texbaz

Just read this thread, plugged in my Vista HCx and ran the Webupdater. " No new updates" was the response I received. Rats! I'm very concerned about this, I have noticed that since I purchased My Vista It does tend to drift, and only at slower speeds. Something I noticed going on for the last month is the waypoint I created for my parking spot at work is always off by about 100-150ft where as my Nuvi 360 is right on the spot or within a couple of feet. I figure that it is just the fact that I work at the Airport and maybe some form of interference with the Vista was happening. Usually as soon as drive away from that spot my accuracy improves within seconds.

Sorry to hear that. Have you tried to escalate your claim to another Garmin rep, or maybe get the vendor whom you purchased from go to bat for you with garmin. I find it odd that a GPSr designed and marketed for outdoor use IPX7 rating, be limited to a controlled environment I mean here in Texas, We have a saying " If you don't like the weather just wait a minute". The IPX7 waterproofing is a know issue You should really escalate your problem till you are satisfied. Good Luck. I think I would not use the term "splash", if that is the so called deciding factor.

People need to realize that forums ATTRACT people that LIKE to complain. Because of this there is a disproportionite amount of negative to positive posts from what you would find in a survey of a full cross section of users. Where did get that data from? sounds like, it's just your opinion and you just pulled it out of your A**. As far the The Colorado, it's way short of being 100%. You know that. If you like being sold a product that does not perform like a finished, ready to use, 100% reliable, then your entitled to that. but don't shove your view down the forums throat or goat someone else for feeling the Colorado is not STABILIZED. I guess your comment might constitute complaining in your sense, so you are actually making up part of your own referenced stats. Carry On!

I have a Vista HCx fairly New, 2.60/2.60 and it is just as the Crab described. I also get my data from the Topo 2008.

Looking at the features on the Venture HC, You should be able to upload some Caches as custom POI's that will allow you to utilize the proximity alert. Use the Garmin POI loader. Then when you set up the distance number you will be alerted to it's proximity (might get kind of busy if you have a lot of Caches in one area), Thats one way. I think you can also, set up each cache/waypoint on the Venture so that it will alert you, when you are a specified distance (you specify) from the waypoint, buy using the Venture on-board controls. Using the POI loader is just convenient and allows you to do 10, 20, 30 ,40 etc at one time.

I believe if you GO to the Main Menu/Find/Marine Points/Tide Stations, you should have them. I think that the HCx gets that data along with what map segments you load from Topo US. I'm pretty New, with the Vista HCx myself but, it is very easy to operate and manage. I have the max allowable map segments (2025) on my unit, and it still renders a map page in a very acceptable time even with MOST detail selected. And if you don't have the Tide tables and you still need or just want them their is an .exe file that can be Downloaded from Garmin to put them, on your unit. Hope you enjoy your Vista HCx, for price, it is very nice technology.

I have really enjoyed Topo U.S. 2008 on my Vista HCx thought I might need to put CN on but I'm pretty content with just the Topo. I have a Nuvi 360 that does the majority of the work when in the vehicle. I decided to put a few Topo U.S. 2008 segments on the 360 for just a backup situation. I'm just wondering since I have both maps installed on the 360 it seems I can only use 1 set at a time Correct? or should I just leave both boxes ticked in the MAP menu, does this give any added detail. At present I believe from what I see, I can only use the one group of maps at a time?

I really like Garmin products, I have a Nuvi 360 and a Vista HCx. They are both very good in many areas. The Nuvi 360 is great with a bluetooth device if, your device recognizes the Nuvi and vice versa. (their are compatibility issues) The speaker and the mic are very limited. the speaker is very hard to hear unless you are right up on it and same with the mic. Me, if I was in the market for another portable car/mobile nav system I would look at the Tom Toms like the 920 they are rich in features, and they seem to of good build quality. price is not that far from the 360.

Newegg 4gb micro SDHC and adapter I can only go by what the vendor and manufacture say it is. My Vista HCx reports it to be a little under 4gb and so does Windows XP Media Center. Oh yeah, my Nuvi 360 also reads it as 4GB. Still limited by the 2025 segment deal. although, I did find the links to the work around that another forum member has come up with and I'll be trying that later.

