Garmin Etrex GPS

Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver

GARMIN eTrex Venture HC Hand Held Receiver w/ Built in GPS Patch Antenna. New high sensitivity GPS receiver. 24 Mbyte of internal memory for storing detailed maps. WAAS enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver. Built in GPS patch antenna. Display: 1.3 in W x 1.7 in H, 256 color, high resolution, transflective TFT /176 x 220 pixels. LED backlit display and keypad. Battery life: up to 32 hours typical use using two AA alkaline batteries.Includes a built in Americas autoroute basemap with automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits and tide data /USA only. 500 user waypoints with name and graphic symbol; 20 reversible routes, 50 points per route. Position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, user grid, and more. Audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off course and clock. Large numbers option for easy viewing, dual position display mode. Trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed and more. 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks /500 points each/ let you retrace your path in both directions. Elevation computer /Summit HC/ provides current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Built in celestial tables for best time to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations. Fully compatible with MapSource products including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. TOPO 24K, U.S. TOPO and US Inland lakes. Waterproof, IEC 60529 IPX7, /Submersible 1 meter at 30 minutesAn essential for any outdoor excursion, the Garmin eTrex Venture HC helps you navigate through the toughest terrain. The unit is equipped with a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, which locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear: whether you’re traipsing through thick woods or strolling

• High-Sensitivity, WAAS-Enabled GPS Receiver Provides Peak Performance In Any Environment
• Built-In Basemap Includes Lakes, Rivers, Cities, Interstates, National & State Highways, Railroads & Coastlines
• Features A 1.7-InchH X 1.3-InchW Screen With 256-Level Color Tft
• Usb Compatible For High-Speed Map Downloads
• 24 Mb Of Internal Memory Allows User To Load Waypoints & Routes From The Included Mapsource Trip & Waypoint Manager Software

Buy Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver now!

Rating: (out of 219 reviews)

Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver Price: see Amazon

Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver Reviews

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41UEH%2BeISJL._SL75_.jpg

Review by ideastoday:
Before buying this new Venture HC, I had spent many hours trekking with several of the original eTrex models over the years. I think it’s fair to say that while the concept of the original eTrex was great, the execution was frequently disappointing.

It disappoints no more. The Venture HC is the eTrex perfected. It remedies almost every shortcoming that plagued the original models. The new high-sensitivity receiver is amazingly effective. Countless times I’ve stood in wide open spaces cursing my old eTrex because it wouldn’t acquire a single satellite. Last night I turned on the Venture HC on the bottom floor of my two story house, and it locked onto 8 satellites…through the roof and the upper floor! No more “need a clear view of the sky” messages. Amazing.

The old monochrome display has become color, and the user interface is now substantially more intuitive, while adding even more functionality. The cable, which was serial on previous models, has been upgraded to USB, another welcome improvement. The case is somewhat wider than before, but the design bears a strong resemblance to the original eTrex.

A basemap is included but it’s just that – basic. It shows the largest highways, bodies of water, and has some limited capability to display highway exit services. If you need turn-by-turn street directions, an eTrex is not for you. This is a GPS receiver true to Garmin’s outdoor GPS heritage.

Promised battery life (14 hours) is near the bottom of the range when compared to the existing eTrex models, but is still perfectly adequate and has posed no problems.

One weakness that remains is Garmin’s waypoint manager PC software. It has the feel and functionality of a software product released circa 1994. Garmin could certainly develop a better PC interface. For you can buy ExpertGPS from Topografix, or download the free version (EasyGPS)from their website. Either is far more functional than the Garmin OEM software.

Still, the software criticism is a quibble. The Venture HC itself is great. It is a market changing product that renders all previous eTrex models (and many competitors) obsolete. Finally, an affordable outdoor GPS receiver that I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Review by Ken A. Huth:
I was totally chessed off at Magellan when my Explorist 100 died under warranty and they refused to support or repair it (this was a new unit!). So I only considered Garmin based on liking my car unit.

