Gps Etrex Vista Hcx

Where can I find cheap maps for Garmin GPS?

My GPS receiver is an etrex Vista hcx. The receiver didn’t come with street level maps. Is something other than MapSource (excessively expensive) available?
It appears that Garmin GPS systems (at least the eTrex) do not come with street level maps. Garmin will not release the info that would allow alternate maps to be imported. Mapsource has been cracked, but cracked software is illegal and probably difficult to find. You could also purchase a copy of the maps and use one of the two device codes provided by Garmin and sell the alternate (again this is illegal but not as questionable as cracking). Third option is to return the device for deceptive advertising/crapy yet expensive mapping softwares.

The hand held (look at any of the companies) GPSs don’t come with a preloaded set of detailed maps because they don’t know which maps you will want (water navigation, road maps, topo maps). You don’t end up paying for maps you won’t use.

Garmin does allow other companies to make maps for the eTrex series but the only ones that get created are for countries (or specialties) that Garmin does not create their own maps for. Garmin can sell their own maps cheaper than one that would be created by another source.

“Mapsource has been cracked, but cracked software is illegal and probably difficult to find.”

There is no cracking involved. People have reverse engineered the format of the data base and created instructions for creating your own maps to be loaded into Garmin units. Nothing illegal but a LOT of work that would cost you more than buying the map.

“You could also purchase a copy of the maps and use one of the two device codes provided by Garmin and sell the alternate (again this is illegal but not as questionable as cracking)”

It is illegal but I suspect that it was a problem. The newer maps only allow one device.

“Third option is to return the device for deceptive advertising/crapy yet expensive mapping softwares.”

I would challenge you to indicate where the advertising was deceptive. Garmin makes it clear that the units have a base map but that you need to buy the detailed maps that are appropriate for your activity.

You might want to compare the price of the GPS and map set to other units and also compare the flexibility (if you are only using it in your car, why did you buy and eTrex?) to the other units.

Since you aparently have not seen the maps, you don’t get to claim that they are crappy.

I have seen various version (including the current one) and they are very complete and as accurate as any I have seen (including paper maps).

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