Garmin eTrex Legend Cx Handheld GPS Receiver

Things must have changed since 2006 (when the reviews above were written). Maybe Garmin had a round of layoffs or has new management, or is just has too many top priorities to continue making quality GPS units. Anyway, here's my experience:

I bought this unit off of Amazon a few days ago. I was so excited to get this unit talking with Google Earth Plus so I could plot realtime position. I have a mac, so I needed (or wanted really) a USB interface (rather than RS-232). As soon as I got the unit, I received a lock in a few minutes, then turned on WAAS, and got to within 4 m accuracy. Then I checked out the interface output format, which was blocked from exploring because it wasn't connected to a computer (I presume that was why). So I connected it to my mac, still blocked and my mac didn't even register that it was connected. So I got the included CD, which was "Trip & Waypoint Manager". There was no Mac compatible software on it to my surprise. So I connected to Windows PC, and Win XP autodetected it and installed the correct driver. I then installed Trip and Waypoint Manager, and explored that software a bit. Pretty basic and nothing to write home about. It seems no more capable than the free software out there on the web for GPS data manipulation. Anyway, I wanted to get the new firmware installed. I went to the Garmin website and it says their preferred method is Web Updater. I downloaded it onto the PC (only option again), installed it, then searched for new upgrades. It said the software on the unit was up-to-date. But then it said "additional software" could be updated. It specified GPSMAP as needing updating. So I stared that update process. Detection of the Legend was fine, and it started installing. It went through the downloading, initializing, and updating phase fine. THen it got to the verifying phase. When this phase started, I heard a couple of tones from my computer related to device detection across the USB line. Then a minute later the process died with a USB device communication error. I repeated this several times and it dies every time. Every time the error message comes up, the GPS is off (during the verification phase, it powers off the GPS I guess, but it never comes back up).

Fairly mad at this point because it is a rather expensive unit and I am not even on a Mac, I thought I would download any additional more-manual programs to do the updating. I went to the "Additional Software" link on the Garmin download website. I found this time a Legend Cx executable: eTrexLegendCx_260.exe. I unpacked it, and ran the "Updater.exe" program. Then an interface comes up asking me for which COM port the unit is attached! No where is there a USB interface in that executable.

Getting madder, I decided to at least unlock the additional map detail (not sure what level we are talking about because there is no communication or examples of the differences in the manual). So I ran the "Unlock Wizard" program that was installed on my Windows PC. Went through the registration process and was given the code. I entered the code and I get the following error: Unable to communicate with Garmin server". I tried it several times--but of course Garmin is not on my side today.

Furious, I thought about writing this, but decided to try doing more research online first (since it is Saturday when tech support is closed for the biggest GPS manufacturer in the world, and I work during the week believe it or not). Learned that GPSBabel+ runs on a mac without needing Garmin software or drivers. How nice. Unfortunately, Google Earth Plus requires the Garmin drivers installed in order to work. So I found lots of references and blogs about the promise to have Mac compatible software for the Garmin GPS products by 2007. But I did not find any communication anywhere about where this software was, or the current state of affairs with its development. Was it late coming out? Where is it? I found it by doing a find in the web browser for "mac" on the list of software at the Garmin site. The only thing that popped up was "WebUpdater for Mac". The "eTrex Legend Cx" software link only has the WebUpdater for Windows" program in it. I downloaded it to my mac, ran it, but it bombed out. There was no explanation for the reason it bombed. I looked at the requirements, and it requires OS 10.4. I have 10.3.9. I assume this is the problem (who knows if my assumption is correct). Should I spend the $100-200 to purchase OS 10.4? I can only sit here and ponder what other problems I might come into once I fork up the doe for the upgrade and try to use my Garmin on my mac.

None of these horrible problems with Garmin software, servers, and possibly hardware have I read in reviews online. So I hope this helps someone else looking to buy a GPS unit in 2007.

Pros (more details): USB interface, can get power from attached computer. Software ideas (Web Updater) are good ones. Nice to have easy access to memory card (right inside battery compartment).

Cons: Horrible communication to public and organization of software on website. Incredibly horrible testing of software before release. Bad server maintenance or communication software (unlocking failed to communicate with server). Pointer movement is not rigid enough like the older Legend units.

I feel this was a total waste of money and that Garmin should be charged for my time QC'ing their product.