Garmin 60cs Vs Gps V Field Test

[+Team BlackZ]

Well, I was having some trouble with my 60CS. The arrow pointing to the cache keeps freezing up. I would actually walk away from the arrow and get closer to the cache. I know somebody else was having this problem to, but I can't find the topic for some reason. Anyway, I took my GPS V and the 60CS to see which did better. Well guess what, the GPS V had better accuracy just about the whole time, even in the woods. I was surprised. Plus no problems with the arrow pointing in the right direction. I'm wondering if something is up with this last software version for th 60CS. That's when I started having problems with it. Anybody have any comments?

[+Rubberhead]

I'm running a 60CS with Bluecharts, Recreational Lakes and Fishing Hotspots and have not had any problems. In fact, I've been blown away by the accuracy of the 60CS during geocaching trips.

 

The pointer had worked flawlessly and it has put me on top of almost every cache since I got the unit.

[+dino_hunters]

Was your compas calibrated?

 

Also, make sure both antennas are pointed the same way when comparing accuracy

[CurmudgeonlyGal]

I've had the same issue: freezing compass needle - altho I'm using the C, not the CS so you may have something else going on with yours. But yes, it will seize up on me and while I can get closer to the cache, the needle is almost always point me the exactly opposite direction. Not too tough to figure out it's happening, fortunately.

 

I have also taken my V and 60C out and side-by-sided them from time to time. They're usually not different enough to write home about, but yes, sometimes the V is clearly doing a better job of gpsr'ing than the 60 is, but similarly, the reverse can also be true.

 

I had a particularly great moment when placing my latest cache about a month ago. I took both units with me just for s&g's to see how they stacked up. It was a windy, overcast day right around lunch time (for me that's any time between 10:30 and noon) and I set both units down and let them average for a bit (60C was upright, V had the antenna pointing upright). By the time they were done, one had an EPE of 7 feet and the other 8 feet. Both had the same coordination.

 

I was happy with that.

 

I have been using the 60 most often of late. In the beginning I was tending to grab the V before I was off, or I'd take both and decide on the fly. However, now I grab the 60 and I'm off. It's faster in almost every way, and I really like that.

 

-=-

michelle

[+Team BlackZ]

Was your compas calibrated?

 

Also, make sure both antennas are pointed the same way when comparing accuracy

Yeah, the compass was calibrated. The antenna's were pointing in the same direction. CurmudgeonlyGal seemed to get some of the same results I did. I really like the 60CS. I finally found that post about the pointer freezing up. Some say it has something to do with the waypoint name/using the mark button and manually putting in the waypoint, which is what I did on this particular cache. Maybe that has something to do with it

[+Rubberhead]

It just occured to me that your problem may be that you are using the course pointer instead of the bearing pointer on the compass.

 

Here how to check:

 

Go to the compass page. If your compass has 5 dots on each side of center and perpendicular to the pointer (if you have an active goto) then you are using the course pointer. The course pointer will also have 4 radial lines out of the compass ring at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock with a distance measure (defaulting to 1.25 mi) at 2 o'clock.

 

To change to the bearing pointer select "MENU" from the compass page. Your 3rd (60C) or 4th (60CS) item should be "Bearing Pointer". Select "Bearing Pointer" and press "ENTR".

 

Your compass ring should not have the radial lines, dots or legend information.

 

If this wasn't the problem I've not no idea what's wrong with your 60C.

 

NOTE: To go back to the "Course Pointer" select menu and you should see that "Bearing Pointer" is now replaced by "Course Pointer".

[+Team BlackZ]

It just occured to me that your problem may be that you are using the course pointer instead of the bearing pointer on the compass.

 

Here how to check:

 

Go to the compass page. If your compass has 5 dots on each side of center and perpendicular to the pointer (if you have an active goto) then you are using the course pointer. The course pointer will also have 4 radial lines out of the compass ring at 2, 4, 8 and 10 o'clock with a distance measure (defaulting to 1.25 mi) at 2 o'clock.

 

To change to the bearing pointer select "MENU" from the compass page. Your 3rd (60C) or 4th (60CS) item should be "Bearing Pointer". Select "Bearing Pointer" and press "ENTR".

 

Your compass ring should not have the radial lines, dots or legend information.

 

If this wasn't the problem I've not no idea what's wrong with your 60C.

 

NOTE: To go back to the "Course Pointer" select menu and you should see that "Bearing Pointer" is now replaced by "Course Pointer".

Nope, using the bearing pointer. I e-mailed Garmin. Their suggestion was to calibrate the compass. How many times are you suppose to calibrate the compass and when?

[+TFTC]

Nope, using the bearing pointer. I e-mailed Garmin. Their suggestion was to calibrate the compass. How many times are you suppose to calibrate the compass and when?

I had the same problem today with a multi-cache - I entered all the waypoints by hand (not using the geocache symbol). As I approached each waypoint, the big arrow would get crooked and point the wrong way. I didnt' know about the bearing vs course pointer and it was the course pointer. But how I worked around it was to add "pointer" as one of the data fields and used that arrow. I'm going to try switching the big pointer to "bearing pointer" to see if that helps next time.

[+Brian - Team A.I.]

I calibrate my Vista (soon to be replaced with a 60cs) each time I replace the batteries. It wouldn't really cost you that much time if you were to do so at the start of each of your cache runs, if you really need it.

[+Chirpz]

I use the 60cs all the time. I rarely use the electronic compass feature. I find it unreliable. An old army compass is way better. I DO use the gps moving compass all the time. As long as you are moving around, the needle points to the cache, pretty accurate. I compare it with my 12map and my 76map and all seems about the same. The electroninc compass works OK some of the time, but I mainly leave it turned off.

Saves the batteries to leave it off too.