Mac Users:

It’s a bit tricky, but I am able to use the USB cable and the ‘send to Garmin’ to automatically load waypoints from geocaching.com. One warning is that they have a Mac firmware web updater and it’s very new and froze on my attempt to use it, which blanked my unit. [...]. I did the update for this unit on a friends PC and it went fine.

There are some Mac caching software, but none of them are working for me with this unit. So keep that in mind if you really want to go beyond the web waypoint downloads. That’s a bummer, since Maccaching and GeoJournal look like they’d be great.

The included software does not work on a Mac, so ignore that CD. From the Garmin site, you can download the plugin for Mac to make Safari aware of the unit so you can do the “send to Garmin’ trick. They also have the Mac version of their WebUpdater (the one that hosed my first unit) on their site. Finally, you don’t need any USB drivers for Tiger or Leopard OSX, so don’t worry about them only being for Windows on the Garmin site.

Usage:

Crazy fast turn on and acquiring satellites. We are thrilled that we can turn it on in the car and it will start to pick up satellites right away. Our Magellin (an cheap 100 unit) would take awhile even outside in cloudcover.

It also seems to save all the time, as the shutdown is very fast, with no ‘saving’ note like our Magellin made us wait for.

I guess our only complaint is that we like to use the backlight a lot and that sucks batteries. It’s winter now, and so many days and locations are dim, and without the backlight, the unit can be pretty dim to read. It takes 2 AA’s. It also has a system pref for the type of battery you use (Alkaline, NiMH or LiOn), why? Maybe to only USB charge when they are NiMH’s?? But remember to set that to the correct type.

We really love auto loading the coordinates. And even with the free account on Geocaching.com, we get the cache name, GC# and coordinates. That saves tons of time and mistakes. We find ourselves loading up any cache that interests us, just in case.

Accuracy:

The unit seems right on. Our other unit would usually be more like 20-30 feet accurate in the woods, and this one led us right to the cache and showed 16′ accuracy at that point under normal tree cover. It also refreshes more often than our old unit, so it feels more responsive. No more going 20 feet and then seeing that the arrow just didn’t update to show we were going the wrong way, or overshot.

Build:

It seems solid and took our last rainy hike well. The back has a bit of a gap, but the seal must lock in fine. It uses the ‘D’ lock, so just half a twist to lock and unlock, which is fast and appreciated on a cold cache while changing batteries. We always had to dig to get the Magellin’s ring out and turning to pop the back.

Thumb toggle:

If you’ve used the old Garmin’s with button input, the toggle on the front is really welcomed. We zip through data entry and you push the toggle in to accept an entry. It’s also a shortcut to Mark your current location (holding down the toggle button). Another tip is that holding down the lower left button brings up the ‘Find’ menu quickly.

Speed:

One thing I noted was that when I went just one setting more on ‘detail’ for the maps, it really cut the redraw speed (which is a tad slow to begin with), so that was disappointing.

Hope that helps someone and happy caching!

for Team Spiderweb4-2

Buy Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver now!

Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator

Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts on a budget, the Garmin eTrex H GPS navigator helps you navigate your way through the toughest terrain. The unit is equipped with a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, which locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover and deep canyons. The advantage is clear: whether you’re traipsing through thick woods or strolling near tall buildings and trees, you can count on the eTrex H to help you find your way when you need it the most. And just like the original eTrex, this little yellow wonder is intuitive and rugged, with a lightweight housing that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The eTrex H is a breeze to use, with five buttons on either side of the navigator facilitating one-handed operation. The four-level gray LCD display, meanwhile, is easy to read in a shade or daylight. And you needn’t fret should the weather turn, as the eTrex H is IPX7 waterproof, so it can withstand an accidental splash or dunk in the water and still continue to perform. Functionally, the navigator stores up to 500 waypoints in its memory for easy retrieval, with names and graphic symbols to highlight the selections. Users will also appreciate Garmin’s exclusive TrackBack feature, which lets you reverse your track (up to 20 reversible routes) and navigate back to your starting point. And the automatic track log offers 10 saved tracks (with 10,000 points), along with the ability to retrace your path in both directions. Other details include a hunting and fishing calculator, sun and moon information, and a serial PC interface. The eTrex H, which runs for up to 17 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), measures 2.0 by 4.4 by 1.2 inches (W x

