My needs were for a handheld GPS receiver that could be used for both hiking and automobile navigation. I had been using a Garmin eMap in this way for five years but found having to enter in each navigation route waypoint-by-waypoint to be quite a chore.
CRITERIA:
I wanted a handheld GPS that could autoroute when used for street navigation, which means you can enter a destination and it will calculate the turn-by-turn route for you.
As part of my eMap replacement search, I thought it was time to try a color screen and take advantage of the state-of-the-art in receiver technology. I looked at the dashboard GPS units specifically designed for automobile navigation, like the Garmin StreetPilot and Magellan Roadmate, and found that they were not suitable for hiking, mostly due to their relatively short battery life (3 to 8 hours) when not connected to the 12-volt automobile power source. Many automotive units were also limited in the ability to enter multi-waypoint routes for off-road use.
One difference I noticed between by old eMap and the current offering of handheld GPS receivers is that the basemap (the map that is included within the fixed memory of the unit) was much less detailed in the new units. My eMap had Interstates, US and State routes and major local roads. I had used the $35 Street Atlas software on my PC to get turn-by-turn waypoints for local roads not included in the basemap. The new GPS basemaps are limited to Interstates and major highways. In order to get the local roads, I found that I would have to buy the optional mapping software sold by the GPS manufacturer. This would add about $80 to $120 to the overall cost of ownership of a new GPS receiver.
I could have added detailed mapping software to my eMap by buying a proprietary expansion chip for about $40, but the chip would only allow about one state to be loaded at a time and the eMap still would not autoroute. By the way, I found that not all of the current GPS models would accommodate expansion chips, so I made sure the one I chose would. The good news is that those models that did have a chip socket used either SecureDigital or microSD chips instead of the proprietary chips used in the past. These readily available chips are much cheaper than the proprietary chips.
Another thing I noticed is that the screens on the new GPS units were a bit smaller than the 1.7 inch by 2.3 inch one on the eMap. This was particularly true on the Garmin eTrex line. I wanted my new GPS to have a screen close to the size of my old eMap.
A lot of online research at the GPS enthusiast websites, along with visits to the major GPS manufacturers’ websites, narrowed my choices to the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx, the Magellan eXplorist 500LE and the Lowrance iFinder Expedition. I then discovered that the Lowrance iFinder did not do autorouting and that the Magellan eXplorist autorouting was point-to-point and limited to each separate map segment whereas the Garmin 60CSx autorouting could follow the curves of the roads and jump from downloaded detailed maps on the chip to the basemap when driving through an area you hadn’t downloaded a detailed map for. I found that the 60SCx had received a lot of positive reviews from users and experts and is considered to be the best handheld mapping GPS on the market. So, after completing my research, the Garmin 60SCx became my final choice.
Though the Garmin was pricier than the competing units, a $50 rebate and a great price from Amazon.com brought the cost down to $300 delivered. To that I added the $110 MapSource City Navigator North America 8 and a $20 12-volt adapter cord. What makes the 60CSx different from the Garmin 60Cx model is the addition of two sensors (hence, the “S” in the model name) - a compass and an altimeter. Other than that, the two models are identical. I actually had no real interest in the compass or altimeter, but at the time I bought my 60CSx, it was actually a few dollars cheaper than the 60Cx model. The 60CSx usually runs about $50 more and I wouldn’t have paid that premium for the sensors. However, if a compass and altimeter are important to your needs, get the 60CSx. If not, a 60Cx will work fine for you and everything in this review will apply except for the comments about the compass and altimeter.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
In the box you will get:
GPSMAP 60CSx
64 MB microSD
(Too little capacity for practical use)
Belt clip
(Similar to type used by cell phones)
USB interface cable
(Needed for data transfer to and from a PC)
MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager
(Not needed if you buy full MapSource product)
Lanyard
(Keep around wrist to prevent dropping your GPS)
Owner's Manual
(Nicely done, also available for download as a pdf file)
Quick-Start Guide
(Keep handy for reference)
Though the 60CSx is 6.1 inches tall overall, the actual unit is 4.5 inches tall with another 1.51 inches taken by the antenna. That arrangement makes it look smaller than if the whole case was 6 inches tall. The actual overall size is 6.1 inches H x 2.4 inches W x 1.3 inches D. The case feels very solid and the corners and antenna are covered in rubber to provide some cushion against impact. The 60CSx is waterproof to the IPX7 designation which means it can withstand immersion in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. A rear cover opens to reveal the battery clips and the microSD chip socket. It was a bit tricky changing the chip because of its tiny size and the design of the clip to hold it in.
The screen is 1.5 inches x 2.2 inches, which is about a quarter inch narrower than my eMap but almost the same height. Though I had wished for a larger screen, I didn’t have a better choice. To protect the screen I installed a product called the Invisible Shield, which is a clear plastic protector that I applied to the screen like a decal.
