Garmin eTrex 30 User manual

eTrex®
owner’s manual
for use with models 10, 20, 30

© 2011 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries
All rights reserved. Under the copyright laws, this manual may not be copied, in whole or in part, without
the written consent of Garmin. Garmin reserves the right to change or improve its products and to make
changes in the content of this manual without obligation to notify any person or organization of such
changes or improvements. Go to www.garmin.com for current updates and supplemental information
concerning the use of this product.
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®
, the Garmin logo, eTrex
®
, BlueChart
®
, and City Navigator
®
are trademarks of Garmin Ltd.
or its subsidiaries, registered in the USA and other countries. ANT
™
, ANT+
™
, BaseCamp
™
, chirp
™
,
HomePort
™
, and Thumb Stick
™
are trademarks of Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. These trademarks may
not be used without the express permission of Garmin.
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®
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®
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eTrex Owner’s Manual 3
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Getting Started ........................5
Device Overview............................5
Using the eTrex Keys ....................6
Battery Information ........................7
Turning the Device On or Off .........8
Satellite Signals .............................8
Registering Your Device ................8
Waypoints, Routes, and
Tracks ......................................9
Waypoints ......................................9
Using Sight ‘N Go ........................10
Where To? Menu ......................... 11
Routes .........................................12
Tracks ..........................................14
Navigation .............................16
Navigating to a Destination..........16
Map..............................................16
Compass .....................................17
Elevation Plot...............................19
Trip Computer ..............................20
Geocaches ............................21
Downloading Geocaches.............21
Filtering the Geocache List ..........21
Navigating to a Geocache ...........22
Logging the Attempt.....................22
chirp™ ..........................................23
Applications ..........................24
Sharing Data................................24
Setting a Proximity Alarm ............24
Calculating the Size of an Area ...25
Using the Calculator ....................25
Viewing the Calendar and
Almanacs ..................................25
Setting an Alarm ..........................26
Opening the Stopwatch ...............26
Satellite Page ..............................26
Customizing Your Device ....28
Customizing the Main Menu ........28
Customizing Specic Pages ........28
Proles.........................................29
System Settings...........................30
Display Settings ...........................30

4 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Table of Contents
Setting the Device Tones .............31
Map Settings................................31
Tracks Settings ............................32
Changing the Units of Measure ...33
Time Settings ...............................33
Position Format Settings .............33
Heading Settings .........................34
Altimeter Settings ........................34
Geocaching Settings ...................35
Routing Settings ..........................36
Marine Map Settings....................37
Fitness .........................................38
Resetting Data .............................38
Changing the Page Sequence.....39
Device Information ...............40
Adjusting the Screen ...................40
Updating the Software .................40
Viewing Device Information .........40
Specications ..............................41
About the Batteries ......................41
Caring for the Device ...................42
Data Management .......................43
Appendix ...............................46
Optional Accessories ...................46
Data Field Options .......................47
Troubleshooting ...........................52
Index ......................................54

eTrex Owner’s Manual 5
Getting Started
Getting Started
‹ WARNING
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 7).
2. Turn on the device (page 8).
3. Acquire satellites (page 8).
4. Register the device (page 8).
5. Mark a waypoint (page 9).
6. Create a route (page 12).
7. Record a track (page 14).
8. Navigate to a destination (page 16).
9. Calibrate the compass (page 17).
Device Overview
➊
➎
➍➌
➋
➊
Zoom keys
➋
Back key
➌
Thumb Stick™
➍
Menu key
➎
/Backlight key

6 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Getting Started
➏
➒
➑
➐
➏
Mini-USB port (under weather cap)
➐
Battery cover
➑
Battery cover locking ring
➒
Mounting spine
Using the eTrex Keys
• Move the Thumb Stick up, down,
left, and right to highlight menu
selections or to move around the
map.
• Press the center of the Thumb Stick
to select the highlighted item.
• Press back to move back one step
in the menu structure.
• Press menu to display a list of
commonly-used functions for the
current page. Press menu twice
to access the main menu from any
page.
• Press ▲ and ▼ to zoom in and out
on the map.

eTrex Owner’s Manual 7
Getting Started
Battery Information
‹ WARNING
The temperature rating for the device
(-4°F to 158°F, or -20 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.
Installing AA Batteries
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.
2. Insert the batteries, observing
polarity.
3. Replace the battery cover, and turn
the D-ring clockwise.
4. Hold .
5. Select Setup > System > Battery
Type.
6. Select Alkaline, Lithium, or
Rechargeable NiMH.