• High-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver provides peak performance in any environment
• Lightweight and waterproof
• High-contrast 2.1-inch X 1.1-inch screen with bright back lighting
• 5 buttons located on either side of the device for one-hand operation
• Stores up to 500 waypoints for easy retrieval and 20 routes with up to 125 waypoints per route

Buy Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator now!

Rating: (out of 84 reviews)

Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator Price: see Amazon

Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator Reviews

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41%2BHB0jhDxL._SL75_.jpg

Review by David Michmerhuizen:
This is my primary Geocaching GPS. The high sensitivity chip has the same strong processing power, and thus signal sensitivity and position resolution, as any of the more expensive units. It gives me excellent accuracy in areas where my older GPS units just give up, even dense forest cover. The software that drives the unit is the same as the older Yellow model (see below) and has stood the test of time.

If you’re only interested in point to point navigation (geocaching, trail tracks or just finding your way back to the car or the ski chalet), then this unit will do a great job for a no-regrets price. If you’re looking for road network navigation, then this isn’t for you.

Be aware that this is the ‘H’, for ‘High Sensitivity’ unit, introduced in 2007. It’s appearance is almost identical to older Yellow Etrex units, the difference being “High Sensitivity” in red letters just above the screen. Although the older units do work and may still be found, their worth is significantly lessened by the availability of this unit. That’s something to keep in mind when looking at used or “new old stock” units at other venues.

One thing that other reviews mention is true – straight out of the box it takes a long time (hours) to acquire it’s almanac (a digital description of where satellites are in the sky which is transmitted periodically) and then it’s satellite signals. Mine took at least 3 hours and had me thinking it was defective until it finally locked in. Don’t despair, this is a one-time thing – once accomplished, start-up time is about 5 seconds.

Review by John A. Pritchard:
As an avid Geocacher and teacher, I had to find out what all the buzz was about the H models. (I own a dozen regular ones that I use for instructional purposes) Everything is the same with features except that it is supposed to be able to get signals in heavy tree cover or in places with steep walls (like buildings) or in valleys, etc. When I used it for the first time, it took forever to catch the first satellite even though I reset the time zone right away. It comes with a central Asia time zone so be sure to change that. It lost power and shut off while trying to boot. It was becoming very frustrating. Took about 15 minutes. However, once it was able to find the local sats, it worked fine. Haven’t tried in dense woods or valleys yest, but kept a good signal in woods regular park woods and gave me accuracies to less that 20 feet. The price is the same as a standard E-trex 100 but you get better reception. The down side is that you lose 5 hours of battery life (17 vs 22). I don’t see this as a problem at all. And there is no cool globe logo on the front. I will buy more eventually.

Edited 8/6/09 — Okay. This has become my standard GPSr but I no longer recommend it for the new cacher. I have gotten accuracies within 5 feet in the worst conditions. Although I still like it, the biggest drawback is that the downloads require a serial port. Most computers don’t have these any longer which means you need a conversion cable ..another .. if you can find one. For basic GCing, I now suggest the Garmin Venture. Same basic operation but uses a standard USB connection.

Buy Garmin eTrex H Handheld GPS Navigator now!

Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS

All the power of a 12 parallel channel GPS receiver in a palm-sized package / Waterproof / Stores up to 500 waypoints All five buttons are placed on the sides, for simple, one-handed operation that doesn’t obstruct your view of the display Bright yellow case makes it easy to locate in the boat or backpack And the eTrex is waterproof, so a splash or dunk is not a watery grave for the eTrex The high-performance, GPS receiver runs 18 hours on two AA batteries Even under canopy forest conditons, the eTrex maintains a tight satellite lock Stores up to 500 waypoints with graphic icons Exclusive TracBack feature provides a reverse course homeA few years ago, when personal GPSs first became available, every geek from here to Poughkeepsie was enthralled about the possibility of always knowing exactly where on the planet he or she was. While the Garmin eTrex isn’t the most feature-rich GPS out there, it will definitely come in handy if you don’t want your next camping trip to end up like a scene from The Blair Witch Project.

The eTrex allows you to pack more detail into your adventure with added color, expandable memory, and automatic routing capabilities.
The eTrex is sort of a dumbed-down, rugged version of the company’s more advanced eMap. Designed specifically for hiking, biking, and camping, the eTrex is one of the easiest-to-use GPS units available. It offers the ability to track up to 12 satellites so you never lose contact with one. The eTrex won’t work inside–however, we don’t anticipate that you’ll get lost inside a building very often. Among the eTrex’s notable features is its ability to calculate your current and average speed. We used the eTrex to determine the distance from

• Global positioning system (GPS) receiver continuously tracks and uses up to 12 satellites
• Calculates current and average speed, time of sunrise and sunset, trip distance, and more
• Automatic track log–10 saved tracks let you retrace your path in both directions
• Tough waterproof case; runs for 18 hours on 2 AA batteries
• Compatible with optional Garmin MapSource software for downloading trip and waypoint data (not map compatible)

Buy Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS now!

Rating: (out of 218 reviews)

Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS Price: see Amazon

Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS Reviews

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4131VG9QMML._SL75_.jpg

Review by Ben Johnson:
I recently bought an E-Trex primarily because of the low cost of the unit. I am very satisfied with my purchase. I am surprised how rugged it feels and it appears to have a little more knock-ability than some other handheld GPS units I have used. I would have preferred a GPS with cross track error capability because I am also a recreational pilot, however the latest software revision (1.07) does show your position relative to the track line between two current waypoints on the map screen and this can be used to correct cross track error. I imagined the lack of buttons would have proved to be frustrating however this is not the case as the menus are logical and concise. Alphanumeric entry is via drop down menus, which let you quickly select numbers and letters for waypoint entry. Up to 500 waypoint entries are available and names are limited to combinations of up to six letters/numbers and there are many icons to choose from. You can quickly mark your present position as a waypoint by holding down one of the buttons for a second. It has all the usual nav formats and measurements can be displayed in Nautical (knots included), Statute (yards not included) and Metric.I have used it bushwalking through fairly dense scrub and tree canopy and it did tend to track satellites well. There were a few short occasions where it lost signal in particularly dense cover (to be expected with a relatively small internal antenna) however it recovered within about ten seconds in lighter cover. I would not recommend relying on the GPS compass feature in dense cover because it did have trouble maintaining heading information updates in low satellite coverage areas. I am not disappointed with its performance in dense bush, and as anyone familiar with units with small antennas will know, it is just something you live with. I was using a magnetic compass in particularly dense areas where I experienced poor coverage and it is good navigation practice to use a magnetic compass and map in conjunction with your GPS anyway. In light and open cover I routinely get 8 metre accuracy and sometimes as good as 5 metre accuracy. If I turn it on outside near my last fix it usually gets a lock in about 10 seconds.It maintains accuracy on the passenger seat of the car and is even better up on the dash. It gives a good presentation of speed, heading, time and distance to go on one big clear screen and the backlighting is very good. It has a nice rubbery casing and this makes it ideal to wedge it in an upright position between the dash mat and the windscreen while I am driving along.I decided the genuine Garmin data upload cable was too expensive and made my own lead from a cannibalised mobile phone charger. Uploading the latest free Garmin software revision (mine was shipped with v1.05) was a snap and I was very impressed with how easy it was to update. The new software has some nifty features worth getting. I have used some shareware utilities such as “GARtrip” and “GPSutility” to upload waypoints from scanned paper maps and street directories, and you can edit, upload and download waypoint info and track info. It is obviously faster to modify waypoint info from your computer keyboard and then upload the new waypoints in seconds. It has a non-volatile memory so flat batteries don’t present any risk of losing your stored data.Any disappointments? Only a couple of minor ones. It is very hard to tell if the backlight is on in sunlight, and because it toggles on and off by momentarily pressing the power button, you can accidentally bump it on and be wasting batteries. You can’t scroll the map around; you can only zoom in and out. This makes it difficult to review your recorded trail in any detail, and you need to zoom out and lose definition to see much of your trail. It gets cluttered with waypoint info when you zoom out trying to see your whole trail although you can turn the waypoint display off.In summary, it is a compact gem of a GPS with a big screen and for the price I believe it represents excellent value. Make yourself a data lead or buy one from Garmin because the shareware computer-based utilities are cool. Two thumbs up.

