Bird Hunter

Interestingly enough, I have noticed a noteworthly decrease (i.e., improvement) in the accuracy readings of my 60CS since Tuesday. I drive approximately 40 miles each way to and from work (1 hour to 1.25 hours commute) and my accuracy reading each day since then consistently shows ±6 ft for 90-95% of my commute (fwiw, my GPSr sits in a dash-mounted cradle while in my vehicle). The unit shows an accuracy reading of ±7-9 ft. during the remaining 5-10% of my commute. Go figure...

What is Trigo? (I did a Google search, but didn't come up with anything.)

I, too, have noticed quality issues with recent Garmin products (including the 60CS). As I mentioned in this post, the white letters on the buttons (e.g, Find, Mark, Quit, Enter, Menu, etc.) of my 60CS are very thin -- much thinner than the letters on other 60CS models I have seen (in person and in pictures).

Yes, this is exactly what I was describing -- having live NEXRAD weather images superimposed on top of GPS maps for real-time weather. So it does exist. This is a very cool website -- thanks for sharing the link. It looks like this technology will soon be available via XM satellite signal as well as wireless internet. From the website... Weather Navigator add-on coming soon TeleType Co. will soon have XM WX capable products that will utilize XM satellite radio frequencies to deliver real-time updates for weather maps on Pocket PCs. This will allow pilots, who do not have a wireless internet access while flying, to receive live updates of weather patterns when using their Pocket PCs in an small aircraft or on a commercial plane. TeleType Co. will unveil more details about these products soon once development is finished and ready for presentation. Features • Utilizes XM satellite radio signals for up-to-date weather map information. • Conveniently helps those, who do not have wireless internet access, with obtaining real-time weather updates. Here's a link to several additional screen shots... http://www.teletype.com/pages/gps/live_weather.htm

Indeed. My Blackberry and my cell phone both have GPS capability built into them, but as you mention, the device's firmware does not permit the actual use of this functionality (even though I can activate it in my Blackberry's settings menu, it doesn't do anything). Perhaps we will see a convergence of wireless data services (such as doppler radar) coupled with GPS receivers sometime after the wireless providers fully comply with the mandated rollout of enhanced-911 service (this was originally 12-31-2005, but so many waivers have been granted that the date has effectively been pushed well beyond that). Once 'location-based' technology (which will be possible via the GPS capability on the cell phone itself) is fully implemented and actually available and functioning on a cell phone, I doubt it will be long before GPSr manufacturers introduce their own versions of GPS receivers capable of receiving wireless data (just like it wasn't that long before manufacturers began combining PDAs and cell phones in one device). I guess time will tell...

Actually, what I was envisioning was simply real-time doppler radar, not direction, strength, etc. As I mentioned, I already have this capability on my Blackberry and my web-enabled cellphone (numerous internet weather sites provide this mobile functionality, including weather.com, accuweather.com, my-cast.com, et al). Unfortunatey, my current devices do not show me my present location and that is precisely the issue. I would like to have a device that can provide wireless data (radar and otherwise) combined with GPS location data. The GPS technology and wireless data delivery already exist and there are already service providers out there (just mentioned above) -- I think its just a matter of adding the wireless capability to GPS receivers. I have to believe this technology (or something very similar) already exists to professional, high-end users -- for example, NWS storm spotters. I guess I'm just wondering how long it will be before something like this is available on consumer devices. The radar data would not come from the satellites themselves -- the data would come from existing services providers via wireless technology (just like it already does on other wireless devices like cell phones and pda's). The market may not be there yet, but I see all kinds of wireless products offered on Verizon's "GET IT NOW" site that would not seem to have a market demanding them, but they provide it anyway (and invested the resources to make it available -- even with a limited market). I guess I was thinking more along the lines of this capability being most applicable and beneficial while driving; consequently, there would be close proximity to an alternative power source (e.g., 12-volt adapter). Also, I would envision this being useful when using a laptop and a product like nRoute or Steet Atlas. I think having the capability to 'overlay' radar imagery over real-time mapping/navigation software like nRoute or SA would be beneficial. Please refer to several of my previous comments above. Also, I would not envision having the requisite radar equipment self-contained within the GPSr; instead, I would envision the radar data simply being delivered to the GPSr via a wireless provider (just like it is already on cell phones and pda's). Obviously, this would require a wireless-enabled GPSr -- and this really gets to heart of my original question. I was simply pondering how long it will be before a manufacturer offers a wireless-enabled GPS device in the consumer market. Edited to add: I am envisioning something like this, but on a GPSr instead of a PDA...

