Handheld GPS Reviews - Customer reviews - Garmin eTrex Vista CX Color Handheld GPS

Manufacturer: Garmin

List Price: $374.99
Our Price: $198.95
You Save: $176.04 (47%)
Refurbished Price:
Used Price: $120.00

Average Customer Rating: -

Product details

Offers (6)

Page:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 of 18

Spotlight customer reviews:

Name: Henry Truebe
Location: Tucson, Arizona United States
Date: 2007-02-17
Customer Rating: -

Summary: don't buy the Vista Cx for its barometric altimeter
Comment: When GPS were first introduced we used to joke about the inaccuracy of their satellite determined elevations. I bought the Vista Cx because I thought the built-in barometric altimeter would reduce the problem with satellite determined elevations - it does not. The expected error in elevation is 50 to 200 feet, far worse than the positional accuracy of the gps. To reduce error Garmin recommends calibrating the unit every hour to a known elevation - if you know the elevation that well you don't need a gps! So, while you marvel at the positional accuracy of the unit you can still expect to get a good laugh from the elevations.

Name: Rudy Schlaf
Location: Tampa, Florida United States
Date: 2007-08-05
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Not so great experience
Comment: While this is a pretty useful device for hiking, running, sailing etc...it has several issues. One is, that the preinstalled map only shows high and freeways. If one wants more detail, Garmin will ask you to plunck down another ~$90 for US coverage. If you want Europe, it costs you again. Japan is not available at all, only a third party supplier in Japan offers a compatible map-another $90...are you reminded of razors and razor blades?? I am! Anyway, after loading maps with the crappy PC-only software (slow and cumbersome), it worked fine-for about three weeks. Then it frequently started turning itself off, and after a few more days the maps were self-deleted, and then it never came back to life. Hopefully, this is only a singulary lemon...I am currently waiting for a return authorization number-hope they read emails at Garmin.

Other shortcomings are the incredibly slow location fix...takes about 3 minutes if it already knows where you are approximately. If you step out of the plane, it can take up to 10 minutes until it finally gets an idea where you are. Advice: get a receiver with the sirfstar III chip set...supposedly this might alleviate this problem. More issues: no map support for macintosh, waypoints and other user generated data except tracks cannot be downloaded from the memory card. Proprietary Garmin software is needed to access these data, i.e. if you have a mac you depend on some downloadable utilities from the web. There is nothing out there to load Garmin maps to the unit using a Mac. Hence, if you are in the field, and only have a mac laptop there is no way to update your mapset.

Bottom line: Wait until the next iPhone comes out with GPS capabilities and google map integration...(=free razor blades...;-).

Name: J. Dow
Location: Portland, Oregon
Date: 2007-01-28
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Not for Macs--yet
Comment: A cautionary note for Mac users, the GPS is great, but all of the touted MapSource charts and connectivity is for Windows users only. I gave the GPS to my husband for Christmas, and he was so dissappointed when he slipped the CD into our computer he hasn't even looked at it again. He'd hoped to use it to chart kayak routes on the computer before making trips.

Name: Biomedman
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Date: 2008-02-27
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Garmin eTrex Vista CX
Comment: This is the 4th Garmin GPS I bought - GPS 2, GPS 5, Nuvi 660 and now the Vista CX. I bought the Vista CX to replace my GPS 5 primarily for mapping my local parks via mountain biking so I could plan trips, track mileages and also to get into geocaching. The first couple of times I used it in an outer pocket of my Camelbak while riding around through the woods in late October - after most of the leaves had fallen from the trees - and it lost coverage several times ending in incomplete track logs. I then tried it clipped outside with similar results. I found it not much better than the GPS 5 for tracking. However, the display and battery life are excellent and the menus are easy to navigate through. I wound up returning the Vista CX for the 60CXs which I absolutely love. The big difference is the SiRF III chipset. I can now pick up 3 or 4 satellites inside my house and have mapped over 130 miles of trails so far. I would definitely recommend the 60CXs over the Vista CX, price notwithstanding.

Name: L. Clees
Location: Eastern Pa
Date: 2007-08-23
Customer Rating: -

Summary: Garmin ETrex Vista Cx
Comment: The unit arrived from Amazon in a timely fashion. The documentation included with it is rather cryptic but once you figure it out the Vista Cx is fun to use. Note - it has limited functionality unless you purchase the City Navigator map set and/or the Topo map set. (It will not calculate driving routes unless you have the City Navigator map set installed.) It does do a good job of tracking where you have been and allowing you to enter waypoints. I felt much more comfortable hiking with it as I felt I could always get back to my starting point with it!

The unit worked fine for three weeks and then it "died." It would not power up - even if connected to power via the supplied USB cable. I contacted Garmin and arranged for the unit to be returned to them for replacement. One of their tech support reps was very helpful - the other was not. I explained to them that I wanted to expedite the replacement shipment as I had a camping/hiking trip scheduled in a week and wanted to have the Vista along with me. I provide them with a credit card number so that they could ship out a replacement in a timely fashion. It took 12 days to get the replacement! When asked, Garmin said - "didn't anyone tell you that the unit was on back order?" Evidently not ...

I am pleased with the Garmin product and hope that this is an isolated incident with this particular model. Note that the Vista HCx will probably be replacing the Cx (same features but includes a newer, more responsive chip set).

Page:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 of 18