What is the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx like?

[melinda]

Hi all,
Am wondering how people are finding the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx?
What are the pros? What are the cons?
What is the signal like in terrain such as canyons?
What maps are people using with it and how good are the maps? (I'm in NSW.)
Etc, etc.
Melinda

[ILUVSWTAS]

I have the 60CSx. the S stands for sensitivity. I've been in some thinck scrub and heavy growth and never had it lose a signal on me!
It's a great machine and if you run Lithium batteries you will get 5 days out of a set with continual use.

However thats the csx, not sure about the standard model.....

[stepbystep]

Check out http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/show ... 60cx+60csx
plenty more info on that site too....

[melinda]

Hi guys,
Didn't realise there were 2 different models.
I knew that I'd get good info if I asked this type of question here.
Melinda

[MJD]

I have a CSx and the OzTopo maps. I have occassionaly thought about upgrading but haven't found anything significantly better. The reception on this model seems to match or exceed a lot of the newer models. The screen is a bit smaller and it is a bit bulkier. Out in the bush it works very well. It will keep working in quite thick scrub. As ILUVSWTAS mentions it will last 4-5 days on a set of lithium batteries (ie tracking your walk during daylight hours).

You won't be disappointed with one of these but it is does help to have a set of good maps. The OzTopo maps cover all of Austalia.

[melinda]

Hi MJD and Iluvswtas,
Are the Oztopo maps giving you reliable info???
Or only to a certain degree? (ie where did that 20m cliffline come from??)
(Any info on the Garmin topo maps??)
(Any info on Shonky??)
Melinda

[tastrax]

There are actually 4 models - http://www.gpsoz.com.au/garmin/garmin_60.htm

Parks have heaps of the 60CSX and also the Oztopo maps - great units indeed. I suspect all the topo data is coming from the same sources (available for free generally) so it just depends how much massaging is done on the data before compiling into the new product.

Screens can get somewhat cluttered when you have contour data and lots of labels but there are settings in the GPS to reduce that clutter.

A great compliment to good paper map reading skills/

Prestige Communications generally have great pricing on these GPS's (no extra data)
http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index.php ... ts_id=1337

GPSOz also does a group of deals with the data preloaded to a microSD card
http://www.gpsoz.com.au/garmin/outdoor_ ... _60csx.htm

[melinda]

Hi Tasrax,
Thanks for the info.
Had a quick look at the links.
Looks like there is a version 3 of Oz topo on the way.
At the moment I'm still using my little Geko, however my walking partner had just brought the 60CSx.
He hasn't brought maps yet. Still considering the options. I guess its pretty clear none of the electronic maps are going to substitute a good old topo map.
We did a little comparison on the weekend. The reception is definitely better on the 60CSx. Picks up more satellites, and with a stronger signal.
I guess we were on flat open terrain at the time. Have yet to compare the two up in the Blue Mts.
The 60CSx is pretty nice. But don't know that I am convinced on retiring little old Geko yet!
Still interested on everything people have to say.
Melinda

[MJD]

Might be worth waiting. Garmin have announced the GPSMAP 62. Basically an updated 60.

EDIT - looks like custom maps will be easy to do.

[melinda]

Hi guys,
I probably will wait a while on this.
I've been having a look at the mapping software.
Downloaded Mapsource for free and have been looking at Shonky and Contours. Shonky looks OK.
The other thing I've been playing with is the free Oziexplorer trial.
Have found a source that allows you to download all the tiles individually. (Free!)
Don't know how this would work uploading it onto GPS but it certainly seems comprehensive on the computer.
MJD, what sdo you mean when you say,
"looks like custom maps will be easy to do."
Melinda

[MJD]

It is possible to make custom maps for 60 but it does involve a bit of effort. With the newer models there is something called "Garmin Custom Maps" that can be done quite quickly. There's a description and more links on:

http://garmin.blogs.com/softwareupdates ... steps.html

[tastrax]

Having tried the custom maps I can tell you that most folks would be disappointed. Its not quite as easy as they write up and in most cases its OK if you don't want to zoom in or out. You can forget putting on a 1:25,000 map, let alone the whole state.

The devil is in the detail - check out the map forum for some of the issues. https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=204 Likewise the new Birds Eye imagery - that's actually a subscription service that's unlikely to suit many people.

[stepbystep]

Garmin CSX60 is $299 at Anaconda presently - must be a newer model coming out, still thats nearly $200 off - so glad I bought mine at full price

[melinda]

Hi there step by step,
Believe me I feel for you!
I find it particularly annoying when I buy the latest and lightest gear for a small fortune and then they bring some thing out that is just that little bit lighter again!
(You know, save an extra gram or two!)
Which brings me to the point: WHY IS LIGHT WEIGHT GEAR ALWAYS DEARER THAN NORMAL GEAR, THERE IS LESS OF IT!

[north-north-west]

WHY IS LIGHT WEIGHT GEAR ALWAYS DEARER THAN NORMAL GEAR, THERE IS LESS OF IT!

Yes, but it takes a lot of work to figure out which bits you can safely remove/change.

[Cocksy_86]

I think this is the new model. Looks pretty nice. Garmin 62st.

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=63802#