If you're not familiar with the unit, see my review:
http://www.myjeeprocks.com/feature/etrex_vista_gps.php

Anyway the little problem with the screen getting a few lines in it in very hot weather has turned into just "it has lines on it." Often the unit is very hard to read due to this, and many others have recently complained about the same problem. My GPS is only 3 years old.

Here's the catch: This is a known problem with the eTrex line of receivers. After a year (it's out of warranty after that!) and they charge $125 to fix it.

That's half of what I paid for it! I think I'd rather take the $125 and put it toward a newer, more stable model or a DIFFERENT BRAND that will last for years.

So, for 3 years old that means it was $100/year to operate it + $125 now to fix it. Seems like a big investment! (Not to mention the cable and other BS you have to buy to get it to mount to your vehicle or transfer any waypoints.)

Steer clear of the Garmin eTrex Vista: Not worth the money in the end.

I have the Magellan Meridian Platnium with the MapSend Topo and love it! Its an older unit but I still like it. We have one of the Garmin eTraks here at work and I was not very impressed by it.

I have a Vista and it rocks. No problems at all. Of course, it hasn't seen temps above 101F yet. . .

Electronics generally don't fair well in the desert. . .

Sorry to hear it :( I'm wondering if it would be possible to find an el cheapo eTrex (used?) somewhere and just swap the LCD on it. My guess would be that the LCD would be the same on all of them but I'm not sure.


Edit: Just from the specs, looks like the Venture and the Legend may have the same LCD as the Vista.

http://www.prairie.mb.ca/etrexcomp.htm

I have a Vista and it rocks. No problems at all. Of course, it hasn't seen temps above 101F yet. . .

Electronics generally don't fair well in the desert. . .
Is it very old? Glad to hear you haven't had any problems, but mine's getting screwey-er every day. :(

@seapahn,
That's not a bad idea. It would be cheaper than having them fix it! (In reality, I'm sure they'll just hand me a refurb.)

I bought it about 9 months ago and then I think it was about a year old. Not that GPS technology progressed much in that time frame :) It is still in production so no worries on getting a discontunied model.

In garmin's defense, my eMap has been a champ. I've had it for more than 5 years now and I've taken it everywhere ... europe, alaska, all the way around west, south, east coast, and now central... dropped it, left it in the sun, spilled stuff on it, mounted it by the heater ducts, left in freezing cold, and still works great.

Too bad it's really outdated and very slow but I just can't get myself to replace it. Especially since you can get a number of different size chips for it ... I got the 32MB module and it's been more than enough. But you can go up to 128MB.

Well, I wish I had the same luck, seapahn. After talking to the guy at Garmin, he said he would discount my repair to $95 from $125. I guess it helps, a little, but I still have to come up with the $95. :(

Boooooo

I have been using a eTrex Vista since early '01. This past weekend I had my first problem with it. The screen went blank with the back light on, none of the buttons would work. I couldn't even turn it off! I ended up pulling the batteries out to shut it down. It started up and worked fine until the next day. Then it was confused about which direction I was heading. It kept trying to tell me I was heading south when I was obviously heading north (unless the sun decided to rise in the West for a change). Sometime during the day it decided to start working again, and has not had a problem for the past couple of days running 24/7.

I'm not real happy about all that......

It kept trying to tell me I was heading south when I was obviously heading north (unless the sun decided to rise in the West for a change).

Are you sure you were still in the northern hemisphere? :zip: :eek: :good: :wave: :D I heard everything is backwards down there.

One thing I don't understand with mine (eMap) is how come I have to tell it the time zone ... isn't it a GPS and shouldn't it know that by itself? :mad:

I have been using a eTrex Vista since early '01. This past weekend I had my first problem with it. The screen went blank with the back light on, none of the buttons would work. I couldn't even turn it off! I ended up pulling the batteries out to shut it down. It started up and worked fine until the next day. Then it was confused about which direction I was heading. It kept trying to tell me I was heading south when I was obviously heading north (unless the sun decided to rise in the West for a change). Sometime during the day it decided to start working again, and has not had a problem for the past couple of days running 24/7.

I'm not real happy about all that......
Hey yeah, mine sometimes does that too, you just have to smack the side of it against something, not too hard, but hard enough. If you lose control of your buttons, turn the light on or off it will correct it. If the screen gets lines and goes blank, again toggle the light.

Wow, these things come so naturally to me now I forgot they were actually defects. LOL And if you want it fixed, you can just shell out $125! Good deal eh!?

smack it around that is the sure way to fix it but then again who wants to spend half as much as it cost new to to fix it.

Damn! After what I paid for mine, I would never think for smacking. It might also come from being a radio tech and knowing that doesn't fix the problem, only maskes it.

