GPS recommendations

[BB]

And you cannot rotate the 60c screen like you can the GPSV.

Again, just to be clear... Mapsource is a piece of application software that runs on your PC that does several thinks:

a. Manages uploads of Map data to a Garmin GPS via RS232, USB, and various memory cards. You select the region(s) you wish to compile and upload to the Garmin (only) GPS's.

b. Uploads and downloads tracklogs, routes, and via points to Garmin GPS's.

c. Allows you to route and autoroute (and save( on your PC.

d. Allows you to use the Map data (roads, topo, etc. that you have purchased) on your PC--and you can connect a GPS to get a moving map display.

Mapsource comes "free" with any Garmin map software.

As I have read, for the Garmin 60c/cs, there are two current map packages that will autoroute on the 60c (and 70c, spiii, 26xx, and GPSV).

1. City Navigator for SPIII and 26xx with voice support--US map not available for sale in North America--must come with GPS. Apparently more support for voice based units. CN will work on GSPV and Garmin 60c etc. families.

City Select for 60c, GPSV, etc. Same basic data without specialized voice support (I think). CS North America appears to be available for $110 US or so...

In the reveiw above, the authors used the CN for testing the 60C and apparently found no problems. Because, you can get a free second GPS support.

I would call Garmin (or your local dealer) and see if there are any known issues would loading CN maps on a GPS 60c (CN maps may take up more space than CS maps because of voice support???).

-Bill

Last paragraph--swapped CN and CS to correct intent.

 

[Wingerr]

[ QUOTE ]
jlfletc said:
Just got the Garmin GPSMAP 60CS, with the built in altimeter, and digital compass (works when not moving). This thing is awesome, and far beyond the Garmin V, which I used to own. The V was nice, and at the time, the best compromise of size, utility, battery life, etc.. The 60 CS is in another league! I saw it at the Shot Show this year, and I ordered it as soon as I got home. The main advantages of the 60CS over the V, are the color screen, the faster CPU, the USB port, the improved battery life (the V got about 20 hours on 4 AAs, The 60CS gets about 30 hours on 2AAs) the altimeter, the digital compass, the 56MB of RAM vs 19MB, and all in about the same size.

[/ QUOTE ]

Having used both the Garmin V and 60C, any observations on the timing of the prompts? My V for the most part seemed to have perfect timing, but my 2610 often jumps the gun. I'd be coming up to the intersection, and before I complete it, it would sometimes announce the next turn- I never noticed that characteristic with the V.
Seeing how the 60C seems to have addressed all the limitations of the V (primarily memory capacity and transfer speed), I'd like to find out if I might be better off with that instead of the 2610, with its size and mobility limitations. I want to avoid making a frying pan/fire decision..
Does the 3x increase in memory size translate directly to the additional geographical area that can be loaded (i.e about three times the area)?
Tell me something bad about the 60C and save me some money! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Harrkev]

[ QUOTE ]
Wingerr said:Tell me something bad about the 60C and save me some money! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The memory is not upgradable. You only get 56MB. I have had over twice that in my Meridian for two years!!!

 

[jlfletc]

Garmin City Select v5 - North America is currently on sale at Amazon for $102.59 no tax, free shipping. Cheapest I've seen. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000E2RP9/103-4417036-1890243?%5Fencoding=UTF8

 

[Wingerr]

[ QUOTE ]
Harrkev said:
[ QUOTE ]
Wingerr said:Tell me something bad about the 60C and save me some money! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The memory is not upgradable. You only get 56MB. I have had over twice that in my Meridian for two years!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, that's definitely a minus- but, unless it's less efficient with the memory, I think I might be able to deal with it. If the download speed is anything like the 2610, it's relatively painless to download the map areas I need on the fly, compared with the agonizing serial interface speed. That's the combination that prompted my defection from the V; memory couldn't hold enough to cover the areas that I regularly wanted it to contain, and to switch back and forth just took too long.
If the 60C functionally works just as well as the V, however, I think I might be able to overlook the fixed memory constraints.

 

[BB]

Just an FYI for those that have a Garmin GPS and Mapsource software on their PC...

It turns out that you can load the Tide Table software onto any PC that is running a licensed copy of Mapsource--whether there is a marine map (blue chart) loaded or not.

Also, the Garmin 60c family supports tidetables too.

See the GPS 60c review for details:

[ QUOTE ]
Tide Tables: (Thanks to Mike)
Although Garmin doesn't include the 60C in their list of recommended units to display Tide Tables, and may void the warranty [-BB:see Garmin email below], but the 60C apparently can display them. They are available (HERE) as a 5.13 MB download. As long as you have MapSource installed, you can install this software and it will get added to your list of available map products in MapSource as "GPSMAP 162/168 Tide Points". The next step is to upload the Tide Points. This is just like any other map upload from MapSource. Select the map sets and maps you want, including the Tide Points you want, and proceed with the upload.

Once you have done this, your "Find" page will have an option for "Marine". Select it and you will see an icon for "Tide Station" in there. It works great on the 60C; I'm not sure why they only present it for the 162 and 168. There are 3 "maps" for a total of 161 KB.

[/ QUOTE ]

And from Garmin's Cartography department, they replied to me:

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, the GPSMAP 60c is fully compatible with the BlueChart program including calculating tides and displaying the tide prediction graph on the unit.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't have a 60c (yet /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ), but I have loaded and installed the program on my PC and it works fine. My one complaint is that I can only display up to 1 week of tides at a time. Not really easy to look for those minus tide days. To see the tide chart, you have to right click and select the tide station and click on "feature properties".

-Bill

 

[TOB9595]

lightemup, this is a great thread.
If experience has taught me anything (and it often doesn't) it's to be aware of any little bumps in the electronic road.

If I was going to get a piece such as this I'd be inclined to purchase it in country. Nothing worse than getting a delightful tool and have something amiss in the first month. Then have to hassle in sending it over the water.
Tho as I write I think of how much I do get from overseas and it makes my argument pretty much worthless. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm still on the fence as to which unit to get.
Tom

 

[lightemup]

Thanks all /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm going to wait to see Branny's Meridian Colour before I go any further... And I think you are right Tom about buying the unit here /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The local dealer says he's found a way to load the whole of the Australian street map onto a 256mb sd card, and he thinks he should be able to do the same with the new topographical map that is coming out...

The jury is still out though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

And with my other recent purchases the GPS has sort of taken a bit of a back seat /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif Another aspect to the GPS: I'm currently looking at lap top computers, has anyone used GPS's with laptops, and what are the pros and cons (i'd guess better mapping as a start?)?

Thanks,
Cam

 

[Saaby]

Well if you got a laptop you could either get a GPS unit specifically for computes, but the Garmin should be able to dump NEMA data to your computer over USB so you could just use it with said mapping software on laptop.

 

[haertig]

Once you buy your GPS, be sure to check out http://www.maptools.com to learn/re-learn basic navigation skills. Also check out National Geopraphic TOPO! state series for nice topo maps for your computer ... http://www.topo.com

 

[was_jlh]

Cam, you asked about laptops and gps usage. I use a Garmin GPS 12 with an HP laptop. Works well, using Street Atlas in windows and gpsdrive in linux. When you're driving around, very nice to fire up the laptop and let it say "You are here".

Joe