Hairymare

Hi, thank-you all again. I did install 100 K Topo maps back when I got it on a 4 mg sd card. Also, I installed the entire Eastern part of North America - all that would fit onto the card. I think I am up to date on with the latest version of software on the GPS'r. I have to see if Garmin has come out with a new one. Maybe I should remove some maps. Thanks again.

Thank-you. I do mean redrawing the map page. I have not noticed it to be slow to pick up the satellites. But, sometimes I have the "D's" on the satellite bars and sometimes there aren't D's. I did try it with brand new lithium batteries that I carry for emergencies but I am generally using fairly new Sanyo Enyo rechargeable batteries. Thanks again, Yvette

Hi, I have had it since 6/17/09. I don't think it used to refresh as slowly as it is refreshing now. But, maybe I didn't realize it. I was just wondering if anybody has a thought on the subject. I love it and it is extremely accurate. I have used it quite a bit and also it contains the sirfstar 3 chipset. I am on apple, too. Thanks, Yvette

Hi Nate, FWIW, I have a GPSMap 76CSX which I recently purchased. At the same time I did purchase 4 Eneloop batteries and a La Crosse battery charger. Both of which I learned about on this forum. The batteries are made by Sanyo and are supposed to hold the charge and/or be ready to use until you use them. The charger is what they call a smart charger that discharges, refreshes and tests batteries. I have been very happy with my purchases and am currently in the process of refreshing some of my older batteries. I have been getting really great in my opinion battery life in my GPS with the eneloops. Also, the refreshed rechargeable batteries are working swell, now. I am sure others can or have explained the technology better than I.

Thank-you Bill. I found my "D"s and I sort of need to learn about Wass, differential GPS and EPE, estimated position error. I will try google. I have lots of D's with it sitting on the windowsill. I appreciate the answer. Yvette

Thanks for the link on how to manage the segments but I do not have any experience with a Windows OS and I am feeling disillusioned to think that I could run this GPSr with topo, topo 24k and City Navigator and actually thought that it what lots of people did which is why I bought the 4GB microsd card. I think if this is the case I would have been better off purchasing City Navigator and the Eastern Parks version. I didn't purchase the eastern Parks because I thought the learning curve might be too large for an initial attempt to get up and running because the application would have to be put on a Windows OS and converted for Mac. Thanks again, Yvette PS: I did find the maps on my computer by using the roadtrip application. When I use the icon for the map manager it just makes a swoosh and nothing happens.

I am sorry to ask but would someone please tell me where and what are the "D"s? I too, webupdated from 3.90 to 4.00 and am wondering what the D's are about? Thank-you. Yvette

FWIW, My brand new GPS Map76CSX came with GPS SW Version 3.00s installed. I bought it last week in the United States. On the screen, it also states software version 3.90 but I webupdated and it now reads 4.00. So, I am guessing I have the sirf chip instead of the Mediatek. Yvette

Thanks, I just downloaded web updater and went from 3.90 to 4.00 and I read in a different post that it might fix issues. I don't know if it has changed anything and at this point I am going to bed. I can't take any more tonight. Hopefully it will be easier to understand in the morning. When I was installing the maps on the GPSr map installer was advising the size ad I could just fit the upper right part of the US. I thought I COULD LOOK at the maps on my computer but I can't seem to find them. eek

Hi, I bought the above mentioned maps thinking I would be able to load all of the US onto my new Garmin GPSMap76CSX. I also replaced the 128mb microsd card with a 4gb micro sd card. The map installer will only let me load the upper North East section of the United States. I did call Garmin support yesterday and was advised the Topo 2008 are the current topo maps. The support man did not mention that I would not be able to load them all. Is this normal.Map installer advised that when I tried to load the whole US that it was too large a file? I was hoping to get the 24k Eastern Parks to load the Adirondack park and also was considering City Navigator. I have Unit Softwarev* GPSMAP 76CSx Ver. 3.90 as of Mar 30, 2009, as the support person told me that I would need that to utilize the 4GB micro sd card. 3.90 is what came on the unit. I did not check what usb drivers were on the unit nor what the ximage version on the GPSr is however they are dated 2005 and 2007 on the Garmin website. In another 15 minutes the map installed advises the maps I selected will be installed. Is it really true that I can only download a small part of the United States? Thanks. I am baffled to say the least.

Hi, it seems there are several books on GPS. Does anybody have one they would recommend? More specifically geared towards the GPS rather than Geocaching? I think I am going to purchase the new Idiot's guide for Geocaching but it seems to be in stock at the bookstore so hopefully I can see it before the purchase. The books below I pulled off of Amazon.com. I would like to learn about the capabilities of my new GPS mostly for hiking. The GPS Handbook, Revised and Updated Edition: A Guide for the Outdoors (GPS Handbook: A Guide for the Outdoors) (Paperback) Robert Egbert Outdoor Navigation With GPS: Hiking, Geocaching, Canoeing, Kayaking, Fishing, Outdoor Photography, Backpacking, Mountain Biking by Stephen W. Hinch GPS Made Easy (GPS Made Easy: Using Global Positioning Systems in the Outdoors) by Alex Latham GPS For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) by Joel McNamara Thanks again, Yvette

Is there a place I can read about the various chipsets? MTK v2, Sirf 111, Cartesio, Mediatex? I totally don't understand them. I am not even sure they are chipsets? Is there a chart that compares them? Or a chart that indicates which chipset that the GPS unit has installed? Seriously, I am just trying to learn. Thanks, Yvette

