Garmin GPSMAP 60CS Water Resistant Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)Read all the reviews at GPS sites and then try the GPSmap 60CS out for yourself. You'll see why everyone is so impressed. Garmin's eTrex models were a nice design, but users had to put up with several compromises (limited memory, poor screen, relatively weak satellite reception, etc.) that limited their functionality. The GPSmap 60CS effectively addresses many of the limitations of the eTrex lineup, despite it also being a relatively small, light, rugged device.
Hopefully the following will be helpful to individuals debating whether or not to purchase the GPSmap 60CS. I purchased mine soon after the model was released and think it's overall the best handheld GPS you can buy.
PROS:
- Solid construction (made in Taiwan) with a nice overall "feel". You're getting your money's worth with this GPS.
- Rugged. My main concern about a color GPS was fragility, but I've already dropped mine a few times and suffered no ill effects.
- Nice screen. The 256 color transreflective screen makes a huge difference in using the GPS and I could now never go back to using a monochrome model. The color maps are very easy to read, not only at night but also even in direct sunshine.
- Good battery life. Depending on how much the backlight is used I see anywhere from 10 - 20 hours of use between charges of my two NiMH AA batteries. With the backlight kept off, some people have reported almost 30 hours of use with alkaline batteries.
- Intuitive controls and menus. Even if you've never used a GPS before you'll probably be able to use the GPSmap 60CS right out of the box without consulting the (well-written) manual. There's also a nice (single sheet) color "quick start guide" that gets you up and running in less than five minutes.
- Acquires satellites quickly (fixes position usually in less than a minute) and maintains tracking fairly well.
- USB downloading of Garmin's optional maps is relatively fast. Also accepts serial cable, so I can still use the GPSmap 60CS with an older (non-USB) computer.
- Optional accessories unlock the true potential of the GPSmap 60CS (but count on spending at least another $200 - $300 on maps + accessories). The AutoNav Kit includes a nice beanbag mount to keep the device stable on the car's dashboard, a cigarette lighter power adapter and a CD with the - essential - residential street level maps of the U.S. and several major Canadian cities. I also bought bike mounts so I can use my GPSmap 60CS on my mountain bikes. It's nice to be able to explore the great trails in Marin County and the rest of California without having to worry about getting lost. (It's also easy to then later download your route from the unit to your desktop computer so you can keep a record of a trail if you want to go back in the future.)
- Amazing degree of customization. Background/text colors, sequence of presented screens, orientation of maps (north up vs. track up), metric/imperial units, backlight level, tones, WAAS mode, text language, backlight timeout and a number of other options can easily be turned off or on.
- Present position-to-address routing. Gives turn by turn directions to any addresses that are typed in on the "Find" screen (if you have purchased the optional maps). Having this "autoroute" ability in a GPS as small as the GPSmap 60CS is incredible. The unit also automatically recalculates a new route (but unfortunately takes half a minute or so to do this) if you wander off the previously chosen route or miss a turn. While I will never throw out my paper maps, since getting my GPSmap 60CS I now almost always use GPS when driving to an unfamiliar address. The directions are almost always reliable, but sometimes the suggested route is a bit more circuitous than necessary. It would be nice if Garmin could update the firmware to easily allow users to specify a route that goes by way of an intermediate location.
- Ability to leave "track points" i.e. an electronic breadcrumb trail that can be followed back to your starting point.
- Great speedometer/odometer for bicycles, etc. Thanks to my GPSmap 60CS, I now know that the speedometer for one of my cars is off by 7%! Lists odometer, trip odometer, maximum speed, moving time, moving average, stopped time, overall average speed, total ascent, maximum elevation, current elevation, distance to destination, time to destination, estimated time of arrival and a lot more. It's also easy to customize which fields are displayed.
- Replaces those ridiculously overpriced GPS units sold for cars and can be easily moved from vehicle to vehicle.
- Nice industrial design - about the size of a small walkie-talkie or a large cell phone, but the GPSmap 60CS looks good and feels comfortable in the hand.
CONS:
- If you travel a lot, the built in 56 MB of memory used for storing downloaded maps will be constraining. 128 MB would have been better and the ability to read from CF or SD cards would be ideal. On the other hand, reading from external memory cards would probably have decreased battery life. Furthermore, maintaining simplicity and reliability by forgoing expansion cards may have been a good decision in a device that will be subjected to the abuse that a handheld GPS will frequently see.
- Basemap included with the GPSmap 60CS is very limited. You really need to buy Garmin's residential street level and topographical maps to use the device to its fullest.
- Residential street level and topographical maps cannot be displayed simultaneously.
- Users cannot easily specify plotting alternate routes (e.g. if recommended route is blocked with construction, traffic, etc.).
- Autozoom mode tends to zoom out too much, forcing users to zoom back in to see street details when following a route. I ended up just turning autozoom off.
- Attaching external power supply doesn't recharge NiMH batteries (very minor complaint).
- Alarms aren't very loud, especially for vehicle use.
- Removing the GPSmap 60CS from the cradle in the beanbag mount is somewhat awkward.
- Altimeter tends to drift quickly and requires periodic recalibration.
All things considered, the GPSmap 60CS is an amazing GPS. It represents a quantum leap forward and is a great value given the features it offers. I'm extremely selective about the things I purchase and would rather spend a little extra to get the best. The GPSmap 60CS was an obvious choice and I expect it will quickly become the most-recommended handheld GPS unit on the market. This model now makes almost every other GPS on the market (including Garmin's own eTrex lineup) look dated by comparison. If you can afford the extra $200 or so the GPSmap 60CS costs compared to the midline eTrex models, you won't be disappointed.UPDATE (September 6, 2004):
Using the GPSmap 60CS daily since Spring 2004 has reinforced my belief that my previous review is an accurate summary of the most important good and bad points of the unit. This GPS recently paid for itself when it saved me from missing a flight after I got lost en route to an unfamiliar airport. (I had left the GPSmap 60CS in my suitcase. After missing a turn and getting hopelessly lost I simply pulled over, unpacked the GPSmap 60CS and let its autoroute function guide me quickly back to my destination.)
The only significant limitations are the unit's inability to plot a route via an intermediate point/specify detour routes and the limited memory available for map storage. It appears that Garmin has deliberately chosen to cripple the functionality of the GPSmap 60CS in order to "encourage" customers looking for those features to purchase more expensive units like the new Garmin Quest. Garmin could easily upgrade the GPSmap 60CS memory to 256 MB (the added memory would cost less than $5) and include the detour routing abilities of the Quest, but then why would anyone buy their more expensive units? It's a shame, because the GPSmap 60CS is in many ways a better design than Garmin's more expensive units. (Small, light, works with AA batteries, rugged, maps can be uploaded via either USB or serial cable, etc.) I would have been willing to pay more for a version of the GPSmap 60CS with more memory and revised routing software, but I doubt that we will ever see these improvements made.
While I remain quite impressed with the GPSmap 60CS, my sole interaction with Garmin's customer support department was very disappointing. A couple of months after I purchased my unit, Garmin emailed me, announcing that they were releasing version 6 of North American City Select. This version finally includes street level coverage of Canada and updates the map and business data for the U.S.A. I emailed Garmin to receive what I thought was a free update, only to find that they were demanding a fee of $75 for the update. Only individuals who had purchased the software within a month of the new version's release were to be given free upgrades. Garmin's mean-spirted support policy has definitely dampened my enthusiasm for this company and leads me to wonder if they will stand behind the product should something ever go wrong. Just something else to consider if one is in the market for a GPS.
If I was a teacher, I'd issue Garmin the following grades:
GPSmap 60CS = A+
Garmin support = D-

