just got an eTrex Vista HCx...

I just got an eTrex Vista HCx as a gift. The unit works very well, it is
very sensitive, but the included maps are a major disappointment - no
detail whatsoever. I live along the Patuxent river and guess what, it's
not on the map! The second largest river in the state! And WHY GARMIN,
WHY, did you not include the microsd card? It's an under-$3 item for
Pete's sake? [I got a Nuvi a year ago, and Garmin "left out" the
mapsource DVD just to save 99 cents; sheeeze]. And the manual is
absolutely pathetic, you should be ashamed! An international company no
less. Example: No where is there any info on how to exit the keyboard
screen; scroll down is not very intuative! My very first task, entering
the waypoint "Home", was rediculously frustrating.

-- end rant --

So, from the user base, what do I need to do to make this experience
better? I live in Maryland, and notice there are no "24K" maps available
for THE ENTIRE EAST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA! Wonderful. The 100K map is
not particularly detailed, but seems my only alternative. Nowhere does it
say how large a microSD card I will need to load these 100K maps onto the
unit. I would prefer the DVD version rather than buying it on microSD, so
that I'll have a backup. How is the map unlocking process, cumbersome or
straight forward? Would a 2GB card suffice? I read that it SHOULD accept
4 GB cards, but is that overkill? I'd also like to put my existing City
Nav. maps onto a seperate card, is 2GB appropriate for that too? [My Nuvi
maps, I can put them onto the eTrex too, right?]

I downloaded all that is available on the Garmin site, the PDF manual is
the same as the printed one - poor. I read a review that said there was a
better PDF, but can't find it. I did upgrade the firmware to 3.10, that
went smoothly.

Mapsource is up to version 6.15.7, which I have already (the included dvd
was version 5.0). Does that version 5 DVD have the eTrex BaseMap on it,
the label doesn't really say, or is it just the app? [I'm guessing the
basemap is in ROM on the unit itself.]

Thanks for listening, I would appreciate any tips and pointers. I would
like this gift to fulfill it's potential, and my loving wife's
expectations (Thanks Honey!).

-=Paul=-

On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:22:26 -0600, frodo@theshire.net wrote:

There is a Maryland map at http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/state/md/
it is free.

My Vista will accept a 4G card but I seem to be able to only load 2G
into it.

So who reads manuals, just push buttons and see what happens.

Paul,
I had the same questions when I got my Vista HCx. But considering costs,
profit, etc., it would not be effective for Garmin to include the City
Navigator North America maps on a new unit. Since I got mine cheap and new
for $169 last Christmas, I found that spending another $70 for the CNNA 2010
would be worth it. It was! A whole new experience, on top of the many
capabilities it came with.

Get the DVD and a cheap 2 GB micro SD card. I can't speak about the
MapSource version, but I used the older one from last year to load the
map(s) and it worked fine. The unlocking went smoothly and all went well,
but I had a helluva time trying to figure out just how to use MapSource to
begin the map selection and installation process. Takes over an hour though
if you load the entire DVD onto the non-volatile memory. If you have
questions (like I had prior to installing) there are good people here to
guide you through it.

You're right: Garmin instructions stink.

EW

On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:22:26 -0600,


Yeah, the base map is nearly worthless. As EW pointed out, it's
probably one way that Garmin keeps a low price for this model. In
addition, it's a model that can be used a lot of different ways,
so probably easier to let users select the type of maps they want
to use.



Well, some people may like to buy their mapset on the microSD, in
which case a blank card would be wasted.



I definitely agree with this rant.



Practice? :)



My preference as well. In addition, I don't think you can use
maps from the microSD in mapsource on a PC.



I initially tried to install CN via download, and had lots of
problems. Some of this may have been due to a somewhat slow
connection at the time. I got Garmin to swap my purchase for a
DVD, and the unlocking went fine.

I think the limits are not only size of card memory, but number of
map segments that mapsource can handle (just over 2000 if I recall
right).



I think 2 GB is enough for all of CN NA, not sure about use of
Nuvi maps.

One other thing you may or may not have picked up from other
threads here: the transfer of files to the microSD card goes quite
a lot quicker if you put the card into a card reader rather than
transferring through the data cable to the card in the gps.

--

| On Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:22:26 -0600,
|
|
| Yeah, the base map is nearly worthless. As EW pointed out, it's
| probably one way that Garmin keeps a low price for this model. In
| addition, it's a model that can be used a lot of different ways,
| so probably easier to let users select the type of maps they want
| to use.
|
|
|
| Well, some people may like to buy their mapset on the microSD, in
| which case a blank card would be wasted.
|
|
|
| I definitely agree with this rant.
|
|
|
| Practice? :)
|
|
|
| My preference as well. In addition, I don't think you can use
| maps from the microSD in mapsource on a PC.

That is correct!
That is why I don't like them!



|
|
|
| I initially tried to install CN via download, and had lots of
| problems. Some of this may have been due to a somewhat slow
| connection at the time. I got Garmin to swap my purchase for a
| DVD, and the unlocking went fine.
|
| I think the limits are not only size of card memory, but number of
| map segments that mapsource can handle (just over 2000 if I recall
| right).
|
|
|
| I think 2 GB is enough for all of CN NA, not sure about use of
| Nuvi maps.
|
| One other thing you may or may not have picked up from other
| threads here: the transfer of files to the microSD card goes quite
| a lot quicker if you put the card into a card reader rather than
| transferring through the data cable to the card in the gps.
|
| --



--
Regards,
Richard Harison