Wrong elevation showing garmin etrex vista

You need to make sure your GPS unit and Google maps are using the same map datum.
In your user manual:
http://static.garmincdn.com/pumac/eTrexLegend_OwnersManual.pdf
Page 44, Setup Options, Units, Position Format: I suggest setting to:
hddd.ddddd as this is the digital format and easier to read

In Google Maps, right click - Drop Latitude/Longitude marker and this should show the co-ordinates in digital degrees. Alternatively, you can hit the SEND button in GoogleMaps, and it will send the marked location to the GPS via the Garmin website. You may have to install the Garmin plug-in into your browser first, but it's well worth it.

If this solves your problem, please come back and rate our solution, thank you.

2 possible reasons.
Either memory is full.
Try remove all data from history, and have a small run.
It should be OK then on PC upload.

If not OK, only hard reset can cleanup device, and return to factory settings.
Consult your manual for hard reset instructions.

You need to install the map software on your PC. From there, using the map select tool, select the maps you want to add to your GS unit and then send them to the microSD card which will show up in the SEND window.

I have the same garmin, and have the same problem.
The high changes even during flat runs so when added you have this overamount of climbing.
I just reduce the points of the track and then the addition is more accurate.
My problem now is that the GPS stops working during runs (turns itself off). Awful!!!

Call Garmin customer service, they are wonderful. My rubber thing around the outside became loose,and they sent me a new unit, even though it was almost 2 years old.

I have exact same problem. It has been working for 5-6 months but suddenly on one trip it now reads app. 280 meters too high elavation

Some models have the Barometric Altimeter which needs to be calibrated, and some units do not.

Vertical Accuracy of a properly calibrated Barometric Altimeter is +/- 10'. If you have a unit that uses provides a GPS Elevation only, a +/- 50' vertical solution is pretty standard.

People! The problem is that your software version needs updating. A recently added satellite creates a glitch in the older software. Go to the Garmin website, load WebUpdater if you haven't already done so, and the updated version (3.8) will automatically install to your Garmin unit. I had the same symptoms, they have now disappeared and my Etrex Vista is back to normal.

Thanks for the great advice. My problem is fixed!! Yay!

Thanks to a hint from a user on another web forum, I have found a fix, at least for now.

Specifically, a normal "master rest" on the eTrex Vista is accomplished by holding down the "Page" button and "Enter" (i.e. the click stick) while powering up. You are prompted that a full reset will occur, and after confirming, the machine is reset. However, in my case, this achieved a full reset, but did not fix the date problem.

However, the undocumented "super master reset" on the eTrex Vista is achieved by simultaneously holding down the "Page, "Enter" and "Find" buttons while powering up. You have to hold all buttons in for about 5 to 7 seconds, and you DON'T get the warning message, but when the machine finally restarts, it is fully reset. After acquiring a satellite fix (took several minutes) - lo and behold - my time AND date both seem to be correct!

Oddly, neither Garmin tech support nor the local reseller seemed to know about this method of REALLY resetting the machine - I will pass on the information to them, for future reference.

The link which documents the "super master reset" procedure is here: http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/secret.htm#reset

Hope this might also help other eTrex Vista owners who are experiencing the same date problem.