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The GPSMap 60CS is packed with navigational features, but Garmin knows that a great device has to go beyond a simple color display to be the cream of the crop. With that, Garmin has upped the ante on this lightweight, rugged, waterproof unit, offering a 256-color, highly reflective display that provides easy viewing in almost any lighting condition, including bright sunlight. This transreflective TFT, 2.6-inch-diagonal screen provides excellent viewing while maximizing battery life (up to twenty hours with typical use).
The GPSMap 60CS adds two premium features to the basic design of the less expensive 60C model: an electronic compass and a barometric altimeter, both crucial for highland adventures. These sensors, when combined with GPS technology, provide enhanced bearing and elevation readings. A barometric sensor with automatic pressure readings allows you to view changes in pressure for a set period of time. With the elevation computer, you can find current elevation, ascent/descent rate, minimum and maximum elevation, total ascent and descent, and average and maximum ascent and descent rate. The trip computer provides odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more.
The WAAS GPS receiver has an accuracy of 10 feet in North America. With the 50 reversible routes, 10,000 track points, and 500 waypoints, you're sure to have enough tools to find your way. A fast processor allows the 60CS to provide quick auto-routing, turn-by-turn directions, and audio alerts when the unit uses optional MapSource software, which can be stored on the 56 MB of internal memory. Downloading information is quick with the USB or serial port interfaces. By using the dedicated serial port, the GPSMap 60CS can share navigation instructions with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots. The four-position rocker pad and dedicated high-use buttons make navigating through the unit's features easy, even when your fingers are cold or wet.
The GPSMap 60CS is also packed with some extra fun features. An integrated outdoor calendar provides ideal hunting and fishing times, plus moon rise/set/location information. There is a dedicated geocaching mode for those of you into the popular, GPS community treasure hunt game. And finally, there are indoor/outdoor GPS games to help you and your friends enjoy the outdoors.
Garmin produces some key accessories for the 60CS. If you'll be on the road, Garmin's U.S. topographical MapSource CD-ROM provides the most detailed maps available. Or, for a combination of detailed U.S. maps and a car kit for mounting and powering your GPS, there's an automotive accessory pack for North America.
What's in the Box GPSMap 60CS receiver, basemap (Americas Recreational), MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD, PC/USB interface cable, lanyard, belt clip, quick start guide, and owner's manual.

