Garmin eTrex Legend HCx GPS Receiver
Amazon.com Product Description
Neither deep foliage nor steep canyons will faze the rugged Garmin eTrex Legend HCx navigator. Equipped with a high-sensitivity, WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, the unit locates your position quickly and precisely and maintains its GPS location even in heavy cover. The advantage is clear: whether you’re traipsing through thick woods or strolling near tall buildings and trees, you can count on the Legend HCx to help you find your way when you need it the most. Adding maps to the Legend HCx is easier than ever thanks to the device’s microSD card slot, which accepts cards preloaded with MapSource data for your land and sea excursions. Just insert a MapSource card with detailed street maps, and the Legend HCx will provide turn-by-turn directions to your destination. Plus, the card slot is located inside the waterproof battery compartment, so you needn’t worry about it getting wet.
Besides appreciating its small size, users will also be happy with the Legend HCx’s unique button layout, with five buttons located on either side of the unit. The benefits of this design are twofold: First, the Legend HCx is a breeze to operate with just one hand, and, second, with the buttons on both sides of the unit, the bulk of the front is dedicated to the 256-color, sunlight-readable TFT display. This makes it easy to distinguish map details regardless of the time of day.
The Legend HCx basemap, meanwhile, contains lakes, rivers, cities, interstates, national and state highways, railroads, and coastlines–in short, a host of helpful details for your outdoor adventures. Other details include an IPX7 waterproof housing that withstands inclement weather, a speedy USB interface, 1,000 waypoints with names and graphic symbols, a track log with 20 saved tracks, a hunt/fish calendar, a built-in patch antenna, and a geocaching mode. The Legend HCx, which runs for up to 25 hours on a pair of AA batteries (not included), measures 2.2 by 4.2 by 1.2 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a one-year warranty.
What’s in the Box
eTrex Legend HCx, basemap, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager software, USB cable, wrist strap, quick start guide, user’s manual.
Product Description
GARMIN eTrex Legend HCx Hand Held Receiver w/ Built in GPS Patch Antenna. MicroSD card slot allows for storage of optional MapSource detail /MicroSd card not included. WAAS enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver. Built in GPS patch antenna. Display: 1.3 in W x 1.7 in H, 256 color, high resolution, transflective TFT /176 x 220 pixels. LED backlit display and keypad. Battery life: up to 32 hours typical use using two AA alkaline batteries. Includes a built in Americas autoroute basemap with automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits and tide data /USA only. 500 user waypoints with name and graphic symbol; 20 reversible routes, 50 points per route. Position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, user grid, and more. Audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off course and clock. Large numbers option for easy viewing, dual position display mode. Trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed and more. 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks /500 points each/ let you retrace your path in both directions. Built in celestial tables for best time to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations. Fully compatible with MapSource products including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. TOPO 24K, U.S. TOPO and US Inland lakes. Waterproof, IEC 60529 IPX7, /Submersible 1 meter at 30 minutes.
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August 21st, 2009 at 11:35 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Works Great!
I’ve used it out in the rain while hiking and it had very clear reception, I have used it a few other times as well and it works great!
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 am
Excellent and versatile GPS that I use for geocaching, driving, mountain biking, and hiking. I previously owned the Venture Cx and the display cracked due to my carelessness in the airline luggage. I upgraded to the new Legend HCx with the high sensitivity receiver and this unit significantly outperforms the older units. The new receiver fixes your location much faster and provides much better signal coverage. I noticed this as soon as I turned the Legend HCx on, as I was able to get a fix inside my house.
The expandable memory option (Cx) of the etrex series allows you to store a tremendous amount of map info. I installed the TOPO and City Navigator Mapsets for the entire state of CA and I am able to switch between mapsets. When I am on the trail, I “hide” the other mapsets and “show”/use the TOPO mapset. When driving on the road, I switch to City Navigator to get turn by turn navigation to my destination.
The only cons about the etrex series is that they have a small screen to view while driving and the menus/control button configuration are complex. I had to install my unit right on the steering column for driving. It took me awhile to learn and use all the features of the City Navigator and to switch between mapsets. But, for a pocket size all around GPS with excellent battery life, these are acceptable compromises.
August 22nd, 2009 at 1:36 am
This is the second mapping GPS I have owned, and it is nearly perfect for my needs. I can’t believe how much better this eTrex Legend is than my old eMap unit. First, the bright color display is clear and readable in direct sunlight. My laptop wouldn’t even be visible in those conditions. Battery life – there is no comparison! I haven’t yet changed the alkaline batteries in 4 weeks of use (modestly heavy as it is a new toy). Finally, it is so sensitive that it has never failed to get a satellite position while indoors. Again, the HCx is a major improvement over the previous model where I could lose reception inside my car with glass all around and in open countryside.
