Thread: eTrex 20/30 software versions summary

Originally Posted by Schermann

Many users of eTrex 30 have noticed some issue with built-in electronic compass. It often requires recalibration while using unit. Information about this malfunction appears in many places on the web.

For example, on my last trip (15km, 6 hours walk) i had to re-calibrate the compass twice.

One rotation for each of the three axes takes some time and is irritating - especially on high mountain slope. Why it can not be done like in smartphones (8 in air)?

I know several owners, which had to send their 30's back in for service repair from this reason. The bad news is that Garmin sends back a new unit - but with the same compass malfunction.

If it's software error - what stands in the way to fix it?

If it's hardware error - what's the point of sending back a new device with same hardware fault?

Recalibration of built-in eletronic compass was a recurring and very annoying problem, but in my Etrex 30 has been fixed several months, do not remember exactly which version of firmware. My last trip, 115 km, 4 days, above 4000 meters, I was using embedded maps on gps 100% of the time to navigate and the orientation was ok. I did the recalibration of the compass only when I changed the batteries. Therefore, I believe that this issue has been satisfactorily resolved. It is very likely that many of those who complain about the issue did not update the firmware. The difficulty to recalibrate continues and is sometimes time consuming, a failure to be remedied. One issue not resolved is the impossibility of using kmz custom raster maps because processing is extremely slow. Raster JNX images are perfectly usable.