Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx Handheld GPS Navigator
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $295.94 You Save: $187.05 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx Handheld GPS Navigator
Customer Review: A geocacher's delight!
Summary: 4 Stars
Geocaching has become the leisure activity of choice for my husband and me (aka "Trekkin' and Birdin'"), taking us to incredible waterfalls tucked in sandstone canyons, caves and many other adventures. We already own a Garmin GPS Map60CSx, and wanted a second device for those times when one or the other of us is traveling and wants to break up those trips with a cache or two. This was our choice.
As with the higher priced version, users must be conscious of which button they push, as it's easy to hit "enter" when you want to hit "quit," therefore listing a cache as "found," when it's not been found yet. That said, the device is very sensitive and holds the signal well, even in the heavy cover of forest or rocky bluffs, preferred locations for us to cache. It is able to stand up to the kind of abuse this activity demands. It's been dropped down rocky slopes, fished out of swamps and even taken a quick swim from a kayak, and keeps working just fine.
The two cautions I would offer are that batteries are eaten by these devices, even when avoiding use of the backlight. After reading another review here, we'll look into the use of the rechargeables he mentions.
Also, don't expect to load your additional maps onto a second device for a bargain. We'd hoped to purchase an additional "unlock code" for the City Navigator program we'd already bought, and it would cost almost one hundred dollars. If you think you may need to make maps available to one device or the other, buying the Secure Digital version with the maps may be a better option, as this can be switched back and forth between units.
Overall, we've been very happy with the GPS Map60Cx. It can take the kind of abuse we've dished out as we climb bluffsides and rockslides, paddle on rivers and push through thick thorns in search of our "smileys."
Customer Review: A downgrade from the eTrex Legend Cx?
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this GPS (my 4th Garmin Handheld GPS) thinking it would be an upgrade from my eTrex Legend Cx, which I've had for several years. In some ways it was an upgrade. The bigger screen is nice. Altho NOT as Bright as the Legend Cx, (even at the brightest setting) this change was probably done as a battery saver. The antenna is MUCH more sensitive. I also like more buttons to "mark" and "find" waypoints. The zoom in/out buttons are easier than on the eTrex product line. However the "Rocker" keypad SUCKS! It is difficult to move around the input screen for naming waypoints. I often have to hit it several times to get it to move to the next letter. The "joystick" on the Legend Cx is easier and less time consuming to use in inputting info. Bring back the "joystick".
My BIGGEST complaint and it might be a deal breaker... Garmin got rid of the "Find Exits" search feature that is on the Legend Cx. It was part of the software under the "Find" menu. This Feature is INDISPENSABLE on road trips (yes, I know this is a handheld unit primarily used on trails but getting TO the trail is important too.). I can't tell you how many times I've wanted to know when the next Rest Area was on the Interstate. Or wanted to know where the next Taco Bell was or which gas stations were at the next freeway exit. With the GPSMAP 60 Cx, this feature isn't available, but on a cheaper older model it was just a few clicks away? WTF? The only thing I can figure is Garmin figured this feature was highly useful and they could charge us extra for that feature. I thought I was buying a better GPS with MORE features NOT less.
Buying this GPS is like buying a a new 2011 Ford F-150 pick-up and getting a 1950 F1 Pick-up; Nice but missing some key features I was expecting.
Customer Review: GPSMap60Cx is the best value for hand held GPS
Summary: 5 Stars
I ordered mg GPSMap60Cx and had it two days later. Amazon came through in no time. The unit itself is impressive. I sports the SiRF III GPS chip and a quad helix antenna. The SiRF chip is the best one on the civilian market for accuracy, and reception. There are other GPS units, and some by onther manufacturers that use this chip, but I decided to go with a recognisable name brand. Glad I did too. This thing gives me 6 near full signal strength sat's while under thick tree cover and tracks accuratly. I stood in one spot, marked the spot with a waypoint. Then walked a quarter mile, marked the spot, then came back to the first spot and was within a few feet of the waypoint. All under heavy tree cover. The GPSMap60 series is quickly gaining a reputation as a high accuracy reciever from what I already have read.
The only drawback is the fact that the topo and city sreet maps are expensive. The unit is $360, and the maps are over $100 each. By the time I get done, I will be into this about $600.
If you are looking for a hand held GPS unit, I would go with any of the 60 series from Garmin. They all have the same GPS chip and antenna. The only differences are the screen, color vs. b/w, and if it has a barometer and compass or not. The Cx that does not have an electronic compass, DOES have a compass that gives you your heading. It's operated by the sat signals, so you have to be moving to have it show you your heading. But with that, you can figure out north if you need to. I'm against having the sensors because they draw too much power to operate. It also costs another $40 for the CSx model.
Other than that, I'm entirely satisfied with the GPSMap60Cx. It has proved to be everything that I came to expect after much research.
Wayne
Customer Review: It got me to Guatemala and back and I only got lost a couple times!
Summary: 5 Stars
I did some research before settling on the 60Cx. I wanted something that was mulit-purpose and rugged and this fit the bill. I didn't need the extra features of the CSx so it made sense to get this one.
When I first got it it took a bit to get used to how it worked. The base map is basic, at least I didn't notice all of the options for POIs and stuff. It also wasn't autorouting. I am not sure if the base map is supposed to do that or not or I just didn't upload the maps from MapSource to it.
I got the unit for a motorcycle trip through Mexico into Guatemala and back. I purchased a Mexico map from BiciMapas and loaded it up through MapSource (another option was to get the maps on SD cards but I did not try that method). After playing around with it things got easier to use and I was able to do most of the things while riding with gloves on. It was a little difficult to move the cursor to the right with gloves on, and even without gloves on occasion.
I liked the features that it provided. It had the elevation, compass (you have to be moving to use both) odometer, speed... I really like that it would follow your track, it was a great way to see how far I had come and various points along the route. A lot of the time I used the tracks from a end that I uploaded to the device instead of the autorouting. The autorouting will take you the wrong way on one way streets but that is more due to the maps and not the device.
I really liked the unit and plan to take it camping and use it more. It worked well, batteries last a couple days of having the device on for 10 hours a day. I am very happy with it.
Customer Review: Be Careful about buying this, you may not be able to use it.
Summary: 1 Stars
When I got this I installed the accompanying software, Trip and Waypoint Management, which is supposed to update the built in maps. The software installed, but would not run. This alerted me immediately to problems. Probably because it included Mapsource, which is necessary to upload anything to a Garmin GPS, both Garmin maps or any other maps. An update from the Garmin site wouldn't run either. So when it arrived, I loaded the City Navigator American NT maps. These would not open either. I was able to find an update for MapSource Beta, which is indicated on Garmin's site to be only for topo maps and NOT recommneded for any other maps, which allowed me to access the maps, and to unlock them, which requires Mapsource. However, the Mapsource Beta program allowed me only to look at the maps on my computer, but will not load them into the GPS. So, for me, both the GPS and the maps are useless. There is no indication of this problem or any fix indicated on the Garmin site. In fact only by looking on the web did I discover that most MapSource versions, with the exception of the Beta do not run on 64 bit Windows 7 at all.
I was very disappointed by this time consuming and frustrating experience and am returning all to Amazon, which has such a good return policy. I bought Garmin, because I used a Garmin GPS for several years for flying a small airplane, and it performed exactly as it should. But that was in Windows XP days, and Garmin software apparently has not kept up their software, in spite of their excellent hardware (according to other users reviews). Regrettably, I will have to look elsewhere for a handheld GPS.