I was coming home from work today and ran through a severe thunderstorm (thankfully, no hail). It got me thinking... wouldn't it be cool if we could get real-time, local radar incorporated right into our GPSr map screen. That way, we could monitor nasty weather in real-time and navigate around it. I know the technology currently exists -- afterall, I can easily get real-time, local radar on my Blackberry and on my web-enabled cellphone. It should just be a matter of incorporating wireless radar technology with GPSr technology. Anyone heard of anything like this in the pipeline?

Maporama will provide you with the coordinates for any street address.

I totally agree... and nRoute does give you the option for Track Up or North Up.

Just for the sake of clarity... I believe what you actually upgraded was the MapSource software (the 'engine', so to speak) and not the City Select North America navigation software. To confirm this, open MapSource and click on Help --> About MapSource. First, you will note the version of MapSource is 6.5. Next, click on the button in the upper right corner that reads "Product Info...". You will see a list of the navigation/mapping products you have loaded into MapSource and you will see the version(s) associate therewith. You should see that your City Select North America version is 6.01. Hope that helps...

My apologies, Clyde -- I sent you down a rabbit trail mistakenly. I have GSAK installed on two computers -- one at work and one at home. I upgraded the machine at work first and apparently I had never actually entered my registration code in v5.1 on that machine (shows you how infrequently I use the work computer for geocaching stuff). Anyway, when I got home and upgraded my machine at home (which I know had the registration code entered in v5.1), the installation of v5.5 worked just fine and I did not have to re-enter my registration code. Sorry for the confusion...

Thanks, Clyde!!! I installed 5.5 over my previous version (i.e., without uninstalling the previous version first). Hope this is the correct procedure... or is it best to uninstall previous version first? (I haven't noticed any issues doing it this way, but was just curious which way is considered the 'correct' way.) Also, after completing the installation and launching the new version, it did not recognize itself as a registered copy and I had to input my registration code again. Is this the normal/expected behavior upon upgrading? Thanks again. Great work!!!

I know someone will correct me if I'm mistaken, but my understanding is that updates to the MapSource software (i.e., the 'engine') are free. It is updates to the locked navigation/mapping software (i.e., City Select, City Navigator, BlueChart, etc.) that you may be required to purchase (see the link below for more detail). Click here for a link to Garmin's policy regarding locked product upgrades. Click here for a link to download (for free) the latest version of the MapSource software.

That is the way I interpret it... but I guess time will tell.

Garmin has announced that firmware version 3.80 is now available for the GPSMAP 60CS. You can download the new firmware from Garmin's website by clicking here. Changes made from version 3.70 to 3.80: Corrected intermittent USB data transfer. Corrected 'Recalculate' option for 'Off Road' navigation.

I have a Legend and an 60CS -- both hold satellite lock equally well and both routinely show GPS Accuracy readings of ± 7-9 ft when a clear sky is present and ± 15-20 ft at most other times. When I first bought my Legend, I noticed the contrast on the screen was very light (even when adjusted to a darker setting). I went out the next day and purchased another Legend (from the same store), brought it home and compared it to my original one. With brand new batteries in both units, the difference in contrast between the two Legends was remarkable. (I returned the one that had the poor contrast.) When I purchased my 60CS, I encountered a similar situation. The white letters on the buttons (e.g, Find, Mark, Quit, Enter, Menu, etc.) were very thin -- much thinner than the letters on other 60CS models I have seen (in person and in pictures). My personal empirical (and anecdotal) experience seems to suggest the issue is more one of variability between units of the same model and not one of variability between different models (although, by virtue of the former there will be examples of the latter). I find this to be true with most things, not just GPS receivers. (Geez, I sound like a Six Sigma Black Belt... "variation is the enemy"... Oh yeah, that's right, I am one!)

I've always had good luck with 3M's Ultrathon.

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