CenTexDodger

NT uses a different compression technology that allows it to fit in about 2/3 the space that non-NT takes. NT is about 990 mb non-NT is about 1.6 gb. I believe that NT also has data imbedded that is used with traffic receivers--if you are using a handheld, that is irrelavent. ETA: The map data between the two is the same.

There is not an upgrade for this one. The one at Amazon is the correct software. Yes they are not very good. That works. Many users here do the same thing. You can load them on your GPS at the the same time, and just switch back and forth between them. They do not display simultaneously, you have to swith back and forth.

Well, based on the reviews and other threads on here... I'll be using this for multiple purposes: hiking, auto and bicycling. I like the buttons on the front layout of the 60CSx. Also, although the Vista has a clearer screen, the bigger screen (to me) would be better for car use... same as a 20 inch TV may look better than a 14 inch computer monitor from your couch across the room... Also, I like the fact that Garmin has pretty much worked the bugs out of the 60CSx, but still has some work to do on the HCx. One thing I WOULD like to do is get the feel of either or both of these... So far, I've just seen these two units online. Robert I love my 60CSx, and I use it the way you describe (well not so much biking!) I like the front buttons, and it works good for me. Get what works for you and what you will be happy with.

It is not really a question of whether you are in the backcountry or not. It will pick up WAAS if it has a descent view of the southern sky. If you are in the shadow of a mountain, it may not pick it up, but otherwise it probably will. I have used min in the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico, and it picks up the WAAS sats. Now the real question is, is it necessary? the difference is probably 10-12 feet of accuracy vs 20-25 ft. If you are finding your position on a map, or finidng landmarks, that ammount of accuracy may be sufficient for your needs. You might try to run it for a day with Battery saver off, then run it with batt. saver on and see if the difference in battery life vs increased accuracy is worth it for you.

Try Edit-->preference-->Terrain Shading-->on.

That is the first time I have heard that. I understood that Battery saver mode turned WAAS off and reduced the satellite signal interval from 1 second to 5 seconds. I may be using the wrong terminology, but basically it only updates the info from each sat every 5 seconds.

You may be right, but the 60 series would be the next logical choice to receive upgrade/revamp treatment. As you said, the e-trex line recently got its facelift. I would not say that the 60 series is all that new. The 60C(S) came our (IIRC) in 2003. The x models gave it much needed uplift, but they cam out in 2006, and the programming architecture is not that different than it was in 2003. I would be very surprised if Garmin did not come out with a new Top-of-the-Line outdoor handheld within the next year. And no, I do not believe that the eTrex Vista is a top of the line unit (or rather, I don't think it is intended to be) It is the top of the eTrex line, but I think the e-Trex is supposed to be the "mid line", and there is supposed to be an up line above it, and right now there is very little advantage to the 60C(S)x over the Legend/Vista. At least that is the way I see Garmin's marketing strategy.

Garmin's Third Party Mapsource Developers page does not list anything for either Ecuador or Columbia. I am not sure how useful a GPSr is without maps ... Seriously???? GPS is extremely useful without maps, or more correctly without pre loaded maps and just paper maps. Using UTM or some other grid reference system (I am not sure what they use in Ecuador and Colombia). you can accurately pinpoint your position on a paper map. You can also see your position, your breadcrumb trail and which way is which. Even if you got hopelessly lost, you could follow your back trail all the way back to your starting point using nothing but a GPSr with no maps. A plain yellow e-trex can do that. If you look at the first generation of consumer handhelds none of them had maps. But hikers were happy to get them because you could more accurately see where on a topo you were. Also, there are 3rd party vendors that are building MapSource compatible maps that are not listed on Garmin's Third Party Developers site. Google is your friend here.

The 60CSx is very good and will do much of what you want. It will do elevation, but I believe if you are using the barometric sensor for elevation, it will not give a good indication of the barometric pressure, I believe it will show you ascending or descending when the pressure is changing. I could be wrong though. It won't do temperature. it has a compass built in. Depending on when your trip is the Triton may or may not be out, and then it may or may not be bug free. (before you Magellanites jump on me, remember that the 60CSx was not bug free in its first few months of release). You may be able to find Garmin compatible maps on the internet. They are not from Garmin, but there are 3rd party creators that may have maps of the area you are interested in.

I would agree that the Manual is pretty basic. It is more aimed at someone who just picked up a GPS for the first time, and is just a get started guide. What you are describing is more of an advanced function. Note that I am not disagreeing with you, it should be more clear. I think the architecture itself goes back to when all Garmin handhelds had fixed internal memory. The designers allocated x amount for waypoints, y amount for routes, and z amount for tracks. When they went to expandable memory, that was primarily for maps, the POI and track saving functions would come later. For example, the Legend HCx is a decendant of the original Legend. They have retained the same architecture since that time. It would be like going into a house that had been added onto, and wondering why it is laid out the way it is. You wouldn't have designed it that way from the ground up.

