During early research for this website walking routes were recorded in a variety of ways, but since May 2015 a Garmin eTrex 10 handheld GPS unit has been used to improve accuracy. The eTrex 10 is the base model of a range of Garmin units and while it may lack the memory and, according to most documentation, the ability to add maps, it records tracks as well as the more expensive alternatives. The main deficiency is not in its lack of technical ability but in the inadequate printed instructions which come with the unit and a very basic pre-installed "worldwide basemap" which, if you were prepared to believe it, would mean that half of my WhifflersWalks routes are in the North Sea! But fortunately help has been found on the internet, published by fellow users, and this information is shared below together with my own trial and error findings.
Installing Maps
Garmin offer the TOPO U.K. and Ireland Light Map to buy and download for the eTrex range, but the download size is 600MB, the eTrex 10 only has 8MB of flash memory and no SD card slot to add more memory. It would therefore seem impossible to install a map on this unit, and many, including Garmin have accepted this limitation - but not all. From the OpenStreetMap Wiki website I found this link to TOPO Maps Ready for the Garmin eTrex 10 which allows downloads of regional OSM Maps divided into small tiles which can be selectively transferred to the eTrex 10. The maps are fairly basic, but far superior to that pre-installed on the unit, and I was able to transfer sufficient data to cover most of East Anglia - and it can be obtained free. Here is an outline of how this can be achieved, but I would suggest reading the detailed instructions contained in the Online Help available on the website before commencing any download or installation.
Chose the download link for the region required - for me this was > Ireland - Iceland - United Kingdom
Decide between the free but slow download speed or pay for the fast download - my slow download took just over half-an-hour > a zip file will be downloaded
Unzip the zip file and run Setup.exe that emerges to install software on computer.
Connect the eTrex 10 to the PC and run the newly installed software
On the map that appears zoom to the area you are interested in and click on the map tiles you wish to transfer to the eTrex 10 - watch the size of file that will be created to leave sufficient memory on the unit for recording tracks - 5 to 6MB maximum file size for the installation is suggested.
When selection is complete > Continue and Install - then disconnect the eTrex 10
The unit has many settings that can be changed to suit the requirements of individual users but very few of these are explained in the instructions. Admittedly, many are self-explanatory but some fairly important settings are difficult to find and their significance is not explained. Here are some of the settings made to achieve results required for WhifflersWalks; all commence by selecting Setup (the spanner icon) from the main page and then from the resultant page:-
System >
Satellite System > GPS + GLONASS - for greatest accuracy but higher battery usage
WAA/EGNOS > On - for greatest accuracy
Language > English - because that's what I am!
Battery Type > Rechargeable NiMH - must be set to match battery type inserted, but NiMH advised
USB Mode > Mass Storage - to enable transfer of data to a PC without additional software
*Tracks >
Track Log > Record, Do Not Show - this means recording will start whenever the unit is switched on
Record Method > Auto
Recording Interval > Normal
Units >
Distance and Speed > Statute - feet, miles and mph; to accord with current UK conventions
Elevation > Meters (sic) - metres actually; to accord with current O.S. Map conventions
Time >
Time Format > 24-Hour - because it's unambiguous
Time Zone > Automatic - received from satellites and automatically adjusted for BST
Position >
Position Format > British Grid - waypoints only; track data will still record GPS longitude and latitude
Map Datum > Ord Srvy GB - automatic from above
Recording a Track File of a Walking Route
The following procedure assumes that the eTrex 10 is set up as described on this web page and that self-contained walking routes are required. It is important to realise that with this set-up a track will start to be recorded whenever the unit is switched on and continue to be recorded until it is switched off.
Go to the starting point for the walk to be recorded and switch the eTrex 10 on - NOT BEFORE - and allow it time to pick up enough satellites for accuracy.
Navigate the menu with the joystick to go to Track Manager and press joystick to select
Select Current Track then Clear Current Track - confirm action and then back button to return
Select Trip Computer to display, then press menu button then select Reset then select Timers, etc - confirm action and then press back button to return to display - back button again to return to menu if required
Walk.
At the end of the walk - select Track Manager then Current Track then Save Track - give the track a name or leave blank to accept default date/time name by scrolling down and selecting Done - then confirm Save and Clear Current Track - then back button to return
Switch the eTrex 10 off
Downloading a Track File
After recording a walking route it will normally be transferred onto a personal computer for further editing and filing:-
Connect the eTrex 10 to a PC with the supplied USB lead, wait for the unit to switch on and a window to appear on PC showing the USB mass storage filing system of the unit
Navigate in this window to the Garmin/GPX folder and identify the new track file named above - select this and then copy or move this file onto the PC (on a Windows PC I find it easiest to drag the file to the desktop)
Safely disconnect the USB mass storage on the PC then unplug the USB lead
Note that leaving the GPX file on the unit, by copying rather than moving, will gradually use up the sparse flash memory that is available in the eTrex 10, particularly if you have installed a map as described on this web page, and that deleting the walk from the Track Manager will not necessarily delete the GPX file. However moving the file from the GPX folder does appear to delete the walk from the Track Manager - I have to admit that the interrelationship between these two records is still a bit of a mystery to me!
Following a Walking Route
The eTrex 10 can be used as a guide to follow a previously recorded walking route on the ground. This could be one already recorded and stored on the unit or one downloaded from the internet in GPX format. Downloaded GPX files will need to be transferred to the unit and this is done by using the same process, described above, for Downloading a Track File, except that at stage 2 the copy or move is from PC to the Garmin/GPX folder in the USB mass storage window. Walks stored on the unit can then be followed:-
Go to a location in close proximity to the starting point for the walk and switch the unit on
Select Where To? - then select either Tracks, for ones recorded on the unit or downloaded from this website, or Routes for those downloaded from OS Maps
Select the name of the route you wish to follow - note that this will be the name of the route as described in the file not necessarily the file name
Check that the route shown in the map displayed is correct - then select Go by pressing joystick button to confirm you want to follow that route - if it's not correct press the back button to return to the list for re-selection.
Use the zoom buttons to choose the best map scale for following the route - this can be varied as you proceed.
Go to the starting point of the walk (if not already there) then follow the thick dotted line to the end point.
Note that Setup>Map does allow you to define whether you want to view maps North Up or Track Up. The latter is possibly more appropriate for following a route but as a long term user of paper maps I feel more comfortable with seeing north at the top of any map I use.