Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS

The Garmin eTrex Vista HCx GPS upgrades the features of the Garmin Vista with a color screen, high-sensitivity receiver, and expandable memory. It eliminates the Vista's 24 MB of internal memory in favor of a microSD card slot.

This unit is slightly shorter and wider than the Vista. It measures 4.2-inches tall, 2.2-inches wide, and 1.2-inches thick and weighs in at 5.5-ounces.

eTrex Vista HCx Color High-Sensitivity Mapping Handheld GPS by Garmin

This Garmin Vista model sports a 256-color TFT screen that measures 1.3-inches wide by 1.7-inches tall with a corresponding screen resolution of 176 x 220 pixels. The display screen is bright and easy to read.

Battery life is greatly improved on this Vista model. This Garmin handheld GPS will operate for 25 hours on 2 AAA batteries.

The Vista HCx GPS holds 1,000 waypoints and 50 routes.

The high-sensitivity receiver is very good at finding and holding satellite signals, even in challenging environments such as canyons, urban settings, and under thick tree cover.

A potentially useful, though limited, feature is automatic routing capability. With the addition of a city street map such as Garmin's MapSource City Navigator, the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx will give turn-by-turn directions for auto navigation. You can even purchase a dashboard mount for this unit.

Unfortunately, the small screen size makes it difficult to read when driving, thus limiting its effectiveness as an automotive GPS.

The Garmin eTrex Vista HCx upholds the reputation of the Garmin eTrex line for solid navigation, ease-of-use, and suitability for a wide range of outdoor uses. Its premium features add value, making it a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

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