Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Handheld GPS Navigator
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Manufacturer: Garmin
List Price: $321.49
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Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Handheld GPS Navigator
The Garmin eTrex Legend CX is a complete map of the Americas that fits in your hand. It’s got a full basemap of North and South America, and you can add to that with the 32MB MicroSD slot. You’ll get the most precise GPS positioning for your travels, through the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). Never get lost again! Celestial tables for best hunting and fishing times Includes USB cable and bike mount
With the Legend Cx, Garmin has updated a much-loved device with expandable memory on a 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, 36-hour battery life, and you’ve got a great companion for your next outdoor or boating adventure.
Compass indicates direction. View larger. |
Displays nearby attractions. View larger. |
 The Legend Cx features a bright color screen, 36 hour battery life, microSD card maps, and more. |
You can use the Legend 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.
As 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 Legend Cx is the 10,000-point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. There’s also 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 times to fish and hunt, plus sun and moon calculations.
If you like the features of the Legend Cx but require an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin eTrex Vista Cx.
What’s in the Box
Legend Cx unit, 32 MB microSD card, USB interface cable, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owner’s manual, and quick-start guide.
Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Handheld GPS Navigator Features:
- Pocket handheld GPS navigator with 256-color, sunlight-readable TFT display (176 x 220 resolution)
- Includes blank 64 MB microSD card for storing MapSource data; long 36-hour battery life
- Mini-USB port for fast, convenient map downloads; offers turn-by-turn directions with alert tones
- Preloaded Americas autoroute base map includes highways, exits, and tide data
- Water-resistant to IPX7 standards; measures 2.2 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty
Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Handheld GPS Navigator Reviews
Does everything I want it to do.
My first GPS was Garmin’s iQue (Palm PDA + GPS) and it was a disappointment mainly because of its VERY limited battery life. This little gizmo is just great.
It is responsive - meaning that it powers up quickly and locks to sattelites in a decent time. It is quite sensitive - when hiking I can have it in my light jacket’s pocket with open flap and it stays locked. Its processor is fast enough - so when you pan around the map, the screen refreshes pretty quickly. (Note - This is with “normal” setting for detail. If you enable all the detail then it starts to slow down. Also, it slowed down for me when I loaded up the memory to more than 300MB). The display is very good too.
Most important: 1. the buttons and the menus are reasonably intuitive. I could imagine them a little more easier to use, but they are quite good as they are.
2. the battery life is great! Two AA batteries have been enough for me to go on a week-long business trip, use it here and there to find directions, etc., and come back home with plenty of juice left over. I have not run it continuously on a back country hike to know if the advertised 30 hour battery life is really correct. But let’s put it this way - I never worry about turning the unit off quickly to conserve batteries - I’m just careful to not leave it on unnecessarily. Just keep a pair of spare batteries with you and you’d be fine.
So, if you want a portable mapping GPS that will be there when you need it, buy this one and be done with it.
PS: I got conflicting information on the following so I’m clarifying it here - if you already own the MapSource map software, you can install it on a maximum of two devices.
Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Handheld GPS Navigator
This is my 1st GPS & I’ve found it relatively easy to learn to use. All controls are laid out comfortably. The color screen is easily visibile day & night. Navigating from waypoint to waypoint or designated addresses takes only seconds to recall ones already established. Easy to enter new ones either with the handheld or (desktop) computer. Detailed maps covering 2 destinations 1,000 miles apart calculates in about 1 minute. When I deviate from the route generated by the GPS, it quickly recalculates my route. Very accurate directions. As with any handheld GPS, the base map included with it is inadequate — must be augmented by advanced maps. Excellent product for the price. If you’re looking for a handheld GPS to use on the road, I recommend giving this one serious consideration.
This thing is great
This is my first GPS so wasent really sure what to expect. But after playing around with the legend cx, i was pretty impressed with all the stuff it can do. Its pretty accurate and easy to operate. Some downsides to it is it loses signals sometimes when in my pocket but thats not really a problem and the map on is is not that good. You need to go buy the maps from garmin if you want more detail. Im going to get the US topo and City navigator, later i might get the marine map also. But you can go geocaching with it right out of the box, i havent gotten any extra maps yet and i have found 2 caches already. Im really happy with it.
Nice to see better storage
I have the previous version of this product with a fixed 24 MB of memory. I am very happy with it except for the storage. I think this is the same item only with an expandable memory. It is small, so you can use it on the street. Easily fist into your pocket. Mark your car when you park in a city that you are not familiar with and you don’t have to worry about it again. Do your shopping and come back with the GPS. However, the screen is a little small to use in the car. It is usable, but I would still prefer a larger screen for the car. But all in all, I guess this is the right size both for hiking and driving.
The memory was on the small side with the previous version. I could only fit San Diego area with a little of Orange County into it. I believe the new version will allow a much larger area map.
I definately recommend the item to all who love traveling.
Great GPS
Finally, the perfect handheld GPS. The addition of microSD cards to the eTrex line has made the ultra portable unit the perfect companion to carry with you on all your adventures - land, sea, or trail. Although the unit comes with a 64mb card, I purchased two 1gb cards. When you own a Garmin Mapsource product, you are allowed to use it on up to two units. I already own Recreational Lakes and Fishing Hotspots, as well as CitySelect which came with my Garmin GPS V Deluxe which I still use all the time locally in my Jeep and on one boat because of the mounting ability and NMEA output. The GPS V, however, is limited to 19mb and is now utilized in the regions I most frequent. Unlocking CitySelect for the eTrex Legend Cx was simple at the Garmin website. I would recommend first updating the software in the unit to the latest version, which is now just a few keystrokes with Garmin’s Webupdater software downloaded from their site to handle the large capacity cards. On one card, I have Recreational Lakes East and CitySelect for the entire Northeast and MidAtlantic regions. On the other card I have the remainder of the US and Canada. The cards are smaller than the fingernail of your little finger. The eTrex Legend allows you to enable all or whichever Mapsource products you want. When not using it on the road, I disable the CitySelect to take full advantage of the Recreational Lakes software. If you do not own a mapsource product already, then purchase CityNavigator which I believe Garmin has updated the most for the points of interest and new roadways.
For my needs, the Legend series is ideal. If you climb mountains, ski in the wilderness, or are involved in search and rescue then the Vista series would be better because of the more accurate altimeter and compass.
I really like how easy the screen can be read in bright sunlight. The battery life has exceded my expectations, but always carry some spares and you should purchase a 12V adapter for use when a socket is available, especially if you want to turn up the screen brightness.
If all you want is a car navigator, then this is not the ideal unit. It is pretty much a handheld, although after some fiddling around I found the best way to mount it in a vehicle is with velcro. There is an available windshield bracket. The 60Cx and 76Cx may have better acquisition in canyons or under canopy in rainforests, but the smaller size of the eTrex series will allow you to carry it with you virtually everywhere.
The more I use it, the more I love it. Hope this was helpful.
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