Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Complete Versatility
Summary: 5 Stars
I am nothing less than completely impressed with this GPS unit. I have been using this model for over a month now and I am totally and completely satisfied with my purchase. I travel all over the US for my work by airplane and I was interested in purchasing a GPS that was versatile and portable without being too bulky and cumbersome to pack when traveling through airports. Now that I have acquired all the various parts and pieces (i.e GPS unit, software, mounting bracket, and charging cable) I have a complete and portable set up that I carry with me on all of my trips. This allows me to save over $10/day on rental cars by not having to rent a car with a GPS unit. With the Garmin Street Navigator software for the US and the purchase of a 2GB mini SD card, I have the entire US road system on board and ready for travel anywhere in the country including Alaska and Hawaii.
The other major selling point for me was that with this unit not only do I have a highly accurate GPS unit for traveling and navigating the nations highways, but I also have a compact hand held unit that can hold topographic maps allowing me to hike and explore the countryside anywhere in the US (or the world). This all-in-one strategy was perfect for my needs not to mention that this unit is about half the cost of a unit specifically designed for an automobile such as a TomTom Go or other similar device. I love the fact that I can mount this to the windsheild and go and then when I arrive, just pop it loose and throw it in a back pack and I'm good to go for a hiking adventure on the trail. However, I should mention that this particular unit does not feature audible voice directions which are commonly found on units specifically designed for automobiles. This may be part of the reason why there is such a drastic difference in cost. Even though this unit doesn't talk, it does provide audible warning tones and flashes on screen pop up advisories when you are approaching your turns and exits.
As other reviews have mentioned, the main thing to be aware of with any GPS unit is the fact that you will probably have to spend additional money than the original purchase price for the unit to get the full functional benefit from the device. As I've mentioned, in addition to the actual cost of the unit I have also spent a minimum of over $250 on software and other accessories to give me full advantage of the capabilities that I needed. If you do your homework, you will find that this is true for any GPS unit and not just this one. Realizing this ahead of time will help you to avoid any unpleasant realities later on that you will probaly need to spend more money on additional equipment. You can think of the GPS like purchasing a computer - it represents only the hardware. The other half of the equation is the software needed to make it complete.
With that said, I would also say that even though this is a very fast and highly accurate GPS unit, it is not without a couple of design flaws and it certainly has room for some improvement. None of these items warrant enough for me to lower my score of 5 stars, but are worth mentioning for prospective buyers to be aware of. The most important one is the glare problem with the screen. Under very low light and night time viewing conditions there is no problem at all with the screen. But, when trying to view in high ambient light levels or indirect sun conditions in an automobile, the screen can be quite difficult to see and exhibits a lot of glare and reflectivity. However, in direct sun light conditions, with the sun shining directly onto the screen, the graphics are quite easy to see and there is no glare problem. The second issue is the brightness level of the back light. It could stand to be significantly brighter for better viewing. Even at 100% the screen is still relatively dim by my estimation, but I am assuming it is scaled back like this to help conserve battery power. Other than these two issues, I can find little wrong with this powerful GPS unit. If you are looking for a versatile device that works excellent as a cross country highway navigator, or as a personal step by step guide when trekking through the woods and mountains, you will be very happy with this unit. Just be aware of the fact that you will probably have to invest in some additional add on equipment to get the full use and enjoyment out of the unit.
Customer Review: Outstanding accuracy and versatility
Summary: 5 Stars
I cut my GPS teeth on an eTrex Vista (a great little handheld in its own right) for a couple of years before stepping up to the 60CSx. After five months of use, I have only positive things to say about my latest purchase. I was aware of some owners' early concerns about "wandering" and the seeming inability to enable WAAS, but figured Garmin would eventually address such firmware issues, and so decided to take the plunge. The first thing I did (the first thing any purchaser should do) was to download all of the available updates from Garmin's website, and my 60CSx performed flawlessly from the get-go. So yes, I can enable WAAS, but I don't bother to use it because for me the slight increase in accuracy isn't enough to justify the additional battery drain. Consistently getting within ten feet or less of a waypoint is good enough for me. I'm not doing cadastral surveys, after all.
