Enter Coordinates on Garmin eTrex 32x (DDM)

The Garmin eTrex 32x is a popular handheld GPS device that excels at coordinate entry once you know the right steps. This guide shows you exactly how to enter coordinates in DDM format.

Before You Start

Set Coordinate Format

1. Press and hold Page to access the main menu 2. Select Setup → System → GPS 3. Set Position Format to hddd°mm.mmm' (DDM format) 4. Ensure Map Datum is set to WGS 84

Example Coordinate

We'll use: N 54° 56.550' E 023° 54.548'

Method 1: Direct Coordinate Entry

Step 1: Access Waypoint Manager

1. Press Page until you reach the Waypoint Manager 2. Or press Mark → Menu → New

Step 2: Enter Coordinates

1. Highlight the Location field 2. Press Enter to edit 3. Use the joystick to navigate between fields: - Hemisphere: N/S for latitude, E/W for longitude - Degrees: Enter whole degrees (54, then 023) - Minutes: Enter decimal minutes (56.550, then 54.548)

Step 3: Navigation Between Fields

• Up/Down: Change hemisphere (N↔S, E↔W)
• Left/Right: Move between number fields
• Enter: Confirm each field entry

Step 4: Save Waypoint

1. Navigate to Name field to customize waypoint name 2. Press Enter to save the waypoint

Method 2: Using the Find Function

Alternative Entry Method

1. Press Find button 2. Select Coordinates 3. Enter coordinates using the same field navigation 4. Press Go To to navigate or Save to store as waypoint

Tips for Accurate Entry

Leading Zeros Matter

• Longitude: Always use 3 digits (023°, not 23°)
• This prevents confusion between degrees and minutes

Decimal Precision

• The eTrex 32x accepts up to 3 decimal places for minutes
• Example: 56.550 is ideal precision for most navigation

Common Entry Errors

• Wrong hemisphere: Double-check N/S and E/W
• Swapped coordinates: Latitude comes first (N/S), then longitude (E/W)
• Missing leading zero: Longitude should be 3 digits (023°)

Screen Layout Reference

``
┌─────────────────────┐
│ NEW WAYPOINT │
├─────────────────────┤
│ Name: WPT 001 │
│ Location: │
│ N 54° 56.550' │
│ E 023° 54.548' │
│ Elevation: --- │
│ Depth: --- │
│ Comment: ___ │
├─────────────────────┤
│ [SAVE] [MENU] │
└─────────────────────┘
``

Verifying Your Entry

Check Coordinate Display

1. After entry, verify the coordinates display correctly 2. Compare with your source coordinates 3. Ensure hemisphere indicators (N/S, E/W) are correct

Test Navigation

1. Press Go To for the waypoint 2. Check the distance and bearing make sense 3. Verify on the map page that the waypoint appears in the expected location

Quick Reference Card

Action	Button Sequence
New Waypoint	Mark → Menu → New
Edit Location	Highlight Location → Enter
Change Hemisphere	Up/Down arrows
Move Between Fields	Left/Right arrows
Confirm Entry	Enter
Save Waypoint	Navigate to Save → Enter

Troubleshooting Common Issues

"Invalid Position" Error

• Check hemisphere settings (N/S, E/W)
• Verify coordinate format matches DDM
• Ensure no typos in degree/minute values

Waypoint in Wrong Location

• Confirm map datum is WGS 84
• Double-check latitude/longitude order
• Verify decimal point placement in minutes

Can't Navigate Between Fields

• Make sure you're in edit mode (press Enter on Location field)
• Use joystick, not Page buttons for field navigation

Need Coordinates in DDM Format?

Don't have your coordinates in DDM format yet? Use our free converter to instantly convert Google Maps URLs or any coordinate format to Garmin DDM format.

Using a different Garmin model? Check out our guides for GPSMAP series and Fenix watches.