Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $369.99 You Save: $166.00 (31%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $320.00 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
Customer Review: Worth the price
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this to accommodate driving, biking and hiking. I think it's a good compromise for all three. If you are exclusively going to use your GPS in the car, this one is not for you. In the car it's better to have a larger screen and voice commands. The processor is also a bit slow if you're in a city location making quick lefts and rights.
The reception on this unit will only cut out in tunnels. Otherwise, it seems always to be locked on, even when inside the glove box (not sure why). The display is extremely clear. The screen size difference from ETrex models makes a huge difference as a bigger screen gives you better perspective on a map.
Before you buy, keep some things in mind:
1. You must buy Garmin City Select software for street maps to use this for navigation. The price was $100 at this writing. You will need to unlock the software. You use the 8 digit code on the CD, then they email you with another 25 digit code you will use to unlock it (a bit of unnecessary pain there). I had trouble with the software not recognizing my unit through the USB cable. When I unplugged the unit, rebooted and then plugged back the unit, it was recognized and I could start loading maps.
2.National Geographic's Topo software will NOT work with any Garmin product (except waypoints, which are useless without maps). You must buy Garmin's Topo software. Garmin's software works well in the unit (the screen is small, so map detail level from 24k to 100k is not important. NG's software is much better for your computer, printing maps, etc. due to it's impressive detail and features.
3.Garmin's bicycle mount on Amazon.com does not hold the GPS well. The GPS is too expensive to chance losing it over some road bumps. Look for the Touratech motorcycle mount. Garmin's Automobile mounting kit is great. It has one stick-on mount and one beanbag mount that can be moved from car to car.
4.I think it's a good idea to read a lot of reviews here as many problems identified in one review are addressed in other reviews (i.e.: battery problems).
5.Garmin's customer service phone wait time is 15-60 minutes and is only available weekdays during working hours. It will take as much as a week for them to respond to email.
6.I recommend you get additional memory chips for the unit, $40 for 1G at this writing as you can load a large area at once. You'll never have to wonder what area maps you have inside.
7.You can use Garmin's City Navigator and Topo at the same time. They work as if you are laying one map over the other. Loading maps and switching between the two software products is not intuitive and too tedious to explain in a review. Call Garmin's customer service and have them guide you through it. You will NOT find these instructions in any manual from Garmin.
Now, have some fun and play with the unit. Once you have learned its logic, it is very easy to use. When learning in the car, have someone else drive while you play with the unit. You have to know the key positions and screens before you use it while driving.
The chasis is rugged and buttons are sturdy. The display is recessed to help protect it. Just the same, I recommend the protective case, which is a pricey piece of vinyl at $15.
I tried to address some things not already in other reviews. One last thing is to add up the costs of all the accompanying items you will need to make the unit useful to you. None of these things are cheap. They are all on the net somewhere and might include:
Street software
Topo software
AC adapter/Car holder
Bicycle mount
Protective case
Rechargeable batteries and charger
Customer Review: Awesome Handheld GPS Receiver
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the second handheld receiver I have owned in as many years. My first was a Magellan ExPlorist 500. I purchased it in haste and did not read any reviews or do any research about it. I purchased the street map software in addition so as to be able to navigate to any desired location. I broke it in on a road trip from Alabama to Tennessee to Ohio to Pennsylvania to Washington, D.C. to Virginia and finally back home to Alabama. In all, I was happy with the ability to enter a destination and be directed close enough to find the exact location.
The cable connection on the back of the unit is its weak link. There is a very small screw on the cable that threads into an equally small hole. This cable is used to send and receive data and also recharge the battery. I accidentally overtightened, just a bit, and stripped the threads on the hole. The cable would not stay attached without taping it to the unit....frustrating. The rechargable battery's life was not very long either.
In desperation I looked for a replacement. I got over the inital sticker shock of what a quality unit would cost. I spent two weeks researching different units but all reviews pointed toward the 60csx. It had more "bells and whistles" and the quality Garmin name. The additional software needed to navigate down to street level is awesome but pricey.
The data cable for this unit is more solid and the connection has no screws to overtighten. The included cable is a miniature USB connection and the software is a breeze to set up. The unlock code process will prevent you from using more than one unit with it but you can install the software on more than one computer.
Some argue that you can get a "car only" unit for less that already has all of the maps...true. But I can take mine with me anywhere...car, woods, bicycle, walking, etc....try that with a car unit that does not come with a belt clip.