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Garmin GPS III Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)A recent TV commercial shows a guy walking around the house with his new GPS from Amazon.com mumbling things like, "at this rate it will take me XX days to get to XYZ" after which his wife comments, "I should have bought him the tie." It's cute, my wife loves it and emphasizes, tongue in cheek, how much guys love gadgets, but these things really are useful!
I own the Garmin GPSIII and the new eMap. I have found these GPS units to be extremely useful, competent and entertaining. I've used them for sailing, vacations, business trips, commuting and motorcycling. For motorcycling, I find using a GPS unit to be indispensable, especially when traveling in unfamiliar areas. Pulling over to the side of the road to look at a map requires taking off my gloves and helmet, which is time consuming and frustrating. With a GPS unit, I can preprogram a 1,000+ mile trip and never have to pull over to look at a map, never miss a turn, always know how far and how long it will be to my next rest / fuel stop, etc. It's also nice at the end of the day to precisely know how long you've been traveling (with the eMap, your moving, stopped and total time), your average and top speed, and miles covered. Should you have a problem requiring service, you can communicate your exact location. If you have children, you can answer that perennial question, "are we there yet" to the minute and tenth of a mile.
I was going to upgrade to the GPSIII Plus for its ability to import maps from my computer but learned Garmin had produced a new model, the eMap. Having had a GPSIII (i.e., GPSIII Plus without the maps) for years, I knew how well made, reliable and valuable the unit is but was intrigued by the eMap. The eMap is slightly lighter, definitely thinner and has a screen that is 20% larger than the GPSIII Plus. It is also less expensive. I also liked the fact that the eMap has memory cartridges in 8 or 16 meg sizes whereas I've read that the GPSIII Plus has only 1.5 megs of internal map storage (not upgradeable), considerably smaller. On the plus side for the GPSIII Plus it is significantly more water-resistant (an absolute necessity for water activities), your information can be displayed on a number of different "pages" or screens and it is much more user configurable.
Although I love my new eMap, I'm not getting rid of my GPSIII. As between the GPSIII Plus and the eMap, I would say this. For the vast majority of people using a GPS, especially those new to GPS, the eMap is THE handheld GPS to have. If things like VMG ("velocity made good") are important to you, if you want a unit that can be configured for a number of specialized applications, if you aren't bothered by the memory limitation of the GPSIII Plus, then I'd highly recommend that unit. You could hardly go wrong with either.

