Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

a bit of a review but also a comparison to the Legend HCx

I got this 60CSx for the bigger screen compared to my <1yr old Legend HCx. I worried about getting a unit that's actually older than the current legend and i was partly right. specifically, i was worried that the highly rated "sirfstar" based receiver in the 60csx isn't as good as the high sensitivity chip in newer "H" series units like the Legend HCx i had. the 60csx is about 2+ years older, btw.

60CSx
PROS
-screen is larger
-does get a good signal
-good battery life even with the compass/altimeter

CONS
-is clearly NOT as fast as the newer H i had
-map drawing is definitely slower than in the newer Legend (slower processor?)
-it is bulky, i would not want to carry this in my shorts pocket in the summer

for build construction, the Legend HCx also seems to be tougher with the all rubberized back, all solid metal rear cover, better cover/seal for the USB port. For me, the ONLY thing i gained by getting the 60CSx is the larger screen. I'm beginning to think I took a step backwards and paid more for a lesser unit.

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

The unit is excellent, with a very fast satellite lockon and it is able to hold signal under thick cover. I can even get a few satellites in the middle of my 2 story home occasionally. Setup is fast and intuitive, I had the unit up and running in the REI parking lot and was tracking my route home without cracking the manual. I do advise reading the manual thoroughly, since there are features that are not so easy to intuit, but getting started was a breeze.

Signal during hikes is reliable and battery life is satisfactory for day or single overnight hikes. Longer trips will require keeping the unit off for periods of time or bringing some extra batteries, especially if you have other battery-eaters in your pack. The altimeter is as accurate as a barometric altimeter can be expected to be. I've been afraid to test the water resistance, but I did notice that part of the rubber seal on the left side between the front and back casing pokes out a little at the top. I'm sure this is only an issue with my unit, but it doesn't fill me with waterproof confidence.

Stop by your local electronics store and pick up some screen guards or a protective case - I found some static adhesive overlays in the GPS aisle, but check the cel phone, iPod and PDA sections as well. Gotta keep that screen from getting scratched!

The 60csx is exactly what I was shopping for, which was a navigational aid to confirm my position while being used in conjunction with my map and compass, particularly at night or in whiteouts where no reference points are immediately available.

Garmin deserves 1 (or zero) stars for the way they are handling maps, however. The unit ships with a very basic highway map, so if you want to see anything more than a sea of brown speckled with the occasional blue body of water and crossed by a handful of highways (no surface streets), Garmin forces you to drop an extra hundred bucks for the road maps, and if you want to do any hiking? Ouch, another hundred bucks for a bad 1:100 topo. However, there is hope! A search of internet resources shows a strong GPS community who shares the maps they've constructed for their own GPS units, in many cases far superior to Garmin's products. 1:24 topos, building footprints, national surface streets, and more. Do a quick search for a veritable online GPS file depot and you should be all set ;)

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

This is the best handheld GPS on the market. I have friends/hiking-partners who use other models of GPS units, including the Garmin eTrex series and the (more expensive) Garmin Colorado series; and there have been many occasions when I have gotten reliable satellite reception and they have not been able to acquire a signal. The antenna on this unit sets it apart from all other handheld GPS units.

Additionally, the screen is large and easily readable. The buttons are intuitive, and easy to operate with one hand. The owner's manual isn't the best, but I was able to figure things out pretty easily. I get over 20 hours of battery life, which is better than my friends/hiking-partners get on their other models.

One minor gripe: The unit accepts 2 GB microSD cards but can only read up to 1 GB of map data off of a card. This is frustrating because the computer software will let you transfer more map data to the card than the unit can read. A bit of a rude awakening when you realize maps that you thought you had are missing. But this is easily remedied by only putting up to 1 GB of map data on each microSD card.

All in all an exceptional GPS that beats the more expensive Garmin Colorado series where it counts.

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

After spending nearly [$] for the product I find that I have to spend another [$] to have the streets around my home in the map. All of my routes created with my prior garmin SW & GPS are worthless. The find feature is WORTHLESS unless you already know where you are going(example for PDX users, 13 miles from my current location and it CAN'T find 82nd Ave). If I do spend [$] for more maps, I would then have to spend even more if I wanted to put those maps in another GPS. Only compatible with Garmin maps, so if you are going somewhere they want recognize there is NOTHING for you until GARMIN decides it is worth looking there. My old eTrex came with, and supported more maps for a whole lot less $$$$.Manual doesn't match screens on device, not all features documented.Maps are inaccurate.Can NOT stop logging.Controls are awkward (two buttons to turn on backlight, requiring change of hand position for each one).Support site hasn't been up for 6 days.I intend to put the PO$ back in the box, and find a useful GPS

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

Got into geocaching through a friend, who has an eTrex Vista C. That was my introduction and I was ready to purchase one. Then, I found a sweetheart of a deal on the 60CSx, which made my obsession even greater.