The power switch is on the top, a convenient location when you have the 60CSx mounted at waist level on the included belt clip. Holding in the power button turns it on. Once on, tapping the power switch brings up the screen backlight adjustment for viewing in darkness. You can set the backlight to stay on, or time out within a setting of 15 seconds to 2 minutes. When you run the 60CSx on external power the backlight remains on, a nice convenience for automobile use. The 160 x 240 pixel, 256-color screen renders clear and legible graphics and text, though without the backlight it was fairly dim, even in sunlight. To improve visibility, you can set the screen to automatically switch to a different color scheme during nighttime use.
The user buttons are below the screen, which I liked because I could make adjustments without my hand covering the screen. An unexpected nice touch is that the buttons light up when the backlight is on. The buttons, arranged in a semicircle, include IN and OUT for zooming, FIND to locate a waypoint or Point of Interest, MARK to set a waypoint for the current location, QUIT to go back one step, ENTER to execute a command, MENU for command choices and PAGE to select one of the main pages you have set up. In the center of the buttons is a round rocker switch for moving the on-screen cursor. On-screen menus can be fairly easily navigated, but it will take reading through the 106-page manual to fully understand how to operate all features of the 60CSx.
The 60CSx takes advantage of two new developments, WAAS and SiRFstarIII. WAAS is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you a position accuracy of less than three meters 95 percent of the time. Most new GPS receivers have WAAS, but not all have SiRFstarIII, which is a patented receiver technology that receives signals where other receivers cannot, including under dense foliage, in steep ravines, in “urban canyons” and even in some indoor environments. I found that I could easily get satellite reception inside my home. The 60CSx is substantially more sensitive than my old eMap.
The time to acquire satellites and get a fix varies from seconds to about a minute, depending on how much the arrangement of satellites (the constellation) has changed from the last time you had the GPS turned on. For instance, if you turn off the 60CSx and turn it back on a short while later, it gets a fix almost immediately. If you turn it on 12 hours later, the sky has changed enough that it takes about 35 seconds. If you move to another location in the country, it can take longer. Garmin claims 45 seconds, but it can take even longer. You can assist the 60CSx in finding the new location by pointing to the location on its map display. Acquisition times are longer if you are moving and/or if the GPS doesn’t have a clear view of the sky.
The 60CSx runs on two AA batteries. You can use alkaline, NiMH rechargeables, or Lithium batteries (Lithium’s are not rechargeable). A setting for battery type will adjust the on-screen battery life meter to indicate correctly. Garmin claims 18 hours of runtime with alkaline batteries, less so with backlight use. NiMH and Lithium batteries will run several times longer. The best batteries to use would be the Sanyo eneloops NiMH batteries because they are rechargeable, but have a very long shelf life so they won’t lose their charge between uses like regular NiMH batteries do. See the link at the end of this review for more information. You can also run the 60CSx from power supplied by the optional 12-volt power cable or from the included USB cable when connected to your PC.
USING THE GPSMAP 60CSx:
When you turn on the 60CSx, you see a welcome screen for about five seconds. In the system setup you can change the text on the welcome screen. I put in my name and phone number in the hopes that an honest person would contact me should I ever lose my unit.
For hiking, geocaching and point-to-point navigation you enter waypoints either by pushing MARK to enter the current location, ENTER to enter the cursor location on the map, typing the coordinates in with the rocker switch, or downloading from software such as the free GPSBabel or included MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager. You can then assemble waypoints into a route and have the 60CSx navigate point-to-point through the route. The 60CSx has a limit of 1,000 waypoints and 50 routes. You can use software to upload and download waypoints and routes to backup and store them on your PC.
If you intend to use the 60CSx for street navigation, you must buy separate mapping software because the included basemap is simply too limited. For the United States, I bought MapSource City Navigator North America 8. It easily installed on my PC. I then added a 512MB microSD chip to my 60CSx and transferred the southeast US to my GPS via the USB cable. With a larger chip I could have transferred the entire US, but I would never need full US coverage at one time. Overall, MapSource City Navigator has 6 millions roads. Other Garmin mapping software is available for topographic maps, nautical charts and street maps of other areas of the world.
Even if the basemap had been more detailed, the big advantage in downloading the MapSource maps to the 60CSx is that you then get an extensive Point of Interest (POI) database that includes just about anything you would want to find when traveling, like restaurants, banks, service stations, lodging, recreations, attractions, etc. MapSource City Navigator North America has a total of 6 million POI’s, most with the address and phone number, along with coordinates. If those aren’t enough for you, you can use the free POI Loader available from Garmin to create your own POI’s. The advantage of creating POI’s instead of using waypoints is that POI’s aren’t subject to the 1,000-waypoint limit.
Using the FIND function you can look up any city, exit, intersection, POI or waypoint by nearest, recent, category or name. However, since the 60CSx lacks touch-screen capability, you enter your search criteria with by using the rocker switch to move the cursor to select each character. This takes far too much attention to safely enter searches while driving. It is better to select your destination before you drive off.