Did you get a micro SD card? the 64 mb card that comes with it won't hold many maps. But yeah, install the maps, update the firmware, and upload the maps. IIRC the setup process will assist you with firmware updates, I think it wil prompt you and guide you.

Isn't that the Chip in the H models? I think the chip in the Venture Cx and the Legend Cx is a Garmin chip.

I wouldn't say that the Media Tek has trumped the Sirfstar III. That being said, my bet is the 60 series won't be upgraded. I think they will be replaced by a completely new unit with a new interface and styling.

My unit actually gave an error message and stopped routing. It's like what happens when you have the Topo USA maps selected and try to auto route with them - same message. Except it threw this error message after it had already calculated the route and I'd been following it for about 7 minutes. Just heading down the highway... and boom, all of a sudden it doesn't know of any roads near my house?! This is the first time in the year I've had the thing that it's done this. (And the first time I've really had the unit in the car since I updated to the 3.5 firmware and the City Nav 2008 NT maps) Seems like it could be an issue with the 3.5 firmware since someone else had it happen with City Select. Hopefully we'll get more info here if others have it happen. Might be something Garmin needs to fix. When you uploaded the maps it is possible that the "include route calculation data" checkbox on the maps tab of MapSource became unchecked. That would produce the kind of error you are describing.

You're right, it does not put the elevation in the new (remote)waypoint, just one where you mark your current position. The DEM data is used to create vertical profiles of routes, again, you will have to decide on the usefulness.

The DEM data (the data which is needed for map shading in MapSource) will be stripped out during the process of combining the segments. You can have both the original Topo 2008 and the new version with larger segments and no DEM data on the PC to use with MapSource. You would choose the original with the nice shading in MapSource to plan trips, etc. You would use the one with larger segments and no DEM data on the GPSr which won't show shading anyway. Without the DEM data you would be able to fit all of Topo 2008 on a 2GB card. Just to clarify, the DEM data is used by the GPS. If you were to pan to a point on the map that is not on a contour line, the elevation of that spot will show, or if you create a waypoint on that spot, that waypoint will have an elevation taken from the DEM data. How useful that information is to you, you will have to answer.

I don't have a question, but it looks pretty sweet! And that is coming from a diehard Garminite.

I think it is a little more complex than that. Garmin maps are not Bitmap type files. They are object oriented vector files.

MapSource only embeds an unlock code into the transferred maps with maps that require an unlock code (City Navigator, Blue Charts etc.). Maps that do not require an unlock code such as MetroGuide, US Topo, Topo US 2008, etc have no such code written to the mapset file since none is required. True, but when it builds a mapset, it compiles all the maps into one file. If that file contains both locked and unlocked maps, you would not be able to access any of it in a situation where you put your micro SD into another GPS unit.

That's great to know you can do that. That completely solves the problem of the GPS not being USB 2.0! Be aware, however that the slowing part of the process is the buiding of the mapset. While the transfer my only take 15 minutes or so, the build can still take an hour or more. Of course, when you get 1.9 gb of maps loaded, you should not need to do it again very often

The guy in Best Buy is probably used to working with Auto units, in which he is correct, but not for your handheld. If I were you, I would take the update back. Go online and find a copy of City Navigaotor North America 2008, or City Navigaotor North America 2008 NT, both should work with your unit. If you get lost or stuck, call Garmin. You may have to purchase from them, but they have really good support and if they do something wrong, they will make it right.

I think the OPs point is that the new 2008 NT is NOT playing well with his 60C(S)x. Although he does not say specifically that he has an (x) model, I sort of gathered that from his post. If he has a non-(x), I think Garmin's response would have been along the lines of: "I'm sorry you cannot use NT maps on that model." I got a copy of City Nav 2008 (non-NT) because I have been on a non-NT upgrade path. It installed just fine on my computer, but I have not unlocked it to use on the GPS. I would imagine it will affect the 76C(S)x as well considering they use the same firmware as the 60C(S)x. edited for clarity

In order to put topos on the GPS, you must use Garmin maps. Topo US 2008 is the current Topo map that covers the entire US. It is a 1:100,000 scale map. If you are only going to be in the National Parks, Garmin also makes a 1:24,000 series National Parks series. From the sound of you post, however, the Topo 2008 is what you want. You can buy them preloaded on Micro SD Cards, but it is not economical to do so. It is about $86 to buy a pre-loaded card that covers a region(5-10 states). You can get the whole USA on DVD for about that price. Also, you will have the maps on your computer for planning purposes. You will also need to get a larger micro SD card, but IIRC you can get a 2gb one for about $30.

I just checked the details of that rebate, and it's only good if you are upgrading from an old version of Mapsource US Topo. http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/0..._V31778602_.pdf I think the price is 109.98 minus the $30 rebate. The $78.87 seems to be the OLD mapsource topo. The first sale date was Jan, 2007 way before the 2008 product was available and the old picture is shown as well. The old picture is shown, but the description and title is for the new one. Also, you can get it cheaper than 109. I got it from TigerGPS for about 84.

You shouldn't have to. I installed the software on my HD and all the maps reside there.