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Help! is Garmin Etrex Legend any good?


wl125

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I'm very new at this GPS thing. I'm planning on buying a Etrex Legend to begin with.

Anyone has one of those, is it good?

Does it come with a region unlock code?

What other unit do you guy rec.

 

Thanks Alot

Later

 

[This message was edited by wl125 on April 25, 2002 at 04:47 PM.]

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I like my legend. You don't need any unlock codes, as it just comes with a built in base map, which has most major roads, but not the smaller surface streets. The map software for it is a little shakey though, I highly recomend taking a close look at the previewable maps for your area to see if they are up to date enough for you before buying additional mapping software. But so far as the unit itself goes, it's great. Small, tough, water proof (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes), a fairly good signal, except in heavy cover or inside. To me the small package is worth the trade off in reception.

 

ummmm....not sure what to say here....so ummm, well errrr, uhhhh, well I guess that's it.

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quote:
Originally posted by wl125:

Doesn't it comes with map software like all the other Garmin Units?

I thought all you have to do it purchase an unlock code to unlock part of the region.


 

Nope. That is only the products like the GPS V and the Street Pilot III.

 

The Legend comes with NO detailed maps. The map software will cost in the neighborhood of $100 (more or less, depending on product). Then, you get to send up to 8MB of these maps to your Legend.

 

I have a Meridian with 128MB. I cannot even imagine only having 8MB. icon_biggrin.gif

 

Does anybody know if the Legend comes with a cable? If not, you will need to buy one ($20 on eBay).

 

Also, if you plan to use this thing a lot, get some NiMH batteries and a charger.

 

-----

Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental.

--Harrkev

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quote:
Originally posted by wl125:

Doesn't it comes with map software like all the other Garmin Units?

I thought all you have to do it purchase an unlock code to unlock part of the region.


 

Nope. That is only the products like the GPS V and the Street Pilot III.

 

The Legend comes with NO detailed maps. The map software will cost in the neighborhood of $100 (more or less, depending on product). Then, you get to send up to 8MB of these maps to your Legend.

 

I have a Meridian with 128MB. I cannot even imagine only having 8MB. icon_biggrin.gif

 

Does anybody know if the Legend comes with a cable? If not, you will need to buy one ($20 on eBay).

 

Also, if you plan to use this thing a lot, get some NiMH batteries and a charger.

 

-----

Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental.

--Harrkev

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Originally posted by harrkev:

Does anybody know if the Legend comes with a cable? If not, you will need to buy one ($20 on eBay).

****************************

Yup. It comes with a PC cable with a serial port connector. A nice optional cable to buy is the cigarette lighter one for your car. A common cigarette adapter to AC power would let you run it at home on no batteries.

 

I just got one yesterday after looking at a pile of them. The 8 megs is a good size unless you are able to cover an incredible amount of ground in one day ;-)

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quote:
I have a Meridian with 128MB. I cannot even imagine only having 8MB.

The Legend (actually the whole e-trex line) was designed primarily as "in your hands" hiking companions, easily carried, small and light weight. Not as "on the dash" car models. This use means "primarily" Topo will be of greatest value to you. 8 mb is a "lot" of country! Unless you drive 300 miles between caches in the same day, it's too easy to download different maps for a different region for a different day. Just to have 64 mb or 128 mb loaded on a GPSR at once is cool, no doubt, but that doesn't make it any more effective. My Garmin V has 19 mb, and I could get by with a lot less than that. I seldom fill the memory, unless I am taking a real serious road trip somewhere. I have never filled it with Topo. I've onlu ever done maybe 8 mb of Topo at once.

Also as for the 12v. car adapter cable....garmin charges about $37 or so, for that thing. Do you know how many alkalines you could buy for that much? Better yet, use the same $40 to get NiMH rechargeables and a charger base!

 

7871_200.jpg

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quote:
Originally posted by Zartimus(carrdav):

I just got one yesterday after looking at a pile of them. The 8 megs is a good size unless you are able to cover an incredible amount of ground in one day ;-)


 

Or one TRIP. I do not like to travel with a laptop.

 

I was once on a camping trip to Chatanooga, TN. My wife and I woke up early and got bored. We were in Savannah, GA by that evening. I like to take spur-of-the-moment trips. In a case like that, having a huge memory is nice.

 

(Sigh) That was before the birth of my son. Now, traveling supr-of-the-moment is a *lot* harder with a 12 month old child.

 

-----

Any similarity between my opinions and reality is entirely coincidental.

