TheGeoHunters

I had an eXplorist XL briefly and returned it for a Garmin 60CSx. The problems I found with the XL, as nice as it was to have the larger screen, the unit was too big to carry and use comfortably in one hand. You have to use the backlight all the time to see. With the 60CSx, I rarely use the backlight until night time. The XL takes 4 batteries, not a big concern but the Garmin units take 2 and some of the other explorist models only require 2 or use rechargeable Li-ion batts. I did like the click stick on the explorist units, they work easier than the separate enter button on the Garmin. Just my 2 cents.

You will find that the major concensus is that the Garmin 60Cx and CSx are a very good unit and I see multiple posts every day where someone has purchased one of these units. I traded in an Explorist 210 for the 60CSx and it was like night and day. The CSx is extremely accurate, and while more complex the manual was very detailed and the unit is easy to use. It's not an inexpensive unit but you will be very happy with it. I know that I am

Yup I was doing something wrong. I wasn't getting the PQ data I was thinking I could run it "on demand" and get the resulting file to export to my PDA but it comes only via email? I got it from my email and uploaded it fine. Just need to figure out now what data I need and toss the rest now.

Actually the difference between the Cx and the CSx is about $20 bucks is you check around so spring for it. I have the CSx and I am very happy with it. The compass is a convenience, but I find I use it.

Ok I must be doing something completely wrong. How do I get details about the cache including the logs and the hints. I ran a pocket query and uploaded it into GSAK, I can open up GSAK and see all of they waypoints but no hints, not logs, no detail. I was able to load the data into my PDA with GPX Sonar but again no detail. At this point I would rather just go back to printing out a bunch of pages unless someone can explain an easy way to do it paperless

I've read alot about doing this with a Palm OS platform but what works with a Pocket PC. I have a Dell Axim and want to use that. I looked at Cachemate and couldn't get it to install. What do other people use?

Oh yeah all the time - as a guy it's no problem off-roading, backwoodsing, it all goes hand in hand

I'll probably get bashed for this but why is battery life all that important in someone's decision between a 60Cx or a 60CSx. Just keep an extra set in your pack when you're caching.

I'm not sure how much help I can be but I had an eXplorist 210 (you can get them for about $160 or so) . I wasn't particularly happy with it, the screen is small and it's black and white not color. I haven't used an etrex though, I ditched the 210 for a Garmin GPS 60CSx but that's about 3 times your budget. I think you will find that alot of people recommend the etrex over the explorists that are in the same price range. Actually most will recommend Garmin over Magellan. You might try looking online, in the GPS garage sale, ebay, Craigslist.com, etc for someone selling a used Garming GPS 60C. You might have to stretch your budget a bit but you will be happy with any of the 60 series garmin units.

I was going to tell you to take the Magellan back and buy the 60CSx but you beat me to the punch. I did the same thing, first had an Explorist XL then sent it back and picked up the Garmin GPSMap 60CSX - what a difference. I am extremely happy with it.

I was just wondering how long you hunt for a cache before calling it quits and giving it up for another day? I haven't run into that situation yet but I have felt like I wanted to give up and then we found it.

ok then the next question is where to get the maps at a good price?

Cool, thanks. I'll check it out. I only need to use one at a time. Either driving on highways or driving/hiking offroad.

There is alot of good information about the Garmin units and the Explorist units on www.gpsinformation.net Oh, and the Explorist XL - it does not have a 3-axis compass. I wanted to double check so I sent email to the writer of the review for the XL (on gpsinformation.net) and he confirmed that it is pretty much a larger version of the Explorist 500. Buy a 60CSx, it's a chunk of change but well worth it.

I just got my 60CSx and I want to know if I can load both the street navigation maps and the topo maps into the unit so that I can use either one. I want to be able to use the GPS like the navigation system that came in the car when I bought it, but want to use it in the truck that doesn't have navigation. I also want to know about the Topo maps. It says that the topo maps display routable trails. Does that mean hiking trails or other off road trails like BLM roads, logging roads, etc. Thanks

Just got a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx and it's great!

