Paul Cummings
Reviewed: 09 June 2008
IMPROVEMENTS AS A GPS, BUT AT THE COST OF MORE COMPLEXITY
clear easy to read colour display, massively configurable, trip computer display, accurate altimeter (much more so than any wrist altimeter I have seen). audible warnings available, water resistant/proof, holds signal very well in forests etc, quick satellite acquisition, USB connection to PC.
needs lots of configuration to get the best from, needs software upgrading to 2.7 to avoid ascent calculation errors, much more complex than previous model, can not display ascent on the trip computer screen.
The only other GPS I have a lot of recent experience is the eTrex Summit (note the absence of the HC suffix). This is the monochrome screen model compared to the HC colour, high signal antenna version.
The HC is similar in size and weight (fits the old softshell type holder). It keeps its signal much better than the old model (the H designation shows the high gain antenna), so you retain signals in woods and steep sided valleys much better. The colour display is much easier to read in bright light too. I really like the trip computer screen as it provides a really useful summary of distance covered, time taken (stopped and moving), average speed, location, altitude etc. Everything I could want except total ascent, which is only available on the altimeter screen.
Another nice feature is the ability to have audible warnings (turn alerts on routes etc), which is not on the old model. It also seems quite a bit better than the old model on batteries (the old one could eat a set or batteries in about 5 hours of serious use - compass switched on). I change the HC's batteries about every 10-15 hours on the hill. The new units have a USB connection to PCs (previously 9 pin serial port), so making connection much easier, though I am concerned about keeping the socket on the GPS clean and dry with only a press in rubber flap to protect it in all weathers. The unit picks up satellites much quicker than the old unit (something like 10 secs compared to 1-2 mins sort of improvement).
As an ML, I do not use this for navigating, but mainly for recording my distance and ascent (not to mention track logs), so I was very disappointed to find that the supplied 2.5 software does not calculate ascent at all accurately. 2.7 apparently fixes this and is simple to download from the internet. Also, the trip computer screen not showing ascent is a real downer for me, especially as this is my main display screen and my favourite feature of the unit.
If it lasts six year like my old model, I will be quite a happy boy. The old model broke it's battery connection spring in the end and my fixes were never perfect, an obvious design flaw, that the new unit does not have (though it is quite hard to switch batteries because of it.
Some of the simple things I used to do with my old model (go to a waypoint for example) are more complex to do, but largely due to the massive configurability built into the new model. Once you start getting familiar with it and setting up your preferences, you will have many fewer problems.
I have not tested the 2.7 ascent fix yet, but my ratings assume it works (especially as it is a documented fix on the Garmin web site). Note that the old model also required a software fix to deal with ascent correctly (and still not perfectly then), so this shows some poor testing on Garmin's part to release the new model needing a fix.
Would I buy it again? Yes, it is much better than the old model (still available for less then £100). Do I really need it? No, but it's a nice toy to have. It makes reviewing walks a real pleasure as I can see exactly where I have been once the track is downloaded to the PC.
Price is the price I paid, not the silly money RRP.
