Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS
Customer Review: Great all around device
Summary: 5 Stars
After tons of research on multi-purpose GPSs, I went with the Vista hcX and i'm very glad I did.
Upon receiving the hcx, it took maybe 20 minutes or so to get a feel for the thing. The manual is not much help, so with some trial and error I was able to figure out the main commands like using the navigation for cars and "Tracks" for hikes/runs/cycling. What was a little confusing is how to start a new session (i.e - for a run/hike). If you press reset in the Trip Computer menu, it will start from scratch and you can start your tracking fresh (applies for both car navigation and by foot/cycle). Then when you're finished with a session, be sure to go to the Tracks menu and click Save. Then you can name the log file to whatever (Run/mtn biking/drive to wherever). The files store as dates and clumps all of the tracks for the day together, i.e - april 17 = 4172009.gpx. For saving map data, I use a 2gb microSD sandisk which works great in the device.
There are no maps preloaded in the hCX. You have the option of buying Topo US 2008 and City Navigator North America, this can get REALLY expensive. City Navigator in my opinion is better for general usage unless you're on the trails most of the time, where TOPO 2008 might be better.
What the manual doesn't tell you is how to switch back and forth between these different map sets(CityNav and Topo). The problem is that the HCX can only use ONE map set (.IMG file) at a time. There's a free program called MAPupload(google it) that allows you to merge .IMG files (what the HCX stores your map sets as) and this is VERY helpful, as you can use the same microSD card for two or more mapsets. Problem solved! This program is necessary unless you want to buy another microSD card to split them up. It takes quite a while for the transfer (using MAPupload), but worth the wait.
What I also really like about this device is it's ability to use the GPS data as GPX files. Most sites(like Motionbased, Mapmyfitness) can use these GPX files to map it out nicely on their site. Although Mapsource, the included software, can be a bit tempermental at times. Instead of doing the "Receive from device" command which the hcx often came up undetected, I ended up simply opening the GPX file straight from the microSD card (File->Open in Mapsource) and there it was with all the average speeds, elevation, maps, etc! From here you can save the file as an individual GPX (since the hcx automatically clumps them all together by day) which you can upload to most GPS websites.
For auto navigation I love that with CityNav, it's basically the same as most auto only GPSes. It beeps at you and the backlight goes on before you make a turn, which is nice. It also recalculates if you go off route. Although you might consider getting the mount unless you want a neck ache from looking down at the the thing while driving.
Lastly for batteries, these things work great with Lithium AA batteries (i.e-energizer). The hCX has a setting for what type of battery you're using under Settings->System. It's important to have the correct battery type selected or it will show as low battery life, which confused me at first as I thought it was the battery. I bought some Rayovac NiMH Hybrid rechargeables and they've worked great so far.
I hope my hours of trial and error could help someone figure out some less than obvious things, or at least discover that this is an extremely handy device to use as an all around GPS tracker.
UPDATE: Well after 6 months of use of the hcx, i'm happy to say it's still running strong and like new. A few weeks ago, the hCX actually saved us in a 4 wheel drive trip in the woods! Long story short, We went 4 wheeling 30 miles deep into dirt roads, and the GPS safely guided us back to the main highway. At times, the hCX would want us to go left at roads that didn't exist (probably the fault of the North America map), but we followed the general direction of the road on the gps toward the highway and it guided us safely back! I also bought this cheap gps mount on ebay for less than 10 bucks from a seller named northstar_gps, and it works great!
Customer Review: Terrific Machine, Careful who you buy it from
Summary: 5 Stars
I did a lot of homework before purchasing this little machine. My main desire for owning it was for geocaching and reconnoitering the great outdoors on 4-wheelers. I could not be more pleased after all the research evolved into actually using it.
I expected the user manual to be much more user friendly as far as geocaching goes. The manual is basically worthless to explain geocaching or how to enter a waypoint and then head to it. So, for those of you interested in geocaching I would suggest going to geocaching.com and click on "Getting Started" to learn about the sport. After navigating that website - which is a little confusing at first - you can enter waypoints and coordinates from the site to your machine.
