Garmin Etrex HCX track and odometer

[johnr1]

I have been using a Garmin Etrex vista HCX for slightly more than one year and really like the device. I credit it with preventing unplanned overnight stays several times so far! I bought it specifically for the sensitivity of the chip set, replacing an HC which could not find satellites in an open meadow yet alone the forest.

One problem that was puzzling was the difference between the route length for the collected tracks and the odometer on the trip page. They never seemed to be same or even close. So finally, I went to the Garmin site and updated the software. I also looked at the release notes to see what was being changed and found two of the updates included efforts to fix the track/odometer problem. As a result, it was with some anticipation that I looked at the results from the first hike with the new software. (The first anxiety was that something that I depend on was no longer functioning, like maps, but there was nothing obviously different)

Just down-loaded the hike and happy days! the odometer and track match.

Let me be the first to remind all that one data point does not constitue a statistically valid experiment, but at least it is an encouraging start.

Now if we can get some understanding of and assistence in the AEG area.....

There is also a point to be made about the software update frequency. I would not expect 6 releases in one year for a product that doesnt say Microsoft on the box ;)

John

[tahosa]

I've noticed the difference many times while hiking in CO. And I think the difference is that the Odometer is a liner function (straight Line) while the track logs takes the rises and falls of the terrain. In other words it measures the slope of the triangle while the odometer measures the base.