Maps on Garmin eTrex Vista HCx

[martygng]

I was all excited to go on my first geocaching excursion with my new eTrex Vista HCx. I loaded up a bunch of caches with Pocket Query, and then realized that this GPSr doesn't seem to have many roads on it at all. It only has the main roads!

 

I guess I incorrectly assumed that the device would have most roads, but that I would have to pay for points of interest, etc... What's the best way for me to get non-major roads onto my device? Unless I missed the obvious, I need to buy Citi Navigator with a memory card for $140. Is this correct?! If so, I am very disappointed in this unit already as my Mio car GPS has every road on it, and that entire unit was only $99 for the hardware and the maps!

 

Please tell me there is a free way to get more roads on my Vista!

 

Thanks in advance.

[+briansnat]

Free, yeah, but it takes time and a good deal of technical know how.

 

Since you already have a unit for your car, you can get Mapsource Topo or Topo 2008 for your Vista. It's about $70. It has most roads, though some newer roads may be missing (it goes by USGS maps which are often out of date in certain areas), but overall it's a useful program that will give you roads and terrain detail.

[+UncleJimbo]

I was all excited to go on my first geocaching excursion with my new eTrex Vista HCx. I loaded up a bunch of caches with Pocket Query, and then realized that this GPSr doesn't seem to have many roads on it at all. It only has the main roads!

 

I guess I incorrectly assumed that the device would have most roads, but that I would have to pay for points of interest, etc... What's the best way for me to get non-major roads onto my device? Unless I missed the obvious, I need to buy Citi Navigator with a memory card for $140. Is this correct?! If so, I am very disappointed in this unit already as my Mio car GPS has every road on it, and that entire unit was only $99 for the hardware and the maps!

 

Please tell me there is a free way to get more roads on my Vista!

 

Thanks in advance.

Yeah, I made the same mistaken assumption when I bought my eTrex Vista HCx. Garmin includes maps for their units sold for use in cars, but not for handhelds. I had to buy Garmin City Navigator maps separately. I think I paid less than $140 for the US maps (I paid a lot more for the European maps). Check PriceGrabber for lowest online prices.

 

If you plan to use if for Geocaching only, you really don't need the extra maps. The built-in base maps are good enough in most cases.

[+briansnat]

Moving to appropriate forum

[+Chuy!]

You're in a position many cachers want to be: a dedicated GPS for the dash, and a handheld for the trail. Just don't leave the dash unit in plain view when you leave your vehicle. You can get City Navigator for $115 at most reputable internet dealers. Topo goes for $85. MetroGuide, a non-routing but compatible mapping software, also goes for $85.

[+kraushad]

When I was shopping for my Vista HCX the lack of maps was the primary complaint people had with them. So I knew I was going to have to get something if I wanted better mapping -- I tried it for a while and found the base maps to be just as inadequate as all the reviews. At amazon I purchased the 2GB card and the City Nav NT together for around $125 plus shipping. Not cheap - but man those maps are good, and the unit will now auto-route with turn by turn really well. Worth the investment in my opinion.

 

EDITED to add that I stopped by Verizon Wireless and got a vent mount clip to hold a cell phone, but works perfectly for the GPS. I forget who makes it (starts with an A) but it has two spring loaded padded side pieces that clamp/ratchet down on the GPS, and then at a push of a button release the tension to let the GPS go. I am pretty picky about such things, and for $20 it was a good buy. It keeps it up high enough to use while driving, and yet not on the windshield blocking my view of the road.

Edited February 5, 2008 by kraushad

[martygng]

Thanks for the suggestions folks! I will look at the options you mentioned. I really just need the roads, and not topographic data (not that I would mind it though!)

 

I should point out that I would like roads so that I can use this GPSr for geocaching when I'm biking and don't have my car GPS to show me the roads.

 

Since I'm fairly new to geocaching, anyone have pointers for how to use this particular unit to the fullest when I'm out on the trail? (Any default configuration settings I should change?) I already have my 'paperless' geocache info on my Windows Mobile smartphone. (Exported .gpx -> .html using GSAK)

 

Thanks again!

[Glenn W]

Google "MetroGold" for a cheaper solution to autorouting street maps.

[+Chuy!]

When you get a data card, you'll be able to take advantage of customized POIs. 2mg of space equals approx 15000 waypoints. It helps to have GSAK also. Look up the Silly Garmin POI Tricks thread. Essentially, you can have waypoint names of 44 characters and description fields of 88 characters for each waypoint. GSAK is most efficient here at customizing the parameters for each area. I rarely have to pull out the PDA anymore.

 

For default settings.

1. In your compass page, set up 4 data screens. I use time, accuracy, distance to waypoint, and destination (the name of the waypoint).

 

2. In your routing settings, select "prompt" so you'll asked everytime you route to a waypoint whether you want to go off-road (line of sight), or auto-route. Makes it easier to find a cache.

 

There are many other settings to change, but I have found these the most useful, but especially the POIs.

Edited February 5, 2008 by Chuy!

[martygng]

Jackpot! After making several phone calls, I found a friend that has an older MetroGuide North America disc his son used before going off to college. He gave it to me for $30, so I purchased a microSD card and I'm tinkering with the software now.

 

I'm probably missing the obvious since I'm used to car GPS units with everything built in....isn't there a way on this handheld to show all 'restaurants' or all 'shopping' on the map, or do I have to go through the "Find" screen all the time? This seems to function a lot different than the car units I've used, which let me turn certain types of waypoints on and off in a flash.

 

Thanks!

[LegendHCx]

I was all excited to go on my first geocaching excursion with my new eTrex Vista HCx. I loaded up a bunch of caches with Pocket Query, and then realized that this GPSr doesn't seem to have many roads on it at all. It only has the main roads!

 

I guess I incorrectly assumed that the device would have most roads, but that I would have to pay for points of interest, etc... What's the best way for me to get non-major roads onto my device? Unless I missed the obvious, I need to buy Citi Navigator with a memory card for $140. Is this correct?! If so, I am very disappointed in this unit already as my Mio car GPS has every road on it, and that entire unit was only $99 for the hardware and the maps!

 

Please tell me there is a free way to get more roads on my Vista!

 

Thanks in advance.

Legend, Vista, 60, etc. are NOT primarily made for car use. It is a great feature but their primarily use if for OUTDOOR use where there are NO roads.

Now, since they provide support for all kind of maps and include autorouting as a bonus, heck, why not have some street maps loaded. Not to mention TOPO!

 

You have few options:

- buy a map

- buy a card with map (bad idea)

- buy a stockings, put on your head, run into store, yell ‘this is a robbery’, grab map(s) you desire, run out. Pray security is not faster than you.

- Download map from the Internet. Find keygen. Unlock. How? Sorry, cannot help.

- Find old, obsolete, basically useless street maps which did not need unlock code.

 

There is no free lunch. Everything has a price you have to pay. Either it is a $$$ or your time invested in finding free solution.