Garmin eTrex Vista HCx - 2.4 in. Handheld GPS Receiver

Bought this for military use, to augment the GPS I'll get when I deploy. Here's the basic features:

**About the size of a cell phone, with a 2"x1.5" black and white high res backlight (when you need it) screen.

**Has 5 buttons on the sides and a goofy "joystick" toggle on the front.

**Takes two AA batteries in the back that last about 15 hours.

**Features digital compass, altimeter, trip computer, "tracks"(memory of where you've been), route planning, and computer interface (although that's a seperate $150 purchase!!! Thanks for the warning GARMIN).

**Waterproof (we'll be testing that), accuracy to 10 feet.

I've been testing it out for the past few months to make sure I know how to use it. Most of my testing is on roads (convoys will be a big concern overseas), but I have used it for some hiking as well. I like to use the compass, the map screen (where it actually shows a map with major terrain features and a little arrow that shows you and what direction you are facing), and the trip computer. It also has some features that are interesting but that I will never use, like the phase-of-the-moon table, suggested-fishing-times table, and deer-mating-season table. Here's what else I've found:

** CON - If you don't read instructions (like me), you will only end up understanding about 60% of the Garmin's features. It's "kinda" intuitive, but you'll need some help with features like changing units of measure, interfacing with your computer, and setting up point-to-point navigation.

** PRO - This thing is hyper-accurate. You can readily calculate straightline distance between two points on the fly, and it can track your movement to the point where you can tell that you were in the passing lane or the non-passing lane of a highway. Combined with an MGRS map, this will make you a navigation expert. All data is real time, so you can make changes on the move.

** CON - It won't calculate distance along major roads (think Mapquest), or at least I haven't figured out how to make it do so... until now, when I set a point-to-point route, it gives me straight line distance. Maybe that will be useful in a desert where there are no roads.

** PRO - the travel computer is great. Shows miles travelled, average speed, top speed (gets me in trouble with my wife), time stationary, etc.

** CON - It gets lame sat reception. I have to have it on the dash of my car or in an open area for it to pick up satellites. Not good if you are hiding under cover from bad guys.

** PRO - All features available on the computer software version for your PC are packed into the GPS itself, except the additional maps that come with the computer package. All features are just a little easier to navigate/ use in the computer version, i.e. plan a detailed route and send it to the Garmin.

** CON - It takes about 20 seconds to power up - also not good if you are hiding from bad guys.

** PRO - The "Tracks" feature will help you re-navigate areas you've been before with accuracy. The Garmin stores waypoints regularly for later use and for construction of routes. Useful if you go the same place often or have to tell others how to go where you went.

** EVEN - The little screen is hard to read because of its size. Of course, the size is also one of its selling features when you throw it in a rucksack.

As a navigation tool, the GARMIN is effective, but here in the states, I'll hop online and do the same thing with MAPQUEST in about 5 minutes. I'll send an update while on deployment to show if this thing cuts the cake in a more austere environment.

Update (2 April 05): So far, the Garmin has helped me navigate successfully on several convoys. I can input waypoints based upon grid coordinates, and track my progress on a miniature map shown on the screen. That means I don't have to take a map if I don't want to - the Garmin follows the waypoints and tells me the distance to each turn I have plotted (I still take the map for back up).

It took me some work to figure out how to do this, because A) its not very intuitive and B) I don't read instructions. Additionally, I can't get it to work with my computer, so the Garmin controls are all I have...miniaturized torture devices if I've ever seen em'. The backtrack feature comes in real handy here, because it will pick up the points of where you've been, but that means you have to blaze at least ONE trail on faith. I plotted key turns/ points, and then saved the trip backtrack after I made it.

I can also instantly figure out my own grid coordinates, which proves useful when I have to call in help - I can tell them right where I am. I get better satellite reception here, probably because every satellite the US owns is looking at this region of the world. The battery life is still the same - only about 10 to 12 hours. I rectified this by plugging it in to the 12 volt power on my vehicle - unlimited juice.

The overall package is very durable, although I haven't put it through tremendous abuse yet. Its been in the sun, stuck to the windshield (with a RAM suction cup assembly), and tossed in my ruck, but it has handled each with ease. Elements don't seem to affect it much.

Update (10 August 05): I figured out how to interface with my computer, so now I can build routes on the computer and send them to the Garmin. I can also move routes saved in the Garmin to the computer, and tweak them on the bigger screen. The software is not much better than the Garmin in ease of use, but after fiddling with it for an hour, I managed to figure it all out (and NO instruction manuals, thank you). I'm very proud of that, considering Garmin's efforts to confuse me.

I did encounter a problem when transferring routes from the Garmin to the computer - it seems to overwrite what you have open on the computer when you do it. Note to self: save tweaked routes on computer before opening ones stored in the Garmin, or you loose them...

There are much better GPS systems to use in vehicles available nowadays, but for one that can go from your car to your bike to travelling on foot, the Garmin seems to be the way to go. If they could just solve that battery problem...

Further bulletins as events warrant...