Personalizing the etrex

This page is part of the etrex knowledge base site.

Ido Bar-Tana ido.bartana@gmail.com
 

1.  Introductionb14.jpg (4766 bytes)

This page describes a modification to the etrex firmware that allows to change any text that appears on any screen of the etrex. Some examples I found useful:

  • change the text "visit garmin web..." in the SYSTEM screen to something more personal: "Ido Bar-Tana - REWARD $$ When Returned! 055-382-045...". (as shown in picture at right).

  • Changed "(C) 1999-2001 Garmin Corp"  in the powerup screen to "Ido Bar-Tana 04-9531259"

By personalizing the etrex you stand a better chance of getting it back in the event of having it lost. Well, at least theoretically. Moreover, these personalizations can't be erased via the etrex pushbuttons, so it's a bit better than a sticker. Finally, you can play around with modifying virtually any text, as long as the modified text is the same length or shorter than the original.

To make this enhancement, you'll need:

  • an etrex, of course, with a data/power cable.

  • The textpatch.zip package, which includes all the software and instructions you'll need for patching the text of the garmin  firmware. Thanks to Gilles Kohl for granting permission to include memap in the textpatch package. You can find the latest version of memap (1.03 is in the textpatch.zip) at Gilles memap page. 

  • You will also need the latest firmware file, which you can get the latest firmware file from the firmware archive on this web or at the source - at Garmins web

2.  Tiny bit of theory

The code and data that runs the garmin etrex is called a firmware and is downloaded as a single binary file. The screen text as well as the screen graphics are inlined in the code (although most of text is lumped together towards the end of the firmware). Luckily, the text is not encoded in any way, so a search and replacement of the text in the firmware and a re-download of the firmware to the etrex is all that's necessary.

3.  Procedure

  1. Download Unzip the textpatch.zip package. Apart from a copy of this document, you'll find the following files and programs there:
    • updater.exe and 013001000211.rgn - these are used to upload version 2.11 of the garmin firmware.
    • memap.exe, mempap.cfg - these are used to text-patch the garmin firmware.
  2. Run memap.exe: You can search and replace any string. It was originally written for the etrex emap, but works equally well for any firmware. In the search field, type VISIT (capitalized). This will take you to the "VISIT WWW.GARMIN..." which you can replace with your name/address/tel no. etc. memap has it's own help and FAQ.
  3. Continue replacing whatever else you desire. When you click the Exit button, memap will patch the firmware and create a backup of the original.
  4. Run updater.exe: This is the Garmin firmware upload program. Choose the relevant com port your etrex is connected to via the data/power cable, and confirm the firmware replacement.
  5. Once the firmware is uploaded, the etrex will reboot. Check the replaced text.
  6. Finally - if that has wett you appetite, you can also replace the graphic symbols. The procedure is more involved and is described in detail elsewhere on this web.