Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS by Garmin
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS
Digital camera Review: Etrex
Summary: 4 Stars
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.Digital camera Review: Etrex Vista Review by a Newbie
Summary: 4 Stars
Hi,
As a first time user of this or any GPS product, I find the product very useful. It is actually easy to use but the ease of use is made difficult by lack of instructions. The instructions are not very helpful for a 1st time user. Here are some comments I have on what the package lacks:
1. The GPS unit does not come with any external memory. While it only fully functions with an external memory (to store maps) in it, I would think that the manufacturer should at least include even a 32mb microSD card with it at least to store basic maps.
2. The instructions on 1st time use are not really very helpful. First of all, it does not mention clearly that you need to install an external memory (microSD) card to make it fully functional.
3. While the mapsource CD is included, it should at least have a tutorial on loading maps and guiding the user with simple functions between marking waypoints and uploading them to mapsource or loading maps to the GPS unit.
Overall, once I learned to use the unit (or at least I think I now know how to use some of its basic functions), I think this unit is very nice and useful. I plan to use it for my bike trails as well as 4x4 trails and it will fit perfectly with the intended use I plan for it.
Digital camera Review: Etrex use
Summary: 3 Stars
The price I paid Amazon was very fair but since the base map was so inadequate I had to buy a maps SD card to make it useful. That is an additional $100 so the etrex price wasn't so attractive after-all. The users manual is very poor and doesn't cover most of the features available. The etrex I have is slow and really tests ones patience. (Perhaps because of the added SD card). Most of all, the users manual is even worse than the base map that came with the instrument.
With the added SD card and a lot of patience learning how to use my Etrex it is becoming better and better at doing what I need it for.
Digital camera Review: Excellent in flight reception
Summary: 5 Stars
So far it has worked fine with a good reception signal. I used the other day in a plane and was so cool. I could see where I was in the default world map, the altitude (GPS Altitude), my speed my distance to destiny and the time to destiny. Beside I could draw the exact trajectory of the flight (COOL). But be aware that to do that I was near a window not in the center groups of seats, where during my return flight I could not get a signal.
Updated:
Guess what?
I discovered in my last fly that it is forbidden to use a GPS on flight so please don't consider this review unless you have your own airplain.
Digital camera Review: Excellent GPS unit.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been playing with this thing for over a month now. Great unit, very sensitive. The only place that I don't get signal is where I work, but the building is shielded, what can I expect? Other than that no problem: In the house, malls, hills, you name it. This baby knows where it is all the time. The basic map is basically basic, no much fun, so I installed City Navigator 2008, and here is where this thing shines. You get turn by turn to your destination. Of couse, you will need a MicroSD card to install the maps, do yourself a favor, get the 2GB, here at Amazon the price is just right to pass.
Now, after you install the map, go to "setup" then to "routing" and pick faster time, then below that menu, pick "Follow road Options..." and disable all the "avoid". I thought this thing lost its mind, it was routing me all over the streets to my destination, until I came to this menu and disable all the "avoid."
Pros: Very sensitive.
Able to use a MicroSD card.
Small and rugged.
Cosn:
Wish to be able to scroll back and forth, so far you can scroll forward only.
To test the unit, press the rocker switch down and turn it on. To see additional info, get to the computer trip, then press the rocker switch up, right, down then left.
In my opinion, this unit is more advanced than those for your dashboard. Of course, you don't have voice guidance, traffic update, etc.
Usually, I come to Amazon.com to read reviews, some are very extensive. In my opinion, people that write reviews here are more mature in most aspects, so these are my two cents.