[Bueller44]

:cheers:
I just ordered my Garmin 60CSx with the windshield mount and a topo map for southern B.C. on the micro SD card.

Can't wait till tuesday to get it!!!!!! :clock:

 

[NotAlot]

I had the 60CS (no removable memory card). I liked it a lot, very solid unit.

I used it mostly for road driving and as a backup on the boat. It always did very well when calculating a route on the fly.

 

[Bueller44]

Did you use it for off roading at all?

 

[NotAlot]

Nope. I was aware of the offroad features and played around with it, but I never did any offroading while I had that unit.

 

[dnorton]

Garmin 60CSx

I had the 60CS and now have the 60CSx. Some improvements (sometimes) in the time to lock, but overall the accuracy is worse with the CSx

Someday, I will purchase better maps (have MetroGuide ver. 5.0, which does NOT autoroute correctly) and a bigger memory card.

 

[NotAlot]

Re: Garmin 60CSx

I had the 60CS and now have the 60CSx. Some improvements (sometimes) in the time to lock, but overall the accuracy is worse with the CSx

That's VERY odd. One of the main differences in the newer "x" model is the SiRF reciever. All I see are people ranting and raving about how much better it is than the old.

I would seriously consider talking to Garmin about this, maybe you have a problem with your unit/antenna?

 

[Muzikman]

Yes, there is no reason the CSx would get worse accuracy. There is probably somthing wrong with your unit.

As for off-road with the unit (though I do not have one myself, yet) it should do very well with the topo map loaded. The only thing I don't like is that Garmin topo maps are only 1:100,000 scale. Though, I don't know any company that makes 1:24,000 maps for their units. I wish someone would release a unit that could use the National Geographic Topo! maps.

I almost ordered the CSx the other day, Circuit city has a good deal on them and I have an additional 20% off. I am currently using an old eTrex Summit as a hand held and a USGlobalSat puck for the car.

 

[NotAlot]

Something that I feel is important, the 60 line of GPS's is not only excellent for offroad, it's great for mapping streets too. I used my 60CS solely to navigate roads, and the 60CS got me to my destination everytime. It might seem like it's not the best car navigator, but it hangs with the big boys. The screen is actually perfect for navigation streets because of the "portrait" layout, you can see a lot more roads ahead of you unlike the other GPS's that have the screen horizontal in a "landscape" type layout, they give more information to the sides of you instead of ahead of you.
The only problem is that you have to buy software since it doesn't come with the 60 line of GPS's. I had Mapsource City Navigator installed from another GPS and Garmin gave me an unlock code to use it with the 60CS (I believe they allow 2 devices for each license).

It just seems like you'd be wasting a large portion of the 60 if not also using it for road navigation.

Have fun!

 

[usmc xterra]

I have the 60CS love it, use it everyday for like last 3 years. On Water, Biking and driving. I bought about everything you can buy for it software wise and accessory wise. Any limitations is just GPS, not Garmin. Garmin Support is really good. But you have to really learn how to use it or you can get sent the wrong way. (Mostly when driving) This weekend, I went with the Pittsburgh Explorers club. My wife found the Klaer Lodge before the garmin could. But it was very useful after that. Tracking and such. Best tip, is really use it a lot so you learn how to use it. Always Mark your starting point. MC

 

[dnorton]

Garmin 60CSx

Like USMC, I have used the Garmin 60CS for over 3 years, both on road & offroad, geocaching, and geodashing.

I did a direct comparison of the accuracy (as estimated by the units themselves) between the 60CS and the 60CSx - the CS found the digital satellites (yes, both had WAAS enabled) while the CSx did not. The accuracy reported by the CSx was worse.

I immediately contacted Garmin and had lengthy discussions about this, including the periodic struggles to find satellites, despite the new SiRF receiver chip. If you seach GPS forums (yes, there are more forums out there other than just thenewx.org and that unmentionable one) you will find posts discussing this issue. I have even seen this problem with the wife's GPS (Garmin Nuvi 560, which I will soon be selling to let her have a Tom-Tom again(better interface software)).

Bottom line is my Garmin 60CSx is supposedly working normally, so I still stand by my comments.

 

[NotAlot]

Re: Garmin 60CSx

If you seach GPS forums (yes, there are more forums out there other than just thenewx.org and that unmentionable one) you will find posts discussing this issue.

I'm a member of probably all those forums you are speaking of (GPSPassion, Geocaching.com/Groundspeak, GPSinformation etc.) and I have never seen the issue you mention.

I have never seen a newer "x" model perform worse then the older model without there being a problem. It's always the exact opposite, that the x destroys the older model consistantly.

Do you have any links to this issue being discussed somewhere? I would really like to read into it, thanks.

BTW, what is the Nuvi 560? Do you mean the 360? I have the Nuvi 350 and just received the 660 yesterday. The Nuvi line is very nice.

 

[Muzikman]

I too read most of the GPS forums out there and have not seen many problems with the CSx especially since the last firmware release about a month ago.

 

[usmc xterra]

Geee I was thinking of an upgrade because I have a Garmin 188C with cards and thought the csx would be cool. But now I am scared! shake shake knees knocking! My 60cs works fine I guess. Fast lock, does all I need. MC

 

[lj1983]

i know this is an older thread.....

i got my Csx over the weekend and freakin love it.

i was reading on the gps forums, and one of the conclusions that they have come to, is that the accuracy shown on the gps is still a 'projected' number...nothing real to it, all calculated stuff.... but they think that garmin has gotten alittle more "strict" about the numbers they put out. so, its still as accurate, just doesn't say so.

as for locking on satellites...i haven't had that problem. nor have i read much about that problem...

i just an etrex before, and i've only used a CS overseas...but this Csx is amazingly accurate. there have been 4 or 5 caches now where i would wander around searching, like i used to with my etrex, when i should've just followed the GPS...which put me right on top.

plus...i have the entirety of City navigator 8 north america on my gps, all the time...

 

[dpatton]

i got my Csx over the weekend and freakin love it.

i was reading on the gps forums, and one of the conclusions that they have come to, is that the accuracy shown on the gps is still a 'projected' number...nothing real to it, all calculated stuff.....

...but this Csx is amazingly accurate. there have been 4 or 5 caches now where i would wander around searching, like i used to with my etrex, when i should've just followed the GPS...which put me right on top.

Garmin does use "Accuracy" on some of it's GPS receivers, which is unfortunate, as it just confuses people. The number is properly known as the EPE(estimated position error), and yes, it's "calculated" - it has to be, because no GPS receiver has any way of knowing the actual accuracy of the position it is reporting. However, people can determine the accuracy of a GPS receiver, by comparing it's results with 'known positions', however, this is done using very precise measurements, not by finding geocaches ;-)

The best way to think of the "Accuracy" or EPE number is that it's an estimate, and that 'most of the time' the true location of the reported position will be within that distance of where the GPS receiver is located.