OxygenDestroyer

So that big sale starts tomorrow with the vista hcx going on sale for $219 down from $299. I know I can get it for cheaper on Amazon or ebay, but I like shopping at REI as I like to have an actual place to go for expensive electronics purchases... so I paid $300 for one last week. Of course I learned about the sale two days later. Then I find out they have a 30 day price guarantee where they'll refund the difference if you bring in your receipt during the sale. Long story short - I'm leaving town the day the sale starts and before they open and returning the day after the sale ends so I can't make it in. I called customer service and they hooked me up anyway. I said up front that 'I'm totally cool if you say no' - rules are rules and all that, but they took care of me anyway - you can bet I'll spend that $80 saved at REI! Some vendors get it and it sure is nice when they do.

The Garmin Vista HCX goes on sale at REI on the 16th for $219 down from $299. Hard to get more bang for your buck as the hcx has the hardware to get a good lock in heavy cover, has expandable memory and does autorouting. If there's a store near you it would pay to hold one in your hand before buying to make sure you like the button layout, etc. I do like the 60/76's better in the car because of the buttons being on the front, but that's a quibble - I use my hcx in the car and it's fine. I had the 60cs before and loved it but found it a bit large for hiking - ymmv.

Garmin hooked us up. I just told them the truth and they were extremely helpful. Yeah, you sit there on hold for a good while but once you get through they really try to help - I was impressed. Customer service is a big thing to me - as often as I complain about it they deserve to be named for a good experience in this case.

Just wanted to repeat this. I have the Vista HCx which is small enough to fit in my pocket, but which works great for auto-routing and caching. It is very durable, although I did get an "Invisible Shield" for the screen, and have the neoprene cover for it as well. I wanted to keep it looking new even after the rigors of caching. The Vista HCx is also quite a bit less expensive. Apparently, REI has it for ony $219.00 now. Just another option to consider . . . I second all of that. Although I preferred the 60 in the car, the vista works great too. I personally think the ability to comfortably put the vista in my pocket trumps the slightly better car utility of the 60, but that's my personal opinion. And it's pretty important to me to just have one unit. I think the vista is the perfect trail and caching gps and good enough in the car. I'd see it differently probably if I was a traveling salesman.

I think you've made a good decision. One thing to consider... as you've probabbly seen in the other thread, REI will have the Vista hcx on sale for $219 starting I think the 16th - just something to consider if you decide on that unit - waiting a couple more days could save you $80.

Wow - the backlight thing had lots more legs than I thought it would. I have the Vista hcx now and I agree that it's brighter and I like it a lot. But I must say that after using the 60cs for two years in the car and on the trail in the daytime and nightime I dion't think I ever once said, "I wish this thing would get brighter."

I've talked to some extremely knowledgeable people in REI. Some of the folks in the gps department don't know what they are talking about, but some most certainly do. Of course there are good sellers on ebay - lots of them. That's the best part about forums like this... being able to identify them. It's worth noting that the shipping on some of those units you linked puts the cost way above what you'd be paying at the REI sale where you know you can count on good customer service.

Excellent. I just saved $80!

Just wondering if it's gonna be a national sale...

Thanks for the tip!

Hey - thanks. I'll email the buyer and tell him to get the ID# of the unit and call garmin. Hopefully that will do it.

Hey there. I sld my 60cs and city select 6/7 to a guy on the forums here. I paid full retail for the gps and the maps two years ago both from amazon. The maps have already been unlocked for that unit and I did not reset it before sending. I included the coupon unlock code that came with the maps when I mailed the package. Anyway, now the buyer cannot unlock the maps I think because he has to email for the 25 digit code which is still associated with me. The problem is that a. my laptop was stolen a year ago, and b. I'm an idiot and didn't record the unlock anywhere else. I cannot recall the user name or log in for my old my garmin account from two years ago... Here's my questions... 1. Isn't the unlock stored in the unit itself? This assumes the buyer has not reset it already. 2. Is Garmin going to be able to send me another one if it comes to that? I obviously no longer have the products to verify anything for them. Thanks for reading - I'm sure this has come up before but I couldn't find an exactly analogous situation in a search...

