Intrepid Explorer

Marty, in the field-- You can save tracks to the SD card, as many as the card will physically hold. But once you delete a track from the unit's internal memory, even though you saved it on the SD card, you will not have access to that track again because your GPS unit cannot read anything on that SD card except maps. So, only save data to the card that you know you won't be needing again before you get to a PC.

Oh contrair. I did respond to your premise, when I wrote this: Now there is a farcical statement. If a user's track, waypoint and route requirements do not exceed the threshold of the unit's memory, how is it that unlimited maps are such a bonanza for that user? (and all these "most users" you represent ) You can't mark all those maps. You can't put markers, routes and tracks on all those maps in your handheld. Thus, rather than a portrayal of 'most' users needs, it speaks directly towards one user's lack of needing all of the unit's features. Again: how is it that unlimited maps are such a bonanza for that user? (and all these "most users" you represent ) You can't mark all those maps. You can't put markers, routes and tracks on all those maps in your handheld. So. To summarize. You've got maps from here to hades-- if the unit's internal allotment is full for any of the three functions, you have no way to place that type of object on those maps in the field unless you bring a laptop. ( and of course delete the existing marks in the unit's memory) And you say this is not important because at least you have your maps. What you are defending is the equivalent of bringing 50 gallons of catsup to McDonald's for an order of french fries. We need more french fries for all that catsup. The maps are of limited use without marks on them. That is undeniable. Your premise, as I said, is farcical, and as I said, speaks directly towards your personal lack of needing all those functions in your travels. That is not a crime, but saying 'most' everyone has needs just like yours is fallacious. Garmin has given us, the consumer, a gazilllion maps and no way to mark them in a seamless fashion in the field. That is gimmicky. This doesn't mean I dislike Garmin. I use Garmin. They are still the best. I'd like them to be better and rectify this. If Magellan and their piss-poor map software can do it, so can Garmin.

No, I'm saying that the ability to READ those from the card is an important omission. Keep trying, you'll get it right one of these days.

Right, though with 7.5 minute maps, that is a waste of time. We need 30x60 minute maps for zoomed out viewing, instead of zoomed out 7.5 minute maps. Government 7.5 minute DRG's, as is where is, are just too difficult to read in that display, in any scale but close-up. Of course, this issue gave birth to the vector maps products that zoom all the way through the spectrum. My bellyaches- I don't like having to download all 7.5 maps from online. Delorme should have continued to provide these on disc. They no longer do so. Agreed there is no other unit like it. I salute Delorme for stepping up with the first of its kind. I'm excited to see what the competition will come up with. Get me toggling between 30x60 and 7.5 minute maps on a decent size display, a realistic amount of tracks allowed, and I'm down with it.

Now there is a farcical statement. If a user's track, waypoint and route requirements do not exceed the threshold of the unit's memory, how is it that unlimited maps are such a bonanza for that user? (and all these "most users" you represent ) You can't mark all those maps. You can't put markers, routes and tracks on all those maps in your handheld. Thus, rather than a portrayal of 'most' users needs, it speaks directly towards one user's lack of needing all of the unit's features.

I wholeheartedly disagree with this point. The main reason I upgraded to the 60CSx was so I could put the entire US CN maps on and not have to mess with it all the time. We travel all over, so we were always putting different maps on it. If I had a dedicated car unit, I would feel differently, but my 60 is my do-all, and for me it does-all. I did not say that the ability to put all those maps on the card is gimmicky. I said it is gimmicky that the unit cannot read other data from the card. Why not both maps and other data, instead of excluding three of the four functions of the unit. It is ridiculous that the unit cannot read the card. Someone had to say it.

That unit is designed for someone on foot not someone who travels longer distances. So it could be a good unit for a hiker/geocacher. The problem with distance (such as what you would cover say on an ATV) is that when you zoom out on government USGS 7.5 minute DRG's, you very quickly lose your detail; the map becomes unreadable. What is really needed is the ability to toggle back and forth between 7.5 minute and 30 x 60 minute maps. Technology will get us there, one day, in a handheld GPS unit. At present the only means of doing this is with an iPAQ.

Not exactly. Writing track data to the card is a one-way process, as far as the unit is concerned. The unit cannot read it back. You can access it with a PC for things like geotagging, but it's not going to get you back to where you parked you car. Only the main memory track data can be used by the GPS. Oops...my mistake. Thanks for the clarification. Arthur & Trillian: Actually, I'm an an expert with mapping and GPS with years of solid experience. I came here for the GPS forum. For the record, I'm an explorer, I couldn't care less about geocaching. Lets recap- First, you post and insult me when I point out the obvious shortcomings of the 60CSX. Then you attempt to contradict me by posting fallacious information about the abilities of the 60CSX to read its card. You claim your information is derived from your own personal experience. Your statements are obviously not true, as Prime Suspect has pointed out. Thus your comment to me about 'real-world experience' seem embarassingly hypocritcal. Now having said this, I feel an apology from you is in order for your poorly crafted post and for misrepresenting your experience with the 60CSX to the forum. To the forum- Back on topic. Yes, The Explorist XL can read all data from its card, which is an extremely helpful feature because it removes limits on the number of tracks, route and waypoints the user can bring into the field with him/herself. However, there are tradeoffs. The Explorist XL cannot change the color of its tracks even though it has a color display. You can have the Explorist XL display the track in any color you want, as long as you choose black. Magellan's Mapsend software is awful compared to Garmin's Mapsource Topo because it lacks several of the important tools that Garmin provides in their program. I've installed and examined Mapsend and I would never use that program, myself. Magellan's new "3-D" software is awful also, as it also lacks important tools and it appears to have removed many of the dirt roads in the Western US. They simply no longer appear on the screen. Which takes us back to Mapsource. Mapsource TOPO is the best GPS vector product at present, and with their track editing tools, my favorite of all the GPS vector softwares at present. Thus I put up with the Garmin CSX series' inability to read their cards, which, as I have said, is in my opinion gimmicky, because the 76CSX for example, already can hold 120 something mg's of maps, which is a heck of a lot of maps. We needed more maps like a hole in the head. What we need is data reading expansion. That's the tradeoff at present. I do hope Garmin steps up and fixes this, then we'll have the best of both worlds.

It appears that everyone has missed the most gimmicky thing about the 'x' series of Garmin handhelds. That being that the unit reads only Mapsource data off of the card. It cannot read route, track and waypoint data off of the card for use in the field like the Explorist XL unit can. Garmin needs to step up and correct this.