Review by :
Very handy size: about as small as my Nokia cell phone, and a little shorter. Great for shirt pocket use. I’ll toss it in my daypack when deer hunting.Display is correspondingly small too: 1 1/4 by 2 1/4 inches.But if all you want to know is your current location, your current heading, and the route back to your tent, it’ll do the job.Antenna is weak: even a light tree canopy or shirt pocket material gives it fits. No provision for external antenna.The barometer/altimeter function is nice.The complaint about the buttons being on the sides instead of the front/top is inane. It’s designed for one-handed operation. There are only 5 buttons after all, and all of them are very conveniently reached. Ditto the complaint about battery life. 2 AA batteries give 20 hours or so, 15 if you use the backlight a lot. So carry a couple of spares, put it in battery save mode, turn it off when not using for extended periods, etc. It’s a FIVE OUNCE GPS… get a life.If you’re navigating your way to the Dry Tortugas or trying to find that new customer in a strange town, you’ll want something more sophisticated. But if you’re a hunter, a hiker/climber, a bicycler, or just want a small, fun, inexpensive unit you can carry in your pants or shirt pocket, this is a very nice unit.

Buy Garmin eTrex Handheld GPS now!

Garmin eTrex Carrying Case

Garmin eTrex Carrying Case. Get more out of your Garmin eTrex GPS! Make the most of your GPS… order these accessories today! AVAILABLE SEPARATELY: Holster and PC Interface Cable – word search in our Store for ‘Garmin eTrex’. Garmin eTrex Carrying CaseSave your eTrex Summit and other eTrex models from some of the scuffs and scrapes of everyday use with Garmin’s eTrex Carry Case. This carry case covers your unit while in storage or while on duty in the field. Its nylon material ensures durability and lasting protection.

• Carrying Case
• Nylon material ensures durability
• Great for storage or on-the-go protection
• Easy to slip on and off
• Genuine Garmin-quality product

Buy Garmin eTrex Carrying Case now!

Rating: (out of 120 reviews)

Garmin eTrex Carrying Case Price: see Amazon

Garmin eTrex Carrying Case Reviews

Review by E. Dickmann:
The Garmin Carry Case is a nice addition to the eTrex GPS. The case is well made and covers most of the unit with its protective material. The buttons on both sides of the GPS are exposed and easy to access and the click stick is also exposed and easy to access (contrary to another reviewer’s comments). There is a belt clip and metal loop on the back to help fasten the unit however you want. Overall, if you’re like me and prefer to keep your toys clean and unscratched, the Garmin Carry Case is for you.

Review by M. Tracy:
This is a really nice way to protect a Garmin eTrex from such hazards as scratches, dirt, oils in your hand, etc. It does have one minor flaw, though – it reduces the satellite signal strength a bit, so you have to take it off when reception becomes marginal.

Buy Garmin eTrex Carrying Case now!

