Name: Mark
Location: Yonkers, NY USA
Date: 2007-05-13
Customer Rating: -
Summary: Great purchase
Comment: I'm not a GPS guru (this is my first GPS), but I did some research before purchasing and opted for this one for portability - driving, walking, hiking, boating. I am VERY pleased with this device. I purchased this in conjunction with Mapsource City Navigator NT and a 1GB memory card for it. Now I have all streets in the continental US in my GPS!
If I have one complaint, it's that it's a little slow to draw when you zoom in or out a level (4-6 seconds). It just doesn't have a super-powerful computer inside it, but it keeps up well if you stay on the current level as you zoom down the highway. It knows exactly where you are (obviously), so just tell it where you want to go (addresses, cities, intersections, etc) and it calculates a route and also asks whether to follow streets or not (i.e. by car or on foot). If driving, it beeps at you about 30 seconds before an upcoming turn, and again when it's time to turn. The screen shows what you should be doing (turning right or whatever) via a white arrow that's overlayed on the map. There's also a marker showing your current position and you can set it to count down distance (or time) to the next turn. For instance, it counts down 7.2 miles... 2.3 miles... then 512 feet....90 feet....etc. Not to say it makes jumps like this, the countdown updates every second or so.
If you miss the turn, it automatically recalculates a new route. For instance, it typically will have you take the next exit and then a couple of back roads to get you back on track (perfect!)
It usually calculates routes in 10 to 20 seconds (for instance from New York City to Albany), but I have encountered a few problems when there are just TOO MANY roads like around New York City.
For instance, I asked it to get me from Jersey City NJ, through Manhattan, to Yonkers, NY and avoid toll rolls. It hung indefinitely calculating (probably because there's no way to avoid tolls!) However, this is rare. It usually has no problem plotting routes through New York City, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas WHILE ALSO AVOIDING TOLLS!
...and if it can plot routes through this chaos, it can plot anywhere!
It doesn't have a super computer inside it (it just feels a little slow compared to modern computers), but the pluses far outweight the minuses. For instance portability. Park you car at a huge mall parking lot, get out of your car, place a flag marker in your GPS marking where you car is in the sea of parking, and go shopping. When you come back out, you can walk right back to your car. Just steer to the flag marker in your GPS!
It also leaves a little bread-crumb trail as you walk or drive so you can retrace your steps. If you go for a walk in the woods, there's just NO way you can get lost.
As far as size, it's about the size of a baby's shoe when looking at the top (display). From the side it's about an inch thick. It definitely fits in your pocket.
I'd guess 6-12 hours of life with Duracell batteries, give or take, depending on what you're doing with it. But if you've been driving or hiking for 12 hours straight, it's time to take a break anyway. Keep a couple of extra batteries in your pocket if you're doing something mission critical with it. If the batteries do run out, it remembers everything. Take out the old ones, pop in the new, and it picks up where you left off.
There are a LOT of features in this device. Too many to list here. In fact, there's a bit of a learning curve in navigating around the menus. But it's worth taking the time to learn how to use it.
Be careful if you're driving with this device. Try to keep your eyes on the road. Plot your route ahead of time so you're not fooling with the menus while you're driving. Or better yet, give it to your passenger and have them tell you what it says, when to turn, and what direction. Let them have some fun.
I LOVE this device. I tell everyone this is was DEFINITELY money well spent.
Also, it doesn't work indoors, but do any of them?
Name: B. Clark
Location: Grand Haven, MI USA
Date: 2006-08-22
Customer Rating: -
Summary: Perfect choice for Geocaching!
Comment: This was really a no brainer for me. Garmin's simply got the best interface and includes the most bang for the buck. I primarily wanted a hand held unit for geocaching and the Vista Cx works great in the car for getting us close and does a top notch job getting us to the cache, even under fairly heavy wooded cover. I haven't needed to use the altimeter much, but the built-in compass is an absolute necessity for geocaching. Basically, you can stand still and the compass will determine which way you're pointing in order to point you directly to the location of the cache without having to walk a few paces before it gets its bearing.
I can't say enough about this unit. It works great and is incredibly easy to navigate. The removable/upgradable micro SD card is an absolute necessity if you plan on using maps.
Speaking of maps, be prepared to dish out approximately $100 for the additional maps from Garmin. I purchased the City Navigator North America v8 maps and wouldn't be caught using the GPS without them. It not only works nicely for navigating and auto-routing, but it'll certainly help get you as close as possible to the caches, especially in unknown areas.