First, you'll need to turn on the machine (press and hold briefly the bottom button on the right side, go to the main menu (by pressing the top button on the right side until the main menu comes up - if you need light, hit that bottom button again and then the toggle button -on the face of the machine - up, up, up until desired light level is reached, then press the toggle button in to set). At the main menu toggle to the right twice to the little "Mark" icon and push the toggle button in. This takes you to the Mark Waypoint screen. At this screen use your toggle button to maneuver up to the very top where you can enter the waypoint name (default will show 001 unless you have already used that one, then it will show 002, 003 and so on). To enter the name just press the toggle button in and then toggle left, right, up,and down in the popup box until you are done, then toggle to OK and press the toggle button in. You can use the waypoint name from the geocaching website to avoid confusion later. Toggle down to the Name box and enter the name that has been given to that waypoint on the geocaching website (press toggle button in, toggle left, right, up, down until finished, then toggle to OK and press toggle button in). Toggle down to the coordinates box and enter the coordinates from the geocaching website, toggle to Ok and press the toggle button in. This should take you back to the main screen.
To avoid all of the manual entry you can go to the geocaching website and "send" the coordinates to your machine directly through a USB cable (included). Once you have downloaded all the waypoints for an area that you are interested in, unplug from your pc. Turn on your unit (bottom button on right). Go to main screen.
Toggle down to "Find" and press the toggle button in. Your entry(s) will appear in Waypoints, Geocache, and Recent Finds so toggle to any one of them and press the toggle button in. (NOTE: If a drop down box appears asking you to enter a geocache, just press the top button in the right side to make it go away and show you the list on entered geocaches). Toggle down to the one you want to go to and press the toggle button in. Toggle down to "Go To" at the bottom on the screen and press the toggle button in. You're on your way!!!
This item's seller seems to change for this product from time to time. The day I bought my machine it was being sold by Buy Now Incorporated. They listed the machine for a terrific price, but didn't end up sending me the HCx model that I ordered, but rather the Vista 010-00243-00 model which doesn't have the color screen, the high sensitivity WASS, or the USB computer connection. It was a huge hassle getting an RMA to return the machines. The only response I got from them was from their own website. Trying through Amazon.com led nowhere. They ended up refunding my money through an A to Z Claim. I have been back to the product several times since, and I noticed a few days ago that this HCx model was being offered by Target.com for another great price. Same link to this same page, same machine. Today it is being sold by Amazon.com. So my suggestion, send yourself the link in an email and check back often (daily) and make sure the seller listed is reputable and has good feedback ratings, and also check for an ever changing price.
Customer Review: Excellent; I highly recommend this handheld
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my review of the Garmin eTrex Vista Hcx handheld mapping GPS unit. I purchased this GPS in early June of 2008 and have had it about 3 weeks as of this review. I own two other GPS's: a Microsoft Streets and Trips + GPS from 2005 and a Garmin Nuvi 200 I received as a gift Christmas 2007. MS S&T is a really nice program and it works well with its accompanying GPS receiver. But, it requires that you use it with a computer (the receiver plugs into a USB port). And the Nuvi 200 is a great unit as well, but it's more for finding a route and directions while driving--finding your way to a destination.
I wanted a portable unit mostly to use while walking, hiking, or biking that would track my journey, with a color display, memory expansion capability, and alititude tracking. I did lots of online research, reading reviews and user manuals at Cnet, Amazon, and several GPS-specific sites and eventually narrowed it down to three possibilities, all Garmin: the eTrex Vista Hcx, the GPSMAP 60 CSx, and one of the new Colorado units. In the end, I selected the Vista because: I felt the Colorado was too new and I'd seen negative reviews (and it has features like 3D I didn't think I'd need), and the Vista was proven, reliable, and less expensive than the 60 CSx. Also, it had all the features I wanted and was lighter and has longer advertised battery life than either of the other two units.