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS

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

• High-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver provides peak performance in any environment
• Lightweight, compact and waterproof
• Features a 1.7-inch X 1.3-inch screen with 256-level color TFT
• Built-in basemap with automatic routing capability
• USB connection for high-speed map downloads

Buy Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS now!

Rating: (out of 235 reviews)

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS Price: see Amazon

Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS Reviews

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iH8OrWyWL._SL75_.jpg

Review by Dan R. Clement:
If you are reading this and the other reviews of the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx then you are doing your homework and wondering if this GPS is as good as all the hype makes it out to be. The short answer is YES! I have an old Garmin 12 Map which has served me well, but was getting a bit long in the tooth. I wanted something a bit smaller, lighter, with color screen and was water tight. The Vista HCx meets all of these needs and so many more. It is small in size, but with a fairly big and bright screen (easily readable in the sun) for its size.

Every review I read touted the extra sensitive antenna and how it picked up and locked onto satellites inside of homes or buildings. Well I can honestly tell you that it does all this and does it quick. How this happens it Garmin magic. I was always told you had to have line of sight to pick up satellites, but not in the case of the Vista HCx, it can get them just about anywhere short of being in a bunker.

The menu is intuitive and easy to navigate, so much more that my old Garmin 12 map. The long story short, this little GPS is the one for everyone else to beat. If you are seriously considering a GPS purchase for hiking or navigating the back country, do not look elsewhere, this is the one to get!

The base maps in the Vista HCx are of course upgradeable through additional accessories purchases from Garmin (at substantial cost), but worth the money. How Garmin managed to pack so much into so little a package is a mystery to me. Do yourself a favor, stop reading the review and just buy one, you will not be disappointed.

BTW, I purchased mine through Amazon.com and took advantage of the free shipping. It arrived four days ahead of when it was scheduled to arrive which was a nice surprise. Amazon has a very good price and I have always been happy with my purchases through them. And no I am not getting paid to say these nice things about Amazon, I am just a very satisfied customer.

Dan…

Review by Alex Roche Cagigos:
I bought it to replace my old Garmin Etrex Vista and I am very happy with it. When comparing it to my older model these are the main differences:

Pros:

* Really high sensitivity. Now it always works inside the car, and it always works when hiking in the forest. You can just drop it into your pocket or backpack.

* Routing capability. Very useful if you have a good map, even if it doesn’t give voice commands.

* Color screen rather than B/W makes it much more readable even if screen area is slightly smaller

* When saving Waypoints, now the date and time info is automatically included.

* Battery lasts at least twice

* Rapid transfer of maps and tracks through USB rather than serial!

* Compatible with the maps and logs that I already have. I transferred all the waypoints and tracks saved in my old Vista to this new model, through Mapsource without problem.

* Compatible with my car, motorbike and bicycle mounts that I already have from my Etrex Vista.

* I can still use the free maps that I used with my old Vista, from: http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/catalogue.php and from

http://www.malsingmaps.com/

* Automatic date setup (from the satellites?)

* When transferring to the PC, the Active Log is now transferred as a few tracks (I guess one for every time that you have powered up the device) rather than as a long list of tracks

* When saving a track, now you can decide exactly up to which point to save back.

Cons:

* Not compatible with two of my Etrex Vista accessories: Car power adaptor (now the power comes through the USB connector) and Garmin case (now the unit is a little bit wider and shorter)

* No Favorite Waypoints menu. Has been replaced by a Recent Finds Menu?

* User Interface is sometimes confusing and not easy to find the function that you are looking for.

* WAAS setting and backlight level get to off whenever you power off the unit rather than remembering the setting (firmware bug?)

* Product Manual is very bad. It tells you how to turn things on and off, not why and when you should turn something on and off.

* No Micro SD memory included so you cannot upload any map unless you buy one.

* For the next product update, could I ask Garmin to add a Voice Recorder function to be able record a voice note associated to each Waypoint?

Buy Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS now!