know the purpose of 
a file, do not delete it. Your device 
memory contains important system 
files that should not be deleted. Be 
especially cautious of folders entitled 
“Garmin.”
Before you can delete files, you must 
connect the device to your computer 
(page 44).
1. Open the “Garmin” drive or 
volume.
2.  If necessary, open a folder or 
volume. 3. 
Select the files.
4.  Press the Delete key on your 
keyboard. 
Disconnecting the  USB Cable
1. Complete an action:
• For Windows computers, click 
the eject icon 
 in your system 
tray.
•  For Mac computers, drag the 
volume icon to the Trash 
. 
2.  Disconnect the device from your 
computer. 
						

							46 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Appendix
Appendix
Optional Accessories
Optional accessories, such as mounts, 
maps, fitness accessories, and 
replacement parts, are available at 
http://buy.garmin.com or from your 
Garmin dealer.
Optional  Maps
You can purchase additional maps, 
such as BirdsEye satellite imagery, 
Garmin custom maps, Inland Lakes, 
TOPO, BlueChart g2, and City 
Navigator maps.
Optional Fitness Accessories
Fitness accessories are available for 
the eTrex 30. Before you can use the 
fitness accessory with your device, you 
must install the accessory according 
to the instructions included with the 
accessory.  You can use optional fitness accessories 
including a heart rate monitor or a 
cadence sensor with your device. 
These accessories use ANT+
™ wireless 
technology to send data to the device. 
Using Optional Fitness 
Accessories
1.  Bring the device within range (10 
ft. or 3 m) of the ANT+ accessory.
2.  Select  Setup > Fitness.
3.  Select  Heart Rate Monitor  or 
Bike Cadence Sensor.
4.  Select  Search for New.
5.  Customize your data fields to view 
the heart rate or cadence data   
(page 28). 
						

							eTrex Owner’s Manual 47
Appendix
Tips for Pairing ANT+ Accessories 
with Your Garmin Device
• Verify that the ANT+ accessory 
is compatible with your Garmin 
device.
•  Before you pair the ANT+ 
accessory with your Garmin device, 
move (33 ft. or 10 m) away from 
other ANT+ accessories.
•  Bring the Garmin device within 
range (10 ft. or 3 m) of the ANT+ 
accessory.
•  After you pair the first time, your 
Garmin device automatically 
recognizes the ANT+ accessory 
each time it is activated. This 
process occurs automatically when 
you turn on the Garmin device and 
only takes a few seconds when 
the accessories are activated and 
functioning correctly.
•  When paired, your Garmin device 
receives data from only your  accessory, and you can go near 
other accessories.
Data Field Options
Not all data fields are available for all 
models.
Data Field
Description
Accuracy of 
GPS The margin of 
error for your exact 
location. For example, 
your GPS location 
is accurate to within 
+/- 12 ft.
Ambient 
Pressure The uncalibrated 
environmental 
pressure.
Ascent - 
Average The average vertical 
distance of ascent.
Ascent - 
Maximum The maximum ascent 
rate in feet or meters 
per minute.
Ascent - Total The total elevation 
distance ascended. 
						

							48 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Appendix
Data FieldDescription
Barometer The calibrated current 
pressure.
Battery Level The remaining battery 
power.
Bearing The direction from 
your current location 
to a destination.
Cadence  
(cadence 
accessory 
required) Revolutions of the 
crank arm or strides 
per minute.
Course The direction from 
your starting location 
to a destination.
Descent - 
Average The average vertical 
distance of descent.
Descent - 
Maximum The maximum 
descent rate in feet or 
meters per minute.
Descent - Total The total elevation 
distance descended.
Distance to 
Destination The distance to your 
final destination.Data Field
Description
Distance to 
Next The remaining 
distance to the next 
waypoint on the route.
Elevation The altitude of your 
current location above 
or below sea level.
Elevation - 
Maximum The highest elevation 
reached.
Elevation - 
Minimum The lowest elevation 
reached.
ETA at 
Destination The estimated time 
of day you will reach 
your final destination.
ETA at Next The estimated time of 
day you will reach the 
next waypoint on the 
route.
Glide Ratio The ratio of horizontal 
distance traveled to 
the change in vertical 
distance. 
						

							eTrex Owner’s Manual 49
Appendix
Data FieldDescription
Glide Ratio to 
Dest. The glide ratio 
required to descend 
from your current 
position and elevation 
to the destination 
elevation.
GPS Signal 
Strength The strength of the 
GPS signal.
Heading The direction you are 
moving.
Heart Rate  
(heart rate 
monitor 
required) Your heart rate in 
beats per minute 
(bpm).
Location  
(lat/lon) Displays the current 
position in the default 
position format 
regardless of the 
selected settings.
Location 
(selected) Displays the current 
position in the 
selected position 
format.Data Field
Description
Odometer A running tally of 
distance traveled for 
all trips.
Off Course The distance to 
the left or the right 
by which you have 
strayed from the 
original path of travel.
Pointer The data field arrow 
points in the direction 
of the next waypoint 
or turn.
Speed The current rate of 
speed at which you 
are moving since last 
reset.
Speed - 
Maximum The maximum speed 
reached since last 
reset.
Speed - 
Moving Avg. The average speed 
of the device while 
moving since last 
reset. 
						

							50 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Appendix
Data FieldDescription
Speed - 
Overall Avg. Your average speed 
since last reset.
Sunrise The time of sunrise 
based on your GPS 
position.
Sunset The time of sunset 
based on your GPS 
position.
Time of Day The current time of 
day based on your 
time settings (format, 
time zone, and 
daylight saving time).
Time to 
Destination The estimated time 
needed to reach your 
final destination.
Time to Next The estimated time 
needed to reach the 
next waypoint on the 
route.
To Course The direction in which 
you must move to 
return to the route.Data FieldDescription
Trip Odometer A running tally of the 
distance traveled 
since the last reset.
Trip Time - 
Moving A running tally of time 
since the last reset.
Trip Time - 
Stopped The time spent not 
moving since the last 
reset.
Trip Time - 
Total A running tally of 
distance traveled 
since the last reset.
Turn The angle of 
difference (in 
degrees) between 
the bearing to your 
destination and your 
current course. L 
means turn left. R 
means turn right.
Velocity Made 
Good The speed at which 
you are closing on a 
destination along a 
route.