GreatCanadian

I pm'd you.

Is it possible that you have the "Lock on Road" feature turned on. If this is so, the gps will try to point you to the road unless you are a significant distance from the road - if you are routing at the time using Follow Road option.

My daughter is about to buy herself a GPS for automotive use only. If you were to spend 500 dollars or less, what would you choose and why? The only criteria is that it can be moved from vehicle to vehicle, has voice, and must be Garmin. Thanks for any input.

Perhaps this has already been answered, but I can't find it. I've read some threads on a WAAS bug, and power off problems with the Vista HCX, and was wondering if any Legend HCX owners have experienced any of the same bugs. I have yet to receive my Legend HCX so haven't been able to test it. Anybody have any input on this? Thanks.

Some good advice here, and some inaccurate advice as well. First of all, I use the etrex series extensively, and I also own a 60CX. My only preference for the 60 was the sirf chip. Now that the mediatek chip is now being used in the etrex hcx series, I have ordered the Legend HCX. I prefer my current Legend CX over my 60cx other than the receiver itself (the 60 sirf is better than the current Legend CX) Now for the reasons I prefer the Legend HCX. As someone mentioned, battery life. The etrex hcx series will outperform the 60 cx in this department, but not because of the smaller screen. The sirf chipset in the 60cx series is a major power drain. The new mediatek chip in the hcx series consumes less power. Also, the display on the etrex color gps's is a much crisper, sharper, brighter display than on the 60 series. I rarely have to set the backlight brighter than 20 or 25 percent on the Legend cx, whereas I have to set it at about 80% on the 60cx to get a similar display. Nevertheless, the 60cx display is never as sharp as the Legend. Portability. I like the smaller size of the Legend. Not only because I can comfortably stuff it in my pocket, but because of the smaller size and less weight, it mounts more solid on my ATV handlebar. The buttons: I give the edge there to the 60cx if you are not used to the etrex buttons. But you quickly get used to either. Durability. I can't say that the 60 is more durable than the etrex. I have heard comments about the rubber casing on the etrex series giving way, but I have never experienced that problem. Remember, I have both the Legend CX and the 60cx. I greatly favor the legend, again, other than the receiver (sirf) itself. Now that the hcx series is available, I can see me never using my 60 when my new legend hcx arrives, providing that the mediatek chip lives up to its hype.

You'll have no trouble picking up a Legend C (color) new on ebay for $150 if you spend a few days looking. It will do everything you need and I personally don't believe there's a better deal out there. I woudn't be afraid of buying used one like this either: http://cgi.ebay.com/Garmin-eTrex-Legend-C-...1QQcmdZViewItem

Perhaps I should have mentioned that I did not have it shipped to Canada. I have a brother who lives in Atlanta, and I have my stuff shipped to him any time I buy south of the border. He travels to Canada frequently and will be coming home again at the end of July so he'll just bring my GPS with him.

For those who don't already know, TVNAV has been shipping the Vista HCX for a while now, but didn't have the Legend HCX in stock. I received an email yesterday from TVNAV that my Legend HCX is now shipped. So those of you who ordered the Legend HCX from TVNAV shouldn't have to wait much longer!!!

I bought my Legend HCx at TVNAV for $223.51 including shipping.

So far the chip sounds good. Now I am eager to see someone report on a comparison between the etrex hcx and the 60/76 c(s)x chipset. Could be interesting!!

I don't know this for sure, but I have heard that geographically that TVNAV is located next to a Garmin factory. If true, this could account for them having received an early batch. That being said, they do have the Vista HCX in stock, but none of the others yet. I know this because I ordered a Legend HCX from TVNAV.

Thanks, tried it and it seems to work! Even easier, when the GPS is searching for signals, from the satelite screen, press MENU and then select New Location and then Automatic. That works good too!

So TVNAV has them already hey. I pre-ordered a Legend HCX from there. Hopefully will see it soon. Will post back with first impressions.

Well, doesn't Garmin test all their receivers? That means they would have to turn them on. So I guess Garmin sells used GPS's.

Of the 3 you listed, I would pick the GPSmap 76.

I crossed 4 time zones recently and when i arrived at the new location my 60cx (same sirf receiver as yours) aquired the signal in just a couple of minutes. If that doesn't work for you (but i'm sure it will with that gps) what the "new location" you're referring to is this: When you turn on your gps, while on the satellite page press the menu button. This will allow you to turn the gps off, continue searching, or change the reference to a new location by using the map. By choosing this option, your gps will then switch to the map screen, showing the last place your gps was locked in. Zoom all the way out and pan over to switzerland. Zoom in and pan reasonably close to where you actually are. This gives the gps an idea of which satellites to look for, and where. I haven't got my gps in front of me at this moment, but i know that the instructions are close enough for you to figure it out. Good luck. Try it where you are now and you'll see how it works.