I did not care if it played movies, pictures or mp3's...I'm driving! I should not need to watch movies or pictures while doing that. As for music, I already have that covered.
There is no voice that tells you what turns to take. I did not need that feature....my wife does just fine in that area (I love you dear).
In all, this unit packs a lot of features that I have yet to explore and I am very pleased with it. I found the best price here with amazon.com and also purchased the windshield mount which is rock solid and adjusts to any needed angle...it even allows the unit to be rotated 360 degrees once it is attached.
My unit shipped with a 128MB card instead of the listed 64MB. I purchased a 2GB card and had plenty of room to load the entire US and Canada maps. Batteries are rated for 18-20 hours and I would have to agree with that....have used for the past month on a daily basis.
Lock on with satellites is very quick as compared to the Magellan unit....really quick. I turned unit off before leaving my house and turned back on after traveling for 60 miles.....it took about 52 seconds to find me. Magellan would have taken minutes!!!! Garmin has got a winning vote from me!
This unit is also great for geocaching! Just check out www.geocaching.com and discover that they are very Garmin friendly!
Customer Review: Great Advanced-Featured GPS for Historical & Genealogical Research
Summary: 5 Stars
Great Advanced-Featured GPS for Historical & Genealogical Research
One of the strengths of GPS technology is the myriad uses of a hand held GPS device, ranging from hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, and a host of other outdoor applications. Many hunters and fishermen also enjoy the many features of a good GPS device. I have even used my device to report nesting pairs of eagles and pollution sites.
While I also use my device for these other activities, I also use my GPS frequently in my historical and genealogical research. Selected examples include reporting the precise location of a gravestone of interest in a very large cemetery; accurately reporting locations of gravestones or small family cemeteries that are located well off the road and in some cases completed overgrown with thick brush and coverage; using waypoint features to pin the boundaries of very early deeds or historic locations; doing field surveys of historic or family sites; translating historic locations back and forth between maps, aerial photographs, and actual boots-on-the-ground field surveys, and many similar applications. In one of my own applications, I have accurately reported the sites of over 79 grist mill locations dating from the late 1700s, and well as a number of very remote Civil War entrenchments. Many of these sites are now only accessible by kayak, canoe, or hiking in, and GPS makes finding theses sites a snap.
While the Garmin GPSMap 60CSx is a bit pricey, this is a top-of-the-line device that will truly impress even the most experienced GPS users. I have been a frequent GPS user since 1998, and this is my forth device.
* The most dramatic improvement over previous models is the sharply increased sensitivity. This provides for a much quicker lock on more satellites, and the ability to hold the lock much longer when moving in and out of heavy tree cover or in deep canyons. My unit is so sensitive, I can even get a lock inside my house if I am reasonably close to a window.
* I like the large, bright, easily read color screen display. This unit is easily read even in bright, direct sunlight.
* I also like the durable, compact, waterproof design; the easily understood menus and controls; and the excellent battery life. And, it just feels "right" in my hand...
* A major selling feature for me was 64mb of memory to hold plenty of waypoints, routes, tracks and such, as well as the ability to download a truly huge number of USGS topo maps or other mapping software. I immediately loaded about 5 entire states, and have plenty of space for many more.
* The unit comes with a handy lanyard and belt clip pouch, but I also bought a windshield mounting device, and as well as a mount for the handlebars on my mountain bike.
If you are an experienced GPS user needing advanced features and an incredible amount of storage for topo maps, this is a great GPS for not only your routine recreational use, but also for the historical and genealogical applications I outlined above.
This is my GPS of choice -- I never leave on field research trips without it.
CHT in Virginia
Customer Review: Great GPS: Ignore the petty complaints
Summary: 5 Stars
Lots of people are expecting this GPS to be the perfect GPS. I really like it so far and I don't have any complaints. Most of the complaints you'll see are people comparing the features of this GPS to the 60CS. The issues most people are complaining about are really minor.
Icons: Ok the new icons are more cartoon like. None of them are hard to tell what the function is which is the point of an icon. It's an artistic style choice some people will like it and some will not.
No alarm: I have about 10 devices with an alarm clock on them I don't see where not including this feature is such a big deal.
No barometric trends while off: Garmin has stated this is a limitation of the new hardware. Useful if you're in the back country and can't get a weather radio broadcast. Otherwise a mostly unused feature.