Of course, my wife use to run the vaccuum cleaner into her old computer when it started to act up.

All things said and done, I got my GPS back today from "repair."
Turns out I got an entirely new unit. Very cool, but the whole process was just an annoyance. Hopefully this one will hold up a little better.
:)

I've been wondering what types of GPS you guys run. Here we run mostly with Magellin Sport Trac's for civilian GPS. We have the military version from Rockwell that's damn near bullet proof. But not nearly the features of the civilian jobbies. I'll need to be getting a GPS when I start wheeling with ya'll. I guess I'll go with the Magellin Sport Trac, unless someone has advice otherwise?

Yes, I dont know how to spell Magellin correctly, but at least I'm consistent.

I like my magellan merdian platinum. Its nice has more features than I know how to use but it eats batteries like crazy. If I was to do it again I would have gotten the Magellan Merdian Gold, all the same features but does not have the tri-axis compass.

One thing that really helped me decide what to get was being able to borrow a few different models from people and test them out.

I may have a solution to the battery problems. Magellan (thank for the spelling) makes a cigarette lighter power source for the Sport Trak -AND THE MERIDIAN :D . The only reason I like the sport trak so much is that I've seen it in action, used it a lil bit and it's pretty easy to navigate with it.

Here are the links:
Hardwire type: (http://www.thegpsstore.net/detail.asp?product_id=MAX730344)
and
Lighter Type. (http://www.thegpsstore.net/detail.asp?product_id=MAX730343)

I'm thinking of hardwiring it in... only problem is theft. Lemme know if this helps or what you think about the whole idea?

I like my magellan merdian platinum. Its nice has more features than I know how to use but it eats batteries like crazy. If I was to do it again I would have gotten the Magellan Merdian Gold, all the same features but does not have the tri-axis compass.

One thing that really helped me decide what to get was being able to borrow a few different models from people and test them out.

I have used the Garmin Vista here in Iraq for the past 3 years - even in 120+ temps. Never had a problem with them, save for a broken LCD screen caused by a blast (guessing that is probably not covered by the warranty anyway). GPS units are one of those "nice-to-haves" - there is no substitution for a good map (up to date), a quality compass (and backup), taking the time to really study the map and orientate yourself to it. Being able to use terrain association to determine your location in regards to the map is a one of those things that, with more technology, we tend to forget about.

I was lucky enough to make my first GPS purchase at REI. Every time I've needed a new one- either because it was broken or because I wanted an upgrade, I just returned it. They gave me credit on the cost of the last GPS and then I bought a newer model. I've gone from having an Etrex Summit to a 76S (broke), and then another 76S and now a 60C. I decided to get the color screen model becuase of the jeep. The screen interacts really well with direct sunlight. With the top down I couldn't see the screen on my 76S. Now this screen is perfect.

Dave

I was lucky enough to make my first GPS purchase at REI. Every time I've needed a new one- either because it was broken or because I wanted an upgrade, I just returned it. They gave me credit on the cost of the last GPS and then I bought a newer model. I've gone from having an Etrex Summit to a 76S (broke), and then another 76S and now a 60C. I decided to get the color screen model becuase of the jeep. The screen interacts really well with direct sunlight. With the top down I couldn't see the screen on my 76S. Now this screen is perfect.

Dave
Didn't you read my review? REI does not support offroaders!
*edit* Ok that was a different review - the Camping Gear FAQs. But still :D

I was lucky enough to make my first GPS purchase at REI. ....

FYI Dave, REI does NOT support Four Wheeling and open Land Use by other then foot. Therefore, most four wheelers do not support REI by making purchases from them. Just a little heads up. Think about who you support with your retail purchases.

Tam

FYI Dave, REI does NOT support Four Wheeling and open Land Use by other then foot. Therefore, most four wheelers do not support REI by making purchases from them. Just a little heads up. Think about who you support with your retail purchases.

Tam


Ooops- sorry!

Ooops- sorry!

Its ok...If no one ever told you, you wouldnt know. :)

Tam

That is good info about REI.
I have bought some stuff from them before, but will now steer clear of them.

I have an Etrex Vista, and like it.

I bought the one that Sarah had for sale. I gave it to my dad as an early fathers day present. I have not had any issues with mine yet, and do like it.

But if I do break my vista, and want to return it to REI, I will tell them that I broke it out hiking. What they do not know, will not hurt them.

Todd
Navy-Jeepster
Gold Digger

I have the etrex legend and haven't had a problem with it at all and I've use it in extream conditions, 100+ deg. temp. being stationed at Ft Irwin, CA. and now being deployed to Iraq. I used it all the time. I have the window mount so it is in the sun a lot and no problems. I got it on ebay brand new for 160$