--Harrkev

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Actually, I think that the 'only 8M' thing is a little overrated.

 

The basemap in the Legend is pretty darn good. It definately seems on par with the base map in a Meridian Gold. It will get you to most cities, and generally on a major road. It seems better than the old RM Atlas that has gotten me around most of the US for decades (the atlas still goes in the car though!)

 

I guess the difference is that I use a GPS most on foot, and the topo maps for all the units just don't seem that useful. The Garmin's and Magellan's are too course, and the $600+ beasty that Markusby love's still has a miniscule view.

 

The maps are a nice bonus for orientation when they are loaded, but they just have never seemed a reasonable alternative to good 'ol paper to me.

 

Just my 2 cents...

 

-jjf

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While the Legend does have only 8 megs, and you can get 128 on the Meridian (of course you pay almost as much for JUST the memory card as I payed for my Legend, PLUS you have to buy the unit)

 

What I can't imagine is having to pack around that huge Magellan Meridian, the thing is monsterous, more than twice the size of my Legend.

 

ummmm....not sure what to say here....so ummm, well errrr, uhhhh, well I guess that's it.

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Now i have to decide which Etrex to buy, Legend or Vista?

Besides the 24MB and 8MB difference, is there anything else different about those 2 units?

Can i just buy a bigger memory for the legend if i want a bigger detailed map?

 

The only bad things i've heard about Vista is it's poor reception and short battery life.

Is it true?

 

What map software does Legend includes with the unit?

 

THanks for all the help Guy!

I think i will buy one this weekend!

icon_smile.gificon_smile.gificon_razz.gif

 

[This message was edited by wl125 on April 26, 2002 at 04:39 PM.]

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Now i have to decide which Etrex to buy, Legend or Vista?

Besides the 24MB and 8MB difference, is there anything else different about those 2 units?

Can i just buy a bigger memory for the legend if i want a bigger detailed map?

 

The only bad things i've heard about Vista is it's poor reception and short battery life.

Is it true?

 

What map software does Legend includes with the unit?

 

THanks for all the help Guy!

I think i will buy one this weekend!

icon_smile.gificon_smile.gificon_razz.gif

 

[This message was edited by wl125 on April 26, 2002 at 04:39 PM.]

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I have the Vista and I am very satisfied with my purchase. It is small enough for hiking and caching and the detail on the basemaps and metroguide is completely awesome. Although I don't use the mapping once I get close to the cache. I just switch it over to navigation. I was looking memory capacity, mapping and size. This way I can use it in the car while driving and while caching. I have about 40 waypoints downloaded and metroguide maps from Gainesville down to Ft Myers and I have only used 12% of my memory. So I have some room for more maps for those long driving trips up north. The Etrex line is a bit awkward using, but after sitting in front of the TV playing with it, it does get quite easy to use. Garmin does put out a good product.

As far as batteries, I went with a couple sets of NiMH's and a charger from the Thomas Distributing website that was mentioned here on this forum. Great shipping and service from those folks. Highly recommended.

 

"Indecision may or may not be my problem"----J. Buffett

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Yeah, Vista sounds like a really cool unit

since Legend cost $249 with 8MB of memory and Vista cost $349 with 24MB of memory. 16MB memory card cost close to $90. So with $10 more you can get few more features with it.

But how;s the reception with the Vista. I;ve heard that Legend has a great reception of the signal, but response is still when you change direction or make a U-turn.

How;s the Vista unit doing on signal reception and response?

 

Thanks for all the help guys and girls.

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At www.ecost.com

 

they have the unit on sale at $277.00, but they charge a nasty handling fee of $9.95, and $11.59 for overnight shipping. But after tax and everything is still cheaper than most online stores and certainly those retail stores.

 

And I just placed a order for a Vista.

HaHa, looks like i will start my first geocaching very soon!

I hope!

 

Haha

Thanks guys and girls for helping choose the vista unit.

