Garmin eTrex Vista Reviews
Mountain Biking > Mountain Bike Gear > GPS Units
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7 gear reviews |
| MSRP: $214.27 | |
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| 13 members own this | 2 members want this |
Description
The eTrex Vista? combines a basemap of North and South America, with a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. The compass provides bearing information while you're standing still and the altimeter determines your precise altitude. The Vista is also designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). This product will provide position accuracy to less than three meters when receiving WAAS corrections.
The eTrex Vista also boasts an internal memory capacity of 24 megabytes, which allows it to accept downloaded mapping data from Garmin's MapSource? CD-ROMs, including U.S. Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. A silver case gives this unit a high-tech look. New to the product design, Garmin will include marine aids to navigation in addition to the basemap. These navigational aids will be pre-loaded into each unit from the factory.
The eTrex Vista? combines a basemap of North and South America, with a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. The compass provides bearing information while you're standing still and the altimeter determines your precise altitude. The Vista is also designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). This product will provide position accuracy to less than three meters when receiving WAAS corrections.
The eTrex Vista also boasts an internal memory capacity of 24 megabytes, which allows it to accept downloaded mapping data from Garmin's MapSource? CD-ROMs, including U.S. Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. A silver case gives this unit a high-tech look. New to the product design, Garmin will include marine aids to navigation in addition to the basemap. These navigational aids will be pre-loaded into each unit from the factory.
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Reviews
Pros: Small Size, Easy To Use, Multiple Purpose
Cons: Signal Lock Just Short of Excellent
Recommendation: This is what I had before I upgraded to the 60CSx. Very similar functionality and a smaller package than 60CSx, but at the expense of a less sensitive antenna system. New HCx series should solve this. Excellent dollar value as the price of this unit PLUS either street map or topo map is about the same as the 60CSx by itself. If you can live with the less sensitive antenna, this unit is superb for handlebar mounting. Screen size allows easy viewing while riding, but like most LCD screens, it may be hard to see under some lighting conditions.
Cons: Signal Lock Just Short of Excellent
Recommendation: This is what I had before I upgraded to the 60CSx. Very similar functionality and a smaller package than 60CSx, but at the expense of a less sensitive antenna system. New HCx series should solve this. Excellent dollar value as the price of this unit PLUS either street map or topo map is about the same as the 60CSx by itself. If you can live with the less sensitive antenna, this unit is superb for handlebar mounting. Screen size allows easy viewing while riding, but like most LCD screens, it may be hard to see under some lighting conditions.
Pros: Very simple to use. Screen is easy to read...
Cons: navigation is a little bit hard while you're riding...you really need to stop to do anything with this unit. If you're riding in the trees, it gets blocked from the signal, but so does every gps I think.
Recommendation: I think it's a great grab for the price. It does most everything a lot of more expensive units do without the bells and whistles.
Cons: navigation is a little bit hard while you're riding...you really need to stop to do anything with this unit. If you're riding in the trees, it gets blocked from the signal, but so does every gps I think.
Recommendation: I think it's a great grab for the price. It does most everything a lot of more expensive units do without the bells and whistles.
Pros: The unit is easy to use menu system, compact, and durable.
Cons: The unit can take a long time to start-up and track satellites. No mapping software or USB cable included.
Recommendation: Once the unit is up and running it is reliable. Easy of use is great. Garmin could have add a USB cable and mapping software, and charged a little more for the unit.
Cons: The unit can take a long time to start-up and track satellites. No mapping software or USB cable included.
Recommendation: Once the unit is up and running it is reliable. Easy of use is great. Garmin could have add a USB cable and mapping software, and charged a little more for the unit.
Pros: The accuracy of the unit is pretty good. At the end of your ride, you can see exactly how far you have gone, total elevation change and speeds. The unit will take uploads for Europe maps also. Very durable. While crossing what I thought was a small washout in Spain, I discovered it was over 7 foot deep. I was clipped in and sank like a rock. The CD player that was supposedly waterproof, wasn't... The GPS was...
Cons: It came with a serial connection cord for map uploads. The USB cable is not available over here.
Cons: It came with a serial connection cord for map uploads. The USB cable is not available over here.
Pros: Built in maps and exit data make this a versatile choice; built in altimeter improves elevation accuracy; good amount of memory built in for track and waypoint data
Cons: Reception is poor in forested areas; easily jarred when biking leading to the unit to turn off
Recommendation: This is a reliable GPS receiver for the most part. I've dropped it countless times and it still works. My main complaint is the battery compartment - batteries are not held securely so when you bomb down a rough trail the GPS usually turns itself off. I've been able to fix this by adding padding to the compartment but it is still an issue. I've had this unit for 3 years or so and have mapped dozens of trails - a great investment.
Cons: Reception is poor in forested areas; easily jarred when biking leading to the unit to turn off
Recommendation: This is a reliable GPS receiver for the most part. I've dropped it countless times and it still works. My main complaint is the battery compartment - batteries are not held securely so when you bomb down a rough trail the GPS usually turns itself off. I've been able to fix this by adding padding to the compartment but it is still an issue. I've had this unit for 3 years or so and have mapped dozens of trails - a great investment.
Recommendations
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Cons: Battery usage. Cold weather eats them alive and they seem to shake loose at times, turning the unit off. Signal loss in tree cover.
Recommendation: I was looking for a good unit to use for mapping both biking and hiking and this unit has certainly pointed me in the right direction. Luckily, it's a loaner so I'll be able to spend my money on the model up with the extra bells and whistles that will hopefully make this my ideal unit. All in all, a great unit to start with for bikers/hikers.