Beyond the warranty thing, which I think you can get from some folks on ebay, it's just that there are so many sketchy operations on there. It's not if you'll have a problem, it's when. I use ebay for hard to find things, used things, old things, really cheap things, but I wouldn't buy a gps there. Just my personal preference - doubtless that many have had good experiences doing so. Mostly things go just fine, but if there's a problem, woe be unto you. Another question - I JUST bought a vista hcx at REI like 72 hours ago. Will they rebate members for the lower cost? I figure that they won't but some vendors do that so I figured I'd ask. Not too worried about it, but it's worth checking into just the same.

Specifically: Tools->options->3D view...2nd box in 2nd row. I just did it... finally!! Thanks - I just installed the new one. Not sure like it yet - can't make mapsource 'view in google earth' yet but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

They are available every day on eBay for less than $210. That's good to know. But I'd pay $10 to avoid ebay any day of the week.

Ditto - hold them both in your hand and see which one works best for you. If there's an REI nearby they will usually let you turn one on and fiddle with it. I had a 60cs and loved it but just switched to the vista hcx because i wanted a true pocket model. Hcx is quite a bit cheaper as well.

Ditto - hold them both in your hand and see which one works best for you. If there's an REI nearby they will usually let you turn one on and fiddle with it. I had a 60cs and loved it but just switched to the vista hcx because i wanted a true pocket model. Hcx is quite a bit cheaper as well.

Finally found it - http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=145837&hl= Same exact question with a good answer thread if anyone else is wondering... the short answer to my question is, no, I can't display google earth coords the same way my garmin does with the push of a button.

Unless you wanted a substantially smaller full-featured unit that could keep a lock undercover, which many do. You make some good points - I just sold my 60cs and I must admit I loved it, would have loved the x unit even more I'm sure. But for my uses the form factor itself was enough to go hcx - the fact that it was substantially cheaper was just a bonus. If I was in the car more than on foot I'd have gone the other way but the hcx is fine in the car to be honest. As others have said, choice is a wonderful thing. I'll go with what I have for at least two years but I am also anxious to see what garmin comes up with next.

I've searched but I can't find the answer to a simple google earth question. My garmin etrex hcx is set to factory defaults. When someone sends me a .kmz file, for instance to show me their house, it's in a different format - gets you close but not close enough. I used fizzycalc (great ap) to do the conversion and that works great.... but there's got to be a better way. GE just lets me switch from degrees, minutes, seconds to degrees only which doesn't seem to help. I'm sure this is in a post somewhere but when I search it I get waaaaay more complicated questions than the one I'm asking seems to be. Thanks for looking.

Answered my own question - customer support answered after 15 minutes just as I posted that. the guy says the NT versions are supported by any unit that has expandable memory as the vista hcx has of course. You guys probably already knew that. Maybe someone could add the hcx series to the city nav faqs in the garmin faq section?

I'm about to push the button at Amazon for Garmin MapSource City Navigator DVD for Garmin GPS Units, North America NT (010-10816-00) The Faqs listed at this forum do not list the Vista HCX as a device that supports the NT map versions. I realize the faq may be outdated and it'sobably ok, but I figured i'd ask anyway. Does anyone know a good reason for me to buy the non-NT version instead? I plan on doing the DVD not the micro sd cards. Thanks!

Unit is sold - thanks for looking. Please lock the thread.

Garmin 60cs in excellent condition. Happy to send pics in a couple hours. Will send map cd - I think it's navigator v.7 (whichever one has the smaller size mag segments)- or will load states of your choice prior to shipping. These are maps that I purchased at full retail at REI in Seattle and are currently unlocked for and installed on this unit. The other unlock has already been used on another unit that is no longer in my possession - I think it lives in my brother-in-law's glove box but I'm not sure.. It currently has Wa, South British Columbia, Eastern Oregon and northern California on it. I believe I still have all the original boxes if that is of interest to you. Will include neoprene pouch, portable dash mount, cigarette lighter adapter and of course the USB cable. I find I'm becoming more of a trail guy and I'm going to get a smaller unit. Asking $175 shipped that includes shipping to anywhere in North America. Paypal is fine - or money order/personal check if you don't mind waiting for it to clear. I'm in no rush. EDIT: WILL DO $175 CASH PICK UP OPTION IF YOU ARE IN SEATTLE AREA Edited for price bump to $175 shipped. Email me if you are interested and I can send you some pics tonight. Thanks for looking and have a nice day.

Thanks guys. I did it last night and it worked like a charm. I cleared the track log, walked about a mile and a half to the gym, turned the gps off upon arriving, turned it back on when I left, and saved it when I got home. Good practice run - it was nice looking at the track in mapsource. Thanks for the tips!