Customer Reviews

Garmin Vehicle DC Power Adapter for eTrex and Geko (010-10203-00)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Although the eTrexes were really designed for use in the outdoors, I use it in the car to help predict distance to go, etc., and if I have the local map downloaded to it, it has helped me out of binds on a couple of occasions. If you use it in the car, you really want this adaptor to save your batteries.

Not only will it save the batteries, but I can operate my Legend in normal mode to get better position from the WAAS data. (Battery saver mode precludes the use of WAAS and normal mode can really drain the batteries rather quickly.) (BTW, there is no scientific reason for reception to be better because of using this adapter.)

The cord is generously long. In fact, it can get in the way sometimes, but may allow the unit to be passed to the back seat so your back seat navigator can monitor it.

I have only two minor complaints. The first is the price. The Garmin Legend gives a lot of feature for the price, but Garmin seems to make up for it with the price of the accessories. It seems this adaptor should cost half what it does.

The second is that the fuse is accessed by screwing off the center of the cigarette plug, and the center piece has unscrewed itself on a couple of occasions now, leaving several small parts strewn about. I had to dig in my glove compartment this weekend for all of the little parts, and am waiting for the day I lose one for good. So be careful that the center is always screwed in.

I use this with the suction cup mount, which works quite well on glass. (But again, seems kind of expensive for what it is.)

This product is a must if you use your GPS in your car. It will save you many, many batteries. I like the quality. It feels solid. The LED on the lighter plug is useful. It indicates that you have power. The piece that snaps into the eTrex seems to connect well. It's never come unplugged after rolling around in my truck. The cord is plenty long for my needs--about four feet. My only complaint is the cost. The price was a little more than I would liked to have spent, but it's the only game in town.

All I require of this cable is that it plug easily into both my car and my Garmin Venture and then power my Venture. It does that swimmingly, just as it should.

The only aggravation has nothing to do with the cable: when you remove the cable, the Garmin will power down unless you hit a button telling it not to. I would often have the GPS hooked up in the car, get to the parking spot, then remove the cable in order to go and and get to the geocache. At which point the GPS would turn off (because I'd forget about the power down), and I'd have to wait around for the satellites to be found again.

I bought this for my Vista and upon first insertion into the cig. lighter it broke a small plastic tab inside the unit that prevents the side spring metal pieces (that are connected to GND when in the lighter hole) from coming in contact with a diode. This shorts the diode to ground and it blows the fuse. I rigged it to still work and had another one sent to me and I opened it and it looked fine, then I plugged it in and got a blown fuse. I opened it and the tab was broken. I then called Garmin directly and the tech support guy opened his up to look at what I was talking about. He said he had not had a problem and the company I got mine from must have gotten a bad batch. He has sent me one in the mail (no charge!) and I hope to have better luck with it. I also think this unit is a little expensive. I know it must have a regulator inside since the etrex series does not have an internal regulator(as the 12xl and many others have) but a [dollar amount] list price is ridiculous. The Garmin customer support is the best so I will give it 2 stars.

I'm sure this thing works fine on some GPS units... but it's less than clear that this adaper WILL NOT WORK on the Legend or Vista. The title is misleading (it says "most" eTrex), the Product Description is just wrong (it says "all" eTrex). FOR The eTrex LEGEND or VISTA, you need a different adapter!!

This adapter is functional, is easy to use, enables continued use of backlight, and saves the batteries for walking with the eMap after arriving in a strange town. When I want to connect other media while driving with my family, I use a 12v 3-Outlet Car Power Adapter. Despite another wire, it's a worthwhile accessory.

This adapter does exactly what I wanted it too:
1) Save the battery while I'm in the car.
2) Increase reception; the signal seems to be stronger when I've got my etrx plugged in.
3) Easy on, easy off. No problems whatsoever.

The product description says that this charger works for all Garmin e-Trex models... Oopps! Except for the Legend Cx, which is the one I happen to have, so it was an expensive mistake for me.

A necessity for the Garmin. Used the adapter to power the unit on my motorcycle. Works like a charm.

Am using the car charger with a Garmin eTrex Legend and it works just like it should. I can use it on car trips without worrying about the batteries running down (Be aware that it does NOT charge the batteries, just powers the Garmin so the batteries are not used. A separate battery charger is needed.) Main complaint is that the charger is specific to only my Garmin eTrex and that all companies are doing the same thing. Presently I have to travel with a charger for the Garmin, one for my cellphone and another for my iPod. As a result I own six chargers; three for the car and three for the wall. And add three more cables for connecting each to the PC.