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Garmin's new GPS III Plus offers cartographic capabilities formerly found only in high-end automotive navigation and marine chart plotting units. The basemap in the GPS III Plus will get you where you're going with more than 10,000 new towns added to the permanent basemap. It also includes airport locations, secondary roads in metro areas and even detailed exit information for the federal interstate highway system, including information about available lodging, food, and service stations.
Its powerful 12 parallel channel receiver tracks and uses up to 12 satellites for fast, accurate positioning. Its versatile screen switches between horizontal to vertical orientation with the press of a button, and it has a detachable antenna. The GPS III Plus also features an adaptable navigation page with either compass or highway steering guidance, and user-selectable data fields. In addition, you get the Garmin-patented TrackBack feature, which lets you quickly navigate your track log back home without manually storing waypoints.
The Garmin GPS III Plus comes with a PC interface cable, Velcro mount, user's manual, and quick reference guide. It has a tough case that is waterproof to IPX7 standards.

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Garmin GPS 72 Handheld GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)The Garmin GPS 72 is the lowest priced model that has all the basic (non-mapping) features I was looking for. It is waterproof and floats. It has WAAS capability, which means it is accurate to about 10 feet. Where I live I haven't been able to use WAAS, but it still accurate to about 16-20 feet. Close enough. It has a quadrifilar antenna, which is supposed to work better under dense forests. It also means the unit works better when you hold it vertically instead of horizontally. The display is 120X160 pixels, which wouldn't be that great for a unit with mapping capability, is sharp and clear enough to use even while driving (though try to keep your eyes on the road). While it doesn't have a built in base map, it does have the locations of cities worldwide with a population of more than 200,000. For hiking, geocaching and finding your way back to your car, it's more than adequate. It has some cool features, like the estimated time you will arrive at your destination and it allows you to customize what information gets displayed on the screen. It looks and feels solid and professional (a little stripped down, but this is supposed to be a base model).
Yes, it would be nice if it had mapping capability, could connect to an external antenna, included a pc cable and had an electronic compass, but all this really isn't necesssary. It will tell you want direction for are going, but you have to be moving. If you stand in the same spot and turn around, it won't update your direction. Is that important? I carry a compass in addition to my gps. You're always supposed to have back up navigation, anyway. Battery life is around 12-15 hours if you use it continuously, but it saves all your information even you take the batteries out. The size is bigger than an e-trex, but it still fits in a jacket pocket. The buttons were all on the front and easy to use. It would be nice if it were a little smaller, but for the price, it was what I needed, no more and no less. Remember, if you want a GPS unit mainly for driving, pay the extra money and get one with mapping capability.

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The Garmin GPS 72 is a solid, low-cost solution for land or marinenavigation designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). This handheld GPS unit can provide position accuracy to less than three meters, while being rugged, water-resistant, and unsinkable--making it perfect for fishing outings, whether you are boating or hiking.
The GPS 72 is a full-function GPS with a factory-loaded Marine Point Database that contains data for cities with a population of 200,000 or more worldwide, nautical navaids for North and South America, and tide stations for the United States. Using MapSource and the built-in 1 MB of internal memory, you can load and display a variety of points of interest. This unit features a permanent user data storage, 500 user waypoints with name and graphic symbols that allow up to 50 reversible routes, and audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, proximity to waypoint, and clock functions.

The GPS 72 also features course and speed filtering, an automatic track log with up to 10 savable tracks that let you retrace your path in both directions, and a trip computer that provides odometer, stopped time, moving and overall averages, total time, max speed, and more. And just to make sure your fishing trip is as successful as possible, the GPS 72 includes built-in celestial tables that tell you the best times for fishing in your area, as well as showing you sun and moon location calculations.

