Garmin eTrex Legend HCx review
I’ve had a chance to try out the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx
One of Garmin’s newer eTrex H-series receivers, the Legend HCx updates the very popular Legend Cx. The “H” stands for high-sensitivity chipset, to ensure great satellite reception under canopy and in other situations where you have a limited view of the sky.
Like its predecessor, the Legend HCx has a bright color screen and a micro-SD card slot for loading topo or highway maps. A great handheld GPS, the Legend HCx also autoroutes, so you can add City Navigator
Compare prices on the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx
Step up to the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx to add a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. Moving down in the H-series line to the Summit HC or Venture HC, you lose the auto-routing capability and the expandable memory.
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx performance
The new eTrex H-series uses MediaTek’s MTK chipset, which compared favorably with the 60CSX’s SiRFstar III chipset during my testing.
The Legend HCx also performed well in accuracy tests. In a hike in a local park with relatively dense tree cover, the accuracy was never worse than 23 feet.
The other thing I noticed in comparing this unit to my 60CSx was the significantly brighter screen on the Legend HCx.
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx layout
I doubted that I would like the button layout but, as Garmin usually does, they’ve made it pretty intuitive. So let’s take a closer look at that before we go any further.
These warrant a little further explanation:
- Power key – In addition to the on/off function, you can press and release to adjust backlighting, and view the time, date and remaining battery charge.
Quit / Page – Press to cycle through pages. This button will also
terminate the use of any on-screen keyboard or back you out of a menu.- Zoom in/out – In addition to zooming the map, on any other screen, use it to scroll through a list or use a slider bar.
- Menu / Find – Press and hold to see the Find screen. Press and release to display a page’s menu. Press again to get to the main menu.
- Enter / Rocker – Press down on this “thumbstick” to enter. Move the thumbstick / rocker right-left or up-down to navigate menus or pan the map. You can also mark a waypoint at your current location by pressing and holding.
It may sound complicated, but it becomes second nature very quickly. You can discover most functions in the field. The two press and hold functions (Find and Mark Waypoint) are the only ones you really need to remember. The rest is incredibly intuitive.
Customizing your Legend HCx
One of the great things about Garmin handhelds is that they can be customized to display the information that is most important to you. The hunter, geocacher, cyclist, and hiker will all have different needs.
A great place to start, and a fine example of the degree to which you can customize the Legend HCx, is choosing what pages to display and the order in which they are displayed. To do this, press Menu, then press Menu again. Then press Setup, then Page Sequence. The most useful in my mind are the Map, Compass and Trip Computer screens (shown above at right). Personally, I also add Main Menu, Satellite, Active Route, Find, Recent Finds, Routes and Tracks!
The trip computer screen has lots of options for customization, as you can see. Each field can be changed independently, choosing from a list of 34 options. A “Big numbers” option reduces the number of visible fields to three, providing an easier to read display, a feature that cyclists or the visually impaired may find useful.
Similarly, the compass screen and map screen both allow you to customize display fields.
I also recommend going into the setup menu and exploring each option.
|
|
More Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews
- Several consumer-authored Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews have been posted at GPS Now.
- Consumer-written Garmin eTrex Legend HCx reviews
- Backpack Gear Test reviews the Garmin Legend HCx.
- A consumer-written Garmin Legend HCx reviews have been posted at CNet too.
- Garmin eTrex Legend HCx GPS
reviews have also been posted at REI.com (click the review tab).
- About.com reviews the Garmin Legend HCx, giving it a 4 out of 5 star rating.
- A post about a first geocaching experience with the Legend HCx.
- A Legend HCx review from a motorcyclist’s perspctive.
- I’ll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some more…
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx resources
- A PDF version of the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx owners manual.
- Want to see how the Legend HCx compares to other receivers? Use this Garmin GPS comparison tool.
- I haven’t found any message forums dedicated solely to the eTrex H series, but there is a UseNet Garmin discussion board and a good Garmin forum at GPSInformation.net.
- The official Garmin eTrex Legend HCx web page.
Compare prices on the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx at these merchants:
- Find the low price on a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx at GPS Now, where shipping is free on orders over $99 (and the upgrade to overnight shipping is dirt cheap!). Order by 5 p.m. Central Time for same day shipment.
- Check the current Garmin eTrex Legend HCx
- Buy the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx GPS
- Get a great deal on the
Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Expandable Color Hand Held GPS Receiver
at TigerGPS.
- Get the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx for an amazing price on eBay.
- Check out our GPS deals site for current specials and rebates on a wide range of GPS receivers
| Store | Rating | Best Prices |
|---|---|---|
Compare all prices on the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx Handheld / Trail GPS ranging from $158.24 to $317.48. | ||
 |  In stock at MemorySuppliers.com | $297.00 |
 | In stock at Team Store | $229.99 |
 | In stock at Sears.com | $199.99 |
 | In stock at Cabela's | $249.99 |
 |  In stock at PCNation | $182.88 |
 | In stock at RadioShack.com | $249.99 |
powered by  | ||
I thought the Legend HCx didn’t have a compass or altimeter, yet the screenshots show both. Does it actually have them?
