Garmin ETrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator

I read all the reviews and did side by side comparisons as best I could.I wanted a device to go Geocaching so was looking for rugged, handheld, and easy to read.I chose the Vista model by Garmin and I have been well pleased.It was easy to learn, handy to use and I had my son using the device in a short time.

I used it on a 1200 mile trip and found the maps and information included with the unit to take care of our travel needs.We especially liked the services at exit feature for our travel along the interstates.

I was impressed with what these devices can do and how convenient they are to use. I ordered the cigarette lighter/serial attachment and it works fine.I also got the carrying case but I doubt that we'll continue to use it as it is hard to read thru the plastic window.We used the belt clip that is attached to the carrying case but usually let the case dangle when the device was in use.I bought a small pouch for carrying our cords, the device, and batteries.I would recommend this model to anyone wanting to get around and discover the fun of this way of travel.

I read the complaints about left handed positioning but didn't find that to be a problem.I also read about tree cover being a problem for blocking satellites.We would simply look for a small opening in the trees and could usually pick up 3-4 satellites.

I appreciated shopping at Amazon and the help that they could give with these reviews.

If small size and high resolution are important to you, buy the Garmin.

If you prefer a larger screen, larger buttons, a floating unit, or something that can be viewed beyond an armslength away, get the Magellan.If you require reading glasses, avoid the Garmin.

Here is a list of specific comments:
- Size: Garmin fits easily in a shirt pocket.Magellan is 114% larger by volume and is better suited for a fanny pack or large coat pocket.
- Weight: Magellan is 51% heavier.
- Display: Magellan display is 66% larger, viewable beyond an arm's length.Garmin not viewable beyond an arm's length.
- Pixels: Garmin has over twice as many pixels.
- Resolution: With the smaller display and higher pixel count, the Garmin screen resolution is about four times greater.
- Both are waterproof.Magellan floats...Garmin doesn't.
- Reception: Magellan had slightly better reception, probably due to larger internal antenna.
- Screen protection: Magellan has a raised frame around display to help prevent scratches, but it also collects lots of dust on the screen as a result.
- Maps/waypoints: Low resolution for the Magellan made small map features difficult to discern.Garmin much easier to read with a large variety of highly detailed map symbols/icons.
- Features: Similar for both, but the Magellan had a few extras I liked: audible alerts for turns, a "windshield" navigation view with waypoints drawn in the "distance", a "speedometer" view with dial, sun and moon location displayed on the compass dial.
- Buttons/knobs: Garmin's buttons are all on the sides and are very small.You won't be able to operate them with gloves.I like the little joystick for the left thumb very much, but folks with clumsy hands will not.Magellan's buttons are large, easy, and labelled.
- Magnetic compass: Garmin must be held flat for this feature.Magellan's compass works in any position.(With motion, separate heading indicator works at any orientation on both units.)
- Battery life and accuracy: About the same for both.
- PC cable/DC car adapter: Garmin slides onto the back.Magellan has an awkward screw-in device.
- Mapping Memory: Garmin has 24 MB ready for upload from mapping software (sold separately).Magellan requires additional memory card...
- Owner's Manual: Garmin provides complete owner's manual.Magellan only provides a quick-start manual.Complete manual is electronic and divided into two files.
- User interface: I found the Garmin software and menus to be slightly more intuitive.

Result: I wanted a small unit for outdoor activities and occasional automobile travel.I like small, high-precision devices with lots of detail.I kept the Garmin.

I also ordered the car dash mount, DC auto adapter, belt carry case, and MapSource MetroGuide USA CD.I have been very pleased with each of them.

I didn't need fancy talking directions; I was looking to this device for play.I live in the Rockies, and my wife and I like to explore dirt trails on the weekends.A little off-roading can lead to hours of fun, but it can also get you lost in a hurry.As well, I wanted something for Geocaching.(...) This being my first GPS, I wanted to also make sure that the GPS I selected would grow with me.

With the name Magellen in mind, I quickly found an array of devices here on Amazon.The reviews proved mixed, so I headed to another review site for back-up.Reviews there were mixed too, and one individual even suggested the Garmin outright.I talked to a few friends, hit a few sporting goods stores, and in the end, the Garmin eTrex series fit the bill.

