kb9nvh
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Posts posted by kb9nvh
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Is price an issue? Why not consider lowrance?
I had one before my garmin 60csx and it had some features I really miss.
I just gave away my Garmin 76CS to my nephew (a geocache recruit) and now need a GPS for myself!
I had no real complaints with the 76CS with the exception that I wasn't too thrilled with the thumbpad. The Magellan units with the joystick looks pretty cool.
I don't mind jumping off the Garmin bandwagon and trying Magellan -- after a lot of research, it appears these brands are the only two for consideration.
On an even more generic-question level, does anyone recommend one brand over the other? It looks like Garmin is more popular given all the threads with peoples mixed experiences with the 60CSx. Or perhaps people don't have as many problems with their Magellans?
I appreciate your thoughts.
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Team Dubbin, I was looking through your old posts and I really dont see you trolling so I'm wondering why you posted like you did. I see you bought the CS and have been helpful in some previous posts.
You seriously should consider if you got a bumb unit and return it if you can. Have you satisfied yourself that you have done everything possible to ensure you dont have a misconfiguration or old firmware that might be causing an issue? There are lots of CS owners on here who should be able to let you know if your unit is not working as it should.
I'm sorry i accused you of being a troll...Previous post show you have added constructivly to other threads.
My guess is that you have soured to your garmin and have decided to not entertain any more thoughts on the subject and were just venting and you were not looking for any help or information.
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I really think you've just been trolling from the beginning. We should have been smart enough to see through it.
Enjoy your GPS, there's no disgrace in using a Magellan or a lowrance or any other brand (maybe some disgrace for a cobra).. We all love our GPS's. One of the best toys I've ever bought.
I think I upset the Garmin lovers of the group. Sorry but I will stick to my original statement.
MAGELLAN FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think its the snowball effect..so many folks have garmins that its whats talked about mostly on here. However, I think the garmin does have some clear advantages over other units but since I've only ever had a lowrance (which I loved) from many years ago, I cant talk to the latest crop of "other brand" gps's.
I wanted autorouting back when I replaced my old lowrance airpmap100 and so got a garmin gpsV. It was nice. Now I have a 60csx but mostly because Garmin got me hooked with the gpsV. Now that I've owned it I'm not sorry but I cant say I really did my homework prior to the purchase.
Several years ago I bought a basic Magellan Meridian to take hunting. Since then, I got into Geocaching and I take it with me on almost all roadtrips. Even if I have no reason to use it, I find I take it anyway just for the gee-wiz of knowing how far we hiked or drove, exc.
Now I want a unit that's capable of turn-by-turn, has a decent size screen, and is color. I've gotten it down to several units...the explorist XL, explorist 600, Garmin GPS60CS or CSX, and the GPS 76CS or CSX.
I noticed that this forum is really heavy on the Garmin units, especially the GPS60 series. Is there a reason for that? Does Garmin really make better units or is it a Ford vs. Chevy thing? Also, are any of the above units known troublemakers?
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I think that most folks on here try to be fair and honest when it comes to GPS performance. Posting that your new Garmin is CRAP is bound to get some responses but not from GARMIN fanboys but from people who have honestly used many different units and have come to a different conclusion. You may have a defective unit..if so, you probably want to know about it.
Also, as you know now, the CX units compared to the older C version is a completly different animal and you really cant compare the two as far as reception goes.
If you feel like your New garmin is sub par I would take it back (if you still can) and either trade another of the same kind or get yourself the "x" version that has soo many more desirable features.
Or you can listen to the advice of the fine folks on this list and try and make a better determination of how/why your new garmin is not meeting your expectations.
Just my two cents...I think anyone here would consider switching to a different brand if they built a clearly better performer. We're not Garmin Fanboys but lots of us have come to the conclusion that its the best GPS to own for our purposes.
I think the problem is that you made the big mistake by buying the phased out 60CS instead of a 60CX !
That is a lame excuse considering they are pretty much the same thing.