It doesn’t have an electronic compass or barometric altimeter. But it does have a compass (you have to walk for it to work; the unit doesn’t know which way you are facing, only which way you are moving). And it will report elevation via GPS. Not as accurate as a barometric altimeter but in the ballpark.
Can standard digital maps produced by the National Geo Spatial Agency (NGA) be used in any of the Garmin GPS? Specifically, can I load Iraq maps for my son who is deploying?
Len,
No, I don’t believe you can use those. Here’s a post I did on some Garmin-compatible maps of Iraq…
http://gpstracklog.com/2006/03/iraq_maps_on_yo.html
Can anyone recommend software to link the track from the etrex legend to photos by time point?
I like TopoFusion for placing them on a map…
http://gpstracklog.com/2005/08/geocoding_photo.html
But it doesn’t embed coordinates in the photos’ EXIF header, if that’s what you want. A lot of people like RoboGeo and I think it does.
Hello, could somebody suggest me some site for maps download ? I’m going to Catamarca desert in Argentina and I can’t find maps from this place. Thanks.
Ale,
Try here: http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/catalogue.php?country=12
Here’s another resource:
http://gpstracklog.com/2007/12/free-maps-for-y.html
Rich
Hi,
I have the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx
and I am into hiking. I am wanting to get software for my gps that is best for Oregon and seeing detailed maps of where I am hiking. Please give me some links. Thank you so much!
Here ya go…
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/topo/topous24kcard.jsp#map
Also, here’s a great trail map…
http://www.switchbacks.com/maps/NW_Trails.html
I cannot connect my eTrex HCx to my PC. The drivers are downloaded, the PC and the GPS are on and connected, but the PC does not see the GPS. What can I do??
Rob,
I did a search on Groundspeak for a similar issue and found this…
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=178051
It’s a 60 series question and not an eTrex, but perhaps some of the suggestions there are worth trying.
Hi,
I have downloaded the street maps of South Africa via my PC onto my Legend HCx, but I cannot find it on the GPS’s screen. What must I do?
From the map page, press Menu > Setup map. If I recall correctly, this will bring up a number of options across the top of the screen. Scroll across till you get to the Map setup information screen. This will bring up a list of loaded maps. Place a check mark by the South Africa map. That’s it!
Hi, what is the best micro sd card for a garmin legend hcx? I plan on using highly detailed topo maps, but I’ve heard that the unit may not work well with 4 gb cards. Should I get a 4 or 2 gb? Is there a recommended brand or class?
From Garmin FAQs:
“Although any brand of the microSD card should work without any problems, Garmin recommends using SanDisk or Kingston brand cards. The only exception is that the SanDisk Ultra II 1 Gb cards are currently not compatible with the X-series Garmin GPS units.”
“At this time, the 2 GB cards are the largest microSD (Secure Digital) cards that can be used for the X-series GPS units. However, the X-series GPS units are not compatible with the San Disk Ultra II cards and therefore we do not recommend using the Ultra II micro SD cards with any of the X-series units.”
More info here:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=187907
I *believe* you will only be able to load 2GB of maps, but can use the remaining memory for other data.
Hi,
I have the Garmin eTrex Legend HCx. I can log my tracks. Log has got numbers, alts, coords, etc. But track logs not include time datas. How I can set it?
Only the active tracklog and tracks saved to a micro-SD card will have this data. Once you hit save, you lose the timestamps and it gets truncated to 500 points. More info here…
I was wondering if it was possible to have Topo maps and City Navigator maps on the same micro SD card. Thinking then I would be able to switch between them without changing cards. I know that I wouldn’t be able to have all the maps for the USA on one card, but I was hopeing to have just a few maps from each on one card. Any help would be appreiciated. Thanks in advance
Yes, if you have the disc versions of both programs. You’ll need to select the regions you want to load from both programs in one MapSource session and send them all to the card at the same time. You may be able to get half the U.S. onto one card.
Great review & How to tips on HCX – any tips on lakes ? I just purchased the Inland Lakes DVD & I already have a few spots marked with default maps and should have the above DVD June 29th or so.
I’m no a boater, but I’d say just start playing with waypoints, tracks and routes, in MapSource and on the device. After an outing, transfer your track and any new waypoints back to your PC. Use these to help plan return trips.
Thanks for the tips. So far I find it easier to use mapsource to edit & modify the routes. Is there a better/different progam that you would recommend to use ? I would like to add photos & maps from Google and add my routes to the other sources. This would mostly be used for hunting deer in the fall.
