Hapaki

Thanks, all. And Erling, the paddling link was especially helpful. I'm sold on the plastic bag and looking for reuseable silica packs. And the explanation of what happens when a drop of water evaporates in a sealed bag or container...I have had it happen...how could I forget?...<slaps self on forehead>. I may take my dead one apart like one of the paddlers did just to see whazzup. Maybe corrosion that can be mitigated. Nothing to lose as long as wife doesn't see me standing over it, sawzall at the ready. Aloha, Herb

Even units without an altimeter have a vent to equalize pressure (or at least they did). (link) Thanks, PDOP. Just what I was after...diferential effects on the GPS and the varying materials, and the membrane info. Instead of tightly sealing the vent, which I assumed was just an open hole, I'm going with a ziplok that is close in width and thickness to the GPS, but longer to better handle the differential in a somewhat protected zone. Are/were you directly involved in the development? (unless you have a NDA tight-lip thingie, of course). B'marked your site and will spend some time there...thanks for the link. Aloha, Herb

77, and wish I had started sooner.

3rd eTrex yellow.

Both the 'early' yellows and the later "B" versions (my newest one) do have a vent hole as the case is shared with the upscale version (forget the number) that has a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. Perhaps the back half of the shell is, but obviously not the entire shell. The Yellows have no click-stick. The "vent hole" you're describing is the port for the barometric pressure sensor. Since your model doesn't have a barometric sensor, it should be sealed off. Even in the units that do have a barometric sensor, it's internally isolated from the rest of the unit. Water cannot go from the port to the screen, unless the unit has been compromised in some way. Thanks, Prime Suspect Just saying what the tech rep said to me. I now understand the "hole by any other name" is for the baro sensor. I did not know the rest of the unit was isolated. I've had the black button band off my dead 4 year old one and the button seals are damaged, but I haven't opened the case. I'm trying to get my head around what one looks like split open, and what isolation and protection materials/techniques Garmin uses. This will help me to better protect this one and my next one, and to safely dry it if it does get moistureized (my wife's term, not mine). Would like any detail you can provide.

Both the 'early' yellows and the later "B" versions (my newest one) do have a vent hole as the case is shared with the upscale version (forget the number) that has a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. The hole is in the back center recessed yellow portion ~1/2" above the battery gatch. Garmin Support suggested a drying oven followed by plugging the hole as it is not needed on the yellows. They also suggested a ziplok baggy, which I have been using and seems to help. I asked if the internals are somehow coated to prevent corrosion, shorting, etc. once humidity gets in. They suggested sending it back for factory service "as the battery will be degraded"...whatever that means. At any rate, they said all their units are moisture resistant to 3' immersion for 30 min. Resistance to static immersion at 3' for 30 min. is far different than the affect of an almost 2 psi differential at almost 100% RH as you go from sea level to 4000' and return. I always assumed the internals were actually sealed. The battery box is. The rest is really pretty well protected but not tight. Now that I know the possible affects, the ziplok will handle most cases. Sudden wet weather white-outs in dangerous volcanic areas? Hope they don't happen to me again. If I can't see the markers, I will have to sit down and wait it out. I think the Garmins give the most bang for the bucks, so don't plan to change. BTW, SPF lotions and OFF mosquito sprays will make the adhesive securing the black rubber 'button strap' around the case seam go gummy, and may cause the rubber to stretch. And will take baseplate lettering off Brunton and Silva compasses. And will surface damage '99 Toyota RAV4 steering wheels. Thanks to you all. I'll be back if sumpin of interest occurs. I love gadgets..perhaps a dessicator.....

I have a blue Etrex Legend and after three or four years of use and abuse it never had any problems with condensation. I would say our weather in PA has more variability than in HI. I use a 76CS now and had it on Hawaii, Maui and Oahu this summer with no problems. And I did SO crave a Defender 90 back in my younger days! Agree with your overall longer term weather variability. Lived in Lewiston, NY, below Niagara Falls until 1946. Hated shoveling snow and coal and hauling ashes when I was a kid. I think my trouble is the fast change going from sea level rain at 75*F at 7am to snow at 9am at 13000'+(worst case) and then letting the direct sun raise the gps temp too fast while I mess about getting ready to hike. I think I took the waterproofness too seriously. Underwater at 3' doesn't subject much pressure. I also have a fancy hiking watch that's "waterproof" to a much greater (long forgotten) depth that wet it's face at 4000' sitting beside the gps on the suv roof in a cold rain. (I am a hopeless gadget nut...wanna buy some compasses?...backpacks?...headlamps? ) Aloha, Herb

Jabber1, we occasionally carry/use a pair of Motorola FV500 FRS/GMRS radios. We usually only use when hiking in poorly marked areas or where the lead and trail hikers make get separated and or off course. Our general rule is to expect an 8 mile radio to be sometimes effective out to 4 miles. And NEVER expect anyone outside your group to pick up a call for help, although it MAY happen. When we lose direct line of sight, we talk or beep frequently and ask others for their compass brgs. to a known reference point or, better, points. The FV500's have pretty much met these needs. Our priorities for each hiker: accurate map, a good (not cheap) compass, lotsa water, and a gps if ya got it. And a leader and trailer radio when needed. Aloha, Herb

heh....heh

Thank you. Had a great train roundtrip through your area on the old Canadian Pacific and Canadian National in 1946..wild and beautiful then. Was your eTrex used in fairly steady altitude/humidity/temp. conditions? What gps do you like now? And your avatar looks like my beloved 67 Toy. Landcruiser that finally rusted to death here years ago. Aloha, Herb

I am on my 3rd eTrex basic yellow, this one the "B' version. We hike twice/wk. at ~4000' where relative humidity is usually much lower than at our 640' location ~ 2 mile from the ocean. As I type this, in-room RH is 83%, kinda normal for a sunny day. We get a LOT of heavy rain @N19.71844, W155.11962. Our gps's have and are now failing, apparently from moisture. Signal acquisition and retention are poor at specific locations where no probs in the immediate past. I think they are sucking/blowing air/mositure from the tiny vent hole in the back of the case. Setting the gps on top of the car to acquire is a mistake due to large temp variations over short periods. (Moisture condenses on the screen inner face when dewpoint is reached?) Long story short...readings disappear or get erratic. I have a walking land speed record: 456mph in 1/2 mile. Anyone tried drying their unit and then sealing that nasty vent? Suggestions? I find putting a 'dry' unit in a small zip-lock helps. My big concern is trusting my gps when track-back is a real safety issue. I have started a dialogue with Garmin support and will report back.