Before going into detail, I want to say you should buy for features. The accuracy on this unit is better than the eTrex, but it still is not spot on. If you have all of the features you want in a cheaper unit, then do not feel slighted with spending less.

Having said that, here are my personal feelings of why one should buy the 60CSX over an eTrex.

1. More buttons. Sounds cheesy, but dedicated find, menu and page buttons are worth a mint.

2. Focused menus. The menu button takes you to context sensitive menus that relate to the page you are on.

3. Route on unit. This only works with additional maps (City Navigator NT North America for me), which come at an extra cost. I am still only marginally impressed with the highway view, although it is nice looking. You can route fairly easily with the software (on your PC) with the eTrex, but this is choose and run with it.

4. Bigger screen. Not much, but this is sweet.

5. Nicer colors. This is also a cheesy reason, but the unit sure looks good when you are tracking.

6. Better geocache screen. More info, although one of the units with the full information would be nicer. But I did not have the cash for one of those units.

7. Ability to quickly mark a location, along with an averaging feature.

8. WAAS/EGNOS. This sounds excellent, but it is only marginally better, as the eTrex is fairly accurate for a unit without GPS enhancement.

I initially "borrowed" a friends MetroGuide maps for the unit and tried to route. I was completely underwhelmed. Then I used the City Navigator NT and I am thoroughly impressed. With the right maps, I can see this unit getting a lot of use as I go from city to city. The only reason to buy an in car unit is if I want it to talk to me.

Going to go out geocaching tomorrow and see if I am still loving the experience. :-)

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

I love this GPS, I wouldn't go anywhere in my car or hiking without it. I have the TOPO 2008 and US city 2009 installed on it for the state Washington and its almost perfect. What is great is the ability to redirect and calculate how to get to your destination when you took the wrong exit or turn. I haven't had any problems picking up GPS signal outdoors what so ever. I even tracked my hike and saved it for future use when the trail is covered with snow for snow shoeing. Overall, when equipped with the maps and topo and a nice 1GB or 2GB microSD this is a lifesaver. Literally.

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

Great product. I have used this on everything from dayhikes to weeklong adventures. I once relied entirely on my Garmin 60csx in the Boundary Waters. About 30 minutes after paddling down the river, we realized we had forgotten the maps in the truck - the truck that was now 30 minutes down the road, driven by our spouses. Even if we had paddled back to the entry point, we still did not have cell service to ask them to come back. So, we proceeded on our trip, and thankfully had the Garmin as backup. 45 miles and 6 days later, we emerged without once getting lost. The Garmin performed flawlessly and survived granite boulders, lots of rain, and plenty of mud. I used the unit continuously for 6 hours the first day, but after that I didn't leave it on for more than 10 minutes at a time. I just turned it on to check bearings and then switched it off. After 6 days I still didn't need to change the lithium AA batteries. I had zero software malfunctions and still have not after a year and a half of use.

Also, it functions well as a road navigation unit, and I would recommend the Garmin windshield suction mount. It can fit on nearly any angle windshield. I leave it in my car 24/7 when not hiking and it has come in handy many times when navigating around the metro where I live.

The attachment clip that comes with the unit is a great idea and also very rugged, as it is made of metal and very tough plastic. I don't have any complaints with this device.

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

Well, I guess it's pretty obvious that the consensus of opinion is that this is a pretty great GPS unit. I just wanted to add my 2 cents to this chorus of kudos.I've owned 3 other GPS units (plus the Magellan I used in the Army) and I was an "early adopter" of this technology. This unit, the Garmin GPS Map 60Csx is the first unit that simply worked just as it is supposed to.No more wasting time searching for satellites, no more losing signal as soon as I am in a forest or near a building, no more "jumping", no more changing out batteries in ridiculously short durations and then losing all my data/position.This unit uses this new SiRF technology which seems infinitely more sensitive than previous models (and any other brands). It locks satellites quickly like nobody's business, even indoors, even in a car, even in the middle of a thick Redwood forest. Under average use, I am getting about 22 to 24 hours of operation from a couple of AA batteries. I don't use the backlight much, and most of the time, I am geo-caching (marking and finding waypoints). Sometimes I am traveling by road and use it for directions. BTW, I consider the use of regular, easily obtainable, easily replaceable AA batteries as a big plus. I hate depending on unreliable rechargeables (internal or not), or strange proprietary batteries that are hard to find or inconvenient to re-charge.I won't waste your time talking about all the myriad features of this GPS unit, but I'll just say that it does everything that a GPS should and does it well. For geo-caching, it is perfect. I have been accurately directed to within 1 ft of a cache! I think the nice colour screen is easy to read, and with a power cord, can be nicely backlit for car driving directions. Also, I think the menus are pretty intuitive and easy to navigate. The included software is easy to install and also very easy to use. If I had to mention some "cons", I'd say that for the price you are paying for this unit, they could have thrown in some better maps. Instead, you must pay an additional [$]or so to get some decent/detailed maps, plus you need to get a larger memory card to be able to fit a reasonable amount of data in. Actually, if you do not need (or if you plan not to use) most of the special features and want to save some money, there are a couple of other very nice GPS models (also with this great SiRF technology) that are also sold [...]. I give this product my highest recommendation. If you have the means, this is the GPS unit to get as far as high performance. I am very happy with this unit.

