Garmin eTrex 30 Instruction manual

eTrex®
quick start manual
for use with models 20 and 30

2 eTrex20/30QuickStartManual

‹ 
See the Important Safety and Product
Information guide in the product
box for product warnings and other
important information.
When using your device the rst time,
you should complete these tasks to set
up the device and get to know the basic
features.
1. Install the batteries (page 3).
2. Turn on the device (page 4).
3. Register the device (page 4).
4. Acquire satellites (page 4).
5. Calibrate the compass (page 5).
6. Mark a waypoint (page 6).
7. Create a route (page 7).
8. Record a track (page 7).
9. Navigate to a destination (page 8).

➊
➎
➍➌
➋
➊
Zoom keys
➋
Back key
➌
Thumb Stick
™
➍
Menu key
➎
Power and backlight key

eTrex20/30QuickStartManual 3
➏
➒
➑
➐
➏
Mini-USB port (under weather cap)
➐
Battery cover
➑
Battery cover locking ring
➒
Mounting spine

‹ 
The temperature rating for the device
(-4°F to 158°F, or -20°C to 70°C)
may exceed the usable range of some
batteries. Alkaline batteries can rupture
at high temperatures.
notice
Alkaline batteries lose a signicant
amount of their capacity as temperature
decreases. Therefore, use lithium
batteries when operating the device in
below-freezing conditions.
The device operates on two AA
batteries.

You can use alkaline, NiMH, or
lithium batteries. Use NiMH or lithium
batteries for best results.
1. Turn the D-ring counter-clockwise,
and pull up to remove the cover.

4 eTrex20/30QuickStartManual
2. Insert the batteries, observing
polarity.
3. Replace the battery cover, and turn
the D-ring clockwise.
4. Hold (page 2).
5. Select  >  > 
.
6. Select , , or
.


Hold (page 2).

• Go to http://my.garmin.com.
• Keep the original sales receipt, or a
photocopy, in a safe place.

After the device is turned on, it begins
acquiring satellite signals. The device
may need a clear view of the sky to
acquire satellite signals. When the GPS
bars on the backlight page (page 4) are
solid green, your device has acquired
satellite signals. The time and date are
set automatically based on the GPS
position.
For more information about GPS, go to
www.garmin.com/aboutGPS.

: The backlight brightness may
be limited when the remaining capacity
in the batteries is low.
Extensive use of screen backlighting

eTrex20/30QuickStartManual 5
can signicantly reduce battery life.
1. While the device is on, press .
2. Move the Thumb Stick left and
right to adjust the brightness level.

notice
Calibrate the electronic compass
outdoors. To improve heading
accuracy, do not stand near objects that
inuence magnetic elds, such as cars,
buildings, or overhead power lines.
The eTrex 30 has a 3-axis, electronic
compass.
You should calibrate the compass after
moving long distances, experiencing
temperature changes, or changing the
batteries.
1. Select .
2. Select .
3. Select  > .
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Proles are a collection of settings that
optimize your device based on how
you are using it. For example, your
settings and views can be different
when you are using the device for
geocaching and for navigating on
water.
1. Select .
2. Select a prole.

Waypoints are locations you record and
store in the device.

6 eTrex20/30QuickStartManual

You can save your current location as
a waypoint.
1. Select .
2. Select an option:
• To save the waypoint without
changes, select .
• To make changes to the
waypoint, select an attribute,
make changes to the attribute,
and select .

1. Select  > .
2. Select a waypoint.
3. Select .


Waypoint averaging allows you to
increase the accuracy of a waypoint
location by collecting multiple samples
of the waypoint location.
1. Select .
2. Select a waypoint.
3. Move to the location.
4. Select .
5. When the Sample Condence status
bar reaches 100%, select .
For best results, collect four to
eight samples for the waypoint,
waiting at least 90 minutes between
samples.

You can use the Where To? menu to
nd a destination to navigate to. Not all
Where To? categories are available in
all areas and maps.

Depending on the maps loaded on
your device, you can search for cities,
geographic points, and various points
of interest (POIs), such as restaurants,
hotels, and auto services.

eTrex20/30QuickStartManual 7
1. Select .
2. Select .
3. Enter the name or part of the name.
4. Select .

A route is a sequence of waypoints that
leads you to your nal destination.
1. Select   > 
 > .
2. Select a category.
3. Select the rst point in the route.
4. Select .
5. Repeat steps 2–4 until the route is
complete.
6. Select  to save the route.

A track is a recording of your path.
The track log contains information
about points along the recorded path,
including time, location, and elevation
for each point.

1. Select  >  > 
.
2. Select ,  or
, .
If you select , 
, a line on the map indicates
your track.
3. Select .
4. Select an option:
• To record tracks at a variable
rate that creates an optimum
representation of your tracks,
select .
• To record tracks at a specied
distance, select .
• To record tracks at a specied
time, select .
5. Select  .

8 eTrex20/30QuickStartManual
6. Complete an action:
• Select an option to record tracks
more or less often.
: Using the 
interval provides the most track
detail, but lls up the device
memory quicker.
• Enter a time or distance, and
select .
As you move with the device turned
on, a track log is created.


You can navigate to a destination using
the map or compass.
1. Select .
2. Select a category.
3. Select a destination.
4. Select .
The map page opens with your
route marked with a magenta line.
5. Navigate using the map (page 8) or
compass (page 8).

1. Select .
The position icon represents your
location on the map. As you travel,
the position icon moves.
2. Complete one or more actions:
• Use the Thumb Stick to move
the map to different areas.
• Select ▲ and ▼ to zoom in and
out of the map.
: To customize the map view, select
 > , and adjust the
settings.


The eTrex 30 has a 3-axis, electronic
compass.

eTrex20/30QuickStartManual 9
When navigating to a destination,
the bearing pointer points to your
destination, regardless of the direction
you are moving.
1. Begin navigation to a destination
(page 8).
2. Select .
3. Turn until points toward the
top of the compass, and continue
moving in that direction to the
destination.


1. Connect the USB cable to a USB
port on your computer.
2. Pull up the weather cap from the
mini-USB port.
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.

1. Connect your device to a computer
(page 9).
2. Go to www.opencaching.com.
3. If necessary, create an account.
4. Sign in.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions
to nd and download geocaches to
your device.


If the device stops responding, you can
reset the device.
1. Remove the batteries.
2. Reinstall the batteries (page 3).
: This does not erase any of your
data or settings.

10 eTrex20/30QuickStartManual


1. Connect your device to a computer
(page 9).
2. Pull up the weather cap from the
mini-USB port.
3. Plug the small end of the USB
cable into the mini-USB port.
4. Open the “Garmin” drive or
volume.
5. Open the \
folder or volume.
6. Double-click ..

Optional accessories, such as mounts,
maps, tness accessories, and
replacement parts, are available at
http://buy.garmin.com or from your
Garmin dealer.


• Go to www.garmin.com/support
and click  for
in-country support information.
• In the USA, call [phone] or
[phone].
• In the UK, call 0808 2380000.
• In Europe, call +44 (0)
870.8501241.