The only other accessories that I felt that I needed were the 12-volt power cable (has to be from Garmin) and a windshield or other automobile mount (I purchased a third party one).
Long live geocaching!
Name: Peter Anderson
Location: Victoria, BC Canada
Date: 2007-06-03
Customer Rating: -
Summary: Garmin eTrex Vista Cx
Comment: Both my wife and I were fairly new to GPS's before we bought this unit. We first used a friends when we were driving to a concert and were amazed at the technology. Then, she started using handheld GPS's for her school program and we decided that we wanted to get one for hiking. At first we were looking at fairly cheap ones since we wanted one just for hiking but after I started to look into the technology I decided that it would be best if we got one that was more like an all in one unit. I travel a fair amount for work and we would also like to have a GPS for road trips and vacations. After a couple of weeks I decided on this GPS.
Initially I purchased the Legend Cx in Canada to see if I liked this GPS. I bought that one because the Vista Cx wasn't available and because I was just looking to test the GPS to see if I liked it. It worked great so I then returned it and found the Vista Cx on Amazon for $50 cheaper than I paid for the Legend Cx. In case you don't know the Vista is the same as the Legend except the Vista has an elctronic compass and barometric altimeter. I think the electronic compass is well worth it but like I said, I paid less for the Vista since I bought it in the US. Electronics are generally 15-20% more in Canada so if you can get around shipping costs and customs clearance then buying in the US makes sense.
Anyways, we bought the Auto Navigation Kit and 2 GB memory card to go along with this and we couldn't be happier. Having this GPS has given us more reason to get out. We have plenty of places to hike where we live but a GPS just seems to add more fun to hiking. I find with geocaching it adds more purpose to your trip and also gives you a sense of accomplishment when you find the geocache.
This GPS works great on the road too with the mapping software that comes with the auto kit. I can see the GPS screen just fine on the dash of my car when I'm driving. I don't think I will ever get lost again as long as I have my GPS with me. Once I set a destination in my GPS it does the rest for me. I find when I'm travelling I want to drive around and without a GPS you're kind of stuck staying on the path that you know. With your destination set in your GPS you can take any road you like and it will re-route your trip.
If you want a GPS that you can use for everything then I would say this is definitely the one. So far I have no complaints with the unit.
Name: Steven P. Ackerman
Location: Toledo, OH
Date: 2007-01-11
Customer Rating: -
Summary: Great in the Snow
Comment: I have used the vista gps on two snowmobile trips to the Upper Penninsula of Michigan in the worst conditions. Blinding snows and high winds with
almost no visibility. I lead our group of six, following the track shown by the vista mounted on the dash of my Polaris. I had no idea how to get back without it....the snow conditions made everything look the same. It safely guided us right to the front door of our destination. This is an outstanding product that i will never be without! Carry two additional rechargable batteries for peace of mind.
Name: RBM
Location: Davis, CA USA
Date: 2007-05-13
Customer Rating: -
Summary: Garmin eTrex Vista CX
Comment: I have owned the Garmin eTrex Vista CX for about four months and am very pleased with it. I have owned or used three other receivers: a Garmin Rhino, a Magellan SporTrak Map, and a Magellan eXplorist 210. The Garmin eTrex Vista CX is the best of these units. The battery life is excellent, the color display very good, the battery access and USB connection are quick and easy, the software is fast, and the memory can easily be expanded, although I have had no thoughts or needs of doing so. The unit has more good features than I expected, all of which I have come to appreciate. I have not had to contact customer support, so I have no comment on Garmin support. However, I have needed support on a Magellan product and found Magellan's support a complete waste of time; it doesn't exist as far as I can tell.
Back to the Garmin eTrex, on the down side, the base map which is included with the unit is of very limited use. I have added the City Navigator and Topo maps which add about $220 to the cost. Also, for my purposes a carrying case is necessary, so I purchased the carrying case which, unfortunately, slightly obscures the outer edges of the screen and generally makes the screen more difficult to read.
I hike, jog, bike, drive, geocache, and have found this unit to be very friendly to all these activities. Now I must take up sky diving so that I can try out Garmin's jump master feature (I'm not kidding). Over all, I think the Garmin eTrex Vista CX is a very well designed receiver.
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