green802

I've just purchased a Leg-end HCx. It jumps all over the place and I'm not too impressed so far. Tonight I hope to run software & firmware updates to take it from 2.6/2.6 to 2.8/2.8 Having used the old eTrex (Cammo) brick non H I'm slightly p!$$ed off that this Gucci'er model is less accurate. Sure HCx holds good signal indoors,car, tree canopy but to me that's useless if my house location ( I've been logging every morning my front door) moves about by 250m radius/ 500m diameter. Yes I like the toggle switch for ease of writing waypoints & menu's over the "brick". Colour is a bonus as far as you can use the same circle marker but in different colours for different routes. I am yet to use the USB option for loading Geocaches which was another reason I went for the Legend. As far as Vista ? Well most threads here I noticed say the compass is sketchy. Even the brick gives you physdo North "N" and option to set picture to North or track UP. Altimeter ? Well your paper map tells you how high the hill/mountain is. Work out the contour line to the grid ref and save some money. Will update this thread hoping that a firmware/software update fixes my problem. If only the yellow brick was USB.

Well thank you all for your input. In the end I went for separate systems. I bought the Nuvi 250W (wide) I'm glad I bought the wide as its great to have a quick glance over to when the voice direction is a bit "iffy". Most example being "Stay Right" meaning there's a fork in the road turn right not stay in right hand lane. In the end it makes sense to use the correct unit for the correct job as they have functions tailored for their own task. ie car:voice, nearest stations etc and ease of use. Once again Garmin make it so easy to use (like the Etrex Yellow brick) without needing a manual. When my bank account recovers the Xmas spend then I'll get the Etrex Legend HCx but wont bother with Topo maps. Thanks, Green802

Thank you for those tips. I've done the maths and its a close call. Cost Vs practicality. The Etrex is going to cost me £140 (inc case) approx. Adding map SD (Uk) & dash mount the cost up's to £205. The Nuvi 250w europe is £115 inc case,charger & usb cable (mount already supplied) So by modding the Etrex Legend I save £50 'ish, loose Europe mapping (Europe SD is twice the price of Uk), loose voice guidance and loose display quality. Hmmmm... If I buy the Nuvi for the road trips at least I can update it for the road ca$h cameras and new additions. Horses for courses I guess. Thankyou, Green802

I'm torn between buying both an Etrex Legend Hcx for the field and a Nuvi 250Wfor the road. Just wondered how good is city navigator SD card on a Legend compared to using the Nuvi for road trips. I assume the Legend wont talk to me like the nuvi would but will it give me some decent idea of where I'm driving to ? This way I'm getting more value out of the Legend by not buying the Nuvi. Thankyou

Sorry didn't hike but stayed over in my hire car for two days. The place was fantastic in its own majestic desert type way. Fell in love with its barren beauty. Check out along the roadside occasionally the park put a cactus garden down to show people what actually grows and survives in the heat and dust. See all myriad of cacti in one place. Get up before sun-up and see just how quick the sun pops over the rim of the distant hills. Also how quick it goes from freezing to baking. Finaly. beware the "Big ants". I was watching these monsters scurry in and out a hole in the ground when I noticed one looked particularly larger. Turned out to be a baby scorpion. T'was a wake up call to "always shake stuff out (bergen,boots,kit) before using if left on the ground." Dont forget your hat ! Enjoy. Green802 Uk.

Thankyou to all who've answered. It's between the eTrex H and something that will display maps. The H will fit all my basic needs for nav'ing over training areas used along side a Silva and paper map. If going for mapped unit then the maps need to be detailed / of use.It would be good to keep the paper map in my bergen as standby. Therefore if I'm going to "Up Spec'" Its a case of: a) are the maps any good. If they so, which Garmin should I go for? So far I've crossed off: Topo Maps & Streetmaps.org. No real subsitute for O/S Vista Hcx:Always carry a Silva dont need electronic compass. Summit Hc: Alt'y not required with a contoured map. So its down to: Venture Hc. USB connection, toggle button and added features.Best priced of USB's Legend Hcx, As above but bags of memory for detailed maps,to be added later. H, Bargain cost with simplicity & ruggedness. If there was a USB connection on the eTrex H for upgrades and co-ord downloads It would be a simple choice @ £60 odd quid. Thank you all again. Green802. p.s The Geocaching thing is a secondary requirement for fun walks with my kids.

Can somebody please tell me how much of the Southern (Uk) Topo maps could I fit on a 24Mb Venture. I'm torn between the simplicity & cost of the eTrex H (I used one recently for the first time ever) and the slightly more whistles & bells (usb) Venture. The Hcx range is off my budget so its down to these two. I realise adding the maps up's my budget. My needs are for teaching on training areas such as Salisbury Plain. The Plain is possbily the biggest area I'll need in one go. All other training areas I could load up when needed. I am assuming that you can cut and paste certain areas to the Venture using Topo maps? How detailed are Topo maps compared to O/S ? Thankyou in anitcipation, Green802@hotmail.com