Well seeing that this is the 5th of July and the new Venture HCX is supposed to be coming out around the middle of this month, I would wait til then. Just an idea!! It's basically the same gps with a high sensitivity receiver, and double the waypoint capacity. (1000 as opposed to 500)

let me guess....this is your first gps...the reason i say that is because anyone who has owned gps's in the past is not likely to buy a magellan explorist 100 as their next one...it is a fine gps, but it doesn't have maps or computer connectivity and is somewhat limited in track functionality and so on...no reason to buy it if you already have another that has the same capability.

Right now I have a Garmin GPSMAP 60cx, Lowrance iFinder, Legend CX, and Magellan Meridian Platinum. My favorite? The Legend CX. And the Legend CX will be released later this month with a high sensitivity receiver. I have one pre-ordered. For too many reasons to list here, I prefer the Legend CX over the 60cx. You won't hear that too often. One MAJOR reason is battery life. 60cx can't hold a candle to the Legend in that regard. Display is brighter and sharper on the Legend CX as well. Portability factor. Those are just a few. The advantages of the 60 CX over the Legend CX are the larger screen (not better, but larger) and the high sensitivity receiver. But the latter will be evened out later this month (i am assuming the new receiver will be better than the existing as it is advertised as high sensitivity). So my recommendation is hands-down the Legend HCX (or if you like an electronic 2-axes compass and barometer, then the Vista HCX).

I have purchased 2 gps's from from forum members here. Both gps's were as described or better. Both very good deals. As the previous poster said, just read up a bit. Make contact with the seller, get the phone number and have a chat. You'll probably end up with a decent deal.

Not so sure that it would have a built-in table, or if the declination would be transmitted from sattellites. My reason for thinking this is that declination does change from year to year, however, it is never a constant rate of change. There is no formula to predict magnetic declination. If you search online for graphs that show the declination change over the past 100 years you will see that it is very erratic. Yes, you can say that the magnetic pole will reach Siberia in 50 years, and yes that is more than likely the case. But to say it WILL reach the edge of Siberia in 2050, that's just a prediction. There is no formula to calculate the exact time. This from a Canada Government website: "It is important to remember that the annual change does not remain constant with time. Therefore, using the annual change to update the declination on an older map is likely to result in an error in the updated declination." For example Canada Topo maps have an indicator of annual change of magnetic declination. But it's just an indicator, and not a formula. Using this indicator to predict the magnetic declination 10 years from now will almost definitely result in an error. That's why a built-in table for a gps would not be accurate for this purpose. I am not saying that the table is not built in, but if it is, the calculated declination for 6 or 7 years down the road will not be correct. And I expect my GPS to be reliable for 6 or 7 years.

Interesting...hope that they have all the bugs worked out of the new ones!!..Then again, it won't surprise me if the new rino and etrex models are a little buggy at first...maybe it will take a few firmware updates to correct them all...that's usually what happens in most gps lines...i'm on backorder for a legend hcx....look forward to hearing from you when you receive your rino....i've been tempted for a LONG time to get the rino...i usually have a gps and 2-way radio with me, and it would be nice to have a combined unit. They are a little expensive because I would want the 530 hcx and not the 120 or 130 or that line. How do you find the radio in regards to effective distance for communication?

Hello folks. Hasn't the Rino HCX series been out for a while now? I thought it was, but perhaps I'm wrong. Just wondering if anyone here has one, and have they noticed a difference in performance from the previous rinos. My reason for asking is that I intend to replace my GPSMAP 60cx with a Legend HCX. And my belief is that the new high sensitivity receiver chip in the Etrex HCX series will be the same as the one in the Rino HCX series. Hence, the curiosity!! Thanks.

The Legend CX is FAR from a beginner gps. Color display, autorouting, expandability, waypoint, route, and track storage. Custom POI capability. Computer interface, built in games (i have no use for them but they are there) WAAS....and so on and so on. I have a 60cx. Yes it is a high-end model, but not that much higher than the legend cx. There isn't much that can be done with a handheld gps that can't be done with a Legend CX. If you want the barometer and compass, you can get that in the Vista CX. The etrex cx series are not beginner gps's.

Not sure I understand you correctly, but are you saying that the Legend CX is a"beginner device"? !!