I have a New Vista HCx, and a Nuvi 360. I needed an SD card for other devices, picked up an AData Class 6, 4GB microSDHC with adapter from Newegg. It works just fine in my Nuvi 360 and the micro is recognized by the Vista HCx. I have 45mb of Texas segments from Topo US 2008, loaded and several routes along with all my tracks stored their. when I check the card for available space, it reports 3785.0MB available

A while back, I recalled seeing a thread talking about microSD cards, and one forumite had commented that he was using a Card he had purchased from newegg. Well, I needed one for my various gadgets, bought one and tried it with the included adapter in My Nuvi 360 worked!. Then I installed the microSDHC in the New Vista HCx and it reported 3830.4mb and wrote a couple of tracks too, Hmmm. Which to me, is great I have a card that is compatible with both units. I know the 4gb card is overkill for both units but in a pinch if I need a card I have one readily accessible. The Card is a A-data 4GB microSDHC class 6, I don't know what the class 6 means, but I believe it has to so with transfer speed. Mike

TEB, I have a Nuvi 360 I purchased just for vehicle use. I saw some of the other options it was capable of, one being pedestrian mode, and while it was good at locating caches it is not the right tool. Don't get wrong it is a great GPS, (the blue-tooth needs a little work and speaker volume). What I do now since my old GPS III+ croaked, I purchased a handheld unit etrex Vista. I use the Nuvi to get me to the general vicinity and the Vista to make the find. The Nuvi is really not up to trucking through the brush, trails, weather, etc. If I was on vacation and needed a single unit just to get me around a city it is great. But for the purpose of caching you will eventually realize it is not really suited for carrying around (no lanyard, square, not weather resistant)

ssgeo, if you have not, go to the Garmin web page and download the Manual for the CX much better than the one for my HCx but I use it instead. When you initialize the unit your date and time will be automatically set . On the CX their is a date and time setup page, that allows you to control time format, UTC offset, timezone, and daylight savings. As far as the back-light, it will not turn back on by itself during start up. During start up you can press the power button twice and it should display your saved 55% light setting.

I also, recently recieved a new Vista HCx, installed the software update 2.60. But, when I looked for additional updates webupdater reported everything up to date, even though I have GPS software 2.40. I noticed you mentioned an MTK chipset. Only update for mine was for the M2 are thier different chipsets for the Vista HCx's figured it out, Re-read the preceeding posts. My unit is now 2.60/2.60

I also, recently recieved a new Vista HCx, installed the software update 2.60. But, when I looked for additional updates webupdater reported everything up to date, even though I have GPS software 2.40. I noticed you mentioned an MTK chipset. Only update for mine was for the M2 are thier different chipsets for the Vista HCx's

Ya Know, from my brief time reading these forums, it appears that the standard for today's computer chip controlled electronics manufacture is to sell to the public regardless if they actually deliver on performance. And then when the public informs them the product develops a problem they deploy a firmware or software fix, standard operation . But in all reality that's just bad manufacturing. If you buy a car that's spec'd to give 35mpg and you get 20mpg you going to keep it, Oh! Sure their are workarounds just carry a few jugs of fuel in the car, right, As some Waconians might suggest . The whole Colorado enchilada is hilarious, from just what can be read on this forum, let alone other forums. You guys have spent some hard earned cash for something that is just not up to the what it is being marketed as. Forget the firmware/software updates the screen is a major issue quit making excuses, When did an outdoor tool such as GPS necessitate artificial lighting when you got the biggest light in the Universe overhead . Although I guess if money, really was easy for me than I guess i wouldn't mind giving it away either. Bottom line is I like Garmin , I like their products but this whole Colorado is just killing me. I really enjoy the threads and I do feel y'alls pain toddm, you pretty much nailed my feelings. As consumers we owe it to each other to let manufactures know we are not taking their stuff even if a few of us living on edge are dazzled out of our minds. Geroge, how'd that go {Flame off}

This might be what you are referring too inside etrex and this. Deconstructing-etrex Mike

Thanks for the link. Looks to me, like a PDA format especially, the operating system software. Hope it is a pretty robust build, but it does look fragile from the photo's.

