Glenn W

The problem is that when you transfer a route using Mapsource, the receiver only gets the waypoints, not the full calculated route. The receiver then re-calculates the route using a slightly different logic than Mapsource. This is a very frustrating limitation. The only solution I've found is to include lots of extra waypoints along the desired route. With enough constraining waypoints, the receiver is forced to route you on roads you want. Also, you need to make sure you have the receiver set to follow roads. If it is set for off road use, all you get is as-the-crow-flies directions.

I agree, the Garmin mount is fine for the use you describe. I also use a tether as a backup, but so far have not needed it.

There are generally four parts to a simple RAM mount: the GPS cradle, a ball joint that mounts to the cradle, a ball joint that mounts to the vehicle, and a swivel arm that clamps to both ball joints. To quickly move the mount from one vehicle to another, simply purchase a second vehicle ball joint (one for the car and one for the bike). There are a variety of mounting options to fit virtually any application. GW

I can confirm that CityNav2008NT (North America) does have serious flaws that could be dangerous. On two occasions, my C550 directed me to turn at places that would result in a fatal accident. Once it directed me to make a U-turn on the Coronado Island Bridge in San Diego, California (suicidal). Another time it miss-plotted a street address about 100 yards in the Pacific Ocean! I was directed to turn right across a berm, over a beach, and out to sea. Of course, only an idiot would follow such blatantly dangerous directions, but I could easilly see being tricked into turning the wrong way down a one-way street. That said, I find both my Garmins to be valuable tools despite their flaws. As a bleeding-edge technogeek, I expect some growing pains as the technology matures. Only 10-12 short (product development) years ago, my very expensive GPS receiver could only give me numerical coords and a direction of travel. Now, today's receivers can route you cross-coountry with only an occasional glitch. That's progess. GW

One major advantage is that even when standing still, a compassed GPS receiver will orient the map page to face the same direction you are facing. Non-compassed models must be moving to do so. The price you pay for (other than $) is that you must calibrate it from time to time.

Maybe Cobra spent too much money on their basemap and not enough on ads "Cobra Electronics Corporation COBR, a leading global designer and marketer of mobile communications and navigation products, today announced a major change in its mobile navigation strategy, ceasing all future development of mass marketed products. Instead, the company will limit its efforts to unique mobile navigation products sold into niche markets with specialized and focused distribution. Additionally, when such products are launched, the company plans to employ lower cost sourcing arrangements, utilizing the Performance Products Limited ("PPL") platform or that of other qualified vendors. The company's decision to discontinue future development of mobile navigation products for the highly competitive mass market is based upon rapid technological change, price deflation that has been faster than anticipated, continuing high development costs and substantial delays in introducing new products that have adversely affected profitability and customer relations. Cobra will continue to fully support all of its mobile navigation products that are currently in the marketplace, including retail promotions, technical support for consumers and normal warranty service claims. In conjunction with today's announcement, Cobra will write off the intellectual property associated with its proprietary software platform. Additionally, the company's inventories of earlier generation mobile navigation products are being written down to anticipated market value and reserves are being increased to accommodate the disposition of product returns by means other than returning them to vendors for credit against new products. In total, the charge against earnings for the fourth quarter is anticipated to be approximately $7.4 to $7.7 million, although the company emphasized that this is an estimate based on information currently available to management and that these estimates will be refined prior to the company reporting earnings for the fourth quarter. "Cobra has not achieved profitability in the mobile navigation category for several reasons. The competitive environment for portable navigation devices has intensified and thus further pushed out prospects for positive returns on our investment," said Jim Bazet, Cobra's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Drastically lower selling prices are being driven by the largest competitors attempting to gain market share, along with emerging players struggling for shelf space and exiting players liquidating inventory. Moreover, consumers are still struggling to adopt this technology, as characterized by high return rates for the overall category. The result of these high return rates is significant back-end costs to manage and resell returned products. Finally, Cobra has experienced difficulties in adapting our platform, resulting in higher than anticipated development costs and significant delays in getting new products to market. While these challenges may have been surmountable, they are exacerbated by the pending acquisitions by our competitors of the two principal content providers to the mobile navigation industry, Navteq and TeleAtlas, which are likely to create further competitive disruptions, both in pricing and features. It has become increasingly clear that participants in this mass market category will require scale and significant capital to compete effectively. As a result, Cobra will no longer develop mobile navigation products designed to compete in these channels." The Cobra segment's financial results have been adversely impacted by the GPS and mobile navigation product lines. Through the third quarter of 2007, the segment had a loss from operations of $2.4 million but would have had operating income of $907,000 if not for the losses incurred in mobile navigation. In 2006, the segment reported an operating loss of $2.4 million; absent the losses incurred in the mobile navigation and GPS product lines, Cobra would have had operating income of $2.0 million. "It is evident that the challenges of the mobile navigation business have obscured the health of Cobra's other product lines," said Mr. Bazet. "The profitability of Cobra's core business is a reflection of our leading market positions and continued innovation in each of our other lines." The anticipated charge to earnings will be comprised primarily of the book value of intellectual property that it is estimated will be on the books as of December 31, 2007. Additionally, Cobra will establish reserves to account for both lower selling prices required to accelerate the sales of existing in-house inventories of earlier generation, or end-of-life products, and the disposition of product returns that will occur in the ordinary course of business but will now be disposed of through liquidation rather than through a return to vendor program for credit against new units. Although comprised primarily of non-cash items, the charge to earnings resulting from the actions announced today would have resulted in a violation of certain covenants in Cobra's loan agreement absent a waiver that was received from the company's lenders. The company and its lenders have agreed to review and, as necessary, restructure the existing loan agreement by mid-February 2008. Mr. Bazet concluded, "While Cobra has made a strategic decision to discontinue development of mobile navigation products for the mass market using our proprietary platform, we will pursue profitable niche opportunities involving products derived from those marketed successfully by PPL or those sourced from other vendors. This strategy will entail lower development expenses, product features that are appropriately valued by the target consumer and sold through channels with lower anticipated return rates. As we look to the future, we expect that the profitability and cash flows of our core business lines will provide the opportunity to pay down debt, invest in new product opportunities and pursue selected acquisitions. Our goal is to unlock greater value for our shareholders from the assets behind the Cobra brands -- category leadership, broad distribution channels, and now an expanding operating base of European operations."

