Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
by Garmin
|
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 |
|---|
Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
Customer Review: The Best GPS Receiver for the Price!
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't have to write much as the previous reviews sum things up quite well. However, I do want to touch on a couple of things.
1. When I was debating on which GPS unit to buy, I had reservations on the Garmin 60CSX due to some of the reviews mentioning the learning curve navigating through the screens and setups. It came with a nice, thick manual that, once I read it, I understood the unit pretty well. Once I played with it for a little bit, I had it down pat. It's not that difficult of a unit to understand. Just read the manual.
2. The c.d. that comes with it is the 'Trip and Waypoint Manager' software. The quick start guide that comes with the Garmin mentions installing the software before hooking the Garmin to the computer for the first time as there are necessary drivers that must be installed from the disc. The disc will only install on the 'C' drive and cannot be changed. My computer has a different letter designating my hard drive and couldn't install it. After notifying Garmin's support, they e-mailed me back two days later and said the software is old and the drive letter can't be changed. This turned out to be no big deal as I was able to go to Garmin's site and download the drivers. They also gave me a link to a program called 'BaseCamp' which it their new version of the 'Trip and Waypoint Manager'. It turned out to be no big deal but is something to be aware of.
Lastly, my main purpose for this purchase is for Geocaching. The Garmin 60CSX is a full blown, very powerful and accurate GPS unit for any situation involving GPS navigation necessities, but does have a nice dedicated program for geocaching where I'm able to do paperless geocaching. The caches can be uploaded to it from 'Basecamp' or geocaching.com. or manually inserted. I put a few hundred caches on it and am set for quite a while.
To sum it up, I love this unit and for the price, I give it my highest recommendation as I don't think you can find a more powerful, feature-rich GPS unit.
Customer Review: A GPS built for those who need something to take abuse
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought my 60CSx about 18 months ago after rave reviews from friends who are in Iraq and Afghanistan talking about how great the 60CSx is. I can say without reservation that this is the finest piece of travel gear I have.
The SirfIII chipset means quick signal aquisitions, so even when my cell phone's GPS is struggling to get a signal, I've got one and am off to the races. When out and about in a foreign country, I'll mark my tracks so I can always find my way back home. It's quick and holds signal in urban environments (Chicago's the land of highrises) and the wilderness (I used this while on day hikes in Mongolia.)
The GPS itself isn't intiutive, and you really need to sit down with a manual (or rent GARMIN GPSMAP 60C; 60CS; 60CX; 60CSx DVD INSTRUCTION GUIDE from Netflix). Once you sit down with it for a good 30 minutes, you get the hang of it rather easily.
I also updated my GPS with a MicroSD card to have TOPO maps on it along with Garmin's North America maps. It's not as great as having a car GPS, but it is nice when I take this on long bike rides and get lost in unfamiliar territory (the suburbs.) The desktop software for Garmin has gotten a lot better (although it's still rather weak on the Mac.) On long rides, I'll lay out waypoints so I can not have to refer to a sheet while I'm riding. It's also nice to get Geocaching information so I can run around the city and play treasure hunt.
The best part about this GPS for me is that it runs on AA batteries. This is great when I'm out for a few days, I don't have to worry about plugging this in anywhere like I have to with the Garmin Nuvi 500.
Overall this is a solid device. Sure, the UI is lame and it lacks the sex appeal of Garmin's newer devices, but if you want a solid GPS, this is it. Even with the newer devices out, I'd still want the 60CSx.
Customer Review: Initial use, the good, the bad and the ugly
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this recently to replace an aging and less than reliable Etrex unit. I tried it out backpacking with my son's troop and it received wow's from the other adult leaders.
The good: The performance is impressive - it can get a signal inside my house (occasionally even in the basement!) and routinely receives many satellites even in fairly dense cover. The USB connection works well on a windows box (although I'd be ecstatic if they'd release the specs so i could build a Linux version). The battery life is as described. I used it tucked into the top pocket of my pack on a weekend backpacking trip and easily recovered the paths. It's possible to post them to Google Earth which is quite fun. The elevation profile matches the topo maps and my impressions very well. The Garmin software for loading maps to the unit worked well, and it was good to be able to see the topographic maps on the display.
