eTrex Vista HCx freezes

[Mashulo Kunosho]

I buyed an eTrex Vista HCx Garmin GPS and carried it on a pocket during
a work day just to test how it works and try to learn it's use.

From the very first use it has a problem. It "hungs", "freezes". Like a
computer running Windows... When you turn it on it works ok for a little
and after some time the screen gets stopped and the unit shows no
response to keys, except power off. It freezed too one time while I was
saving a track.

I was told to try to use it without the micro-SD card and the map I
charged on it but it's the same. The GPS freezes from time to time and
needs to be powered off and on again. Problem seems to be on the unit
itself and not on a deffective card and/or map.

I tried to update software, drivers, etc but with no result.

Monday I will contact the vendor but I want to ask here if anybody knows
about same problem on a GPS like mine. Is there anything I could try to
do before sending it back to repair?.

Thanks in advance.

J.L.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotosdepepe/sets

[Dan Anderson]

I have a Vista HCx with software version 2.40 and GPS chipset
version 2.30. It has not crashed so far since I bought it in Sept.

There is a new version for the GPS chipset.

You may have a bad piece of hardware which Garmin will replace if
that's the case.

--
Dan
(Email: dan at domain below )
(www.gpsmap.net)

[Marinus]

> Monday I will contact the vendor but I want to ask here if anybody knows
> about same problem on a GPS like mine. Is there anything I could try to do
> before sending it back to repair?.

Tried some other batteries as well?

Marinus

[Mashulo Kunosho]

Marinus escribió:

I tried two different pairs of batteries. One pair of NiMH, one pair of
alkaline. I configured the menu option that asks for the type of
batteries in use.

I tried, at last, to reset the GPS... No positive result.

Bad luck. I'm convinced to have a deffective unit. Now I cross my
fingers and hope Garmin's vendor in Spain to be efficient and kind in
case they should repair or change my eTrex.

[angus cameron]

Mashulo Kunosho wrote:
> I buyed an eTrex Vista HCx Garmin GPS and carried it on a pocket during
> a work day just to test how it works and try to learn it's use.
>
> From the very first use it has a problem. It "hungs", "freezes". Like a
> computer running Windows... When you turn it on it works ok for a little
> and after some time the screen gets stopped and the unit shows no
> response to keys, except power off. It freezed too one time while I was
> saving a track.

I had the same problem with a new Vista HCx and others have as well. The
solution as you said is to send it back. No amount of fiddling with
software or batteries will fix it. My replacement unit works fine.

Angus