Garmin eTrex Vista HCx?

[-cheeto-]

Making my christmas list…

Anyone out there using a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx?

Thoughts on it? Is it as good as the reviews say?

To give you an idea of where I am at now, I am using a Magellan xplorist 200 that I put in waypoints in manually. This unit was nice to get me hooked and started but it’s not ideal to say the least.

Am I on the right track with this brand and model? Price seems to be around 230 – 250 and this is about what I would be looking for.

I think I am hooked enough now that I need to get a bit better equipment…

-cheeto-

[labrat_wr]

Hey -cheeto-,

Sagasu got started with a Magellan100 and still doesn’t enter waypoints.

I have the Magellan 210 which has a geocache manager and you can download pocket queries (200 wps/file). Still may not be as high end as you want to go but better than manual entry on every waypoint.

Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.

[RSplash40]

Check out the 60csx for a few bucks more(ok more than a few), loved mine so far and know of 5 others who will agree.

[hogrod]

@RSplash40 wrote:

Check out the 60csx for a few bucks more(ok more than a few), loved mine so far and know of 5 others who will agree.

If you buy the vistaHCX online its about $100 cheaper than the 60csx. both units now have great receivers and all the same functions, its really down to which unit layout you prefer.

I own both a 60cx and a vistaCX…. even though the vistaCX doesn’t have the great receiver of the new vistaHCX or the 60cx I prefer my vistaCX size to the 60series when hiking.
The 60 series is much better to use in the car, the buttons are on the front and all are labeled and back lit. Also the screen is slightly bigger so it is a bit easier to read.

here is some info about the vista HCX.
http://gpsinformation.us/vistacolor/etrexvistacolor.html#HCx

[TrooperDJB]

I’ve had a 60CSx for almost a year now and really gotten into cacheing with my kids especially my son. We had gotten him a foretrex from aldi’s for about $50 and it’s worked fine but the lack of maps and especialy the shorter waypoint names has been a pain so this past week I ordered him a Vista HCx. I’ve only used it for 2 days now but here’s my thoughts:

A lot of people point out to the same number of pixels between the 60 and the vista but the screen on the vista is physically about 25% smaller. It does have the same resolution. They both show the same amount but everything is a little bigger if not as sharp on the 60. Both seem to get great reception even under trees (what of them there are left with leaves by now)

Having used the 60 longer I’m probably biased to the button layout and having all the primary functions on their own buttons.

Size wise the 60 is definatly bigger then the Vista although weight wise in the hand they feel pretty much the same.

I think the Vista locks on just a little quicker to the sats then the 60 does but once both have a good fix they hold onto it no matter what (even in my basement)

Looking at the position fix sometimes they’re the same others they differ by as much as .005 degrees north south or east west. Without taking them to a known benchmark I can’t say which one is more accurate. The Vista does usually report a better accuracy but without knowing the exact algorithm used to calculate accuracy for each that’s not terribly meaningful.

Just my $0.02 worth on a short comparison.

[-cheeto-]

Thanks everyone for the wonderful input!

[GrouseTales]

I had a Vista HCx for about 2 days. This is the one the WGA purchased and donated to Hartman Creek State Park. I didn’t have a lot of time to play with it, but it was pretty nice.

I much prefer my 60Cx. I’ve had several Etrex units, and I’m not too crazy about button layout. I’ve also had problems with the rubber trim on all my Etrex units. They all have torn rubber and held together with tape.

The Vista would be a huge improvement over your Magellen 🙂

[hogrod]

@GrouseTales wrote:

I much prefer my 60Cx. I’ve had several Etrex units, and I’m not too crazy about button layout. I’ve also had problems with the rubber trim on all my Etrex units. They all have torn rubber and held together with tape.

I agree that the learning curve for using the etrex is much harder, but the button layout isn’t bad after you learn it. one major advantage is the Etrex you can easily use it with one hand.

I totally agree about the stupid rubber surround on the etrex. I sent in my legendC once before and it’s again coming loose. This is the only thing stopping me from buying another etrex, when garmin redesigned the etrex with the newer chipset they could have easily came up with a better design.

water can easily get behind the rubber gasket of the etrex and once it does all the glue will loose hold. another way the rubber gasket fails is the glue becomes dry and fails. NEVER leave an etrex unit in a hot car or you will end up with a failed gasket.

I bought a Lowrance ifinder H20 about 6 months ago to try, I took it back within three days because it was also experiencing the failed rubber surround(it has a similar design as the etrex). I really liked the Lowrance, but thought that aspect of the unit seemed cheap.

[-cheeto-]

Well, I didn’t get one for Christmas but now I am getting one 😀

Hip Hip Hooray!

😀 Happy day for me 😀

[3 Hawks]

@-cheeto- wrote:

Well, I didn’t get one for Christmas but now I am getting one 😀

Hip Hip Hooray!

😀 Happy day for me 😀

GREAT!! I’ve had my Vista HCx for about 8 months and I love it. Enjoy the new toy!!

[Author]

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