Once you have a destination, the 60CSx will route you there with turn-by-turn directions. The directions are based on the same mapping software that is used in the Garmin automobile navigation units and does a pretty good job. A big advantage over many car navigation units is that you can add many waypoints to a route to “force” the autorouting to take a particular route or have intermediate stops along the way. This makes the 60CSx much more useful for planning a trip in advance. However, when I tried planning a route in MapSource I found that it didn’t always autoroute the same way when downloaded and executed in the 60CSx. I had to check the route by paging through the directions on the 60CSx and add waypoints to get the autoroute to follow the route I wanted. I had also tried transferring routes from Delorme Street Atlas using the universal GPX file format, but found them to be off enough from MapSource’s to cause some strange routing instructions, such as “turn left, do a U-turn, then turn left” because the Delorme coordinates for a via intersection were offset to the left of the MapSource coordinates for the same intersection. I recommend only using MapSource mapping software with the 60CSx.
When following a route while driving, a tone alerts you as you approach each turn and the screen will zoom in to show the details of the turn along with text providing directions similar to what an automotive GPS says when it speaks. If you miss a turn, the 60CSx will quickly recalculate the route. Unfortunately, the alert tones are not loud enough to be heard above background noise like a stereo, or when used on a motorcycle. You can go into system setup to assign different tones to each alert or operation, but the only moderately loud tone sounds like a phone ringing. My wife quickly grew annoyed of that sound. I wish the other, more pleasing, sounds were louder. I emailed a support request to Garmin for such an improvement, but never received an answer. Or maybe they answered and I didn’t hear them!
Though the screen is smaller than a dedicated car unit, it is still usable if you mount the 60CSx fairly close to the driver. I had no problems seeing the maps by using a vent mount to place the 60CSx on the AC vent just to the right of my steering wheel. I would think a windshield or dashtop mount would place the 60CSx too far away to see or to easily use the buttons. After buying a vent mount, I found that I could make my own by looping a length of Velcro ribbon around a vent louver and clipping the 60CSx’s belt clip to the ribbon.
As you travel with the 60CSx it keeps a log of your tracks, sort of like dropping breadcrumbs as you go. You can save up to 20 tracks (500 points each) which will let you retrace your path in both directions. You can save the tracks to the microSD chip, which gives you a lot more capacity than the 10,000-point tracklog capacity of the internal memory. You can also transfer your tracklogs to your MapSource software.
The 60CSx has several other user configurations in addition to setting screen colors and alert tones. You can add, remove, or arrange the order of the main pages that are accessed by the PAGE button. For many of the pages, you can specify how many data fields are included and what data they display. Because the 60CSx can serve several purposes (driving, hiking, geocaching, skydiving, etc.) this user customization is a powerful feature. You can specify coordinate formats, which include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, user grid, and others.
The compass operates like a regular magnetic compass. Each time you change batteries you must recalibrate the compass by holding the 60CSx horizontal while turning it slowly in a circle. Garmin claims compass accuracy only while standing still. The altimeter can be calibrated by going to a known elevation, such as a surveyor’s benchmark, and setting the reading to agree. The 60CSx will plot a graph of altitude over time.
The trip computer page displays of up to eight data fields that you select from a list of 30 items, such as current speed, maximum speed, average speed, odometer, moving time, stopped time or current elevation. One small gripe – because of the small amount of drift inherent in the GPS system, the extra sensitive 60CSx thinks you are actually moving when you are stationary so if you leave it on for an extended time while stopped, it will increase the odometer reading as if you had been moving about.
The 60CSx has built-in celestial tables for sun and moon calculations and the best times to fish and hunt. It also has a calculator and stopwatch as well as a few GPS games where you move your player by running around in an open field with the 60CSx in your hand. There are special pages that provide tools for geocachers and jumpmasters. I am neither, so I can’t comment on how good these features are. But, I know from visiting geocacher websites that they love the 60CSx.
Garmin periodically issues firmware upgrades for the 60CSx. I downloaded the WebUpdater software from their website and found it easy to use to check for and install updates. I also keep my MapSource software updated from the Garmin website.
CONCLUSION:
So, is the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx the GPS for you? If you are only looking for a navigation system for your car, consider the larger touchscreen units made for this purpose. If you are only looking for a GPS to keep track of where you are while hiking, there are much cheaper alternatives. But, if you want one handheld GPS that will do it all with the best technology available, the 60CSx, or the 60Cx version (no compass or altimeter) is worth the price. Before buying, download and read the manual from the Garmin website.
Accessories available for the 60CSx include the 12-volt power cord, a remote antenna for better reception and a Serial cable (the USB one is already included). To further protect my 60CSx, I researched carrying cases. To read all about my search and the case I chose, check my review at
http://www.epinions.com/content_313193959044.
For more information on the Sanyo eneloop batteries I recommended above, see my review at
http://www.epinions.com/content_309637189252.
