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The venerable Garmin 60CS just got a whole lot better. The 7.5-ounce GPSMap 60CSx now features an insanely accurate, high-sensitivity GPS receiver by SiRF that tracks your position even in tree cover and canyons. Plus, you get a bright, sunlight-readable color TFT display and an included a 64 MB microSD card for storage of optional map detail. Add all that to the 60CSx's integrated barometric altimeter and electronic compass, and you've got a unit that is ready to take you anywhere on land or sea. 
The 60CSx is a refreshing upgrade of the 60CS, and features a removable microSD card for detailed mapping memory. View larger. | 
The device features the powerful SiRF GPS navigation chip for supreme accuracy in all conditions. You also get an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter. | 
You also get a large color TFT display and turn-by-turn routing capability. | You can use the 60CSx's memory card slot with preprogrammed microSD cards from Garmin (sold separately) that provide topographic maps, city streets, and nautical charts. In fact, the unit is compatible with most Garmin MapSource products including BlueChart, City Navigator, U.S. Topo 24K, and U.S. Topo and Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. The unit comes preloaded with an Americas autoroute basemap that provides automatic routing capabilities including highways, exits, and tide data. There's also a preloaded marine point database. You can even get turn-by-turn directions when you're driving, and an integrated trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. The 60CSx's 2.6-inch, 256-color TFT color display is designed to present mapping and trip information clearly and accurately in any lighting conditions. Plus, the case is lightweight, rugged, and water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes). When using two AA alkaline batteries, you'll get up to 20 hours of battery life from the unit. The unit's barometric altimeter system features automatic pressure trend recording while providing current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum/maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. Meanwhile, the electronic compass allows you to get accurate headings while standing still. Another key feature of the 60CSx is the 10,000 point automatic track log; 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions. There's also a large-numbers option for easy viewing, as well as a dual-position display mode. The 60CSx's trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. Meanwhile, a fast processor allows the 60CSx to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when you use the optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the unit's included 64 MB microSD card. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. Using the dedicated serial port, the 60Cx can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots. The four-position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit's features easy, even when your fingers are cold or wet. Finally, the GPSMap 60CSx is packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the hot GPS community treasure hunt game. Finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors. If you like the features of the 60CSx, but don't need an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, check out the Garmin 60Cx.
What's in the Box
60CSx unit, 64 MB microSD card, belt clip, USB interface cable, MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager CD, lanyard, owners manual, and quick-start guide. |
This was revolutionary 3-4 years ago, but with new handheld devices like the iPhone, etc showing how a handheld interface should work, this begins to feel ancient.
+ Great reception
+ Rugged (get a screen protector)
+ Reliable
- Hard to remove memory card, which makes the next negative even worse.
- For the US Topo Mapsource CD set, you can only can transfer 2026 of the 7000 US map segments per memory card. This means you cannot simply load the entire US (7000 segments) on a memory card. You need 3 512MB memory cards.
- The Mapsource data is OLD. The 2003 Mapsource Topo CD set is missing streets that are 20 years old in southern St Louis. The new 2008 Mapsource DVD is missing streets that are 15 years old. Google/Yahoo/MapQuest find these streets easily. Don't surprised if the forest you are hiking thru leads to an undocumented MegaMall.
- Poor UI for driving directions, etc. This is a hiking boating device, DO NOT buy for exclusive use with your car.
- Searching for POI is very difficult.
- Map Management is TERRIBLE. If you have multiple maps, good luck figuring out how to change the map in use. An example, if you install City Navigator, your topo will disappear bc the City Navigator covers the topo maps. You have to turn off City Navigator, but it's buried deep in the menu system.
- Worst designed bike attachment mechanism ever. It is too small for almost all handlebars. :(
Overall, I love it for hiking, find it occasionally useful for biking (prevening me from getting lost), and dislike it for car use, city exploration. Google Maps on an iPhone or Windows Mobile is much better. |