Yes Try the Aximsite they tons of info in the forums area. Aximsite

DJMOLL, I have to agree, your logic does seem good. As a matter of fact I currently have a Nuvi 360 and a Garmin GPSIII+ with a streaked out screen that I have used to find a few caches just as you suggest. Actually the Nuvi is capable of going to a pedestrian mode and will actually accomplish the mission just not as efficient as a real dedicated handheld and by far not weather proofed or as rugged as say a 60 series or PN-20. I'm really trying to get past the toy like appearance of the PN-20 and some of the performance comments associated with it , screen size, refresh rate, other areas also. I suppose performance is what counts and most feel the Delorme maps do deliver.

Yeah, it is. a very ridiculous work-around. If the manufacture came through on the spec's that the unit is suppose to have then, the average Colorado user would not have to carry spare batteries for a few hours outing. Your suggestion is not a "Solution" sounds like something a used car salesman might say to get me out the door.

George, You are so right about the screen. It is also, one of the reasons I have not purchased a Colorado. I have gone several times spent maybe 3-4 hours operating the product indoors and outside. The screen has left a big hole in my heart for this little unit. I am now convinced that what Garmin has produced and sold is a CONCEPT gpsr. From here they will make the needed improvements and sometime in the future deploy a much more respectable unit. The hardware issues are definitely my biggest reason for not buying a Colorado. As far as an update program for current Colorado owners, that is wishful thinking and a really good company would, probably do just that. Of course their are many owners that feel the screen is just fine, they don't mind wasting precious energy to illuminate a screen that should really need no artificial illumination unless lighting conditions are at minimums. (like Dark for one). I'm not considered a real end user/ adventurer as defined by some forum members cause I don't climb mountains, scale vertical cliffs, head to the amazon, traverse vast open sand masses, sail the oceans with my kayak, bass buster, or floaties. skydive, windsurf, search for Bigfoot, sasquatch no Sir, I'm not an adventurer by others criteria, I just use it in everyday activities, for work, for pleasure, and in all sorts of modern civilization environments. but, I do know this. I use a GPSr in my everyday life, The Colorado has a dedicated group of owners followers and if Garmin ever thought about getting something right, this is a good time, and definitely a worthy cause. I foresee a swarm of competition on on the Horizon, right now Garmin has a very, very, good and loyal customer following one Ah' S**T can open the door for some serious Competition . how'd that go <flame OFF> Hope they take care of you George good luck.

DUDe! The person (Yogazoo )has been through 3 different units. He hasn't given up on Garmin, Yogazoo keeps hoping that for some strange reason they are just unlucky. From Yogazoos thread they are using quality batteries. Their has got to be something different with the last unit since, it lasted longer than the others. Now the newest unit does not work at all. Wow, and you suggest that He should just give up wanting a Colorado because it's just not for Him. that's funny. Yogazoo, I hope you have the fortitude to get another, these units apparently have issues try, ask, garmin for some form of compensation but don't give up.

To me,your response is very condescending but to each his own. Your point does have some weight but you could maybe have put it a little different. Bottom line, the unit has issues, and for the unit to have a IPX7 rating you should not have to be so methodical in removing or installing a cover for the batteries and SD card, and possibly compromise the integrity of the watertight compartments. I mean these units are ment to be used by people, of all ages and should not have any special training to put a lid on. The owners manual should be enough. Hope Garmin will be more in tune to what needs to be, and not what they simply want to give out.

Anyway to get a image of the area you suspect. I can't believe they missed a major feature like that. This is disappointing. Just today I looked at the Colorado and 60CSx and thought WOW, the form factor on the CO is nice but at what price. Maybe your unit is a 1 out of a million that has this problem. thanks for sharing.