8 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Getting Started
Turning the Device On or
Off
Hold .
Satellite Signals
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 40) 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
http://www.garmin.com/aboutGPS.
Registering Your Device
• Go to http://my.garmin.com.
• Keep the original sales receipt, or a
photocopy, in a safe place.

eTrex Owner’s Manual 9
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Waypoints, Routes,
and Tracks
Waypoints
Waypoints are locations you record and
store in the device.
Creating a Waypoint
You can save your current location as
a waypoint.
1. Select Mark Waypoint.
2. Select an option:
• To save the waypoint without
changes, select Done.
• To make changes to the
waypoint, select an item to edit,
and select Done.
Finding a Waypoint
1. Select Where To? > Waypoints.
2. Select a waypoint.
Editing a Waypoint
Before you can edit a waypoint, you
must create a waypoint.
1. Select Waypoint Manager.
2. Select a waypoint.
3. Select an item to edit.
4. Enter the new information.
5. Select Done.
Deleting a Waypoint
1. Select Waypoint Manager.
2. Select a waypoint.
3. Select menu > Delete > Yes.

10 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Increasing the Accuracy of a
Waypoint Location
Waypoint averaging allows you to
increase the accuracy of a waypoint
location by collecting multiple samples
of the waypoint location.
1. Select Waypoint Averaging.
2. Select a waypoint.
3. Move to the location.
4. Select Start.
5. When the Sample Condence status
bar reaches 100%, select Save.
For best results, collect four to
eight samples for the waypoint,
waiting at least 90 minutes between
samples.
Using Sight ‘N Go
Sight ‘N Go is available on the
eTrex 30.
You can point the device at an object in
the distance, lock in the direction, and
then navigate to the object.
1. Select Sight ‘N Go.
2. Point the device at an object or in
the direction of a location.
3. Select Lock Direction > Project
Waypoint.
4. Select a unit of measure.
5. Enter the distance to the object, and
select Done > Save.

eTrex Owner’s Manual 11
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Where To? Menu
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.
Additional Maps
You can use additional maps on
the eTrex 20 and eTrex 30, such
as BirdsEye™ satellite imagery,
BlueChart® g2, TOPO, and City
Navigator® detailed maps. Detailed
maps may contain additional points of
interest, such as restaurants or marine
services. For more information, go to
http://buy.garmin.com or contact your
Garmin dealer.
Finding a Location by Name
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.
1. Select Where To?.
2. Select a category.
3. Select menu > Spell Search.
4. Enter all or part of the name, and
select Done.
Finding a Location Near
Another Location
1. Select Where To? > menu >
Search Near.
2. Select an option.
3. If necessary, select a location.

12 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Finding an Address
You can use optional City Navigator
maps to search for addresses.
1. Select Where To? > Addresses.
2. If necessary, enter the country or
state.
3. Enter the city or postal code.
NOTE: Not all map data provides
postal code searching.
4. Select the city.
5. Enter the house number.
6. Enter the street.
Routes
A route is a sequence of waypoints that
leads you to your nal destination.
Creating a Route
1. Select Route Planner > Create
Route > Select First Point.
2. Select a category.
3. Select the rst point in the route.
4. Select Use > Select Next Point.
5. Repeat steps 2–4 until the route is
complete.
6. Select back to save the route.
Editing the Name of a Route
1. Select Route Planner.
2. Select a route.
3. Select Change Name.
4. Enter the new name.
5. Select Done.

eTrex Owner’s Manual 13
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Editing a Route
1. Select Route Planner.
2. Select a route.
3. Select Edit Route.
4. Select a point.
5. Select an option:
• To view the point on the map,
select Review.
• To change the order of the point
on the route, select Move Down
or Move Up.
• To add an additional point on
the route, select Insert.
The additional point is inserted
before the point you are editing.
• To remove the point from the
route, select Remove.
6. Select back to save the route.
Viewing a Route on the Map
1. Select Route Planner.
2. Select a route.
3. Select View Map.
Deleting a Route
1. Select Route Planner.
2. Select a route.
3. Select Delete Route.
Viewing the Active Route
1. While navigating a route, select
Active Route.
2. Select a point in the route to view
additional details.
Reversing a Route
1. Select Route Planner.
2. Select a route.
3. Select Reverse Route.

14 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Tracks
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.
Recording Track Logs
1. Select Setup > Tracks > Track
Log.
2. Select Record, Do Not Show or
Record, Show On Map.
If you select Record, Show On
Map, a line on the map indicates
your track.
3. Select Record Method.
4. Select an option:
• To record tracks at a variable
rate that creates an optimum
representation of your tracks,
select Auto.
• To record tracks at a specied
distance, select Distance.
• To record tracks at a specied
time, select Time.
5. Select Record Interval.
6. Complete an action:
• Select an option to record tracks
more or less often.
NOTE: Using the Most Often
interval provides the most track
detail, but lls up the device
memory quicker.
• Enter a time or distance, and
select Done.
As you move with the device turned
on, a track log is created.

eTrex Owner’s Manual 15
Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks
Saving the Current Track
The track being recorded is called the
current track.
1. Select Track Manager > Current
Track.
2. Select what you want to save:
• Select Save Track.
• Select Save Portion, and select
a portion.
Viewing Track Information
1. Select Track Manager.
2. Select a track.
3. Select View Map.
The beginning and the end of the
track are marked by ags.
4. Select menu > Review Track.
Information about the track is
listed.
Viewing the Elevation Plot of a
Track
1. Select Track Manager.
2. Select a track.
3. Select Elevation Plot.
Archiving a Saved Track
You can archive saved tracks to save
memory space.
1. Select Track Manager.
2. Select a saved track.
3. Select Archive.
Clearing the Current Track
Select Setup > Reset > Clear
Current Track > Yes.
Deleting a Track
1. Select Track Manager.
2. Select a track.
3. Select Delete > Yes.

