Garmin/eTrex Legend Cx

Garmin eTrex Legend Cx
Description	navigator
GNSS	12 channels augmentation: waas;egnos DOP: no
Memory	Internal: (10.000 max logging). External: ? sdmicro.
Connectivity	usb
Batteries	2*AA (32Hrs lifetime)
Features	addresses points of interest mass storage mode Waterproof
Website	Produktseite official link
Pros	You can upgrade the supplied MicroSD card from the default 64Mb to more than 2Gb (firmware 3.1 needed to use maps greater than 2Gb). Daily track logs can be automatically saved to this card. EGNOS capable, so good precision. Quoted 10-16 feet accuracy can be down to 6-9ft on occasion. The map screen is customisable so you can add an accuracy field to the top of the map for instant feedback as to whether you're recording garbage or not. Good battery life, much longer on battery save mode. Waterproof - Submersible to 1 m depth, rugged. Quick first fix - 15 secs warm start, 45 secs from cold, 2 minutes for complete auto locate. Satellite visibility screen means you can see immediately whether you've got a good lock if you're in an urban canyon.
Cons	From Firmware 2.7 to 3.3 there seems to be an issue with the "Lock to road" feature. If enabled, it sets the current position to the nearest road. If disabled, this should be not the case, but the behaviour is just weaker. This makes the device pretty much useless for OSM, since new measurements do not add any precision, but instead result in the exisiting roads to reappear in the log. This can even be dangerous if you use a copyrighted map on the device!. References: Lock on road in osm beginners guide; Garmin support, changelog; groundspeak forum thread;another groundspeak forum thread. If you use one of the mentioned firmware versions, please upgrade. Doesn't do NMEA Doesn't store number of satellites or HDOP or WAAS/EGNOS status in gpx file on SD-card Stores position data also if there is no satellite fix Doesn't allow to access waypoints in mass storage mode the adhesive with which the circumferential rubber band is fixed to the unit seems to get smeary after 1-2 years. The rubber gets loose. Some people have got a replacement unit from garmin after filing an RMA. See also this german blog entry

Generic information

Comes with only a USB port for communications, and works well with Windows. Mac OS X support was added by Garmin only recently. The latest version of GPSBabel+ steps in to provide support for Mac/Linux users. Also, the unit can be put into USB mass storage mode, so you can just grab the GPX files off the data card without installing any software, which is actually easy and efficient.

Extracting GPX logs

First, you need a relatively recent firmware (since August 2006) If your software version is older than 2.50 then you need to upgrade - see the Garmin website for instructions. Then ensure you're saving tracklogs to the onboard data card. Setup -> Tracklogs -> Setup -> Save to data card

To extract GPX tracklogs without bothering with GPSBAbel, Setup->Interface->USB mass storage while connected via USB to your PC or Mac - the data card will appear as a new drive or volume. Tracklogs can then be drag 'n dropped to your computer.

Price

Approximately 180 GBP including VAT in May 2007 (ebuyer.com) ; around 155 Eur in april 2010 (eTrex legend HCx at amazon.de, Cx not available any more). Potential purchasers could consider alternatives of Venture Cx and Vista Cx.

Venture Cx appears to be identical technical specification to Legend Cx (March 2007, Garmin Website), but cheaper shop price (150 GBP from ebuyer.com) Packaged "extras" included in price differ between Legend Cx and Venture Cx, being USB data lead (essential for computer connectivity, but appears to be very standard computer lead), copy of MapSource (useful though not essential, is included with Garmin's commercial mapping software), small MicroSD card (but given how cheap these are now, arguably not worth much).

Vista Cx adds electronic compass and barometric altimeter to Legend. Barometer has its uses, particularly navigating in mountain areas if GPS signal lost (tree cover, deep valleys, etc), and as a pressure trend monitor (weather forecasting). Probably not a useful upgrade for a road and lowland footpath navigation device.

Firmware updates

To check the current firmware version and GPS chipset software version, go to Menu->Setup->System, then press the MENU/FIND button (the one below ZOOM IN), then select "Software Version".

Alternatively, hold the ENTER (press joystick in) while powering on to enter to see the data on the Diagnostic Mode screen. Power off to exit.

