I saw a Garmin basic model eTrex for sale today at Sportsman's Warehouse for $49.99. Problem is the DW couldn't understand why I needed one. Ergo..the store's inventory was not reduced due to my presence...GGRRRRR!!!!

Even though it is the most basic model..is it any good?

A good price Yes! I'd get one if I did'nt have 2 already.

Lee

If you travel in open areas then the older yellow eTrex will do you just fine.

If you travel in areas with vegitation canopies or other sky-blocking features, then that the newer high-senativity receivers are soooo much better that I'd recommend forking out the additional $50 to get the eTrex H.

yeah the old etrex is a nice basic model -- mine dosen't do maps, just direction and way points.

...Which I just found out Garmin no longer supports. ( Had a slight issue with the rubber seal - the buttons were not depressing through it.)

If you can open the unit, and lift the rubber button pad away from the pc board, you may find corrosion on the board, which can be cleaned away with denatured alcohol. A VCR repairman showed this trick to me, for repairing remote controls whose buttons no longer worked. I have a ceiling fan remote that had soda spilled on it, and requires this cleaning once a year or so. I haven't figured out how to get a permanent solution... I wipe the board and the carbon(?) pegs on the underside of the rubber membrane.

I’m all in favor of repairing things whenever feasible...but I’ve also become expert at finding replacement remote controls online.

Yeah, using a dead GPS to practice micro-electronics repair is a good use of the device.

If you like the eTrex format, get the one from Sportsman’s Warehouse. When you’re in the field and you need a reliable GPS, the one you “fixed” on your garage workbench might not be the best option.

OTOH, GPS City has the Garmin GPSMAP 64s with Sensors and GLONASS for $199, which is a great price imo. It’s not an eTrex, imo it’s better. Their Garmin eTrex 10 is only $84.95, still more than the $49.99 model you have locally.

$.02