I have a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx. I had used an Explorist 210 but returned it and also the Explorist XL but also returned it. I am extremely happy with the Garmin 60csx though. I use it mainly for geocaching and it works very well. The downside - the price. Other than that, it's perfect!

I remembered a couple of other biggies The Magellan documentation sucks. Just a fe pages in english along with 50 additional pages in every other language. You have to go to their website and download the manual. The Garmin came with an awsome manual that covered every aspect of the unit, and you can get supplemental information online but it's not required.

OK I've owned (briefly) both units. My first GPS was an Explorist 210, but I [thought] I wanted to larger size of the XL. I immediately regretted it. I really wanted the Garmin GPSMap 60CSx but I wasn't sure I wanted to crack $400 for one and I could pick up the XL for much less. 2 days later I bought the 60CSx Here are the problems I had with the Magellan: 1. Too big 2. It takes to much time to acquire satellites, almost 2 minutes. 3. Without the backlight the display was too hard to read 4. Takes 4 AA batteries Things I like about the Garmin 1. Easy to see without the backlight 2. I like the geocaching found function 3. Auto-routing 4. Satellite acquisition is almost instantaneous

I'd love one but the problem is that they all run about $2000. I looked at the OQO ( www.oqo.com ) and it was limited on its expandability. Technology advances so quickly that you will spend $2K on one of these and they are outdated in a year, and they don't have any migration or upgrades for them. A year from now the whole package changes to another manufacturer. I think they are great, I use laptops and tablets with my job every day and something smaller is great but you really can't take those into the field, one drop and they are trashed. I'll stick with a ruggedized GPS....

I tried out the Explorist 210, other than it being black and white instead of color it wasn't bad. The 400 seems to be a pretty good unit but I would rather get a unit that takes AA batteries instead of a lithium ion rechargable but that's just me. If you want everything in the bundle, then it's a good deal, if you don't need it, then I wouldn't spend the extra $$ for it. Just check what it costs to ship, if the price is low and the shipping is $30 then it's too much. 2 places to check prices are planet GPS (just search for the store) or chumbo.com. Planet GPS lists the 400 for $216.95. I haven't used them so I can't tell you if they are any good or not.

Well I'm not going to be much help here but I was having the same issue with the eXplorist 210 and then the eXplorist XL. I returned it because I want to sit down on the sofa to do stuff with it, not stand outside in the rain (and today snow) to work with it. I am going to find one of the new Garmin x units.

I would spend the extra money for color. I purchased an Explorist 210 to try it out - the small screen being B&W was difficult to read but manageable. Once you look at a color unit, it's no comparison. I then tried the Explorist XL, very nice unit, nice big color display, but I decided that I really want one of the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx or 60Csx's. As far as pricing, you are going to do much better online, but I would suggest at least going and looking at the units you are interested in before buying unless you are pretty sure of what you want - that way you aren't spending money shipping something back because you changed your mind. The only caution regarding online retailers is to check their return policy, some only give you 7 days to return, some allow 30 days. Other than that - you'll save alot by buying online, and can save sales tax too.

Well if you are looking for a big screen, the Magellan Explorist XL has the largest screen of all of the handheld GPS units. The one thing that I don't like about it - and it's just me, is the font that Magellan uses. I don't know if you can change it but they use the COMIC SANS font and I have never liked it. As for the unit, I found the screen to be a little dark without the backlight, but even with the backlight set on low the visibility is very good. I don't really know how it compares sensitivity wise with the Garmin x series units, but they are both comparable units. the eXplorist XL does not have an electronic compass or barometer and altimeter, you would need the smaller Magellan Explorist 600 for that or the Garmin GPSMAP 60Csx. You will find alot of comparisons between the Magellan and the Garmin units though. However the screen size also brings a larger handheld unit. I would suggest that you try both the Explorist XL and the Garmin GPSMAP 60Cx or 60Csx in a store so you can view the screen and feel the unit in your hands.

Actually it's probably just the areas that we have gone to. Not every place has trash and grafitti, just some. I just keep some trash bags in the car so we can carry them with us when we cache. I don't think it's everywhere, probably the more urban ones.