Is it worth the upgrade?

[+Damin69]

I have a Garmin Etrex Venture HC. Just wondering if it is really worth the upgrade to the GPSMAP 60 CSx?

[+Chuy!]

The main features you're going to see are auto-routing capability; electronic compass; altimeter; and data card capability. These are also all found in the Etrex Vista HCx. The 60 is going to be heavier and has a different button layout. The 60, having a slight larger screen is easier to see, but the Etrex' have a brighter screen and can be seen easier in daylight. Someone can correct me here: I think the only two things the 60CSx adds in hardware is a serial connection and an external antenna connection.

[+Damin69]

The main features you're going to see are auto-routing capability; electronic compass; altimeter; and data card capability. These are also all found in the Etrex Vista HCx. The 60 is going to be heavier and has a different button layout. The 60, having a slight larger screen is easier to see, but the Etrex' have a brighter screen and can be seen easier in daylight. Someone can correct me here: I think the only two things the 60CSx adds in hardware is a serial connection and an external antenna connection.

Right but I dont have the HCx I only have the HC model which does not have data card, auto route, compass or altimeter, or the ability to add custom POIs. That is why I asked if that is all worth the upgrade.

[Ken in Regina]

I bought the eTrex Venture HC last week from GPS City. In performance, it turned out to be everything I had hoped. Fast to acquire a position lock, picks up reception in impossible places and a nice bright display.

 

I ran into one limitation that turned out - for me - to be bigger than I expected. I found almost immediately that I couldn't live with the 24MB limit on maps loaded. It turned out to be especially a problem for topo maps with their high amounts of detail.

 

A friend has the GPSMAP76CSx so I looked at it to see if it, or the 60CSx might be the way to go. But, as mentioned above, the screen is much brighter on the eTrex H series and much easier to see in daylight. And the GPSMAP series are quite a bit more money.

 

So I called GPS City to see if I could return the Venture HC for a refund and buy the eTrex Legend HCx. I don't need the sensors. I own a good compass and I could care less about altitude accuracy beyond the guesstimate from the GPS signals. I just want the memory card capability so I can load all the maps I want in one shot and have them there when I need them. The routing is a minor bonus.

 

GPS City was most cooperative so the Venture HC is on the way back to them and I now have the Legend HCx. I'm really glad I made the change. It's everything I liked about the Venture HC, plus I have a 2GB card in it with all the maps I need and space to spare for track storage. I don't know, yet, if I will use the routing feature but it's nice to know it's there if I want to.

 

I should mention that I've been using a Garmin iQue 3600 for five years so I'm used to being able to load a whole bunch of maps onto a memory card and hit the road on a long trip, comfortable that I'll have all the maps I want no matter where I am. I didn't realize how spoiled I had become until I ran into the limits on the Venture HC. I knew about the 24MB limit and thought I could live with it in order to save a few bucks. I was wrong.

 

...ken...

[+Chuy!]

The main features you're going to see are auto-routing capability; electronic compass; altimeter; and data card capability. These are also all found in the Etrex Vista HCx. The 60 is going to be heavier and has a different button layout. The 60, having a slight larger screen is easier to see, but the Etrex' have a brighter screen and can be seen easier in daylight. Someone can correct me here: I think the only two things the 60CSx adds in hardware is a serial connection and an external antenna connection.

Right but I dont have the HCx I only have the HC model which does not have data card, auto route, compass or altimeter, or the ability to add custom POIs. That is why I asked if that is all worth the upgrade.

 

I got that; I was wondering out loud why (if) you hadn't considered the Vista - not that you have to; just wondering.

Edited September 15, 2008 by Chuy!

[+Damin69]

The main features you're going to see are auto-routing capability; electronic compass; altimeter; and data card capability. These are also all found in the Etrex Vista HCx. The 60 is going to be heavier and has a different button layout. The 60, having a slight larger screen is easier to see, but the Etrex' have a brighter screen and can be seen easier in daylight. Someone can correct me here: I think the only two things the 60CSx adds in hardware is a serial connection and an external antenna connection.

Right but I dont have the HCx I only have the HC model which does not have data card, auto route, compass or altimeter, or the ability to add custom POIs. That is why I asked if that is all worth the upgrade.

 

I got that; I was wondering out loud why (if) you hadn't considered the Vista - not that you have to; just wondering.

Oh I have considered the vista HCx. But I figured for $230 for the Vista or $290 for the GPSMAP 60 CSx that I should just spend the extra $60 and get the CSx with a few added features right off the bat rather than maybe wishing I had later. Also I am not really likeing the Etrex series button placement I have not owned many hand helds but it just seems awkward. My son said the same thing to me.

Edited September 15, 2008 by Damin69

[jmundinger]

I have a Garmin Etrex Venture HC. Just wondering if it is really worth the upgrade to the GPSMAP 60 CSx?

 

I think only you can answer that question? You've got a good basic unit that will do well everything you should expect from a consumer grade gps designed for outdoor recreational use. Do you need an electronic compass, and electronic altimeter, more than 24mb of memory or autorouting? If so, how often will you use those features?

[+Damin69]

I have a Garmin Etrex Venture HC. Just wondering if it is really worth the upgrade to the GPSMAP 60 CSx?

 

I think only you can answer that question? You've got a good basic unit that will do well everything you should expect from a consumer grade gps designed for outdoor recreational use. Do you need an electronic compass, and electronic altimeter, more than 24mb of memory or autorouting? If so, how often will you use those features?

Yes I guess I can agree with that 100%. I basicly already did. I had 30 days to return the HC which I am going to do when the 60 CSx shows up. After reading so much good things about the 60 I decided that would be my best way togo and not have to wonder if I will need an option it has already. I know I was already feeling limited when I was trying to upload base maps and was unable to load all of the area I wanted. So thanks for the help everyone I made up my mind.

[+Chuy!]

Oh I have considered the vista HCx. But I figured for $230 for the Vista or $290 for the GPSMAP 60 CSx that I should just spend the extra $60 and get the CSx with a few added features right off the bat rather than maybe wishing I had later. Also I am not really likeing the Etrex series button placement I have not owned many hand helds but it just seems awkward. My son said the same thing to me.

I still have a 60CS (somewhere at work), and I too prefer the button arrangement of the 60-series over the Etrex. However, it's larger size and weight took it out of contention for me. And what I have discovered is that the display on the Etrex' is significantly brighter in daylight than the 60-series. Also, the buttons on the 60-series wear out prematurely. A cover doesn't help things as the friction from the plastic cover wears down the thin rubber coating. I sent in the first 60CS on warranty and the second one did the same thing, but now, it's out of warranty. The problem with the Etrex's is the rubber band becoming unglued. I'm on my second Vista for that bad bad design.

[+Damin69]

Well have not had a chance to cache with it yet but I can say yes it was definitely worth the upgrade. compared to the Etrex the button layout is much easier to use. as far as the display being darker I have not noticed much of a difference between the two. I know it is mostly preference but I like the feel of it much more than the etrex also.