I replaced the supplied 64mb micro SD with a 1 gb card and have installed selected maps from both City Navigator and US Topo 24K Western National Parks (both relatively pricey extras). I recently used the former to navigate a familiar route all the way from western Colorado to Cincinnati and back, and the directions it generated differed from the route I've long been accustomed to in only one minor way: it chose a different bridge (the MLK) across the Mississippi River at St. Louis than I usually use. That switch obliged me to exit the interstate and wait at one traffic light for a minute or so, but also saved me a couple of miles, so I guess the net effect was zero. On the return trip, I was unable to make a necessary lane change due to heavy rush hour traffic and was forced onto an exit from the Interstate at Louisville. The 60CSx and City Navigator automatically recalculated and got me back on course in a jiffy via a route through the downtown area that would otherwise have been anything but intuitive. The I-70 route through the Colorado Rockies features numerous tunnels, and only in the longest of them did I lose my satellite signal. In those few instances, the unit promptly reacquired the signal upon exiting the tunnels.
I am a retired National Park Service ranger and now volunteer at Colorado National Monument, where I spend a lot of time in the backcountry identifying and plotting the location of cultural sites. The 60CSx and US Topo 24K are incredibly useful for that. I particularly like the unit's ability to average satellite fixes for increased accuracy over whatever interval I choose. I'm regularly able to mark waypoints to within 3 meters, even in forested areas and in the depths of the area's many canyons. The MapSource software that came with the 60CSx lets me print topo maps of the Monument with those waypoints clearly delineated and labeled.
In the early fall, I carried my 60CSx on a recreational climb to the summit of 14,048-foot Handies Peak in Colorado's San Juan Range. Once on top, I photographed the display to document the precise location and elevation of the summit for my records. Since then, I've learned that it's also possible to transfer a bitmap image of any 60CSx display screen directly to my computer using the xImage application available as a free download on Garmin's website. That's a neat way to build a file of memorable waypoints and to share them graphically with others.
I've found the Garmin 60CSx to be a most capable unit. Teamed with an accesssory 12V cable and City Navigator software, it works well as a vehicle navigator at relatively low cost. Used by itself, with or without US Topo 24K, it's a great hiking companion. It has a great color display, commendable acquisition and refresh speeds, myriad useful functions, a long battery life (months, if you don't leave it on continuously to mark tracks), decent ergonomics and superb accuracy. Finally, the additional storage afforded by removable memory cards is a definite plus with this sophisticated unit. The only change I'd urge Garmin to consider would be to add a temperature sensor.
If you can afford it, and even if you can't, get a Garmin 60CSx.
Customer Review: Brought it to Iraq and back...
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a USMC grunt and have recently returned from Iraq. I brought a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx with me, and needless to say, I have put this unit through it's paces. I believe my experience may be useful to others considering purchasing a rugged, outdoor GPS unit.
First off, the 60CSx is an extremely rugged unit. I have put this unit through more than 200 combat patrols, 130+ degree weather and freezing cold temperatures. It has been dropped, submerged in water, knocked, covered in mud, and crushed against my gear innumerable times. The only evidence from all this wear and tear is that the text on the "QUIT" and "ENTR" keys have worn off, which is more from me taking it in and out of its pouch over and over than a poor design of the unit. Throughout all this abuse, it has performed extremely well. When I wento to Iraq, I brought a Magellan Explorist unit with me as well. The screen cracked on our third patrol, rendering the unit worthless. I am still using my Garmin.
The 60CSx has a fast acquiring time. From a warm start, it will have your location within a few seconds, and a cold start, in about a minute. The sensitivity is significantly above any other GPS unit I have seen. I have yet to see any other unit on the market that can get reception inside an up-armored Humvee. (Not only did it get reception, it was accurate to within a few meters.) This accuracy proved to be extremely useful in country, and a few times it helped my squad find the right house in a packed urban area where otherwise we would have been left scratching our heads. I would assume for someone in the United States, where WAAS is available, the accuracy will be higher. It's battery life is also good, although with the backlight on the battery can drain fairly quickly. Average lifetime without the backlight is about 17 hours. You could probably drain the battery within a few hours if you turned the backlight brightness all the way up and turned off the auto-dimming feature. I also liked how easy the LCD screen is to see in direct sunlight, instead of being washed out. The sun actually seems the help the brightness and contrast of the display.