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My experience with the autocalibrate was that I ran a 5 mile run over a few hills. I reset everything for the start of the run. I turn around at 2.5 miles and retrace my track back to my starting point. During the run there is a large hill with a deep valley (tree cover is medium). The elevation plot was offset by about 30 ft for the return trip with autocalibrate on...It was obvious since the return trip profile should have been a mirror of the outgoing trip. The next day, same run, auto calibrate off. The return trip elevation plot was identical to the outgoing trip. For running, 30 was a big deal...driving, maybe not. Maybe it was just a bad GPS elevation day, or maybe my tree cover caused such inaccuracies that it messed it up.
Also, I know that, with it on, every trip back to my house has me at a new altitude +-50ft from what I set it too and know my true elevation at the house.
Just for everyones information...To get accurate altimeter readings always turn OFF autocalibration. You will have to reset your pressure as local condtions change but the alternative is very unacceptable where the gps is constantly trying to use satallite elevation to fixe the local barometer reading.Interesting, on my 60cs, I'm pretty sure I've set it on auto, and I've always found it to be pretty accurate (in reference to known points). I just don't want to deal with having to calibrate it periodically.
(And as far as I know, they've never added the ability to show gps altitude on the 60cs, so my guess is the odds are slim they'll add it to the 60csx)
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I"m sorry if this has already been discussed but did you try reloading your maps? Maybe yours got corrupt somehow? Put your card in a reader and do a "checkdisk" or scandisk or whatever the command is and see if the memory is all OK. You might have gotten bad memory. Also, did you try reseating the memory card? Just a few thoughts...probably already discussed on the other thread.
It certainly sounds like you have a unique problem and yours needs either a return to garmin or a new memory card. It has to be a corruption issue (as you eluded to).
Well, as I said in post http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=136382
mine simply shuts down when I make this particular turn - every time, navigating or not. In fact, it shuts down if I SIMULATE the route with this turn. [.. by turning GPS off, doing a Go To, and go into demo modes and say YES to simulate route.]
I have 950 megs of maps, have only tried in in one small area of Houston, and I have this shutdown problem. I don't know if the map is corrupt (or how much of the map is corrupt) or if there is something wrong with my Unit. I've yet to write to Garmin, but I'm about to.
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Would have to show GPS altitude just like my old gps V used to. This is what is so perplexing why garmin left out the option to display what we took for granted with the non "s" versions.
From another perspective...
What would your elevation on the airplane show if you had a Cx not a CSx?
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The altimeter problems were solved with the latest firmware...what are you running? ALways turn OFF autocalibration for the altimeter as I've found it to mess up the readings more than help. YOu will have to manually recalibrate when then local barometric constions change but so do the fine folks who fly airplanes and they really need their altimeters (they always reset to the local airport before landing ...very important..LOL)
I keep reading the horror stories, mine should be here in the next few days.
So how does yours work? I wish we had polls here (or if we do I wish I was smart enough to figure out how to do one.)
I've had the 60CSx for 6 months, and I've had several problems with it. I use it for hiking, not geocaching. The main problem is that the odometer is chronically inaccurate; it always indicates less than the actual mileage walked. The error ranges from 5% to 25%. What's odd is that the recorded tracks are accurate, i.e., I'll take a 10-mile hike, the odometer will read 8 miles, but when I download the track into Mapsource or another program, the track length will be 10 miles. I've also tested it against measured courses, and it always comes up short. It seems to be more accurate in open country, or on the road, than on the winding, forested trails where I usually go.
Then there are the screwy altimeter readings: sudden jumps to 10K or drops to -500. Even without the odd jumps, the altimeter just isn't accurate; the GPS elevation reading is almost always closer to the actual elevation, while the barometric reading can be off by 300 ft.
Then there's the compass requiring constant recalibration. I don't really need a compass, but if I did, it'd be easier to just pull out my trusty $20 Silva, which I carry anyway, because nobody should rely on an electronic device as the sole navigation aid in the wilderness.
I'm surprised that others have raved about Garmin's tech support. The 2 times I've spoken with them, they've seemed clueless. And they haven't even bothered to respond to several emails.
So, I've finally asked them to send me a replacement, and to make it a 60Cx, rather than the CSx.
In its favor, I will say that it almost always gets and keeps a reliable location fix, even in heavy tree cover, which is where I do most of my hiking. In this way, it's far superior to the Legend I used to have, which was useless for forest hikes.