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=&pID=30926 Does anybody know the kind of chip used in these? I am just curious. Yvette

Hi Rd and Briansnat, Okay, I ordered again. I ordered the 76CSX. Hopefully, by morning it will be too late to cancel my order or the price hikes up again on the Oregon and I won't have to think about it for a while. I just want to say I appreciate the input and information. At any rate, I think the 76CSK has a certain geek appeal. Hairymare aka Yvette

Hi Rd, Thanks for the answer. I was wondering if you have applied the patches or not. I am wondering if they help. I really mainly am a hiker. I am always in the woods. I have been lost before and rely on my dog who can always at her leisure (of course) bring me out. But, she is almost 11 and is a large dog and she can not go in the woods as far as she used to. She is a standard poodle, btw. I did get the geocaching bug from my 18 year old daughter but the GPS bug from the unit that is a Garmin that was equipped in my new car. I love that thing. We have done 5 caches using the car GPS and had a good time doing it. Only one was in the woods a distance. I have to say it was very fun. Years back I tried two different GPS units, 1 was a Cobra, the other a Magellen 100. Both had a horrible time locking on and were more trouble than they were worth using. So, I have to say, I am very afraid, especially under trees and in mountains. I hate to lose the great deal on the Oregon. 250 or the deal on the 76CSK 240. And, I really want to end this GPS madness and be on my merry GPS way. Thanks again, Yvette Well it just so happens that I have both. From what you are describing I believe the 76csx is going to be a better solution. The Oregon is really nice to use and I find the screen fine, not great but fine. However, it still is nowhere near as good as my 76csx in tracklog accuracy and maintaining a lock in tree cover. Just like you I do a lot of hiking and bushwacking and live in the mountains of British Columbia. I'll map trails or routes in the summer and then use the gps to guide me in the winter for hiking. As of right now I would not trust the Oregon to navigate me and routinely see errors of 10 feet (no big deal) to sometimes hundreds of feet. I'm not sure if Garmin is ever going to get the Oregon chipset to work as well as the 76csx especially in slow (walking/hiking) speed accuracy. Heck if I used my Oregon a few times last winter I could have walked right off of a cliff. If caching is going to be your new passion then the Oregon may be fine...I don't cache but many do successfully with the Oregon. Hope that helps. rd

I have now canceled the Oregon 300, too. I can't believe I am having this much trouble deciding. I was happy with the 76csx until the price dropped on the Oregon. I am still perplexed.

I had decided to go with the Map 76CSX and than the price dropped dramatically on the Oregon 300 so they are now about the same price. I canceled the 76 and ordered the Oregon and now I am having second thoughts about that one after reading about the different chipset, the dim screen and the higher battery consumption. I would like to use it for hiking and geocaching. I do lots of hiking, bushwhacking and am always under heavy tree cover and live in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. Geocaching is something I have just taken up and found it great fun. I do have a GPS in my car. Thanks.

Thank-you for posting the link to the Sam Penrod site in your first post. It has helped me learn quite a bit about maps and receivers. Yvette

I beg your pardon but I but I don't really understand why you would advise the thread should be closed. The point of the thread is to try to find an understanding of which GPS might fit my situation. And, technology, prices, and opinions change. I have in fact searched through the forum and still felt the need to ask relative to my specific situation. Please, kindly ignore the thread if it bothers you. Many thanks to those whom have responded and as of now I considering the two Oregon models. I am sorry if I am missing something here. Thanks, Yvette

I am appreciating the information. Thhttp://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/style_images/1/folder_rte_images/image.gifank-you. I have priced out the following four units: GPSMAP 76Csx - $250 GPSMAP 60Csx - $290 Oregon 300 - $350 Oregon 400t - $423 And, the following maps: Garmen US Topo Upper East Coast - SD Card- $74 or Garmin's Topo U.S. 2008 topographical mapping software 1:100,000 scale USGS maps - $75. Garmen 24 K National Parks East -$60 (covers the Adirondack Park) I am not sure which of the map programs or both I should be considering as it was just posted by "Coggins" I could download free maps. So, I am now trying to figure out actually how much moola I will need to spend. My car did come equipped with a Garmen GPS system so for the time being I am concentrating of the unit, maps, and a microSD card which I understand I can purchase a large sdcard for $25.00 or a 2gb for $7.00 I think I would save $1.00, haha, by getting the Oregon 400t if in fact I need to purchase the Garmen US topo, Upper East series or break even if I need the dvd rom. I am primarily interested in having the maps for around the Adirondacks. And, I wonder if I went with the USA collection would I be wanting the 24K maps later or would it be best to find free maps online as suggested by Coggins? How equal would you say the maps are?

I have been studying the specifications on these two units and it would seem that the 76 has a little bit more to offer. Am, I missing something in that the 60Csx seems very popular. They seem the same except the 76 comes with a larger micro sd card, 64 vs 12b mg, and the 76 also has tide tables. I am trying hard, it seems, to narrow down which unit I should get. I live in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, I bushwhack lots. I have been minor lost on several occasions, I do want to try geocaching, I am a birdwatcher and generally spend a portion of everyday out in the woods. Also, I am on a budget or I would be inclined to go with the Oregon. Oh yeah, I am an OSX Apple computer user. Also, I am interested to know if I could use the National Geographic Adirondack Park Map cdrom with these Gps units? Thanks for your considerations for an answer to these questions. Yvette