Garmin eTrex Vista Cx Handheld GPS Navigator With the Vista Cx, Garmin has updated a much-loved device with expandable memory on microSD card so you can load optional map data for your hiking, hunting and other outdoor excursions. Add to that a bright, full-color TFT display, automatic routing, and long, 20-hour battery life, and you’ve got a great companion for your next outdoor or boating adventure. Plus, the Vista CX adds a barometric altimeter and an electronic compass.

The main menu feature icons. View larger.

Crisp, color display for easy map viewing. View larger.

Altimeter display provides elevation information. View larger.

The Vista Cx features a bright color display, electronic compass and a barometric altimeter and much more.

You can use the Vista Cx’s memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most Garmin MapSource products including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that provides automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits and tide data. You can even get turn-by-turn directions when you’re driving and an integrated trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed and more.

The Vista Cx’s barometric altimeter system features automatic pressure trend recording while providing current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Meanwhile, the unit’s electronic compass allows you to get accurate headings while standing still.

Like on all eTrex units, the primary controls are located on the side of the unit, so you can operate it with one hand. An innovative rocker switch on its face makes inputting data easy, and with it you can scroll through menus or pan the map page. Fast USB connectivity makes loading charts and maps quick and easy, while navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the dedicated serial port. Additionally, the case is water-resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes).

Another key feature of the Vista Cx is the 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. Meanwhile, there’s a large numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual position display mode. Lastly, the unit includes built-in celestial tables for best time to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations.

If you like the features of the Vista Cx, but don’t need an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin eTrex Legend Cx.

What’s in the Box
Vista Cx unit, 32 MB microSD card, USB interface cable, bike mount clip, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owner’s manual, and quick-start guide.
Customer Review: Perfect for Outdoor User of Any Experience
I did my first Geocache at the end of January 2006 as part of a group with a shared GPS. I was hooked. I started looking into units and within two weeks, I had a Garmin Legend. After one outing, I traded it in for the Vista Cx and have not regretted it one bit.

Ignoring the Legend experience, it took about a half hour of going over the manual to take in the details. The manual is well written and properly illustrated. Directions are easy to understand and once you grasp the organization of the menu structure, the unit is easy to master.

While a little on the small side, the display is very crisp and the colors are easy to see in the daylight. If you use this after dark, the screen requires backlighting, something that is built-in to the unit. Using the menus, you can even customize the degree of backlight illumination and the time it stays on.

One downside is the base map, the map burned into the firmware, is pretty sparse. I understand this is fairly standard for hiking GPS units. I strongly urge users to get either the Garmin MapSource Topo map for your country or the Garmin City Navigator appropriate to your area. Now we are getting into what the new “X” series is all about, memory.

The Vista Cx uses MicroSD memory, allowing the users to store large amounts of map info. . . if you get additional memory. The 32 MB that comes standard with the unit will hold a LOT of topo map info, but if you are loading road map info, you will need more memory. I have not had the opportunity to try the new 1 GB MicroSD cards, but the 512 MB is holding all the trip info for my summer vacation plus topo info for most of PA, MD, WV, CT, MA, and NY south of Albany.

One negative is that you can display either the topo info or road map info, but not both at the same time. Personally, I find this not too annoying, but sometimes, I’d like to see both. The two buttons controlling the degree of zoom are well positioned.

I bought this primarily for Geocaching, but I recently had the opportunity to test it as a navigation aid and Geocaching tool. In the car, once navigation satellites had been locked onto, the unit kept me on course. Out in the field, I switched to topo only display and the unit performed flawlessly.

This is only the beginning of all this unit can do. I do not use the barometer / altimeter function too heavily, but I’ve come to appreciate the electronic compass. The rocker switch makes it easy to enter data, but I prefer to use the optional software and my computer for extensive data entry.
This is a GPS primarily for the outdoor person, not a vehicle navigation aid, although it will function nicely as one. Many people would consider this beyond an entry level GPS. I found it easy enough to use and capable enough for future growth that I would recommend it for the entry level user. Buying this unit at the beginning will help put off that upgrade for quite a while. I do strongly suggest getting the largest addition memory you can find and the software to match your navigation needs. It will be money well spent!