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Well, on my 60csx the "elevation" is always the pressure elevation not the gps elevation (except on the satalite page where you can choose too see on a one time basis the GPS elevation). I know this because on a pressurized airplane the elevation tracks the pressure in the plane not the real elevation.'
Just for everyones information...To get accurate altimeter readings always turn OFF autocalibration. You will have to reset your pressure as local condtions change but the alternative is very unacceptable where the gps is constantly trying to use satallite elevation to fixe the local barometer reading.
Also, for anyone haveing distance inaccuracies, turn off lock on road. I've found that If I dont turn OFF "lock on road" my running (jogging) distances are way off due to differences in my real track and the road track.
Unless I am totally mis- understanding the problem, which is entirely possible....
On my 76CS on the altimeter page one of the choices I can change the data fields to is Elevation. That would be the elevation as calculated by GPS, nothing to do with pressure. The other data field can be set to show whichever pressure you desire, Amb or Baro. and have auto calibration "OFF" to keep the GPS Elevation from trying to adjust the barometric altimeter "altitude"
I've never even heard of the term "GPS altitude"
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Thanks for the link..I just posted my request also.
I've suggested this to them twice. Once back in February, a couple weeks after I got my unit, and just a couple weeks ago now, with a few software reviosion gone bt without adding this feature. I think it's completely retarded that you can't ignore the baro. Even inside my work building, since it's a hermetically sealed building, the pressure's wrong for the altitude and it displays wrong info.
I suggest that anyone who wants this feature added suggest it to them through their tech spport. If they don't think anyone wants it, they'll never work on it.
Good suggestion. The URL to submit something to Garmin tech support is: http://www.garmin.com/contactUs/techSupport.jsp
I have just submitted the following request to Garmin tech support.
"I would like to request that the GPS altitude be added to the list of parameters that can be selected from the "Change Data Fields" menu. I use my GPSMap 60CSx from inside pressurized commecial aircraft. It is a hassle to have to go to the Satellite menu in order to view the GPS altitude. I would like to be able to view pressure and GPS altitude side by side.
Please see the following Groundspeak forum for discussion concerning this request.
'http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=136426'"
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Yep, 60csx has it too....
Now to go look for my "add via" on the routeing page.....(wishful thinking)
I have a 76CS.....
Would anyone with a 76CSx please check to see if the "X's" still have this option?
On any specific waypoint's page, with the name, date/time,coordinates showing, press Menu. On the next page, which should start with "Average Location, Project Waypoint,etc", see if there is a "Reposition Here" option. You may have to Toggle "Up" one position or Toggle all the way "Down" the page, plus one more.
Thanks in advance.
Yep ... 76 CSx .. with all latest FW and Sirf SW ie SW Version 2.9 and GPS SW 2.6.. as per your Q
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My problem is that when I run the roads point to point resolution is too low...so a sweeping curve shows up as short straight sections and so my run distances are not as accurate as they could be. Others times, where a road Y's off, if the Y intersection isnt' in the exact spot then it keeps me on the road I was on, even after Y'ing to the left. After the distance is great enough it will then SNAP me to the left way beyond the intersection point. Those are my only two gripes with snap to road. I really dont see the need for it except it might look better when you are zoomed way in to not be off to the side of the drawn road by a little.
OK, I will try LockOn again. My experience was with older Firmware / SW versions. But, having said that, even at the 800 ft zoom level, I show right on roads with Lock off. What mapping software do you have loaded? I'm using MG v.6 while waiting for autorouting CN v.8 availability.
Even at the higher zoom levels, it shows *real* close, if not right on the road I'm on.
I have had 3 GPS units so far, a GPS V, a 60CS and now a 60CSX. I have always configured them all to "lock on road" and have never had any issues either naviagting via roadways or off-road geocaching, mountain biking or 4x4'ing.
I have read some posts here where they have it turned off.
What is everyone's recommendation and why?
Thanks.
I have mine set to NOT lock on roads
1. 60CSx is accurate enough to show on roads at any but the highest zoom levels.
2. Try driving across a mall parking lot and watch your tracks with lock on. You'll be amazed at where you are(n't!) compared to what your GPSr is forcing your position to show.