The 60CSx uses two AA batteries. I found this to be useful, as sometimes I would be away from a power source for weeks at a time so I would just grab some extra AA batteries and I'd be good. Some other units (such as a few of the Rhino series) use lithium batteries. While lithium batteries may last longer, I have found that they are much less convenient as you are tied to an outlet, although you can purchase (often bulky) AA adapters for those units.
For the most part, I have been pleased with the menus and features. It's tracking and mapping abilities came in handy. I was able to generate a map of my location simply by using the tracking feature. It is fairly easy to customize what screens and data you want to display, so you can see what you need, and avoid what you don't.
One thing I do not like is that it does not have the ability to overlay user-generated maps on the screen. Many times I would have to juggle physical maps with the GPS unit. I believe a few devices on the market now offer this feature. So if you are in a situation where you need to consult maps other than the ones available for purchase from Garmin, you will have to bring them with you. Another minor negative, and one relevant primarily only to those in the military, is that the screen cannot be seen with night vision equipment unless the backlight is turned on, meaning you either have to cover up or emit a small amount of light in order to see your location.
Overall, I highly recommend this product. Anybody looking for a rugged outdoor GPS unit that is accurate and light, with fast acquisition times and long battery life need look no further. I can honestly say it is one of the best purchases I have made in my lifetime.
Customer Review: So easy to use!
Summary: 5 Stars
Goodness GPS systems have come a long way in the last 2-3 years! Compared to my old Garmin e-trex, vintage 2004, the GPS 60CSx is a significant and very positive improvement!
Firstly, the screen is really quite good. I have had very few, well, no problems seeing under a nice sunny sky. No more shading with the hands and angling it until just the right amount of shadow crosses it! So that is one big bonus! The colour is good as well - it is an improvement on black and white (grey?), no doubt about it...
Another thing is its improved ability to pick up satellites. They promise it in the blurb, and its true. How they do it, I don't know. True, when you first turn the GPS on, it still takes about a minute to find the satellites, and it really helps if the GPS unit is exposed to fairly open sky, but once it has hooked up with its satellite, it somehow retains fairly accurate coverage even when I have walked 6ft into my room (although some satellites will drop out). However, brightly, it does pick up the satellites very quickly once you get close to a window or out under open skies. Should make it more interesting for those who like tracking themselves while on a plane... I do recall older gps systems were quite useless even sitting on your lap on a plane, but now...
This GPS system is also very intuitive to use - something I have NEVER said a out any other GPS system I've used in the last 3 years... It does come with instructions, but they only cover the intuitive bits about using the GPS - tracking, waypoints, setting up the compass etc. And to be honest, I had it all nailed in about 10 minutes standing outside- without reading the instructions. What a change from one of their high end GPS systems of 2 years ago where I had to pause tracking to insert a waypoint! Much easier now!
Instructions fell down rather badly when it came to hooking up your device to your computer and doing advanced tricks in that arena. I was not assisted by buying a Windows Vista computer at about the same time and the Garmin Waypoint manager that came with the GPS system wasn't compatible. Thank goodness some real diehard Garmin GPS geeks were discussing this issue furiously on the web and within days, Garmin had released a patch on its website - which vexingly, it advertised as fixing some error to do with reading US topo maps and not mentioning it actually meant you could synchronise your GPS with your Windows Vista-enabled computer...
I also liked the ability to add more text to the decription - 8 characters was never enough and now I can add more. And (bonus) can add an enhanced description below my label (maybe that was around before, but if so, it was difficult to use as I wasn't aware of this feature).
