I just got a Garmin etrex vista GPS and a copy of MapSource Topo software. I installed the topo maps and have enjoyed hiking with my new toy. I would also like to use it for road navigation. The topo software has roads on it but I can not get the GPS to follow them. I have a brother in-law who has a Garmin GPS60c and the City Select software. When he sets a waypoint and uses the "find" tool, the GPS prompts if he would like to go there via road or via shortest distance. Is this a function of the GPS60c unit or the City Select software? I have been on the Garmin web page for over an hour and can not seem to find an answer to that question. I would really like to not have to buy more software and I would REALLY not have to buy a more expensive GPS to do this simple thing.

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Rusty's 2.5 Coil Lift
245/75/16 Goodyear DuraTrac
L.O.S.T Midwest #058429

I am almost positive you can't do road navication with an etrex unless you set breadcrumbs somehow, which is kind of a backwards way of doing it.

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2008 Unlimited Rubicon - 3.5" AEV/Nth lift - 35" MT/R with Kevlar - AEV Wheels - York OBA
2008 Patriot - Fuel Saver

there is a setting to "follow roads" but that only places the marker along the road you are following and adjusts the "off course" to tell the unit that you are actually on the road. the etrex series wasnt really meant to be a road nav unit so all the bells/whistes for on road driving arent included

you could just put a bunch of waypoints on the roads and follow them

It is a function of the GPS unit - I have a GPS V that has auto-routing so I can use it without the detailed maps that City Select or Topo give me, although with the detailed maps I have better navigation in town. The Vista can be used for naviagtion, but it isn't as easy as with the auto-routing units. I had an e-Trex Legend that I would hook up to Delorme Street Atlas and upload routes. Basically what SA did was create waypoints at all the critical points on the route and navigate from one to the next. You could do the same in City Select or Topo.

I found this website for some more info on the Legend and Vista - http://gpsinformation.net/etrexlegend.htm Now that I think about it City Select may be able to upload routes that the Vista can use, you might want to try it. You'll have to unlock your GPS unit for the software if you haven't already done it. Let me know if you need more info...

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Kevin
AD5VG
Just another red Jeep in the world...
L.O.S.T. #KB051963

I've been looking around for a GPS and kind of like the one mentioned here and also this...

http://www.garmin.com/products/etrexVen ... index.jsp#

any suggestions/comments before I spend the money?

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If you can deal with Black & White, I've been very happy with my Lowrance iway 100m. It's been discontinued, but you can still find them...

http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=10553111&search=lowrance+100+iway

It'll even let you do turn-by-turn street navigation (which you can turn on and off!)

It's a function of both the maping software and hardware. You need both an auto-routing map and an auto-routing capable unit to take advantage of auto-routing.

The new etrex color ones will auto-route (road navigation), but the older black and white ones will not.

Both City Select and City Navigator support auto-routing, but Metroguide does not.


Henery,
If you got the cash, the 60Cx or 60CSx are very nice units. I have one and highly recommend it. A nice step down is also the etrex color units.

I have the 3600 and it works with street and topo maps. A 1GB SD card will hold nearly all of street maps for US states. Besides it works as a PalmPilot.

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DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

Well I did it...
I got myself a Garmin etrex Legend Cx
Playing with it right now

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Grats on your new GPS. I have liked the Vista in the classroom. I bought them as part of a grant for my science classroom. I was hoping I could also use them some on the road/trail. I went with the cheap model so I could get more of them for the kids.

If I was to buy one for my own use in the jeep, I think I would go with the 60Cx.
1. It has a larger antenna so it can hold a signal better in the jeep and under trees.
2. Color display is easier to read while driving.
3. It has auto-routing so is useful in and out of the jeep. It will tell you when you need to turn and will auto correct if you miss the turn.

In short, I would get the 60Cx as it seems to be a good multi purpose GPS that would work well on dash of my jeep (road/offroad navigation) and in the palm of my hand (trail/geocache navigation). I just can not afford one yet. Thinking about get a lift, then locker, then look again at a GPS. I will just use the classroom Vista until I can upgrade.

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Rusty's 2.5 Coil Lift
245/75/16 Goodyear DuraTrac
L.O.S.T Midwest #058429