| Rating 4.0/5 from 221 reviews |
| Garmin eTrex Vista HCX |
| Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2010-02-18 |
| When I purchased this unit at Amazon the price was $199.00. The shipment arrived on time via USPS which took about 9 days with the super saver shipping option. I prefer UPS and choose to use UPS from now on. This GPS worked as advertised. No problems so far. I was able to download free NorthAmerica City Navigator NT from a torrent site, but I also ordered and received the latest microSD card for the unit with the same city maps preloaded. The version of map I got for free was not current. I tried to find topo maps for free somewhere on the net, but have been unable to do so. The unit seems to be accurate to within 13 feet as described by technical specifications of the unit. The battery life seems to be amazing which was an important purchasing decision point for me. The backlight is very good and the color display although small is very good. I have used it on some hikes so far and a short camping trip. I also have used it in a vehicle to help me find restaurants in an unfamiliar city. Worked great! This unit tells you when to turn in advance and is accurate to within a couple seconds with its turn commands. I did a lot or shopping before deciding on this particular model. The other acceptable model for my needs was the Garmin 60csx, but costs about $100 more than this Vista HCX. Not worth it in my opinion. |
| Etrex |
| Rating: 4/5 2010-02-12 |
| Lost car GPS in a lake in Maine bought this product to mark boating routes and good fishing spots. Really needed another car GPS as this one obviously didn't come with the traffic maps. Was sad to return it but Amazon took it back without any hassle at all. |
| Garmin Vista HCx Review |
| Rating: 5/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2010-01-30 |
| Great handheld. Works well for any occasion from hiking, biking, and in the car. Plenty of features and great battery time. good screen that I have never had a problem seeing. I got the extra southern mountain sd card and it is great. Shows everything. |
| Good For Geotagging |
| Rating: 4/5 (1 out of 1 think this is helpful) 2010-01-30 |
I bought this for geotagging with three cameras, two Sony Alpha's and a Panasonic point and shoot.
It works well. It is sensitive enough that I can even leave it in my car and still have it work.
I wish I could say the same for the Mapsource software that came with it. Mapsource crashes on my Win 7 64 bit machine and, if it does create a .gpx file, the location always shows up in Prophoto Tools 2 as the same place in Kansas. Of course I can't rule out user error, but I found a free application called "EasyGPS" that will create the .gpx files I need and add them to images. They also work with the Lightroom geotagging plug-in.
The coordinates seem to be accurate to within about 50 meters or so which is good enough for my needs.
Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS |
| Husband loves it |
| Rating: 4/5 2010-01-23 |
| Very good product husband finds it easy to use and just what he needs for all outdoor activities. |
Amazon.com Product Description
Neither deep foliage nor steep canyons will faze the rugged Garmin eTrex Vista HCx navigator. Equipped with a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, the unit locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover. The advantage is clear: whether you're traipsing through thick woods or strolling near tall buildings and trees, you can count on the Vista HCx to help you find your way when you need it the most. The Vista HCx also includes a built-in electronic compass that provides bearing information even when you're standing still, along with a barometric altimeter that tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. You can even use the altimeter to plot barometric pressure over time, which can help you keep an eye on changing weather conditions.
Adding maps to the Vista HCx is easier than ever thanks to the device's microSD card slot, which accepts cards preloaded with MapSource data for your land and sea excursions. Just insert a MapSource card with detailed street maps, and the Vista HCx will provide turn-by-turn directions to your destination. Plus, the card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you needn't worry about it getting wet.
Besides appreciating its small size, users will also be happy with the Vista HCx's unique button layout, with five buttons located on either side of the unit. The benefits of this design are twofold: First, the Vista HCx is a breeze to operate with just one hand, and, second, with the buttons on both sides of the unit, the bulk of the front is dedicated to the 256-color, sunlight-readable TFT display. This makes it easy to distinguish map details regardless of the time of day.
The Vista HCx basemap, meanwhile, contains lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, national and state highways, railroads, and coastlines--in short, a host of helpful details for your outdoor adventures. Other details include an IPX7 waterproof housing, 1,000 waypoints with names and graphic symbols, a built-in patch antenna, a USB interface, a hunt/fish calendar, sun and moon information, and a geocaching mode. The Vista HCx, which runs for up to 25 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), measures 2.2 by 4.2 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
eTrex Vista HCx, basemap, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software, USB cable, wrist strap, quick start guide, user's manual.
