eTrex - Notes on Recording, Finding, and Reading Waypoints

Recording and Displaying Waypoints

1. Use the eTrex HC series quick start guide to record Waypoints. You can check out a copy of the quick start guide from the Spatial Data Center.
2. Once you've recorded them, navigate to the Find function in the Main Menu.
3. Select Recent Finds from the available options.  A list of the recently recorded Waypoints will be displayed.
4. Highlight a Waypoint and Click on it with the Rocker Key to select it.  Selecting the Waypoint will display the Note (Name), Location (Latitude/Longitude), Elevation, and distance from your Current Location.

Reading the Waypoint Data on the eTrex

When reading the latitude and longitude data from the Waypoint recorder, remember the follwoing information:

Latitude

• Latitude refers to the Y coordinates in ArcMap. 
• They are represented on printed maps by horizontal lines.  A simple mnemonic device for remembering this is "LAT is FAT."
• Latitude will be displayed as either N (North) or S (South) on the eTrex. 
• In ArcMap, Southern latitude values are indicated with a "-" (minus) sign.  In the eTrex unit, the minus sign is replaced with a "0" (zero).
• Enter Latitude points manually into the Y field in ArcMap this way:
  • Display in eTrex: N 40°45.537
  • ArcMap: 40.45537

Longitude

• Longitude refers to the X coordinates in ArcMap. 
• They are represented on printed maps by vertical lines.  A simple mnemonic device for remembering this is "LONG is TALL."
• Longitude will be displayed as either E (East) or W (West) on the eTrex.
• In ArcMap, Southern latitude values are indicated with a "-" (minus) sign.  In the eTrex unit, the minus sign is replaced with a "0" (zero).
• Enter Longitude points manually into the Y field in ArcMap this way:
  • Display in eTrex: W074°36.261
  • ArcMap: -74.36261