The Vista in particular is the top of the eTrex line, and you won't be disappointed if you're looking for the same qualities I was.As GPS screens go, it was sizeable and clear.Though built for left-handed individuals (and I'm right-handed), the QuickStick feature provides complete one-hand operation after you get used to it.The Vista also has the most memory of the eTrex line allowing you to hold more detailed maps should you decide to purchase them from Garmin.Don't get me wrong; the maps that are included are pretty thorough in their own right.

Among the top features that sold me on the Vista over the other eTrex devices, were the altimeter and the compass.The altimeter is nice, especially in the Rockies, but probably not the most useful feature for flatlanders.The compass is gold.If you tell a GPS device where you want to go, it will give you an arrow that points you in the right direction.However, that arrow only works while you are moving.If you want to stand still and either (a) know what direction you are facing or (b) move very slowly to fine tune your hunt, then the compass is a must have feature.I cannot stress this enough - it makes Geocache hunts exceptionally accurate.

And on accuracy, I find that I get a lock of about 20 feet.Depending on the cloud conditions or the foliage, it may vary but I typically max out at around 50 feet.I was sitting in the back of a taxi, headed back to the airport and I was easily able to track the road I was on, the direction, the speed the driver was going, how far we went, and so on - the Vista had no problem keeping up.

Keep in mind that GPS signals do come from the sky, and if clouds or other obstacles block the sky, then the accuracy will weaken.On a rainy day in Oregon, I couldn't get reception.

As batteries go, I've found that the Vista gives me about 12 hours on two AA batteries.This can vary depending on how much I use the more advanced features (WAAS, and the compass).I turn the compass off while I'm tracking a Geocache, and when I get within 100 feet, I turn it back on.Oh, and in terms of Geocaching, Garmin has provided waypoint icons for Geocachers that can be added to your Vista.

If you leave the GPS on during a hike, the TrackBack feature will leave a breadcrumb trail to follow back at just the click of a button.I've used this feature several times, and it will guide you back without flaw.For hikers or hunters using the GPS in heavy foliage, it may be a better practice to set occasional waypoints in clearings.This will give you the most accuracy, and save your battery.

In reviewing my initial desires for a GPS, I was looking for assistance in the back woods, Geocaching fun, and room to spare.All the features make outdoors fun more enjoyable - and safe.In terms of Geocaching, the accuracy of this device and the compass (gold) has made getting to the target a snap.And with the extra memory and firmware updates (such as the Geocaching icons), this device will be sure to keep up with me for years to come.I'm eager to see how it holds up this winter in backcountry snowmobile trips.

I give the Vista an enthusiastic "thumbs up". The...price seems a little high at first, but after using this gem, I have to say its worth even more.Garmin has made one of the coolest electronic gizmos I've ever used.. and I own one!

Cons:
-screen is small
-screen detail is somewhat pixilated
-panning/scrollingon map is slow.Screen goes blank for a moment.Then it takes it awhile to redraw the map.
-occasional loss of satellite lock when under moderate tree cover (although this is probably true of all gps)
-designed for left hand use if this is an issue
-data cable is included but car adapter is not
-must be outside of backpack in order to receive signal (I guess gortex is too thick)
-cause an accident by watching the gps rather than the road

Pros:
-compact
-good intuitive use of menus except for marking waypoints
-excellent trip data:distance, elevation, average moving speed time or overall average, how long you have moved or stopped for, elevation, current speed and direction and more
-works inside the car
-excellent car navigation
-excellent hiking navigation
-has altimeter and compass
-detail on base map gives major hwys and roads
-detail on extra map excellent (eg., will give street numbers of individual houses)

This is the first GPS handheld I've purchased after carefully reviewing other models from other brands at a local store with true "hands on" comparisons.I thought the Garmin products were by far the most intuitive and user-friendly of the GPS handhelds I played with.Great features and an excellent value for the money. (...)

Looking at the less expensive eTrex Legend and the Vista and wondering which to buy?Well, the Legend is great but it lacks the Vista's electromagnetic
compass or air-pressure altitude indicator if that is important to you.It also has much less memory capacity (8MB) for storing detailed Mapsource maps.

