Garmin eTrex Vista HCx Review
Whether you are moving through dense foliage or deep canyons, the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx will remain steadily on track, keeping you safely on track. The eTrex Vista has a highly sensitive receiver that keeps a GPS signal even in tough environments. Like its predecessor, the Vista Cx, the handheld navigation system has some features that make it indispensible to hunters, hikers, and explorers. This GPS unit is available on Amazon at over 20% off retail price with free shipping! Click this link to take advantage of this huge discount!
Here some of the great features of the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx:
- Bright, full color screen that you can see in bright light and at night. The screen is large and has numerous adjustable brightness levels that can increase battery life when adjusted.
- Barometric altimeter to let you know how high you have ventured and aid in tracking movements. The altimeter works by tracking changes in pressure to find your exact altitude. You can also track and plot the barometric pressure over time, which can help warn you about impending changes in weather conditions.
- Electronic compass to keep you on track as you navigate through dense areas. The compass provides information even when you are not moving.
- MicroSD card slot and automatic routing so you can have maps for any travel you take. Preloaded microSD cards have Map Source data for anywhere you want to go, whether on land or water. Insert a card with city information and the eTrex Vista HCx provides directions to your desired location by giving turn by turn information.
- Long battery life is a major plus for this unit. It runs for as long as twenty five hours on a set of standard double AA batteries.
- Thanks to the sensitive WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx gives you a quick and precise location and is able to track your movements even in dense foliage or deep canyons, environments that have been difficult for previous handheld GPS devices.
Thanks to the sensitive WAAS-enabled GPS receiver, the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx gives you a quick and precise location and is able to track your movements even in dense foliage or deep canyons, environments that have been difficult for previous handheld GPS devices.
The eTrex series is a favorite among motorcyclists, with the company offering a handlebar mount and lanyard that keep it ready to display, but easy to pull off for when you head off road. Smart design features, such as locating the microSD slot inside the water proof battery compartment, make the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx a smart choice for travelers who want to experiment with a variety of terrains both in and out of the city. Like other models in the eTrex series, this unit is lightweight and small making it the perfect companion for nearly any adventure you can think of.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx:
I am an avid hiker, nature photographer and geocacher and I like to be able to recall my trips – document sites, features and sightings etc. This unit didn’t let me down. Last weekend I took a day trip that included four different parks along a river system with high bluffs and DEEP ravines – in the car and on the ground, this unit never missed a beat, never lost signal lock. There is no better GPS system in this price range. [Steve]
TomTom XL 330S Review
The TomTom XL 330S is a basic GPS navigation device that is designed to be sturdy and easy to use, with preloaded maps of the US and Canada and an easy to read display. The unit is designed to be mounted on your windshield, with a tilt screen that can be moved to be easy to view after adjusting the Easy Port mount with a secure suction cup.
The device can be easily removed by twisting the ring at the back side of the mount to release the suction. Unlike older models of the device, the TomTom XL 330S doesn’t come with a CD, instead, it uses an easy to handle USB interface that connects to your computer and not only sets your “home” location, it downloads updates the newest streets on your device. This GPS is available on Amazon at over 20% off retail price and free shipping! Click this link to take advantage of this huge discount!
Here are some great features of the TomTom XL 330S:
- The extra wide, 4.3 inch touch screen comes with the award-winning fold & go Easy Port mount that fold flat against the device, making the device easy to take with you, or to store in a hidden spot in your car to prevent theft.
- Three dimensional graphics along with spoken instructions that guide you from your front door to your destination effortlessly anywhere in the US or Canada.
- Preloaded points of interest to make your travelling experience easier and more fun. Millions of locations include gas stations, hotels, shopping, rest areas, and more are preloaded.
- The TomTom Map Share technology allows you to change street names, directions, points of interest, road speeds, and turn restrictions on your own device, customizing the unit to your needs.
- The Help Me! Menu allows you to access emergency service providers such as police, fire departments, and hospitals anywhere you are at in case of emergency.
- The unit has a handy compact size, at just 4.7 by 3.2 by 0.9 inches the device can easily fit into a purse or glove compartment. At just 6.6 ounces, you won’t even know it’s there.
- The battery is an internal lithium-ion battery that lasts about three hours on a single charge.
The TomTom XL 330S is a great device for anyone who needs a basic, functional, easy to use GPS. The addition of the TomTom XL 330S to your car will make navigating anywhere easy and quick, with simple displays that help you navigate without focusing on the unit itself. The large screen makes it a good choice for nearly any driver or casual GPS user.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the TomTom XL 330S:
I purchased a TomTom XL 330S for my husband for Christmas. He just puts in the address where he wants to go, and it directs the way. No more getting lost, no more stopping to ask for directions, no more turning around and backtracking to find missed streets, and no more printed directions to try to follow while driving. Well worth the money. [J. Garrison]
Garmin nuvi 255W Review
The Garmin nuvi 255W is a great navigation system for drivers everywhere. It features predictive technology that allows for faster satellite location, a newly designed screen that provides more information, preloaded terrain maps, and a cool photo navigation feature.
The Garmin nuvi 255W comes with complete maps for all of North America and a text-to-speech so you can get turn-by-turn spoken directions that provide the full name of the street- so you hear “turn left in fifty feet at Main Street” rather than just “turn left in fifty feet. The Garmin nuvi 255W also has a 4.3 inch wide screen that displays more of the road around you. This GPS is available at Amazon at over 15% off retail price with free shipping! Click this link to take advantage of this huge discount!
Here are some of the great features of the Garmin nuvi 255W:
- A slim design that is made to fit easily into your purse or pocket, along with a rechargeable battery that gives about four hours of continuous use per charge. You can use the device on foot or in your car.
- World Travel Clock that includes time zones, a currency and measurement converter, calculator, and more. The unit also features an automatic time zone transition, which detects and displays the correct time for your time zone.
- A 4.3 inch screen with a “screen lock”. When you slide the power key to the right, it locks the screen to prevent the device from accidental touches. When screen lock is engaged, the screen will go black after fifteen seconds to save power, to unlock just slide the power key to the center section. This feature is great when you are using the device on foot, so you can put the Garmin Nuvi 255W in your pocket or purse and then just slide the power key to check your route rather than turning it on and off to save batteries.
- HotFix, which is what Garmin calls the long term ephemeris prediction, meaning the device predicts where you will be going next to allow the device to connect more quickly to satellites.
- A digital elevation model (DEM) which is a base map that show 3D shaded terrain features right on your screen.
- A super fast 333 MHz processor that allows the unit to draw maps faster and more smoothly and display vehicle motion through turns.
- The ability to send addresses to the Garmin Nuvi 255W from Google Maps or MapQuest, the device is also compatible with Optional Enhanced MSN Direct Content.
- Two memory card slots so you can add additional maps and travel information, store photos, and more. The unit features a MicroSD slot on 3.5 inch units, and an SD card slot on the 4.3 inch units. The unit comes preloaded with Navteq maps of North America, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico along with more than six million searchable POIs.
The Garmin nuvi 255w is the best value for the money GPS system in the market with great features such as faster satellite retrieval, wide screen, text to speech and much more.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Garmin nuvi 255W:
It’s relatively intuitive to use, and, unlike a competing brand (which I sent back) was able to find it’s initial location immediately, with great ease. I’m having a lot of fun with it.The nicest surprise about it is that this little navigator is able to tell you the speed limit for EVERY street or highway you’re on, as well as show you how fast you are going relative to the speed limit. That’s more valuable to me than a radar detector would be. It also tells you your anticipated arrival time, which it adjusts for traffic slow downs. [sassytexasgirl]