prashton's Full Review: Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Handheld GPS Receiver
I bought my Vista 18 months ago at REI. Unlike many purchasers, this unit was bought for business purposes as I need to locate and map old oil well locations in places like Venezuela. The more features, the better, was my reason for selecting the top of the line model. I paid $300 for it.
The unit comes with a good manual as well as a "get you started" sheet. I found both to be useful but they might have been a bit easier to understand. There is a steep learning curve with the unit, partly because it has so many features. It also helps if you have a good understanding of map projections when working away from the standard WGS 84 type systems. I would strongly suggest reading up on such subjects before putting this unit to serious use.
The controls are designed to be water resistant and can be a bit tricky. My four way controller broke after about three months but REI replaced the unit under their usual no questions asked returns policy. (BTW, I lost all my waypoints when I handed the old unit in. I could not download them anyway at the time as I had no software to do so - see below)
The screen is not easy to see in strong daylight and since this is where you will most likely be using the unit (i.e. outside, away from the shade) this is a serious limitation. I have not seen the color models yet, but I hope they address this issue.
Battery use is reasonable. I have found that new batteries (I use rechargeables) are needed during a day long hike if the unit is left on. The battery aspect of this device is an important caveat about the reliability of GPS. You still need a map and compass as a GPS should be considered an add-on rather than a replacement.
I probably use the map feature most of the time with much less use of the other features. Waypoints are easily added, either at the location or from a good map. Waypoints added from a map can be adjusted when at the actual location. This is a good feature for when you are looking for a needle in a haystack (or an old oil well in a pine forest).
The range of map projections packed into this unit is remarkable. The British Ordnance Survey (which I use when hiking in the UK) is fully supported. As an example, it is simple to enter the coordinates of major waypoints on a mountain hike, then use the compass to steer between them, even in dense mist. Planning such waypoints requires keen map reading skills, however, and I am sure there is a book on the subject. If not, there ought to be!
Repeatability is a concern and there are tests on the 'net that show a certain amount of machine error for all GPS units. So even if the unit says it's accurate to 7 meters, you may not be able to replicate that on a future occasion. In other words, any two 7m circles of confusion may not coincide even though you're standing at the same location.
At first I used the Vista on its own. Then I bought two accessories. The first was a 12 volt power connector for using it in the car. The second was a serial port connector. I should have bought Garmin's combined cable and have seriously thought about cutting wires and making my two cables into one.
Next I started to look for Mac based software. Garmin is not a Mac friendly company (perhaps they will think again about that decision if the Mac Mini takes off) so all their software and connectivity is Windows based. The first thing to do is buy a Keyspan serial to USB adaptor. This accessory is simple to set up.
Next I surfed the 'net and decided that James and Associates MacGPS Pro was the software of choice. And it has proved to be an excellent companion. The company has provided numerous free upgrades by e-mail and is constantly improving the software at no further cost to the licensee.
Then I saw a DVD map system from Route 66 that covers all of Western Europe and has GPS connectivity. This software is great as a standalone alternative to on-line mapping software but it really comes into its own when connected to the Vista. This is where the two cables compete; if I use the Vista in the car then a cable is either plugged into the keyspan or into the 12 volt outlet, but not both.
There is a short time lag between the position on the map and the actual position of your car but it is not significant. We have used this system to drive out of London (in an area we are not familiar with) with great success and we also used it to locate a Bed and Breakfast farm in France that was definitely "off the map".
At a recent Outdoor Show I stopped by the Garmin Stand and observed that prices in the UK are astronomical compared to the US. The person I talked to was most unfriendly and pointed out that "most things are more expensive in the UK". But more than twice the price seems excessive to me. So if you need a GPS and plan to travel to the States, buy it there.
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