I use long life batteries (beginning with "D") in them and must admit in 6 weeks of fairly intensive use, I only changed the batteries once. But I would suspect if you kept it on all day AND tracking your course, then the batteries would run down in 1.5 days (tracking really drains the batteries). But if not tracking and just marking waypoints, it seems to last 3-4 days of being on all day. Not bad! One day I'll pop my rechargeable batteries in and see if they last a day of intensive use...
In fact my only 'gripes' with it are it still seems to take 1-3 minutes to find all the satellites, I wish they'd come up with a better way to input text (joystick mouse and press mouse to click on letter???) and the compass really sucks. Even after 'calibrating' my compass twice (to the device' satsifaction) it was out by about 13 degrees (I happen to need a accuracy so carried my old fashioned expensive 'manual' compass). That is a bit disappointing as I would like to dispense with the manual compass if possible, but I don't trust the Garmin compas at this point!
Customer Review: Garmin 60CSX
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had this unit now for several weeks. My previous handheld was the old GPSMap 76s. Man, what a difference! I've also had various other gps units in the past, mostly automotive types, so they really don't apply here.
My review here is all about the unit, not maps. You need to understand that this unit comes only with a very limited detail base map. Detailed maps are available from Garmin or from OTHER sources. Now, back to the hardware.....
This is NOT a unit designed for navigating in an automobile.
This IS a unit designed for portable use on the trail while on your person.
Battery life is exceptional. Uses two AAs.
The box said it came with a 64MB micro SD card. Mine had a 1 Gigabyte card in it!! Bonus!!
Case: tough, attractive, water-proof, and a great size to fit just about any hand.
Screen: Clear and crisp, good color, very readable. This is an OUTDOOR unit, it is designed to have direct sunlight on the display. The more light hitting this display the better it looks. There is a backlight for indoor or low light conditions. I bought the Invisible Shield by Zagg. Having tried a few, this is the absolute best one I have tried. I also use one of their products on my Blackberry screen for protection. Tuff as nails and protects your screen from scratches. Get it and be done with it, you won't be sorry.
Operation: Straight forward Garmin-style buttons and menus. Set-up is a snap for experienced users, and novices will find the unit intuitive and quick to learn.
Sensitivity: I've never seen anything like this unit when it comes to snagging sats. Indoors, under tree canopies, in your pocket, in the car, in the truck, it don't matter. This thing has much more sensitivity than I expected. I stick it in my pocket when walking the dog, just to see how far we go as we try different streets and routes in the neighborhood, it's just a fun and fantastic tool.
Accuracy: Most of the time the unit indicates an accuracy between 7 feet and 9 feet. I don't get to turned on about this metric since my uses do not require accuracy better than this. Unit utilizes WAAS to further improve accuracy.
SD card slot: The card required is the Micro SD card. It fits in a socket that lies just under the batteries. I bought a 4 Gig card, loaded it up with 3.6 gigs of planimetric and topomaps, and use the unit to turn maps on or off depending upon which one I choose to view. Sweet!
Powering the unit: Of course the internal batteries are the main power source. There are also two more ways to power the unit. One is via the USB port, utilizing the 5 volts DC available on any USB line or USB charger. The other is the Garmin 4-pin connector. This connector uses two pins for power, and two pins for data send-receive (serial). I prefer the Garmin connector due to it's design being more resistant to moisture.
Bonus uses: If you have mapping software on your laptop computer and that software supports GPS connectivity (i.e. Delorme Street Atlas) , just connect your 60CSX to the computer via USB and use your 60CXS as a great GPS sensor for your laptop as you travel down the road or as you creep through the woods.
Sensors: This unit has a barometric altimeter sensor. GPS derived altitude is usually not very accurate, but when used with the altimeter sensor, the altitude calculations are pretty darn accurate as far as I can tell. The unit also has an electronic compass which is a really cool bell and whistle. Do yourself a favor when on the trail and carry a real compass...Silva grade or better.
The unit comes with some Trip and Waypoint management software as well.
So anyway, that's about it for my review of the 60CSX. Happy GPSing!