Pros: Light weight, small size, fits great in one hand.
Can be operated completely with one hand.
Display is amongst the sharpest and brightest I have ever seen.
Very intuitive and simple to use for anyone except possibly a newbie to GPS navigation.
Battery life seems endless.
Ability to map a route to a destination address entered at the unit with the City Navigator software installed – the entire U.S. and Canada detailed road maps and POI fit on a single 1 GB micro-SD flash card.
Useful in your car or outdoors for hiking, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, motorcycling, etc.
A true all-in-one GPS solution for a low price.
Cons: Small display compared to Nuvi series and other non-outdoor GPS units.
No voice directions – it has two types of tones to alert you to pending and imminent turns.
You need to add $120 worth of City Navigator mapping software to enable the auto-routing by address or point of interest functions.
The click-stick 5-way joystick navigation device is not the easiest thing to use to move around the maps and menus.
Overall I am very happy with my purchase and I expect to get at least 5 or 6 years of good use from this before I will be looking at replacements. Garmin quality and service has been excellent in my opinion; my eMap still works, though it will likely be relegated to a desk drawer.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:57 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome GPS
I upgraded from the original eTrex Legend to the HCx. It’s a major improvement.
Time from power on to acquisition of enough satellite signals was several minutes with…
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:27 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still figuring it out
Im still figuring the etrex out. Glad I saved the money and got the legend and not vista. Big price diff.
August 22nd, 2009 at 4:38 am
I bought this unit to replace an older eTrex Legend model that I mount on my bicycle handle bar. As noted by other reviewers the HCx unit has enhanced sensitivity and very long battery life. My rechargeable AA’s last at least 5 times longer than in the old unit. Also it never loses track when outside, and it will find lock in the house, something the old unit never did.
As also noted by others, the built in base map does not provide much data. It’s the same map that was in the old unit. I purchased separately the pre-programed street maps on micro SD card which provides full street and point-of-interest data for the entire country. (Google search “010-10679-50″ for the best deal on this essential accessory.) I didn’t by Garmin software maps because I use a Macintosh and Garmin has never supported the Mac. (They now have something they call “Bobcat” which is supposedly a Mac program to allow map manipulation and transfer. I haven’t tried it.)
Anyway I use National Geographic TOPO! maps on my Mac and can download (eTrex to Mac) track data and plot maps of my outings and obtain elevation profiles and ride distances. It’s also possible to transfer waypoints and routes both ways with TOPO!.
Another note regarding cycling; in the old unit I had to purchase a special back plate to allow it to clip to the handlebar mount. The new HCx comes with a clip that attaches to the back and allows it to slide into my old mount. (If you don’t already have a bike mount kit, you’ll need that accessory as well.)
Another problem with the old model that’s fixed in this new unit is that the batteries are securely clipped in with damping material attached to the clips. My old unit would shut down when I hit even mild bumps until I damped the battery clips with small bits of handlebar tape.
Bottom line is that I’m very pleased with this device, but note that it is not complete without detailed maps. The street maps work for me; you may want other maps for other types of use.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:10 am
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great little GPS, crappy policy on maps from Garmin
I love this little unit. It locks up the satellites very fast, has great battery life (have yet to run out of juice), and the size is nice.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:07 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Outdoor GPS
This is my first time buying a GPS unit. I wanted it for mostly geocaching- and then for hiking, biking and running.
It has worked great for me.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:27 am
5.0 out of 5 stars
Geocache the easy way!
I bought this unit to geocache with. The ease of transfer from geocache.com to this unit is excellent.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for Geocaching
We use this for Geocaching and we can easily download from the Geocaching site items for us to hunt in our treks.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:16 pm
4.0 out of 5 stars
Etrex Legend Hcx Worth The Extra $
I bought the Legend Hcx after using the plain Legend for 1 week. The extra bucks the Hcx cost were worth it! The USB connection was worth the money all by itself.
August 22nd, 2009 at 7:41 pm
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Device, with conditions…
This is a very capable, powerful device. As my first GPS, I don’t have prior experience to go with, so keep in mind my review might fit what better what a new owner would be…
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:39 am
3.0 out of 5 stars
e-trx Legend
This was a great gift. I like it because it is waterproof and I snowmobile a lot. It was kind of a pain to figure out since I use a Mac, you have to do the initial set-up on a PC…