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

Blows away Garmins new Oregon and Colorado GPS's.

Comments about Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx GPS:

Bought this a few years ago and it has been an invaluable purchase ever since. I use it when driving, hiking, and even flying. It gets used almost daily.The default basemap is lacking, so consider an addon map to be part of the cost, adding about an additional 100 bucks to your purchase. Consider accessories like a car mount and power adapter as well.As far as the unit is concerned, it gets great reception both indoors and out. The only time I lose reception are at the bottom of deep canyons, when driving under tunnels, in a building away from windows, or in an airplane more than a few feet away from the window (an external antenna helps here, especially if you aren't sitting in a window seat).The unit is easy to navigate, though reading through the manual will help you pick up its finer features. When I let people play with it, they figure it out very quickly.I love having the ability to track my hiking speed (both overall average and moving average), see where I've gone, figure out where I am relative to a more detailed paper trail map, knowing sunrise and sunset times and even locations for photography, having a barometer measure altitude and elevation gain, a digital compass for getting oriented, a flashlight in a pinch for nighttime, and even a clock for when I don't want a watch tan and don't want to fire up the cell phone.I've had it dunk into a river once or twice and it came out just fine. The waterproofness is great. Unlike a cell phone or digital camera, you won't have to worry about using it in the rain or getting it wet.One thing to look out for is the belt clip. I've broken two or three of those so far, but you can buy replacements online for relatively cheap. When you have it clipped on your side (which I basically never do anymore), if you squat down with the bottom of your unit getting pushed up by your thigh and the quick release button on top of the belt clip quick release button getting pushed down by your stomach (and I'm a thin guy), the GPS unit may pop right out. If your stomach isn't pressing the button, the GPS may literally snap right off the belt clip, breaking the clip in the process. I've had it crash to the ground a few times because of this, one time even start sliding towards the edge of the cliff. I dove after it right before it got to the edge and fell off... Here's a helpful tip: Take the lanyard and loop the GPS through itself around your belt or belt loop as a backup to the belt clip just in case, if you choose to wear it on your hip. I usually just toss it in my pack or have it mounted to my windshield nowadays.About the lanyard, make sure you attach it to the hard plastic shell on the back of the device. DON'T use the soft thin rubbery hole at the top. The lanyard will slowly tear its way through, eventually sending your GPS crashing to the ground when you least expect it. To get the rubber thing fixed as well as replace the plastic shell after any scratches will run you about 70 bucks from Garmin, IIRC.The city navigator map set is very useful for driving. The topo maps aren't that detailed, but it's nice to have the elevation lines displayed, as well as see rivers and water sources. Big rivers are also shown in the city maps, but not with the same detail. On the last hike I did, it was very helpful to see where I was on the topo map and compare it to a trail map we had in a book to make sure we were on the right track.This unit is a nice compromise in size, bulk, screen size, and weight.In terms of battery life, on a full charge of two rechargeable AA's, I'll get about 10 hours. It's always helpful to bring spare batteries in case they die, you want to use the backlight which drains the batteries more quickly, etc.As far as the signal locking is concerned, on a normal cold start, it can take anywhere from 20 to 60 sec to lock onto the satellites and get the position figured out. Maybe 90 sec on a slow lock.On a warm start (off and back on quickly), it'll take about a second, if that, to reconnect.Sometimes it does have trouble locking in initially altogether for many minutes. Not exactly sure why.Also it does sometimes get a little schizophrenic when standing still, particularly in cities. From what I've read, the more sensitive SiRF III chipset can sometimes detect reflected signals off of buildings and whatnot. What this means it that when you're sitting still, sometimes the GPS will think you're moving crazy fast all over the place, like superman on crack. One second you'll be here, another second you'll be 30 yards north, and the next second you'll be 15 yards south. This can mess with your overall moving average, your distance covered, and so on, so keep this in mind. You'll notice this when you look at your tracklog on the screen while sitting still and it looks like a 3 year old went all spastic over one area. :)Quirks aside, I would definitely recommend this unit to others. It's lasted me a long time and I'm so glad I bought it.Yes it does make me somewhat navigationally retarded when driving as I don't really bother remembering where I am as much anymore, but that's not this unit's fault. :p In fact, the thing is so handy that I often wind up becoming the navigator when traveling, even when the friends I'm with are local to the area! Go figure...