In a word, I consider this unit to be: exceptional. It meets or exceeds its advertised functionality and my expectations. Some specific items:
--Accuracy: I had read some reviews that complained about the accuracy of other similar units and I was worried. But I've found this unit to be very accurate, down to within a couple meters. And in my case it seems to make no difference whether the WAAS feature is enabled or disabled.
--Altitude accuracy: not quite as good as I'd like to see, but adequate. In a couple cases while hiking it has actually been off by as much as 1000 feet in altitude, but I attribute this to the vagaries of barometric altitude measurement, not to a defect in the unit itself. In cases where the altitude doesn't seem so accurate, I find that the altitude relative to an entire track still reports where I've gone up and down hills, so I'm satisfied. Also, I have not yet tried manually setting the altitude or barometric pressure at the beginning of a trek, but I'd guess that would improve its overall performance.
--Battery Life: my first set of regular old AA Eveready Alkalines lasted slightly longer than 25 hours, the advertised life. I'd bet that I could stretch this to longer if I paid attention to turning off the backlight when I don't really need it on.
--Size: I was surprised at how small the unit is. For some reason I had in my mind that all units around this size would be a bit bigger; it's about the size of a deck of playing cards, but slightly thicker.
--Display Visibility: no problems at all here. I use the unit frequently in bright sunlight attached to my bike while wearing sunglasses and I can see the display fine from a few feet away.
--Map: the map that comes with the unit by default is entirely inadequate for anything but highway driving, but I knew this when I bought it, and had purchased Topo 2008 as well (which is very nice for both city and on-trail tracking). There are very few trails actually in the mapping software itself, but this isn't the Vista's deficiency itself.
--Sturdiness: biking can sometimes be a bit bumpy. Yay for solid state components; this GPS has worked fine over bumpy roads.
I'd highly recommend this unit to anyone looking for a handheld GPS, especially one to be used for walking, hiking, jogging, or bike riding. If you're looking for something to give you directions while driving a car, this unit is not for you--stick to the Nuvi series.
Customer Review: Big Bang for the Buck
Summary: 5 Stars
Recently purchased this item after reading countless hundreds of reviews on various competing products both from Garmin and others. Along with this unit I also purchased a 2GB micro SD memory card (which I would recommend others do as well, you'll need it for maps). I had been looking to replace an earlier generation Garmin GPS for quite a while. Primary use is for hunting and off-road exploits. There seemed to be some growing pains in the hand-held market so I held off initially. I finally settled on the Garmin Vista Hcx. I'm glad I did.
As reviews go, I usually research reviews on just about any product I try. I usually sort reviews from lowest to highest so I can see the bad stuff first. There were a number of negative reviews for this product (still had a high rating, but it also had a lot of reviews too). After having bought the Vista Hcx, and using it a fair bit, I have to say most of the negative reviews aren't really applicable (i.e. must be a malfunction between the user's brain and the unit). Anyway, on with the review...
Pro's - Ease of use. One handed use; you really can operate this thing with only one hand and that is NICE! Color display; easy to read. Accuracy (in fact, it's so accurate that it will send you down a freeway off ramp if you're not careful). Intuitive; after you spend some time with it. Durability; solid little ruggedized, weatherproof, unit. Battery life; I've only used alkalines so far, but they last for many days of use if not on constantly. The 'Trackback' feature is excellent and works well. 'Sight-N-Go' is also another nice feature. Compass and altimeter features are very nice also.
Cons - The Mapsource PC software that came with my unit was terrible! A sixth grader could have written better code. Check for updates as soon as you install it (really, DO). The later versions are much, much, better (ver. 6 and higher). Additionally, the basemap (in the unit) lacks much detail, you almost have to install some kind of map (if you want more than just a basic GPS). Garmin's map software is needlessly expensive (over $100 retail). Fortunately, if you look around there are other maps you can install for much less (free in many cases). Just search the web (can't post links here). Garmin could add a little more detail to the base map though, without comprimising their marketing strategy for the map software. The lack of detail in the base map is almost as if it's a trick to force you into spending another $100+ bucks. Kind of crummy in my opinion. Only other minor annoyance is the backlight setting goes to zero when you turn it off, so when you turn it back on you have to reset the backlight setting (no biggie, but an unnecessary button push.)