3. Try driving where your map shows no roads, but a road *nearby* & see what happens.
8mmag,
1. I usually run mine at 800ft zoom.
2. I have done this many times and I have never seen it put me on a road, just an empty area. Even when I am in my house, if I zoom in far enough, I am not on a road.
3. Done this too, and never saw it jump to different roads.
Try yours with it enabled and see if you experience issues. I would be interested in your feedback. Maybe they corrected something along the way so that it behaves more intelligently.
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Lock.
The only problems I've ever had were new roads built post-update.
I leave my lock off. When I run I want a more accurate distance and turning lock on just dont get it since the roads dont hav the resolution.
If driving then lock on is fine but honestly, lock stays off even when autorouting and it works great.
I never have lock on anymore and dont see the need for it. I get tired of it missing a corner or sweeping bend thats not depicted on the map. I dont like the way it will snap from road to road if the one drawn is not exactly the path. I get a better portrayal of my track with it off is the bottom line and no detriment to autorouting I have found.
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Me too, got mine all updated and working!!! This is probably the most WANTED and least needed feature of the SIRF chipset...LOL I think Garmin just pushed it through to get eveyone off their backs about it... :-)
I updated my 60 CSx to 2.6 and I now see #48 and #51 from the Indianapolis area...primarily #51 and with d's showing. Also, the signals are very strong and I can receive WAAS indoors, as well.
On a side note, I also updated my Nuvi 350 and sure enough, I am now receiving #48 and #51...primarily #51 as in the 60CSx. However, the signal bar for the WAAS satellite remains hollow and the satellite blinks off and on. I wonder why this is the case? Any answers?
There in test mode. They won't be up and running until the fall.
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I think he meant that its strange that the 60csx doesn't have the option to display the real GPS altitude as one of the information box's and then he commented that his GPSV worked like he wants it to on planes and the 60csx lacks this ability (for now anyway GARMIN, this should be an easy fix!!! hint hint).
Really? Very strange. The GPS V works properly on planes.
That's 'cuz the GPS V doesn't have barometric pressure sensors for smoothing out elevation and the 60CSx does. Without the sensors there's only the GPS elevation to report.
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Yep, I just took mine on a commercial flight and was thinking the same thing...why cant I select gsp elevation instead of altimeter??? Seems a stupid ommision.
Try "Elevation"
NOPE. That's elevation based on barometric pressure, way off in the cabin of commercial aircraft.
I would also like to see 'GPS Elevation' added as an option in the changable data fields.
Really? Very strange. The GPS V works properly on planes.
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Number 1 is not true on my 60csx. Mine has never frozen but it has 'delays' sometimes presumably because I have a 1 gig card.
Next turn pop up is a little "late" in my opinion.
There is no more automatic recalculation when using autoroute. (you have to press the key) Comment of POIs are no more visible (except waipoints are deactivated or set to 120m or lower) Unit frezzes somtimes Next turn pop-up on autorouting is a little bit bewildering (no option to customize) -
Well, this is somewhat true. I purchased city select 4 for my gps V and later upgraded to CS6. When I purchased my 60csx I happily loaded my version 6 to it (unlocking it as my second unit).
Next I tried to load my version 4 maps to it (since I was able to do that on my gpsV). It would not let me no matter what I did so I wrote garmin. They told me that I would not be able to use my verson 4 maps on my 60csx. I need some of the older features of 4 that aren't on 6 but according to garmin, i'm not entitled to use it on my 60csx (but my gps V was still allowed).
So, your old versions will not follow you to a second unit..
Well, one of the other things I don't like is that with the upgrade you essentially toss the prior version out the window and don't have access to it anymore. I've used some software wherein I liked the prior version better and reloaded the earlier version because I felt the revised version was bloated. Once you update, there's no going back to any of the prior versions as I understand it. It's good to hear that they're good to work with - but it does bother me to have to pay extra to use something in the interim while waiting for the map I want. Good thing I have the World Cup to distract me a little bit from this. How about that Shaka Hislop? Hate that the warranty clock is ticking while my unit sits there mapless. Thanks for the history of how they've backdated the release date and given folks discount for the update.
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Turn off autocalibrate. On my 40 minute run the whole thing shifted horribly...my lowest valley was like 60ft off from the first time through.
Then next time I ran the same run I turned off autocalibrate and the return trip was an exact match with the outgoing trip.
