Handheld GPS Reviews - Customer reviews - GARMIN 010-00629-00 Etrex Legend Hcx GPS Receiver

Manufacturer: Garmin

List Price: $269.99
Our Price: Too low to display
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Refurbished Price: $159.90
Used Price: $217.10

Average Customer Rating: -

Product details

Offers (66)

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Spotlight customer reviews:

Name: W. Okada
Location: CA USA
Date: 2007-09-16
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Best All Around GPS
Comment: Excellent and versatile GPS that I use for geocaching, driving, mountain biking, and hiking. I previously owned the Venture Cx and the display cracked due to my carelessness in the airline luggage. I upgraded to the new Legend HCx with the high sensitivity receiver and this unit significantly outperforms the older units. The new receiver fixes your location much faster and provides much better signal coverage. I noticed this as soon as I turned the Legend HCx on, as I was able to get a fix inside my house.

The expandable memory option (Cx) of the etrex series allows you to store a tremendous amount of map info. I installed the TOPO and City Navigator Mapsets for the entire state of CA and I am able to switch between mapsets. When I am on the trail, I "hide" the other mapsets and "show"/use the TOPO mapset. When driving on the road, I switch to City Navigator to get turn by turn navigation to my destination.

The only cons about the etrex series is that they have a small screen to view while driving and the menus/control button configuration are complex. I had to install my unit right on the steering column for driving. It took me awhile to learn and use all the features of the City Navigator and to switch between mapsets. But, for a pocket size all around GPS with excellent battery life, these are acceptable compromises.

Name: J. M. Miller
Location: Plymouth, MI
Date: 2007-10-17
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Terrific Handheld Outdoor GPS Unit
Comment: This is the second mapping GPS I have owned, and it is nearly perfect for my needs. I can't believe how much better this eTrex Legend is than my old eMap unit. First, the bright color display is clear and readable in direct sunlight. My laptop wouldn't even be visible in those conditions. Battery life - there is no comparison! I haven't yet changed the alkaline batteries in 4 weeks of use (modestly heavy as it is a new toy). Finally, it is so sensitive that it has never failed to get a satellite position while indoors. Again, the HCx is a major improvement over the previous model where I could lose reception inside my car with glass all around and in open countryside.

Pros: Light weight, small size, fits great in one hand.
Can be operated completely with one hand.
Display is amongst the sharpest and brightest I have ever seen.
Very intuitive and simple to use for anyone except possibly a newbie to GPS navigation.
Battery life seems endless.
Ability to map a route to a destination address entered at the unit with the City Navigator software installed - the entire U.S. and Canada detailed road maps and POI fit on a single 1 GB micro-SD flash card.
Useful in your car or outdoors for hiking, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, motorcycling, etc.
A true all-in-one GPS solution for a low price.

Cons: Small display compared to Nuvi series and other non-outdoor GPS units.
No voice directions - it has two types of tones to alert you to pending and imminent turns.
You need to add $120 worth of City Navigator mapping software to enable the auto-routing by address or point of interest functions.
The click-stick 5-way joystick navigation device is not the easiest thing to use to move around the maps and menus.

Overall I am very happy with my purchase and I expect to get at least 5 or 6 years of good use from this before I will be looking at replacements. Garmin quality and service has been excellent in my opinion; my eMap still works, though it will likely be relegated to a desk drawer.

Name: T. Allen
Location: Arlington, MA USA
Date: 2008-05-31
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Good for biking
Comment: I bought this unit to replace an older eTrex Legend model that I mount on my bicycle handle bar. As noted by other reviewers the HCx unit has enhanced sensitivity and very long battery life. My rechargeable AA's last at least 5 times longer than in the old unit. Also it never loses track when outside, and it will find lock in the house, something the old unit never did.

As also noted by others, the built in base map does not provide much data. It's the same map that was in the old unit. I purchased separately the pre-programed street maps on micro SD card which provides full street and point-of-interest data for the entire country. (Google search "010-10679-50" for the best deal on this essential accessory.) I didn't by Garmin software maps because I use a Macintosh and Garmin has never supported the Mac. (They now have something they call "Bobcat" which is supposedly a Mac program to allow map manipulation and transfer. I haven't tried it.)

Anyway I use National Geographic TOPO! maps on my Mac and can download (eTrex to Mac) track data and plot maps of my outings and obtain elevation profiles and ride distances. It's also possible to transfer waypoints and routes both ways with TOPO!.

Another note regarding cycling; in the old unit I had to purchase a special back plate to allow it to clip to the handlebar mount. The new HCx comes with a clip that attaches to the back and allows it to slide into my old mount. (If you don't already have a bike mount kit, you'll need that accessory as well.)

Another problem with the old model that's fixed in this new unit is that the batteries are securely clipped in with damping material attached to the clips. My old unit would shut down when I hit even mild bumps until I damped the battery clips with small bits of handlebar tape.

Bottom line is that I'm very pleased with this device, but note that it is not complete without detailed maps. The street maps work for me; you may want other maps for other types of use.

Name: D. Dixon
Location:
Date: 2008-02-07
Customer Rating: -

Summary: A Top Notch GPS! Especially for us Geocachers
Comment: Let me start off by thanking Garmin for making such wonderful products and Amazon for guiding me too them. Now, on with the review. Ok after looking at various reviews for many a different kinds of gps i had narrowed it down to 2, this of the Vista HCx. Now folks lets me lay it out for you. Unless you really need the altimeter, there isn't any point of getting the Vista for the $50+ that it is. Or unless you really like unity in your products, ex. all-in-1 design. The Vista comes with a electronic compass too but lets be realistic here folks who goes out and about without a REAL metal compass. what happens if the GPS dies on you? (although that be hard with 25+ hours of battery life, hehe) anyways unless you are committed to the all in oneness or have to have the other features then this is one awesome gps, it has everything you could ever need. You will need to buy maps separate but you can find them on amazon for cheap so its all good. Either way buy this gps, don't settle for less.

Name: James Schnack
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Date: 2008-03-05
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Great little GPS receiver
Comment: I was very pleased with the Garmin Legend HCx. I am the owner of a Legend Cx (previous model) and bought this as a gift, and the "H" (for High Sensitivity) is a real improvement.

I have found using the Cx model that often when driving, if the unit is near the center of the car and away from dashboard / windows, it will lose satellite reception, even while driving in wide open areas (experienced this in two different car models). THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH THE HCx.

If you are looking for a GPS receiver for hiking, rowing and general navigation while traveling, like I was, I recommend this model.

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