The bad: Even though it receives many more signals than my old unit and latches on much faster it still wanders a bit. This is an inherent feature of how GPS works, but it can be a bit disconcerting. The averaging feature for marking waypoints is a bit illusory - you're averaging regression error which isn't quite the same as averaging errors. The Garmin software won't print the map, path and elevation profile at the same time.
The ugly: Our route took us down a deep valley by Ellicot's rock in the Sumter National Forest. I tracked both in and out on the same path. When we were out of the valley (but under cover) the paths converge very nicely. However the unit is sensitive to reflections off of the valley walls (which in one area are a canyon) and the calculated path would wildly flip around. (at one stage it said we were backpacking at 12 MPH! - we do OK, but aren't masochists). Again this is probably a feature of GPS, but is something to be aware of.
All in all, I'm very pleased with the unit.
Customer Review: Best GPS unit I have owned or used!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have the Garmin GPS MAP 60CSx. I am a scoutmaster in the boy socuts, so I use a GPS a lot. I also enjoy geocaching quite a bit. I used to have a Magellan, which, while a satifactory unit, ate batteries enormously.
.....The Garmin has MUCH bettery battery life, lasting on the order of 10 times longer on a set of batteries.
.....I also am much happier with the 60CSx's screen layouts, and colors. It is very easy to tailor the screen data information to what I want to have on each screen. It holds at least 500 waypoints, and is very compatible with geocaching downloads from the website.
.....I waffled between the 60Cx and the 60CSx at first. The only differencs is that the CSx has an altimeter, and an electronic compass. I went for the CSx with both features. Having used the GPS a lot, I feel that for the extra $50 it is not that great an advantage.
.....Since I usually carry a compass anyway, I find it much easier to just pull it out and take a reading. To use the electronic compass, you must calibrate it by doing several turns whild holding it level. I rarely use the electronic compass (which is supposed to help when not moving, as opposed to regular GPSs shich show a direction only when moving). Therefore, I say go for the one without this feature and save the $50.
***UPDATE 10-13-09: After a year of use, my Garmin is still going strong. I have had no problems, and the Garmin help line is great if you have any questions. I still feel the internal compass is not necessary. I have used the altimiter on two trips by air, out west and Hawai'i. I have tried it on hiking trips, but unless you use it often or familiarize yourself with those functions it can be a little confusing to take advantage of. Still, If I had to replace it for some reason, I would buy this one again(or probably the one without the altimiter and electronic compass). I have been highly astisfied with it.
Customer Review: Recommended Reading and Mapping Applications
Summary: 5 Stars
I chose this GPS for its ability to use customized maps and because it consistently received good reviews. It is my first GPS and I expected it would take time to learn how to use all of the features.
Although the user manual that comes with the unit will help you get started, for me it was not sufficient. Unless you are already an expert GPS user I recommend that you get some additional books that discuss how to use one. Here are the best ones that I have found:
GPS Made Easy (GPS Made Easy: Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors)
This book is especially useful because authors use a 60CSX to explain many GPS features, and there are many screen shots. It also presents a number of scenarios that explain how you would use the GPS in the field.
Basic Essentials Using GPS, 2nd (Basic Essentials Series)
This book also has some good scenarios for using the GPS in the field.
GPS For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
Lists good places for downloading maps
By far, learning how to obtain and install maps has been the most time-consuming activity. I've spent tens of hours surfing the web learning which applications are needed to manipulate and install the maps, and where to find the best street and topo maps. I like Garmin's MapSource for routing and MapSet Tool Kit for manipulating downloaded maps. MapSet Tool Kit enables you to register and use the maps in MapSource.
I have been very happy with my purchase and find this unit can do most anything I've asked it to, but it does take time to learn.