Don Kubik
The problem is that there is no one mapping program that does it all. Like you, I prefer MapSource for working with routes. I use TopoFusion for checking out tracks and for aerial photos, and National Geographic TOPO to generate printed maps. TopoFusion has a photo feature, and I believe you can add them to NG TOPO maps as well.
http://gpstracklog.com/2008/07/topofusion.html
http://gpstracklog.com/2006/08/cdbased_mapping.html
Hi all;
Just thought I’d stick my 2 cents worth in.
I just got the Etrex Legend HCx and can’t believe how small this baby is!
I guess I’m comparing it to the StreetPilot III I used to have!
The Garmin XT program is currently sitting on my Nokia N82, complete with the very highly detailed map of Cambodia (where I’m stationed), and although this map doesn’t appear to be available on ANY website (Garmin or otherwise), it is widely available at many phone shops and shopping malls here in Phnom Penh.
I wanted the official version for the Etrex, but searching the Garmin site comes up with a big fat zero (the nearest is a S E Asia map without Cambodia).
So, a little digging around led me to an official Garmin dealer in Phnom Penh, who said “yeah, we got the detailed map for your GPS”.
A price enquiry resulted in a hasty “OK thanks, and I’ll get back to ya”, from me.
$170!!!!!!!!!
OK, I appreciate the time and effort put in by the cartographers in building this (great) map, but I cannot see any justification for charging 170 bucks for 120 Mb of data.
Now, don’t get me wrong,I try to help any business to survive, by providing them with my patronage, but this is taking the p**s.
I didn’t even bother to explain that I was already using the map on my Nokia.
Now anyone considering visiting Cambodia (Angkor Wat or wherever), and using Garmin Mobile XT, should seriously consider visiting a shopping mall in Phnom Penh, and getting the fully detailed (VERY detailed) map of Cambodia installed on their compatible phone (N82 N95 etc), because I’ve lived here for several years now, and this map has been a literal life saver.
Every place in Cambodia looks the same, and even seasoned bikers like me, who tend to steer off the main path can easily get lost.
This map has even 3 house villages marked on it, and more importantly, is able to show you where the nearest main road is (although it’s not very navigable).
In a country full of jungle and snakes and other nasty stuff, this can really save the day, and has for me, on more than a few occasions!
The price of this program and map being zapped to your phone?
The king’s ransom of $1 US!!!!
Hmmmmm…. do the math – $170 or $1?
Someone somewhere is making a few bucks.
Anyway, I have found that the same program cannot run on the Etrex, but there is someone in Phnom Penh who will install the detailed Cambodia map onto your (compatible) Garmin for just $40 US.
He’s still making a nice profit, but I’m sure he’ll get a lot more business than the ‘official’ dealer here.
The shop that will do the $40 deal, also has a very good stock of many Garmin GPS systems (although a bit overpriced), and if you’re nice to him (seaks good English) his discounts are amazing!
He will also install the map for free, if you buy one of the higher tier systems from him.
Ok, enough from me.
Great site and informative.
Take care all,
Paul
Air Traffic Control Phnom Penh International Airport.
http://www.cats.com.kh
Thanks for sharing. There are also these free maps you may want to check out…
http://mapcenter2.cgpsmapper.com/catalogue.php?country=199
http://downloads.cloudmade.com/asia/cambodia#breadcrumbs
Does anyone have any idea how this unit is with geocaching. Can I download the geocaching (.gpx?) maps from geocache.com for use with this unit. (I’m just looking for a handy unit to go geocaching with and don’t want to drop five hundred bucks for a unit with maps.) Thanks for any help.
I think you can only send one geocache at a time without a premium membership to geocaching.com.
I was wondering if you could use this snowmobiling. We mainly go in Vermont and some of the websites Ive seen only have downloadable maps for certain states and VT is not one of them. Can this device track where we are going and be saved? Is there anything special I have to get extra in order to do that? Thanks!
Yes, it will track your location and you can then view the tracks in Google Earth or other mapping programs. You don’t need anything special.
I am training to be a British Columbia Forrest FireFighter and was wondering if this is the best for my needs.I imagine Smoke and Dense canopy would be a major problem for the gps.I am realitively new at using a gps, but I would prefer to have Just a Detailed map of BC.Could you please help me understand which one would be better suited for me?
Thanks ALL help is appreciated.
Theoretically, dense canopy isn’t an issue, although canopy wet with dew, rain, etc. will impact reception (not a big issue in fire season though, huh?). I don’t believe smoke would cause any problems. Water and metal are the main things that block GPS signals. Tight terrain is likely to be the biggest issue, so make sure you get a modern receiver with a high-sensitivity chipset. Here’s a good free Canadian topo map that can be used with compatible Garmin receivers…
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/21/
The Legend HCx can use these maps and has the high-sensitivity chipset. It also has good battery life, so yes, this could be a good unit for you.
Thank you very much Rich.Your quick response was much appreciated.You are hosting a great and informative website.And will visit as much as possible.See you on the trails.Thanks Again.
You’re welcome! Glad to help.