When I get upset that the Topo 2008 road data are not accurate, I remind myself that if Garmin spent the money for good data, the software would be at least twice the cost. However, in the spirt of fair business practices, Garmin needs to put a disclaimer on the box that the street data are not accurate.

I personnally would avoid the 60 or 76 CS models which do not have expandable memory or high-sensitivity chipsets. The 60CSx and 76CSx are much better, and are more closely matched with the Colorado models.

You should get 9-10' accuracy with WAAS enabled under an open sky. I've seen 3' accuracy measured against a surveyed point. Make sure you are holding the unit vertical for a GPS fix and horizontal for a compass reading.

I too have noticed that the Topo 2008 roads are very poorly located in my area. Off-road features seem accurate though.

The topo maps are unlocked and can be installed on any GPS that belongs to you; unsurprisingly, sharing with others violates the use agreement. Unlike the older versions of City Nav (which had two unlock codes), the 2008 version comes with only one unlock code.

I have a Lowrance GlobalNav 12 from 1997. Still works fine on batteries, but the 12V power cord has seen better days. Now that I have a 60CSX for outdoor fun and a C550 for my car, the old receiver doesn't get much use.

Given that fluxgate compasses are thrown out of wack by electric fields and metal objects, calibrating one indoors is typically futile. Calibrate it outdoors and see if it is still behaving abnormally.

The unit does not display the coordinates and cannot be modified to do so. Garmin could address this with a firmware update but it is highly unlikely that they will. Of course you can zoom in the map screen and visually align the "you" arrow with the "cache" icon.

You don't mention the map set you are using. The base map doesn't even try to be accurate. Topo 2008 isn't even close when it comes to streets, but focuses on back country accuracy. CityNav maps generally shows good accuracy for most streets.

I've tried hard to be open-minded about all the really stupid post-release problems with the Colorado, but this drives the last nail in the coffin for me. I'm keeping my 60CSx and Garmin can keep the Colorado. I refuse to beta test a product I paid for.

The Garmin 76CSx is waterproof to 1 meter and it floats very well. The 60CSx is waterproof, but only barely floats. The Vista HCx and the new Colorado units are waterproof but I believe they do not float. The floating issue can be addressed by attaching a boater's key fob to any of the units.

The 76 floats very well, whereas the 60 barely floats when used with lightweight rechargable batteries. The 76's throw-away 128MB card is larger than the 60's throw-away 64MB card. The 76 has slightly larger buttons above screen; the 60 has smaller buttons below screen. The 76 has an easier to use memory card slot. Other than these minor issues, the units are virtually the same.

Google "MetroGold" for a cheaper solution to autorouting street maps.

2,025 is the maximum number of map segment the 60CSx can utilize. Because you loaded the maps through a card reader, rather than to the receiver directly, Mapsource did not prevent the action. However, when you try to access your mapset on the 60CSx, you'll find it's full of holes. More than half the maps will be missing.

You are correct in that maps are typically alligned to true north, and that is the setting usually preferred. However, if you are also using a magnetic compass that has not been corrected for local declination, you may want to set to mag north reading mode. Note that GPS receivers automatically select the proper magnetic declination using a lookup table based on the location fix.

I for one would like to see more coverage. ALL state parks and forests, and national parks and forests would be a good start. DEM data and map shading would be great. Ideally, I'd like to see a new line of topo maps that show complete state by state coverage at 1:24K. I'd pony up cash for a disk with 1:24K coverage of California.

Yes but you must load all the maps (street and topo) at the same time. Each map upload, erases the previous mapset.

It seem the NT versions do not allow you to exclude the routing data. Probably a limitation made necessary by the compression of the NT maps.

Many applications (i.e., marine chart plotters) still require the NMEA transfer protocol through a serial connection. Also, a shrinking number of old computer systems don't support USB. Although I don't use the serial port for data transfer, I do use it to connect to 12v power for car use. The serial port and power cable combo is far sturdier than the mini-USB port and cable. That said, if I had to replace my 60CSx today, I'd probably get the new Colorado which does not have a serial port.