Turn off autocalibarte the altimeter and if on foot, set your track to update every second and see how your like your gps then.
Also, thanks everyone for telling me how to join tracks...I guess it lost connection...funny how I never see this thing loose lock but i guess it did. while running I had other things to worry about ...like breathing and not fallling into a road rut...
Am I the only one here with the crazy altimeter readings and plots?
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I love my 60csx and is much better than what I had before.
I ran and took it with me last week (some hills). I found, for walking/running, you are best to turn off autocalibrate the altimeter and turn on track by time 1second so you have good resolution on your relatively slow track.
One thing that did happen..mid run my track started over? My run showed up as two tracks. Not happy about that and I wasn't pushing any buttons at that time.
Anyone have any insight about this?
The 60csx is my 7th handheld and is so much better than anything else I have owned. Buy one and enjoy it rather than be perplexed with trivial issues.
Regards,
John.
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On another note, your gps may be waterproof but I doubt it will be waterproof a few feet below the surface.
The pressure on the gps as you go deeper will force water into the seals.
Dont dive with your gps if you want it to work when you come back up. Also, as noted, it wont work underwater anyway.
:-)
When using snorkel mask or dive mask
, thought it might be easy enough to see, but was not sure about how the satellites worked, that is why I asked! I just got the GPS, used to go with my parents when they went and I wanted to try this on my own since they just gave it to me. 
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I had a first yesterday on my 60csx.
The buttons became unresponsive taking a long time to get back after pushing enter on a highligted waypoint.
Also, it took a long time for the waypoint to highlight when moving the pointer over it.
I do have a 1 gig card and its filled up pretty well with cityselect 6.0.
I've never experienced this before and dont know what prompted it?? Anyone else have this type of experience?
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Darn son's!! Hard to live with em once they hit 14..LOL
So was your position "satellite altitude" or "pressure altitude"
I would have to say I won the bet. I am the father and my son (who knows everything) will never admit I am right but since I have some replies he'll have to admit he's wrong. Thanks for all your help.
There is no more automatic recalculation when using autoroute. (you have to press the key)
What A Mistake
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
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First I would like to say that competition is good and Magellan and Garmin would not be the units they are today without the competition driving their development. I'm glad to have more choices and I would go buy a magellan tomorrow if I thougth it had the best feature set/bang for the buck. I dont own garmin stock and I have no allegance to garmin other than I own one. I used to own lowrance but not anymore.
Now, about the WAAS reception of the x VS the CS model. Is this true for csx even now with the new firmware of a few days ago? I get WAAS now inside my house so maybe what youre' saying is no longer true?
I'll comment on the sensitivity of the garmin sirfIII receiver. I'm amazed that I can get a lock inside my house and even inside my metal pole barn. Now, its obvious that the only way to get reception without clear view of the sky is through multipath which is inherantly inaccurate. My thoughts on that are that I would rather have a poor lock with 65ft accuracy than no lock at all.
You magellan folks, how is your reception in deep tree cover/inside the house ect? Do you loose accuracy in those conditions like the csx garmins do? Do you keep lock without clear view of the sky?
I do like the compass of the magellan and wish garmin had implemented the 3 axis style. The altimeter of the garmin is a very neat feature and its nice to have accurate rise/fall info for running and biking (this is fixed, by the way, in the newest firmware).
I've never owned a magellan so I cant speak to its strengths or weakness's. I know the platinum I played with had lower res screen (but it was larger). For me the autorouting was the make or break feature of the garmin that moved me to garmin. I dont think Magellan does that in a multifunction GPS.
I guess I'm a Garmin "Kid" as I like the feature set and have used many of them. I dont see where haveing a good featureset is a detraction to a gps unless it makes it difficult to use. Mine is no harder than any I have tried (lowrance and garmin and some limited magellan). One new feature I recently discovered was proximity detection. I can set a radius around a waypoint and the gps warns me when I enter and leave that radius. This is a function that my old lowrance aviation gps had and warned me when I was entering restricted airspace.
One thing I HATE about Garmin is the way they license their maps and lock them to a gps. The new unlimited memory is a plus.
Is there a thread itemizing the strengths and weakness's of each model (that doesn't degrade into brand wars).