Expectation of indoor reception: I can personally get reception in my house. This is not going to hold true for everyone. It's still a GPS and needs a somewhat unobstructed view of the sky. The new receiver is a HUGE improvement over the old one though and gets a lock much faster and holds it better in terrain that is tough for a GPS to work in.
Over-Expectation of accuracy: People keep forgetting that this is still a consumer GPS and is limited as to the accuracy it can get. Just because the GPS says it's got 3' accuracy doesn't mean it's correct. The 60CS and the 60CSx calculate their accuracy differently.Since the 60CS claims it is more accurate people fully trust the number the GPS is reporting and claim the 60CSx is less accurate. This isn't the case however in real world tests in clear skys both units have similar accuracy. However in challenging reception situations the 60CSx get better signal and is then "more accurate".
GPS "Walking": The 60CSx tends to walk around when stopped for a while causing the stopped time and distance traveled to be inaccurate. Garmin is aware of the problem and has stated it will be fixed with a firmware release.
Mini SD Card issues: This is the first offering by Garmin with a removable memory card. There are a few limitations however compared to other brands. First the cards are ONLY used to store maps. No waypoints, tracks, routes, etc. are stored on the cards. It would be nice to have these features but it doesn't seem that this is something that will (or can??) be changed with a firmware update. People also complain that there is no way to view information about the memory card (Space left, file listing, etc.) since there is no way to add data without having the GPS hooked into MapSource this is a non-issue. You can't write to it so why does it matter how much space is left? Oh and if you haven't seen a Mini SD card in person, wow they are really tiny about the size of a fingernail. People without good dexterity might have issues changing the card.
This is a really great GPS. If you have a 60CS already you need to carefully weigh your decision to upgrade since this unit will really only add increased reception(not accuracy) and the removable memory card. If you're upgrading from something other than a 60CS you'll love it, I sure do.
Customer Review: GPS 60 CSx - the all-rounder grows up
Summary: 5 Stars
Key features:
Portability
Ruggedness
Universal application
More memory!
Battery life!
Drawbacks: (I'm being nitpicky, here)
Belt clip is delicate
Transfer of maps takes a long time
Cost of MapSource PC software (no Mac edition available!)
... no screen protector foils available
I have had a 60CS for three years, and appreciated the flexibility and many-sidedness of the device. My primary concern had always been the limited memory, and the need to always load new maps whenever I traveled further than a few hundred kilometers. The CSx has solved that, with its micro-SD card (I immediately installed a 2GB module, enough for all of Europe! The transfer, using MapSource, took about five hours, though...).
I also have the feeling that the CSx ups the CS in terms of reception and sensitivity. The graphic interface (particularly the menus) have changed, and not necessarily for the better, in my humble opinion. Nonetheless, I don't spend much time looking at them, so it's not critical.
The device is ideal for people on the go with different means of transportation - the 60 CSx can be comfortably carried in the hand or on a belt (the clip is kindof chintzy, though, and I've had to repair mine a few times - an after-market case is recommended), mounted on a bicycle, motorcycle or in a car. With geo-survey or terrain maps (which I haven't used yet), the device is great for hikers, too. It truly is waterproof, and rugged (I dropped my CS a couple of times, with no damage beyond a scuff mark!)
The CSx tops the CS not only in reception and memory, but in battery life as well. I opted for Eveready Lithium cells ($10/4 pack - but worth it!), and have used the device for ... something like 36 or 40 hours (with the electronic compass on!) and the indicator is still showing 4 bars out of four!)
The MapSource software (which you'll need if you want any more than the biggest roads and cities, which are available on the pre-installed region map) is good and easy to use. My biggest gripe - it's awfully expensive. That being said, you can use the one software with various maps and several devices at once, improving the price/performance ratio. Oh, and the fact that the MapSource (or any other mapping software for that matter!) isn't available for Macintosh... :^(
The CSx doesn't compare 1-to-1 with a typical navigation system like TomTom, or Garmin's own Nüvi, but it performs perfectly good street routing, corrects the course automatically (although sometimes it's not so good at choosing the BEST route all the time, but the routes it chooses are perfectly good, and the difference to the BEST one is often just a matter of minutes), and gives relatively good directions. At complex intersections, you sometimes need to go slowly, but I think this is the case with most navigation systems. The CSx does have significant advantages over a Nüvi or a TomTom, though, and they are particularly its portability, robustness and flexibility (you can set your routing for pedestrian, bicycle, car/motorcycle, or truck, for example).
I love it.