The GPS 72 is a 12-channel, handheld GPS receiver with a built-in quad helix antenna. It has nine keys located on the front of the unit that allow the user to quickly access all of the unit's functions. The large 120 x 160 pixel, high-contrast FSTN, four-level gray monochrome backlit display and a large-numbers viewing option make it easy to view under variable lighting conditions. Powered by only two AA batteries, this unit will run for up to 16 hours.

Designed with the outdoor user in mind, this Garmin GPS unit weighs a light 7.5 ounces and measures a pocket-sized 2.7 x 1.2 x 6.2 inches (WxDxH). The GPS 72 is waterproof to IPX7 standards, meaning it can be submerged down to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, floats, and is rugged enough to endure the most trying use. The included wrist strap, owner's manual, and quick reference guide, combined with Garmin's friendly user interface, will allow you to navigate in no time. And beyond the features and functionality, the GPS 72 provides that most critical of benefits--peace of mind. With the GPS 72 you will always know where you are, where you have been, and where you are going. And since you will always know the way back home, you can concentrate on what you set out to do--explore the outdoors.

What's in the Box GPS 72, Database: Marine Point Database (Americas), Wrist strap, Owner's manual, Quick start guide

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Magellan SporTrak Map Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is my first handheld GPS. I'm using it for my new hobby - Geocaching. This unit works great. Use free software to download waypoints into the GPS, and then just follow where it points. The unit is small (fits in my pants pocket), and light, and has all the features you might need, including back-tracking if you make a wrong turn. It holds plenty of waypoints (locations) and 20 routes, which seems about standard for handheld units. It has several different ways of displaying navigation information, so you're bound to find one that works for you. If you're looking for something with lots of built in maps, then this may not be the right unit for you, as it only has a 2Mb base map and 6Mb for downloadable maps. For in-car navigation, I plug this little guy into my portable computer and run Microsoft Streets And Trips and get a whole computer full of maps. When going off-trail, I take just this unit, where maps aren't much help anyway. I've used it to locate 3 "geocaches" so far, and it has put me within a couple of feet every time. The WAAS support is great for getting good accuracy.
By the way - don't purchase the add-on memory SD card accessory - this GPS doesn't take add-on memory cards.

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The Magellan Sportrak Map GPS receiver is WAAS enabled with a 2 MB North American basemap of highways, parks and major waterways, as well as 6 MB of built-in memory for downloading detailed maps. It stores up to 20 routes, 500 way points and 2,000 track-points to help you easily find your way.

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Garmin eTrex Vista Handheld GPS Navigator Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the Meridian Platinum and the Garmin Vista to do a technical comparison. They are both great units with similar price and features. I also tested the next level down: Meridian Gold and the Garmin Legend with similar results. Here's my take:
If small size and high resolution are important to you, buy the Garmin.
If you prefer a larger screen, larger buttons, a floating unit, or something that can be viewed beyond an armslength away, get the Magellan. If you require reading glasses, avoid the Garmin.
Here is a list of specific comments:
- Size: Garmin fits easily in a shirt pocket. Magellan is 114% larger by volume and is better suited for a fanny pack or large coat pocket.
- Weight: Magellan is 51% heavier.
- Display: Magellan display is 66% larger, viewable beyond an arm's length. Garmin not viewable beyond an arm's length.
- Pixels: Garmin has over twice as many pixels.
- Resolution: With the smaller display and higher pixel count, the Garmin screen resolution is about four times greater.
- Both are waterproof. Magellan floats...Garmin doesn't.
- Reception: Magellan had slightly better reception, probably due to larger internal antenna.
- Screen protection: Magellan has a raised frame around display to help prevent scratches, but it also collects lots of dust on the screen as a result.
- Maps/waypoints: Low resolution for the Magellan made small map features difficult to discern. Garmin much easier to read with a large variety of highly detailed map symbols/icons.
- Features: Similar for both, but the Magellan had a few extras I liked: audible alerts for turns, a "windshield" navigation view with waypoints drawn in the "distance", a "speedometer" view with dial, sun and moon location displayed on the compass dial.
- Buttons/knobs: Garmin's buttons are all on the sides and are very small. You won't be able to operate them with gloves. I like the little joystick for the left thumb very much, but folks with clumsy hands will not. Magellan's buttons are large, easy, and labelled.
- Magnetic compass: Garmin must be held flat for this feature. Magellan's compass works in any position. (With motion, separate heading indicator works at any orientation on both units.)
- Battery life and accuracy: About the same for both.
- PC cable/DC car adapter: Garmin slides onto the back. Magellan has an awkward screw-in device.
- Mapping Memory: Garmin has 24 MB ready for upload from mapping software (sold separately). Magellan requires additional memory card...
- Owner's Manual: Garmin provides complete owner's manual. Magellan only provides a quick-start manual. Complete manual is electronic and divided into two files.
- User interface: I found the Garmin software and menus to be slightly more intuitive.
Result: I wanted a small unit for outdoor activities and occasional automobile travel. I like small, high-precision devices with lots of detail. I kept the Garmin.
I also ordered the car dash mount, DC auto adapter, belt carry case, and MapSource MetroGuide USA CD. I have been very pleased with each of them.

