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Somewhere during the process it seems to have been forgotten by the Garmin programming house that differently tweaked filters applied to the raw gps location can be used for calculating different quantities.

Never noticed that, but the question is worthy of some comments. It would actually be possible for that to happen; Ni-MH cells have an output voltage which is nominally almost 0,5 volts below alkaline if the cells sit in series of two. 1. The design which would make most sense is if the embedded chipset in the etrex series runs at, say, 1.8 volts, and there's a low drop regulator in front of the batteries. That way, accuracy would not be affected depending on battery type installed - the computer and GPS circuitry always gets fed pretty much the same voltage. 2. But it could also be possible that the input voltage is not regulated at all. In that case, a lower voltage input to the GPS signal amplifier circuitry could mean a lower signal to noise ratio which would diminish accuracy. I however doubt (2) is the case. It is generally regarded as a dangerously unstable design and these receivers can be powered off +5 volts USB. Few modern embedded chipsets can take that kind of voltage straight off, it has to be regulated down.

While the bigger antenna and possibly superior receiver in an external device is likely to provide a faster fix sans AGPS than the integrated receiver in a modern cell phone, it is nothing I'd put great weight on. I would possibly see two reasons for getting one: (1) preserve phone battery and (2) tracking accuracy is likely to be a bit better in suboptimal reception conditions such as from your pocket or backpack. Not shockingly much so, but I see the point if you are to carry out surveying-style activities.

As already noted: 30' off is fully normal - even with a modern receiver. Albeit with a completely free view of the sky and optimal reception conditions it would be a little higher than expected. As for "3) Is there perhaps a setting on the Montana that I might have missed to improve the accuracy?": If you are in an area that can make use of the WAAS/EGNOS system, enable that setting in the receiver. The montana is probably more accurate than the nuvi. Car GPS often have puny antennas.

Ah, the good old times of SA deactivation. I remember reading the original Usenet post defining the phenomenon of geocaching just a couple weeks after it was done.

I measured my eTrex30. 90 mA on compass screen with a satellite lock. Full backlight more than doubles the consumption (190 mA). The increase in current draw seemed fairly linear to the backlight setting, i.e. 20% backlight = 110 mA. It wouldn't surprise me if a gpsmap draws more backlight juice as the screen is bigger.

Oh no, I am talking about backlight free operation. Visibility of the transreflective color LCDs used by garmin is always best at full backlight, even in the midst of day, but that's "cheating" in my book. People might not like the concept of staring into a strong light source while out in the bush for a variety of reasons - killed darkness vision for minutes could be one. The "night" mode on the color screens does however help quite a bit, at least then you can make out big numbers in dusk. While no biggie or deal breaker for me I do think the mono screens had superior readability. Best of them all is electronic ink, by the way. I'm not sure if that technology has evolved into high resolution yet though.

No problems with daylight. Dusk and dawn is where the shoe hurts.

Toughness/waterproofness and flexibility when it comes to power options are two things that come to mind. Often the map options for smartphones also seem less than optimal especially when it comes to topographic maps. For sunny-day geocachers that do not go on multiple mile offpath hikes I really cannot see much point in getting a dedicated GPS machine.

Agreed. The visibility of my eTrex30 display is far far worse than the old Legend. With currently available affordable display technology, my ideal gps would have a super high res monochrome screen, and a dedicated button for "cycling" the visibility of the objects on the map. (Emphasize visibility of contourlines/water, emphasize visibility of points/cities... etc.)

Could be just your unit. My experiences with the compass in the eTrex 30 ain't good, but I hear the 62 series should be better. Ensure that you calibrate it at a magnetically free place (i.e. outdoors with no significant chunks of metal or electronics nearby).

System instability due to the extra in-device sensors in the 30 is indeed a possibility, if the firmware code that handles them is borked enough.

Thank you!!! We will definitely go Garmin then! We have the Magellan Explorist GC currently. We got it a couple years ago and it is slipping big time. It is time for a nice upgrade! I think most (all?) handheld magellans support MGRS as well, but go with what feels right. I'm not a big fan of the new garmin eTrex series. There have been too many firmware issues, even if most of them have been fixed now a year and a half after release... But suppose they are okay now - get another device if you need speedy map rendering though. Big upside is that the battery life is extremely good.

My eTrex 30 supports military (MGRS) coordinates and I think every garmin handheld I owned does it, along with a big suite of other coordinate systems.

If you ensure you have actual satellite lock when taking the coordinates - they are likely to be nearly as good as from a dedicated gps device. Problem with smartphones is that at times, people happen to read out locations from smartphones that were not calculated from a GPS signal in the first place (could instead be cell towers, WLAN positioning, etc.)

Ah. Of course I didn't note if they changed it in the 2.9 update. In that case, good.

Also reacted on that - but even moreso - my 30 does not seem to sort tracks in any sort of alphabetical order or any order at all. They just come randomly. Haven't found an option to sort.

Assuming other receivers are working well in the same area (i.e. you arent' experiencing jamming) - there could be a wide variety of explanations. Antenna detachment from circuit board (or other component in device failing). Software faults. Try a factory reset and/or reflashing the firmware.

Mine was 90% dud and useless before 2.83 update. Now it's perhaps only 30% useless. (Most often gives the right direction, but it's too easily thrown off and has to be calibrated much too often, i.e. more than once through a battery pack.) Software improved it big time; but - still not release-level quality

Well maybe not completely obsolete, but for a large portion of the population a smartphone will do just fine for navigation pursuits. The standalone GPS maker companies really do have reason to worry and must probably restructure their handheld gps product lines in the near future. Available cell signal or data plan has never been necessary for a smartphone, that's just a big misunderstanding. Thinkable scenario is that the standalone GPS makers will go into ruggedized GPS+phone hybrids which can be powered off a couple of AAs if necessary. The power options are very important in a true standalone field GPS. My dream configuration would be an in-unit chargeable lithium iron phosphate battery, which can be removed and replaced with AAs when on a long outing.

You are welcome. Be aware that there are good free maps of the british isles here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm and also reasonable maps of many other areas in the EU can be built here: http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

Mine also does and is the first geocaching device ever used in my country. Tim_norman2003: There are lots of GPS units to choose from - what you should consider is if you require in device maps or not. If you require in device maps the eTrex 20 seems okay. The in device software was terrible when I got it, but since then most annoying software problems have been rectified.

is actually a debateable statement. Many don't remember how insensitive the older receivers were. In light to medium foliage fine; but it is highly likely it won't get a usable signal in forests with dense tall trees.

Oh wow... Where d' you get that one? Used for $15 or less? Because it's really not worth more. Chipset is old, receiver is old, uses lots of batteries, and there will be almost no room for maps. I have one. When I purchased it eight years ago, it was a respectable receiver. Not now. You should really get something fresher if geocaching is what you intend to do. An etrex 10 would most likely suit you unless you are after maps.

Yes it may be a marvel, but it's nothing exceptional for a GPS unit in this day and age. It seems many high sensitivity receivers can be used with lock on a few satellites in passenger airliners everywhere but at the mid aisle.