Change History Last updated with Legend Cx/Vista Cx/Venture Cx (region file only) software version 3.50 as of August 7, 2019. Express is used to install the file

v3.50

Fix incorrect time/date/year issue

v3.40

Fix tracks snap to roads issue when 'Lock On Road' is off. Fix minutes to hours roll over issue.

v3.30

Correct disorderly waypoint data index in previous version.

v3.20

Fix potential lock up when SD card installed. Fix the contour data intermittently drawing over interstates of Topo Map. Improve the blue shading color when using the setting 'Marine colors' in Daytime display mode. Fix incorrect highlight index at unit field in 'Area Calculation' page after select reset in menu.

v3.10

Correct time scale of altimeter chart (Vista only). Add support for maps greater than 2 GB. Increase precision of user grid input field. Disable the calculation message when GPS is off.

v3.00

Fix Marine map POI issue.

v2.90

Correct German translation of 'delete all waypoints'. Fix data card unlock failure when 2 cards of the same map set are used in one device. Improve sun times for polar regions. Fix issue where ETA in non motor vehicle modes can be unreasonably short. Increase precision of distance measurement to the cursor on the map page. Allow backlight adjustment on the track back point selection page. Fix shutdown when editing Estonian Grid coordinates. Correct daylight saving time for New Zealand. Improve selection of the names of cross roads with NT maps. Correct potential shutdown when viewing a vertical profile. Correct European word translation of 'Find' and 'Mark'. Support multiple languages in American version.

v2.80

Fix potential shutdown when searching UK extended postal codes. Ensure that all UK extended postal code search results are shown. Enable the Quit button function on the geocache compass page. Change number of lines of text in the address field on map feature review page from 4 to 6. Improve robustness when recovering from a partial map load. Added better compatibility with Mac computers in USB mass storage mode. Improved pedestrian route calculation for shortest distance method. Added ability to recalculate a direct goto route. Fix issue where MPC maps could potentially cause a shutdown. Address issue where nearest points search would skip some points. Changed datum used in the SWEREF 99TM grid to GRS80. Changed datum used in the Estonian grid to GRS80. Correct the Swiss grid calculation. Fix potential shutdown when using TOPO West 1999. Fix potential shutdown on track setup for data card when track log files have long file names. Corrected French translation for 'Log track points'. Improved promptness of the turn review page. Fix potential shutdown when propagating in a cul-de-sac across a map boundary. Added more time zones. Add A905/D900 unlock code communication protocol. Make route recalculation on MPC maps behave like City Navigator maps. Remove lithium ion as a battery choice.

v2.70

Updated daylight saving time dates. Add capability for 2 wide data fields on map, compass, and highway pages. Add capability for 1 wide data fields on map page. Add data card information page. Add selectable alarms for proximity waypoints and custom POI. Improve labeling and scanning of custom POI on the map page. Add capability to see vertical profile of an autoroute using DEM topo data. Fixed issue with incorrect dates showing when editing the data field for Sun & Moon page and Hunt & Fish page. Fixed issue where invalid find menu options could show when using the Auto Order feature. Fixed issue where route names would be converted to upper case during editing. Fixed issue where invalid related software can be selected when using the WebUpdater. Fixed issue where keyboard characters won't update when editing the Welcome message.

v2.60

Fixed problem of shutdown when viewing map Topo Great Britain v2. Improved drawing of lines for MPC maps. Reduced variation in battery gauge indicator. Fixed display scrolling issues when searching for roads.

v2.50

Add ability to put unit into USB mass storage mode via the interface setup page to facilitate copying track files from data card to PC. Improved the stability of MicroSD card data read and write.

v2.40

Improve path nighttime color for map Topo Great Britian v2. Add feature to save active track log to file on data card. Enhance layout and functionality of tide station chart information. Add new time zones for major cities in the U.S. and Europe. Fix UTC offset for Las Vegas time zone. Improve reset function of timer lap distance.

v2.30

Improve stability of unit after loading a large map set. Increase loadable maps to 2025. Enhance visibility of paths in map Topo Great Britian v2. Vista only: Fix potential lockup on Welcome screen when the track log has been turned off and cleared and then the unit is powered off and back on.

specifications

specification	despcription
Display	256 level color TFT ( 176 x 220 pixels )
Display size	3.3 x 4.3 cm (1.3" x 1.7")
Interface	USB
Slot	microSD
Dimensions (W x H x D)	10.7 x 5.6 x 3.0 cm (4.2" x 2.2" x 1.2")
Weight	5.5 oz (156 g) with batteries
Battery	2 x AA / 32 hours
Ships with	eTrex Legend Cx, 64 MB microSD card, Database: Marine Point Database, Basemap, MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager, USB cable, Wrist strap, Owner's manual & Quick reference guide
Misc	IPX7, WAAS, EGNOS

Links

• eTrex series
• general garmin info