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Go wherever life takes you and never get lost!The Garmin eTrex Vista handheld mapping GPS provides all the navigation tools you will need when you depart on your next adventure.This GPS comes packed with important traveling features including a barometric altimeter, an electronic compass, a detailed basemap of the Americas, and more!

Get 17% OFF

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Magellan eXplorist 210 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)I have not had this device long, but we did spend a day geocaching with it. It performs very well.
I chose this model because I wanted a GPS unit that I could access with my PC through USB and this seems to work very well. Included is a small application that will convert .loc waypoint location files to the .gs files that this unit uses.
When I plug the USB cable into the unit and then into my USB hub and power up the GPS unit, it appears as drive H:/ and I can move/rename/copy/etc. the files in the GPS unit without having to use the GPS interface, which is a time saver.
It has a nice readable map that can be zoomed out to see the whole planet, or zoomed in to a 100ft scale. It recognizes primary roads and highways in my town and knows the name of the lake I live near. Apparently I can also purchase and download custom maps from mapsend, but I haven't tried that yet.
Without even reading the manual, just by fiddling with the gizmo, we were able to figure out how to find our geocache destinations, set a route, add waypoints, and choose custom icons for the waypoints from a selection of maybe 20 or 30.
I can't comment on battery life because I haven't worn out a set of batteries yet, but I think other people have commented on that.
This unit is accurate enough that it can tell when I *turn around in place and face a different direction* which is pretty amazing to me. I am very pleased with the performance.
I did take one star off because already the clear plastic over the display has gotten scratched. BE WARNED: the display is VERY EASY to scratch. I'm going to have to find a little leather case or cloth bag or something for it. As a comparison, I have carried my nokia cellphone around in my pocket with my car keys for about three years and there is no significant scratching on the display, but with this GPS unit, whatever plastic they chose, it got scratched up quite a bit with just a few hours in my pocket (with carkeys). I realize that wasn't too bright of me, but I know there are more durable plastics out there because of my experience with my nokia, so... just be careful! Now the screen looks like its got dust on it that can't be wiped off... :-(
Other than that, I am very pleased and feel that this unit is a good value.

