trobs007

Bump! Well? Did you get it? Did you cache this weekend?

I got my Garmin eTrex HCx yesterday! At bakura82's request I am going to give some details! Initial Impression: Sturdy little unit. I definitely like the size. It fits easily into my hand, and the click stick is not as bad as I thought. I have been working it in both my right and left hands, and even when using my right, my thumb does not cover the screen that much. The side buttons take quite a bit of effort to press, but I'll get used to it. As for the accuracy... I powered it up in my room with it laying on my desk. In about 20 seconds I had a signal. Laying flat on my desk, it is saying "Location +/- 11 ft". I stood it up on my desk and waited a few minutes, it is saying "Location +/- 11ft". I thought I was good with gadgets. This unit, however, will take some reading... this may be the first instruction manual I read... definitely not grab'n go! and of course, Pictures!

Summit has the Sirf III Vista HCx has the MediaTek. IMHO, this link has a really good "real-world" comparison of the two chipsets. HTH

I finally did it. Yesterday, at work, I decided that I will purchase a GPS unit by the end of the day or not get into the hobby. Too many times in the past I have spent so much time researching that I get sick of it and never buy the product. Anyways, I bought a Vista HCX on Amazon.com. I don't think I will be disappointed. I figure since all of Miragee's posts rave about the unit, and his or her's avatar is the Vista, that it must be good. I bought the unit and the basic carrying case for now. I wanted to wait on the maps and the memory card. The unit is scheduled to arrive Thursday... 71 and Sunny in Pittsburgh... maybe I'll get out and find my first cache! Now it is time to research what maps to get for hours on end!

Okay, this post will do nothing to help you out in your quest, but, as I am in the same boat and it will bump your thread I'll post anyways. I have spent endless hours researching the Vista Hcx and GPSMAP 60Csx. I have concluded that they are, for "all intents and purposes" pretty similar with the exception of the different button layout and antenna. I have also concluded, after reading and posting here, that even if I clip the Vista HCx onto my chest strap or my belt when I run that it will still get good reception of although it does not have the helix antenna. That pretty much solved my dilemma... if I can still get reception with it on the belt or strap I'm buying the Vista HCx. For me, I was not concerned about the $80-100 increase in price, I just wanted the better of the two units that was at the same time versatile (bike, run, hike, geocache-- already have car GPS so don't need it for that) but it seems they are quite similar. Besides, the Vista HCx will fit better onto my handlebars and running belt. I also thought about the buttons (no store close enough to make it practical to go try it out). I figure I will get used to the Hcx "click stick" although the buttons on the 60CSx look more intuitive. Although I don't have either (I committed myself to order one tonight and stop going back and forth) from what I have read we won't regret purchasing a high sensitivity unit ("H"Cx) versus one without. As for the compass and altimeter, I myself am torn on the same thing. I will carry a magnetic compass, so why go through the hassle of calibrating the electronic one? Anyways, this was more to bump your post because I want to see some feedback as well. Sorry I don't have any real advice!

Interesting... I assume you are hiking under tree cover at times, too. If that is the case, and reception is equal to the 60Csx, I think the smaller size would make it worth it. This is quite a decision. As much as the internet is a useful tool it can be mind boggling with the different opinions...and I just want to get out there and have some fun!

Thanks for the replies... glad I asked first! Not to spark a debate and get the forum redundancy police after me... but like I said I have read extensively about both and got the idea that the 60csx has better reception. My car has GPS in the dash so I won't use it there (or need the turn by turn, I'd rather purchase the topo maps), but I want to put it on my bicycle's handlebars, clip it to my belt during a run, and also geocache and hike with it. I was under the impression that the antenna on 60CSx would provide for better reception in such a varied number of "positions"

Just another newbie making the decision between the Vista Hcx and the GPSMap 60Csx... (shocked, right?) Anyways, after spending 6 hours of my life reading reviews and realizing that some terrible flaw I read about in one might have been fixed since the time stamps went back to early 2007, and given the fact that if I spend another few days reading reviews I will lose interest and never buy one, I think I am going to settle on the GPSMap 60Csx. So the low-price search begins, and I found the following: http://www.vitacost.com/Garmin-GPSMap-60CS...PF-753759049126 Is this some sort of bundle that includes maps? I am assuming the "sensors" part is just the "s" in "csx". Seems like it may be a good deal if it includes maps, but not quite sure what the "maps" are either (topo or street?). Anybody bought this bundle or want to speculate on its contents?