Garmin Etrex Vista HCx

[ootini]

Anyone have any experience or reviews of the Etrex Vista HCx GPS unit ?
Thanks

[JohnClimber]

I had one, it was very basic but ok for following a trail.

Got a Dakota gps now and wouldn't go back

[ootini]

All I'm really after is the ability to load a gpx file, see a map and follow the line I guess. What is it the Dakota does that the Vista didn't, if you don't mind me asking ?

[Dan_K]

I've got one. Very slow scrolling and processing.

[ootini]

I've got one. Very slow scrolling and processing.

Too slow to keep up with riding speed and be useful ?

[JohnClimber]

You are no able to upload OS maps to a Vista but you can to a Dakota

[ootini]

I've seen a couple on eBay with 'talky toaster' maps installed ?

[Dan_K]

I've got one. Very slow scrolling and processing.

Too slow to keep up with riding speed and be useful ?

I'd pay the extra and get a newer device. It's like buying a 5 year old phone, technology's moved on.

[Dyffers]

I'd pay the extra and get a newer device. It's like buying a 5 year old phone, technology's moved on.

This.

I had two Etrex Legend HCx units between 2008 and 2012 and at the time they were great for the road riding I was doing, with the Garmin road mapping on it; scrolled quickly enough, gave you a line to follow from a gpx track file etc.

However, for offroad it was virtually useless. I used my unit on the 2011 WRT, for which we'd come up with a provisional track which I had on the unit. Following this track blindly was fine for a while, but trying to work out where you were or deviate onto something more interesting-looking was basically impossible without getting the paper OS maps out.

It was that WRT and some other local riding that convinced me I needed to get a newer Etrex 30 and put OS mapping on it, and I would never, ever, ever go back.

Something else to consider if you're buying a second hand Etrex Vista: the reason I had two was they all suffered from the same mode of failure - rattle death. The internal electronics shock themselves apart in what I would call normal use (ie on the handlebars), which eventually Garmin refused to warranty (I suspect because they had so many claims!). You could repair them by taking them apart, but they rattled themselves to death again after a while and it was tricky to get them completely waterproof again, which lead to the end of my first unit by water ingress. So, I would never consider a second hand one of these units unless it was a reconditioned one.

Ultimately, all my waffle above can be summarised in: buy and Etrex 20 / 30 instead. Save money in haste, repent at leisure. Hope that helps.

[ootini]

Thanks for the all the info guys! Saved me a headache by the sounds of it.

[barney]

Hi Ootini,

I'm not riding at the moment, if you want to borrow for Garmin Dakota for a few rides to see how you get on with it you're more than welcome.

cheers

[Dan_K]

I'd take a look at the updated etrex 30x.

[DrMekon]

I have an Etrex 30 and a HCx Vista/Legend(whichever has the barometer and magnetic compass). Other than how quickly the 30 locks on, and that it can do ANT, I think the 30 and the HCx range are equal. That you can have night maps makes the HCx better in some respects. Some audaxers prefer the HCx range over the new Etrex range for this reason. If it weren't for the rubbish rubber casing, I'd have not bothered moving on from my HCx. It still gets used for geocaching and whatnot.

Definitive guide to the HCx here: http://www.aukadia.net/gps/