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The Magellan eXplorist 210 proves that powerful and reliable GPS navigation can be affordable. With a compact, shockproof and water resistant design, this baby is built to withstand whatever the back country can throw at it. At a mere 6.1 ounces, and with the ability to download and store up to 22 megabytes of maps while providing precise three-meter positioning, this pocket-sized 14-channel WAAS GPS receiver is an outdoors enthusiast's dream. If you have a passion for the outdoors, there's no reason you need to be a GPS expert to be able to take advantage of GPS tracking capabilities. The eXplorist 210 features Magellan's easy-to-use operating system, so you can concentrate on your activities without compromising your safety. When you connect the unit to your PC, the folders on the eXplorist 210 can be accessed just like any drive on your computer, and from there you access the information as you would a folder on your own computer. In other words, if you know how to navigate your PC, you'll feel right at home with the eXplorist 210. The unit offers 32 MB of memory, which includes 10 MB taken up by the basemap of major highways, airports, interstates, parks, rivers and lakes across North America. The remaining 22 MB is reserved for you to download and store Magellan MapSend programs and maps, or specific waypoints, routes and tracks for your next excursion. A USB PC cable is included, which will allow you to perform software updates, as well as download additional maps. This convenient feature allows you to download exactly the maps and data that you need for your excursion. If you're hiking a section of the Grand Tetons, you'll want to have the area's hiking trails, ranger stations, and elevation contours at your disposal. The eXplorist 210 lets you fine tune the data that you'll need for your trip. And don't let its compact size fool you. This handheld -- at a mere 2.2 x 4.75 x 1.3-inches (W x H x D) -- will let you create and store up to 190,000 personal points of interest and waypoints, 150 files with 20 routes each, and 150 track logs with 2,000 points each. The included Magellan MapSend Software DVD will help to optimize and manage your data and keep track of updates to new versions of MapSend maps. In other words, Magellan couldn't have made it much easier than this. The eXplorist runs on two AA batteries that last up to 17 hours. A large, 2.3-inch grayscale, backlit display features an amber glow that makes it easy to read at night. Other features include a vertical profile, a celestial table, and a best-fish and hunt-time calculator. The eXplorist 210 comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty.
What's in the Box Magellan eXplorist 210, user's manual, quick start guide, and PC interface cable.

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DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Waterproof Hiking GPS Review

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(More customer reviews)I must say that I find it interesting that there are so many glowing reviews about this flawless GPS. I am always skeptical of anything that sounds too good! I read many of the reviews online, and after evaluating the specifications and features, opted to buy the Delorme PN-40. Prior to this purchase, I owned a Garmin 60CSX GPS. I believed that the Delorme was poised to be a significant improvement in both the tracking ability and the display of aerial overlays.
Let me begin by stating that I don't believe there is a perfect GPS except from the perception of the user and their application. If it meets your criteria, then it serves the intended purpose! That being said, let me try to summarize my personal observations from my point of view.
After purchasing the Delorme PN-40, I quickly signed up for the $29.99 annual download service to take advantage of this impressive feature. I have downloaded about a dozen maps at this posting and must say that Delorme has been very effective in minimizing the number of maps that can be downloaded. First, the size of the maps you can download for each map type (color aerial, USGS, etc..) is restricted to some size in sq Km. This isn't too much of an issue as they are large enough for my typical hike. Second, I have found that the download speed is being limited to speeds on the order of 15-20Kb/s. This is incredibly slow considering the capability of cable is in excess of 700Kb/s. A typical download time for the maximum 250sq/km file is over 1.5hrs. In addition, many of the downloads stop prematurely, and this requires you to download the entire file again (a download manager isn't able to resume the download after termination). I have spent days trying to download a single file due to premature downloads (and no, my modem and router aren't the cause!)
The learning curve for uploading the map files to the PN-40 is tricky and not documented very well. It took me (I'm an electrical engineer) about 4 hours to sift through the documentation along with some trial and error. Once downloading was accomplished, I found that the display of the maps was pleasing, but lacked detail.
I then took the Delorme PN-40 and Garmin 60CSX (Sirf Star III chipset) on a 9 mile hike in Forest Park located in Portland Oregon. I used fresh Powerex Medion batteries in both GPS's. The temperature outside was about 35degF and the hike took approx 5 hours. My findings are as follows:
The Delorme PN-40 took several minutes longer than the Garmin 60CSx to lock onto the satellites before a 3D view was possible. The Delorme circle of uncertainty, accuracy of the location, varied significantly while standing in the same spot on open terrain with no obstructed view of the sky. The variation would be on the order of +- 15ft to +-40ft. The Garmin locked onto the signal vary consistently for this same location with variations of only +-2ft. I found the aerial display on the Delorme to be difficult to see without the backlight. Note that the isobar lines aren't easily seperated from the aerial background. It may just be me, but I'm not color blind and have good vision. The Garmin display is easier to see, I think, because there isn't much clutter on the display (the backlight helps very much in low light also). The Delorme tracking lines are superb! It is easy to see where you have gone and is nicely color contrasted to the background map. The Garmin tracking points are almost impossible to see (until downloaded to your PC) as they blend into the topo map! The last point I want to make concerns the battery life, and this was the biggest issue for my personal use. The Delorme battery life was barely acceptable (for my purposes) under the conditions of this hike (cold and wet for 5 hours). The battery indicator on the Delorme started dropping after about 2.5 hours and declined steadily for the remainder of the hike. The last hour of the hike I expected the Delorme to shut off, but the batteries did hold out for the full hike. The Garmin battery life remained at full for the entire hike. You can argue that my test wasn't exactly fair since the batteries weren't brand new and don't know how often I used the backlight, but I didn't expect the Delorme to start indicating reduced battery power so soon. A sample size of one unit is not exactly a great indicator of all the units sold, but then I'm not being hired by anyone or trying to take sides! Obviously, you must be the decision maker for your application.
I will say that both products performed well enough for this one hike. I prefer the Garmin for satellite reception, consistent locking, battery life and ease of software use. However I do like the display capabilities of the Delorme. Also, the Delorme mapping is far superior to Garmin, but at the expense of a steep learning curve. I also want to mention that Delorme did a great job for allowing use of every battery type you might want to use; from lithium ion to alkaline. Also, I really appreciate Delorme giving easy access to the full capacity of a 32Gb SDHC card (which I verified worked well), but you do need plenty of storage for the hybrid aerial maps.
In summary, let me say that in my opinion I feel that Garmin has the lead on GPS hardware and that Delorme has the lead on Mapping software. I would love to see a product created by the merger of these two companies to take advantage of both of their strengths. Good luck on your purchase decision.
Note that I am not an employee of either company, and have no personal bias towards them. I also own products from both companies!

