Garmin GPS's

[Birddog 1]

What would be the diffrence between a Vista and a Vista HcX ? TIA Nim

[Lloyd Smale]

i beleive the hcx has the high deffintion reciever.

[Siskiyou]

Lloyd is correct.



The original Vista has been discontinued.  You can still find them at retailers. They feature a black & white screen, electronic compass, and base map.  It has the capacity to store 24MB of optional Garmin Map Source software. (Maps)  It has an electronic compass, and altimeter.  It offers about 12-hours of battery life.  24MB will cover a couple large Western Counties, or a couple smaller Eastern States.



The eTrex HCx has a nice color screen, and gets approximately 25 hours out of a pair of AA batteries.  It has a USB interface for transfer of data from a computer to the unit.  It has the High-sensitivity receiver and will receive satellite signals in many locates the original Vista will not.  It has the electronic compass and altimeter.

Rather then built in memory it will utilize micro-SD cards up to 2MB.  Depending on you map set you can store about ˝ the USA on it.  If you install City Navigator software on it the unit will Auto Route you to a location.

You can order it from Wal Mart on line for around $218.00

[Birddog 1]

is there a Topo maps that can be loaded into the Vists hcx ?

Nim

[Siskiyou]

I have TOPO U.S. 2008 maps loaded on an early Garmin Legend, a 76C, 76Cx, 530HCx.  A number of friends and outdoor professions have it load on Vista HCx, 60C, 60Cx, and 60CSx, 76CSx, Rino 520, and 530HCx.  The majority of these users have the 60CSx.

http://www.gpsnow.com/Garmin_TOPO_US_2008_for_Mac_and_Windows.htm


Note that the auto-routing function only works with software designed for auto routing.  The topo software is not designed for auto routing.  Auto routing will tell you to travel down “J” street .9 miles, turn left on Elm to you location.  Topo will point you to the location on Elm but will not give you turn-by-directions.  The bearing point will keep pointing the direction you need to travel.  The Vista HCx does not give voice directions, you get a pre-warning tone before the turn, and another tone at the turn with auto-routing software.

There are a lot of benefits with the Topo package.  When I am out hunting I check the nearest POI (points of interest) all the time.  Most of California has been impacted by miners.  I f I am around old mines from the gold rush I am always watching for shafts and air vents.

It does not have the latest sub division streets, but it does a fair job.  The creation of new logging roads on public lands almost came to a halt in the early 1980’s so most of the roads are up to date.  It may show some logging spurs that have been closed off with log and dirt beams to stop vehicle traffic. 

Follow this link and you can zoom in and out of Topo.
http://www.gpsnow.com/Garmin_TOPO_US_2008_for_Mac_and_Windows.htm


Once you have a Map Source Product (Topo 2008) you take the following steps:

1.    Create a Waypoint

2.   Go to the View option and at the bottom you will find, “View in Google Earth.”  Select it.  If you have the free version of Google Earth loaded on your computer it will zoom in on your waypoint.  If you do not have Google Earth loaded on your computer you can find the free download at http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html


I am not a big user of the Google Search Engine because of their anti-gun stance but I do us Google Earth.  I originally subscribed to the Plus version but I did not renew it.  Using your Garmin gps you can transfer waypoints, tracks, and routes to Google Earth images and print them out.

The more you practice with a gps the greater the benefit.  I was hoping that a brother I gave a Garmin gps too would learn to use it because he wonders all over the country.  I was pleased last deer season when we talked on the phone and he discussed how he had played with it on top of a ridge locating himself and nearby points of interest.