ARTE

If auto-routing on the GPS is not a requirement, you can save a bunch by buying the Metroguide maps. They will show you the roads, and the points of interest, but will not auto-route on the 60C. I bought version 6 before my trip last summer and was very happy with it, but I wasn't driving myself around.

I had the same iQue problem (and remedy), and also own a 60C, but have not had any problem with either, or with MapSource, so I guess this counts as a word of encouragement that they can all play together nicely.

I haven't had any problem with the freebie on either my 60c or my iQue.

Ditto. The cost was low enough to give it a shot, but it wasn't worth it.

Just blue skying here, but I think the GPSmap 60C is a strong contender for comparable, though certainly not identical.

Hey - Tide Table support for this device too! Nice for those birding trips along the coast. Now the iQue can get me there at just the right time for the mudflats to be exposed! The free Garmin Tide info is listed with the GPSMAP 162 at http://www.garmin.com/support/agree.jsp?id=159. Note that Garmin does have its usual device warning, but it appears to apply to the actual 162 firmware, not the tide information. That is simply described as: "If you do not own a MapSource product which contains tides, but you do own another MapSource product, you can download and install this free MapSource U.S. Tides software. You must already own a MapSource product for this download to work. You can combine tide stations coverage from the Tides product with maps from other MapSource products and upload this to your unit. Download (5.13 MB)" Total size of the maps for the entire US is about 150K.

EDIT: issue resolved with Garmin - my misunderstanding of course. Still wonder if anyone has tried Navigator with the C ... As a result of what appears to be an unfortunate installation mistake with my iQue City Select v5 software (installed by techs at work not using my Garmin customer code to register so apparently not linked to me as owner), I am thinking of using my 60C as the second device on the City Navigator software that came with my SPIII. I will continue pursuing my City Select issues with Garmin so this may end up being a moot question, but since everyone here seems to think navigator will work on the 60C I wondered if anyone has actually tried it. Other than having larger map chunks than City Select, my understanding is City Navigator should operate fine. Am I right? I'd hate to "waste" a second registration if I don't have to.

Sadly, that's not possible with Garmin units.

You are probably right. I am still learning the 60C and may very well have turned off a different map than I thought. I'm just thrilled to have the information available on this unit, wherever it comes from.

After a bit of further experimenting, it looks to me like the tide information (as well as nearby wrecks!) is coming from the TOPO maps. I went to the 60C map setup and turned off the Metroguide "block" for the area I was interested in, went back to marine/tides etc. and the stations were still there. I will add that the presentation of the tide graphic is very nice and the unit includes the ability to show high and low tide in a table as well. The graph can be maniulated by moving a set of crosshairs to show the tide level as of any point in time over the 24 hour period shown. Dates other than the current day can also be selected. For those familiar with Tide Tool it works very much the same way. All in all, good stuff!

While fooling around with my 60C looking up points of interest I scrolled down the "FIND" menu to "MARINE POINTS", selected it and then chose "TIDE STATION". Much to my surprise a list of tide stations appeared and, when selected, I got a graph showing tidal activity for the station. Wasn't this supposed to be one of the big advantages of the 76 series? I currently have US Topo maps and some North America Metroguide (v5) maps loaded, but I don't think the tidetables came from them. Did I just miss that this information was there all along? EDIT: Never mind - when I choose areas outside of the map areas I have loaded I do not get any tide info for those areas - the unit just shows me tide stations for the nearest map section. Nice to have though as long as the maps are in.

OK, I'll bite. As for technique, notice the subtle finesse of extending the index finger along the right side & back for support.

My fingers are "slimmish" and one handed works fine for me. I have found that selecting the correct button can be tough with a glove on, but not much (if any) more so than with my GPS III. The balance of the unit is good for one handed use too - the center of gravity seems to be somewhere south of the midpoint so it does not act top heavy in the hand.

A search of the archives and the 60c manual didn't turn up an answer to this question, so here goes: Is it possible to set an alarm in the 60c to alert the user when a specified distance has been travelled? Specifically, if I know I want to walk say 3 miles - not necessarily in a straight line, and not necessarily with a destination in mind - can I program the 60c to "beep" me when the odometer hits 3 miles? I know I can check my distance occasionally, and if I wanted to walk a pre-determined course or get to a specific point I could set a waypoint, but how about if I am just wandering aimlessly in the woods or around a neighborhood?

I second the suggestion of the iQue. It is not as easy to manipulate while driving, but for the price you get a very competent mapping GPS, unlimited memory via the sd expansion slot and City Select software for auto-routing. The Palm part of the iQue is just icing on the cake. That said, I would also recommend obtaining the iQue's auto kit both for ease of mounting as well as better clarity of the spoken directions. Total cost for both is probably less than $550. I also own a Streetpilot III and while a refurbed III might be a good low cost choice, the iQue travels better, that is, it is less bulky and easier to pack for a fly/drive vacation.

Unrelated to air travel, but with respect to emitting a radio signal: Last week I was travelling in a 2003 Toyota Corolla rental. At one stop I returned to the locked car and was resetting the trip timer on my GPS III when the car doors unlocked "by themselves". I was in a hurry and didn't try to duplicate the effect, but I think it ocurred precisely as I pressed the enter button to select "clear trip" from the menu. I was standing right next to the car at a wildlife refuge with no other cars, traffic etc. in sight. The key fob was in my pocket. So, while I have personally poo-poohed the airlines for their conservaive position on GPSr's in particular, I guess I have to say I have some personal anecdotal experience to suggest they may have a point.

A post on another topic got me thinking, and a search didn't reveal an answer, so ... Has anyone tried the trail auto-routing with either of the MapSource National Park products? I am thinking that the GPSMap 60's do have limited map memory for street routing, but my guess is there is plenty for trails, that is, I will be covering less ground on foot so need fewer maps. I suppose what I'd really like to know is how the trail routing works on the V, iQue or any other device that can take advantage of that feature with these maps.

Much of the discussion of the 60 series seems to involve concern over the non-expandable memory. Certainly traveling with a laptop makes changing maps easy, but I was wondering if it would be possible to load a (relatively) inexpensive USB keychain drive with additional maps and upload to the 60 from that? Two other thoughts: can maps be loaded to a pocket PC running the Mapsource program and then transfered to the 60? How about staying in the Garmin family, and allowing a transfer of maps stored on an iQue SD disk directly to the 60? Seems like the latter would be an easy enhancement to the iQue - maybe even possible today? Just pondering the imponderable ...

quote:Originally posted by ardfarkle:

This raises a question that I have had since I started paying attention to benchmarking. The question is whether it is just my imagination, or does 1942 seem to have been a very productive year? The reason I ask is that it seems like a great number of benchmarks were eitehr monumented or confirmed in that year. The mystery to me is that this was the beginning of America's direct involvement in WWII, and even the NGS web site notes that: "During World War II, regular geodetic activities were suspended for the most part and much of the effort was directed to carrying out needed surveys at defense facilities in the U.S. and Caribbean area." Am I just looking at too small a sample? In all things, moderation - including moderation.

Where did that little guy go?

The usual.