tips etrex legend hcx

[jilmarieaz]

Hello, Just got a garmin etrex (the legend hcx) and learning how to use it I also got the arizona land status topo map blmgps which has a microsd card that goes in the device. I've only used the motionx on my iphone in the past so trying to learn this now. Any tips for ease of use? My maps are showing trail numbers but no names. Also under map info it shows several maps like a1, a2, a3... but I don't know what is different for each. Also how do you start tracking and show on the device? Will it show a summery of the hike? Lastly I'd like to upload the haz gps routes but do I have to do that to a blank chip or is there any internal memory? thanks much
Jill

[jilmarieaz]

Hm doesn't seem to be working out for me thinking of returning and getting the earthmate delorme or a different garmin.

[joebartels]

The Garmin Oregon "t" models are pricey yet leap years ahead in on trail usability in my opinion. Just stay away from the 400t, it's difficult to read in sunlight. The 450t and up are much better.

[nonot]

What maps are you getting that you only see numbers? Whatever is in the maps is likely what you see. To upload tracks from HAZ, you generally have to use the mapsource software that comes with the GPS.

My experience with the etrex has been excellent, and I've heard many gripes about the oregons, such as lack of battery life.

You can set up the unit to track your progress up to 10000 points, taken every 10 seconds or every minute, or however you want. To save tracks you do not need to get a new memory card, and you don't _NEED_ a memory card for each map, but if the map is 2GB and the card is 2GB, then you can't really fit anything else on there, can you?

I have a 2GB card and store a bunch of maps on them, a few HAZ tracks, and lots of my own tracks. There is some type of trip counter/odometer that I never use, reset it at the beginning of your hike and it will track statistics (distance, time, etc) until you reset it again.