Do any of you have experience with this model? It appears to be the base model, but I have an opportunity to buy one for $70, NIB. Is the limited memory and # of way points, etc a problem? Please share your experiences.

Grab it! You'll like it. I'm still using the basic Etrex. The Venture is the next model up. I borrowed one last year to tinker with, and it is a lot easier to label waypoints with. For $70 you can't go wrong. If you don't like it, put it on Ebay and sell it for $120.

My son bought me the Basic Etrex for Xmas. Before I opened the box I took it back and upgraded to the Legend. It's definitely a cool toy. The mapping software was about $100 add on. The Venture is suppose to be good.

I have been using the Venture for 2 years now. It is a good model but it loses the signal in real thick cover. Something you should think about if you are going into land you dont know very well. Take a compass along also.

Thanks for the responses. Anyone else?

Cyberbuck, is losing a signal just a problem with this model or GPS in general. i hunt some pretty thick, swampy areas.

David, my bro-in-law has the Legend and is really pleased. I wouldn't mind just waiting until I have the extra cash for that(I'm just cheap). I have a Palm Tungsten T2 that they make a GPS adaptor for. I'm considering that as well.

Cyberbuck.... from the ones I've been exposed to(about 2 different ones..one a $200+ model) they all loose signal in the thick stuff, my Legend included. Just don't understand it. You have to find a little opening in the canopy to get reoriented.

I read somewhere that the GPS's made with a quad-helix antenna are better in thicker cover. Garmin extrex models dont use the quad-helix antenna. They make some models that do have them. I dont know for sure if it is true because I have never owned a GPS with a quad helix. Just trying to help. The venture is a decent GPS. Good luck

The venture is a good unit. It does have a patch antenna but as long as you use it correctly it'll have the same performance as the quad-helix antenna. To get the maximum efficiency out of the patch antenna it needs to be held horizontally. If you have any questions let me know. Sounds like a great buy.

OK... all you GPS gurus answer this. What price range do you have to get into to have a guad-helix antenna? Will they really penetrate the canopy? I hunt in some heavy woods in NY. It would be nice to have a more predictable precise unit.