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08/22/2016 02:28PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Well, my Etrex Vista HCx didn't make it home from the BWCAW after my recent trip so after a week of searching for it I've declared it lost. :-(

Picked up a replacement for it on Friday @ REI. It was a bit of an internal struggle, which to get. I really liked the looks of the 64st but enjoyed the relative simplicity of the Etrex. I knew I didn't want a touchscreen because I'd rather have physical buttons. I also liked the extra runtime per set of batteries listed in the specs vs the 64st. In the end I picked up a 30x bundle which includes the 100k basemap and a year of BirdsEye. I could have got the 64st with the same bundle for about $100 more than the 30x, but in the end the $100 savings over the 64st bundle won out.

I might have waited a little longer before making the purchase however I have a Scout trip on the WI River coming up Labor Day weekend & consider the GPS a health & safety item and didn't want to go without.

Suddenly, Butthead's recent posts have new relevance for me. :)
 
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08/22/2016 03:32PM  
Make use of the BirdsEye subscription. While it's not as inclusive as the old Delorme subscription, it offers both Canadian NRC and USGS 100k, and as zooming in 25k Quads. When used with the GpsFileDepot BWCA camps and portages file there is no impact on waypoints or tracks/routes. Your new unit can display both, overlayed, as maps selected in the map menu map selection field.
Have fun with it!

butthead
 
Savage Voyageur
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08/22/2016 03:47PM  
You said you would rather have physical buttons. What don't you like about touch screen? I have had buttons fail on units over the years because you are always pushing the same few ones. The buttons also tend to wear out the discription on each of them. I'm just wondering why people I talk to hate the touch screen?

That's why I jumped at a touch screen unit, Montana. I just works about the same as my iPhone. Just my thoughts.

Anyway it looks like a fine unit with great battery life. Enjoy
 
08/22/2016 05:01PM  
SV - I guess because the touchscreen is another thing that can 'break'. I work in IT so I'm all about gadgets, but for this particular gadget I'd rather have tactile buttons.

Perhaps I'm being overly old fashioned with this, I dunno.

Thanks for the feedback & suggestions guys. I'll definitely try to get good use out of the BirdsEye. Is it the sort of thing that disappears if I don't keep up the subscription, or is whatever I've downloaded mine after the year is up?
 
08/22/2016 05:22PM  
In "My Garmin" account, the subscription is listed as expiring in 1 year, paid for in advance of activation.
I also do not like touchscreen units, my personal choice.

butthead
 
08/23/2016 10:15AM  
Turns out the BirdsEye that comes with the bundle is the satellite only. That's ok, plenty of other free sources out there.

BTW - REI dropped the price on the 30x bundle by another $50. They must be trying to make room for new product.
 
08/23/2016 07:24PM  
I'd still recommend the Birdseye USGS Topo and Canadian NRC Topo, they are much better than the MN Topo or the Canadian topo free maps available.
Specifically Ibycus Topo 3.2, and mntopo11.

butthead
 
schweady
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08/24/2016 07:09PM  
I'm with you on the buttons over the touch screen. My 62st is serving me quite well. Nothing in the 64st I can't live without.
 
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