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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I used the Garmin Vista CX in '07.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The electronic compass is useless. It sucks batteries dry,
takes longer to power up than my regular compass and is less
accurate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>The barometer?. While I saw the pressure go up and down a
bunch, it didn't always correlate to the incoming weather. So I tended to ignore
it anyway. Maybe I'm just not smart enough. The altimeter function was handy for
navigating on a map, if I could make out the tiny brown numbers on Ley's
maps.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I popped in a 1GB flash card, so had all the topo maps for
the western US, and room for water source waypoints, etc. That was very
handy.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Chip sensitivity? I have the older standard chip and
rarely couldn't get a signal. But, yeah go the best available now.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Screen size is good; weight is bad; your
call.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>I opted for a unit with standard AA batteries so they
would be easy to resupply. It turned out that I was quite frugal in using the
GPS and two and a half sets of lithium batteries covered the whole five months.
Alkalines or rechargeables have lower amp-hour ratings, so your mileage may
vary.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Steady</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=eagleton@hotmail.com href="mailto:eagleton@hotmail.com">Jim Eagleton</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=cdt-l@backcountry.net
href="mailto:cdt-l@backcountry.net">cdt-l@backcountry.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, March 26, 2008 11:40 AM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> [Cdt-l] Today's Best gps</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>With the way electronics change we should probably schedule this
topic every 6 to 12 months. Maybe with the Garmin problems every 6 to 12
weeks. <BR>The way I read the rei reviews, Garmin has captured the
category, and now, brought out the 2 latest units with major bugs.
Specifically, the eTrex Vista HCx, and the Colorado 400t seem to have partially
overlapping problems.<BR> <BR>I'm specifically interested interested in
features that go beyond taking bearings to Ley's waypoints. For
example, the new high sensitivity chip set is very valuable for holding a
fix under tree cover and some steep valleys. I'm not saying price is not a
factor, but I'll make that decision. <BR><BR>Questions: <BR>1)
Compass: Are the electronic compasses as accurate as a standard magnetic
compass? Do you turn on the gps enough or could you without waiting too
long for it to start up) that you could leave your compass at home (or in your
pack)? <BR>2) Detailed maps: Did anyone download 24:000 maps to
their gps? <BR>3a) Large scale maps: Did anyone find the
100,000:1 Topo maps useful for locating themselves on Ley's maps (more
accurately or faster than the compass bud). <BR>3b) Large scale
maps: Did anyone find the 100,000:1 Topo maps useful for identifying
alternate routes, so that emergency BLM/road maps were less necessary.
<BR>4) Any issue with screen size: The Colorado has a much larger
screen than the eTrex.<BR>5) I built a battery box recharger for my
Foreunner 305 gps. I think this has thought me 2AA are the only way to
go?<BR>6) Other useful features...Barometer, extra memory, etc.
<BR>7) The latest info on Garmin's bugs.<BR> <BR>A Battery
question: I don't think I will pick a gps on battery size, but can I
change my other equipment to AA? I have a 6V Ion headlamp, 3AAA EOS
headlamp, CR123 Steripen, bounced charger for camera, bouncing the whole cell
phone ... <BR>Rambler<BR></BODY></HTML>