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Here's a deal that'll make all your bad purchases shrink to insignificance. I was gambling up in Foxwoods recently. It's a casino on an Indian reservation in eastern Connecticut. I took a break from the tables where I was losing money and figured to do a little shopping. Well one of the boutique stores there was selling Vistas and Legends for $540 and $420 respectively. Thats about 50% higher than the manufacturer's suggested retail price!! So I went back to the tables where I figured it was cheaper losing money gambling than it was shopping! icon_frown.gif

 

Alan

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Here's a deal that'll make all your bad purchases shrink to insignificance. I was gambling up in Foxwoods recently. It's a casino on an Indian reservation in eastern Connecticut. I took a break from the tables where I was losing money and figured to do a little shopping. Well one of the boutique stores there was selling Vistas and Legends for $540 and $420 respectively. Thats about 50% higher than the manufacturer's suggested retail price!! So I went back to the tables where I figured it was cheaper losing money gambling than it was shopping! icon_frown.gif

 

Alan

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I've had the E-trex Legend for about a month now, and have thouroughly enjoyed it. The 8MB of memory is plenty for the "normal" geocacher. I can load half of the state of North Carolina's topo maps (in highest detail mode) into the 8MB. As for the reception, it worked awesome on my last venture. We went cache hunting at Falls Lake just north of Raleigh, NC. We had to cross a 1/4 mile beaver dam through a marsh to get to the peninsula where the cache was. I needed both hands at certain points, and because the E-trex is so small, I could just slip it in my pocket (and it still received a signal). When we got to the peninsula, there was heavy tree cover and the Legend got us within 10 feet of where the cache was. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it worked.

 

Also, the topo maps provided excellent coverage of the lakes outline, and the street detail included with the Legend includes most major streets. However the topo CD was $100 (very expensive), but I got $50 off from some rebate at REI.

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Originally posted by RH:

I've had the E-trex Legend for about a month now, and have thouroughly enjoyed it. The 8MB of memory is plenty for the "normal" geocacher. I can load half of the state of North Carolina's topo maps (in highest detail mode) into the 8MB. As for the reception, it worked awesome on my last venture. ... I needed both hands at certain points, and because the E-trex is so small, I could just slip it in my pocket (and it still received a signal).

QUOTE]

 

Hi RH -welcome to geocaching. I have a Vista which operates pretty much like the Legend. What did you mean by "I can load half of the state of North Carolina's topo maps (in highest detail mode) into the 8MB."?

 

Also, how do you know you well still tracking satellites while the unit was in your pocket?

 

Alan

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My Legend cost 249.00, and the software was from GPS Discount.com. A Little cheaper, then you go to the Garmin.com website (or the store in Olathe) and update it for free.I've had mine for about 3 weeks, so far, I've had luck finding an easy cache, but two more diffictuls ones, well...I think that has to do with no Cache skills yet. I'm just starting on this. The battereis last for about 19 hours. I buy tons of AA batteries, cause of Gameboy Advance and gameboy color. I don't ever run out of AA batts.

--Rhonda

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It takes about three seconds, or less, and to download the whole page takes about 3 seconds. I have a 56k modem. From the ocmputer to your machine, it takes about 1-2 minutes, it depends on what you're downloading, that's for the maps. it downloads wayppoints in less than a second, and that's several at once. How much memory does the Vista have in it? How much did you pay for it?

I paid 249.99 for the Etrax Legend, and it has 8 megs of memory. --Rhonlynn

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I think you have to have the Garmin software...it's about 80.00 at GPSDISCOUNT.com, also, shell out 14.95 for the case, or it will get all scratched up...and the case is WORTH it!

Anyway, you should be able to set it to route,

and start at your waypoint, which might be set, maybe at your home. Be sure to use the icon for the home, cause you can see it better. Then, go into the Main menu with your page button on the side. Now, go down to the Route screen, and it should start a route to wherever you stop. My son and I do this frequently when we walk, he's 11 and think it's cool to make routes to his friends houses. Dopn't forget to delete the route when you're finished. The etrax Legend can only hold about 25 routes. Hope it helped. You know what I found? It doesn't hurt to play with the machine a little, even if you run down the batteries the first twenty hours. I now found out why the vista costs so much more-more memory.

--Rhonlynn

icon_wink.gificon_wink.gif

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I think you have to have the Garmin software...it's about 80.00 at GPSDISCOUNT.com, also, shell out 14.95 for the case, or it will get all scratched up...and the case is WORTH it!

Anyway, you should be able to set it to route,

and start at your waypoint, which might be set, maybe at your home. Be sure to use the icon for the home, cause you can see it better. Then, go into the Main menu with your page button on the side. Now, go down to the Route screen, and it should start a route to wherever you stop. My son and I do this frequently when we walk, he's 11 and think it's cool to make routes to his friends houses. Dopn't forget to delete the route when you're finished. The etrax Legend can only hold about 25 routes. Hope it helped. You know what I found? It doesn't hurt to play with the machine a little, even if you run down the batteries the first twenty hours. I now found out why the vista costs so much more-more memory.

--Rhonlynn

icon_wink.gificon_wink.gif

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