Overall & tips - Read the manual(s) and go out and use it. The key to learning this unit is the time spent using it. One tip that may help some troubled users is to understand that the 'menu' key will open up a different menu depending on what screen you're looking at. Open them all so you know what menu performs which function, and how to find it. Another tip would be; the manual doesn't tell you everything the unit will do (not by a long shot). I expected to burn up a couple sets of batteries just pushing buttons to see what each button, menu and function does. This was very helpful. One other note; I run the lasest version of Mapsource on Windows 7 and it does work. I don't do the geocache thing, but it looks to have some pretty good specialized geocache features.
Lastly; price. Seems to me, with all the features you get, the just over $200. I bought right from Amazon, and it showed up quickly and worked like a champ.
Customer Review: Superb performance
Summary: 5 Stars
Supplemental Comments to Original Review
I've now (Feb 2011) used the HCx for a number of other trips including mountain biking and several backpacking trips. I've loaded and used several maps purchased on Micro SD. All have worked well and with excellent accuracy. I thought the map was "off" while hiking in Big Bend National Park, but subsequently learned that the trail had been rerouted a couple of weeks earlier - the GPS map simply had the original trail marked. Couldn't fault Garmin for not picking up on such a recent change in the trail. I've had the GPS unit come loose from the Rail Mount Adaptor on my mountain bike a couple of times. Vibration from riding seems to cause the attachment screw to come loose from the back of the GPS. I have to remember to carefully tighten the screw (the edge of a nickle seems to be about a perfect fit, but dime or penny works too). The GPS has hit pavement hard a couple of time and other than scuffing the exterior it continues to work fine. It' a testiment to the product's durability that the electronics survived. I ordered a second Rail Mount Adapter so I can leave one on the mountain bike and use the other on canoe trips.
The Vista HCx is the 3rd hand-held GPS unit I've owned. I bought it to replace a Garmin 60CS. I just returned from a 12-day wilderness canoeing trip using the HCx where it performed superbly.
- Battery life using Eveready lithium AAs (unit uses 2) was frankly amazing at 35+/- hours (a significant improvement over the 60CS).
- Mounted unit in the canoe using separately purchased Garmin Rail Mount Adapter(010-10496-01)which worked magnificently. Rail Mount Adaptor attached to aluminum cross-brace of a Souris River Quetico 17 canoe in front of the rear seat and once angle of the Mount was set appropriately made GPS easy to view while paddling. The quick release enabled the GPS unit to be easily installed or removed for portaging the canoe. Quick release (included with the GPS Unit) screws on to the back of the GPS. Easily removed to access battery compartment.
- GPS unit was not affected by heavy rain or water from paddle splash, etc.
- On lakes, as would be expected, excellent accuracy and rapid satellite lock; but the unit also maintained satellite lock while in my pocket over heavily wooded portages.
- Color screen was easy to read - even in bright sunlight (and typically wearing sweat/sunscreen/insect repellant encrusted glasses). While the screen is smaller than the 60CS, it's brighter.
- Separately purchased a 2gb micro SD card which was easily installed. Detailed map downloaded(relevant sections from Garmin Topo Canada)without a hitch. I understand that with most recent (May 2009) software upgrade the Vista HCx will acceptand operate with a 4gb micro SD card.
- Controls and various menu options as with the other Garmin GPS units I've owned are somewhat complicated. I'm still figuring them out (wasn't till the end of the trip I figured out how to set the display so that the top of the screen was always "north"). The complexity is a slight negative, but for the most part you'll figure it out from playing with the menu or read the owners manual in detail to learn what's important to how you particularly use the unit.
- Buttons were difficult to operate while wearing paddling gloves - not a flaw in the unit's design, just a fact.