16 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Navigation
Navigation
You can navigate a route, a track,
to a waypoint, to a geocache, or to
any saved location in the device.
You can use the map (page 16) or
compass (page 17) to navigate to your
destination.
Navigating to a
Destination
You can navigate to a destination using
the map or compass.
1. Select Where To?.
2. Select a category.
3. Select a destination.
4. Select Go.
The map page opens with your
route marked with a magenta line.
5. Navigate using the map (page 16)
or compass (page 17).
Stopping Navigation
Select Where To? > Stop
Navigation.
Map
represents your location on the map.
As you travel, moves. When you are
navigating to a destination, your route
is marked with a magenta line on the
map.
To customize the map settings, see
page 31. To customize the map
dashboard and data elds, see page 28.
Browsing the Map
1. Select Map.
2. Select one or more options:
• Use the Thumb Stick to pan the
map to view different areas.
• Select ▲ and ▼ to zoom in and
out of the map.

eTrex Owner’s Manual 17
Navigation
• Select a location on the map,
and the bar at the top of the
screen shows information about
the selected location.
Navigating a Driving Route
Driving route navigation is only
available on the eTrex 20 and eTrex 30.
Before you can use the map, you must
purchase and load City Navigator
maps. If you plan to use an auto mount
accessory with the device, you must
also purchase and install the mount in
your vehicle.
1. Select Prole Change >
Automotive.
2. Use the map to navigate to the
destination.
3. Follow the turns in the text bar
along the top of the map.
Compass
The eTrex 30 has a 3-axis, electronic
compass.
You can use a bearing pointer or a
course pointer to navigate to your
destination.
TIP: When the device is using the
automotive prole, the compass
displays GPS heading, not magnetic
heading.
Calibrating the Compass
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.

18 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Navigation
You should calibrate the compass after
moving long distances, experiencing
temperature changes, or changing the
batteries.
1. Select Compass > menu >
Calibrate Compass > Start.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Navigating with the Bearing
Pointer
When navigating to a destination,
points to your destination, regardless of
the direction you are moving.
1. Begin navigation to a destination
(page 16).
2. Select Compass.
3. Turn until points toward the
top of the compass, and continue
moving in that direction to the
destination.
About the Course Pointer
The course pointer is most useful if you
are navigating on water or where there
are no major obstacles in your path.
➋
➊
➍
➌
The course pointer ➊ indicates your
relationship to a course line ➋ leading
to the destination. The course line
to your destination is based on your
original starting point.
As you drift from the intended course
to the destination, the course deviation
indicator ➌ (CDI) provides the
indication of drift (right or left) from
the course.
The scale ➍ refers to the distance

eTrex Owner’s Manual 19
Navigation
between dots on the course deviation
indicator.
Navigating with the Course Pointer
Before you can navigate with the
course pointer, you must change the
pointer setting to Course (CDI)
(page 34).
1. Begin navigation to a destination
(page 16).
2. Select Compass.
3. Use the course pointer to navigate
to the destination (page 18).
Elevation Plot
Elevation plotting is available on the
eTrex 30.
By default, the elevation plot displays
the elevation for an elapsed time. To
customize the elevation plot, see
page 34.
Select Elevation Plot.
Changing the Plot Type
You can change the elevation plot to
display pressure and elevation over
time or distance.
1. Select Elevation Plot > menu >
Change Plot Type.
2. Select an option.
Viewing Details about a Point
on the Plot
Select an individual point on the
plot.
Details about the point appear at the
top of the plot.
Resetting the Elevation Plot
Select Elevation Plot > menu >
Reset > Clear Current Track >
Yes.

20 eTrex Owner’s Manual
Navigation
Calibrating the Barometric
Altimeter
You can manually calibrate the
barometric altimeter if you know
the correct elevation or the correct
barometric pressure.
1. Go to a location where the elevation
or barometric pressure is known.
2. Select Elevation Plot > menu >
Calibrate Altimeter.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Trip Computer
The trip computer displays your current
speed, average speed, maximum
speed, trip odometer, and other helpful
statistics.
To customize the trip computer, see
page 28.
Resetting the Trip Data
For accurate information, reset the trip
information before beginning a trip.
Select Trip Computer > menu >
Reset > Reset Trip Data > Yes.
All of the trip computer values are
set to zero.