I have loaded my Vista with topo maps from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont and it took up all 24MB of memory (of course, it really is a lot of detail we're talking about here).I would think that the memory capacity of the Legend could be a significant limitation if you are looking at getting into extra topo or metro guide maps.If you have no use for extra maps or an electromagnetic
compass and altimeter, then the Legend might be the way to go.

Personally, I think the Vista represents a better overall value for the dollar.

Ignore the naysayers and compare the GPS units for yourself.I'm very happy with the Vista and would have made the same purchase if I had to do it all over again.

The Vista also has WAAS capability. This means it can receive a special signal from a WAAS-designated GPS satellite that gives you more accurate positioning (currently enabled for North America). I can't always receive this satellite, but I recall on one occasion when I did, my Vista indicated it was accurate to within 8 feet! Normally, the Vista is accurate to within 50 feet or so, depending on satellite conditions. For recreational use, that is as accurate as I need, certainly as accurate as other similarly-priced GPS receivers on the market.

The map and digital compass work well together. On a recent hike, after ascending North Carolina's Table Rock mountain a friend asked me "What lake is that over there"? I didn't know, so I pointed the Vista at the lake and turned on the digital compass to get a bearing to it. Then I displayed the map page. I remembered that the map can be displayed with 'north up' or 'track up'. When I set the map for 'track up' while not moving (and the compass turned on), I discovered the map turned to orient itself to north (just as you would orient a paper map). After adjusting the zoom level, I could clearly see the lake displayed. Then I panned the map pointer to the lake to get its name and distance. "That's Lake James," I told my friend, "and it's 8 1/2 miles away".

At the time, I was displaying topographic map data that I had downloaded from Garmin's 'MapSource' Topo USA CD-ROM set. When navigating by car, I display MapSource MetroGuide data (MapSource CD-ROM's are sold separately). However, even out of the box, the Vista has useful map detail, including state/country borders, lakes, rivers, coastlines, major streets and roads, and interstate exit information (gas, food, lodging, etc.).

When you download MetroGuide data to the Vista, you add minor street and road detail, many local businesses and points of interest. You can enter an address (within a metro area that you downloaded) and the Vista will find the location for you. You can also find intersections or points of interest by spelling their names (or the beginning of a name to narrow down the list, then select an item from the list). As with other GPS receivers, you can add your own waypoints, label them (with up to 10 characters), give them special symbols, and easily look them up later.

MapSource CD-ROM sets come with a program that will let you load, save and edit your waypoints and routes (the Vista itself comes with a serial port interface cable). The program works with nearly all Garmin GPS receivers, so I was able to back up the waypoints and routes from my older Garmin GPS receiver and copy them to the Vista.

The Vista does not have address-to-address route planning, but you can buy software that does this, then load the route into your Vista. You can manually enter or edit routes on the Vista's graphic map before your trip, easily selecting waypoints or intersections by pointing at them. The Vista can then guide you along your chosen route as you travel (a great feature for finding unfamiliar rural roads in the dark). The Vista has a nice back-light for the high-res LCD display (I recommend getting the cigarette lighter power adapter and auto mount if you intend to do car navigation).

A feature that hunters and fisherman might like is a calendar that lets you look up the optimum times for hunting and fishing for a particular day and location. There is also an animated graphic display of the sun and moon to accompany the sun/moon rising/setting time display, which can also be accessed from the calendar.

Garmin occasionally updates the software for their GPS receivers. You can download it from the Garmin web page yourself, then load it into the Vista. I have easily done this myself a couple of times.

I have just a few quibbles: they should have given the Vista more than 24 MB of memory so you could download more than three metropolitan areas at a time from the MetroGuide CD-ROM set. Also, my other Garmin GPS receiver has an 'active route' page, which is a nice feature missing on the Vista.

Otherwise, it's hard to imagine a more powerful personal navigation tool. Imagine holding a compass, altimeter and detailed map in the palm of your hand, that also shows you where you are, where you are going, how far it is and how long it will take to get there! The Vista is excellent!