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Magellan Meridian 2.2-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)UPDATE: 20040807 Point-to-Point routing works great and, for the most part, finds reasonable routing paths on highways and major city streets. Take the pre-set locations with a grain of salt since the pre-sets (sometimes) seem to show a general location of a landmark and not a precise point such as an entrance.
Best response time so far -- 8 satellites located in about 3 seconds while sitting in a parking lot at Muir Woods on Mt Tamalpias, CA.
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This is the coolest gadget I've used in a long time!
Setup was simple - just follow the onscreen instructions and soon the unit will be searching for satellites and locking onto your location. From my bedroom window (house is on a hill) the Meridian Color was able to find 5 satellites within a couple of minutes and then keep the signal as I moved to the other side of the house to my office. Very impressive.
As far as the MapSend software goes, it loaded fine and quickly found the COM port that had the GPS unit attached. The only tricky spot was having to upgrade the firmware on the GPS unit itself since the pre-loaded version was 3.4x and the upgrade was 5.1x. The instructions provided on the upgrade CD-ROM didn't match the software setup at all.
Fortunately the software has limited options so it wasn't difficult to figure out (Go to UPLOAD and select Program Code Only making sure that the unit is on and has a fresh set of batteries installed. Then find the right .hex file for your GPS unit that's on the CD-ROM provided.) Don't freak, just read the instruction sheets before trying to do the upgrade.
Anyway, the unit appears to be working great. The color screen is terrific and has a High/Low setting (hold the PWR button down a few seconds) to save on battery life.
The unit also insists that only one mapping image can uploaded into the unit at a time. Not good if you want to visit more than 1 region over a period of time. The trick is to "pretend" you're uploading a region but have the GPS receiver turned off or disconnected. Proceed with the map preparation until the software says it can't find your unit then cancel out. Go find the .img files in the Program Files/Magellan/MapSend DirectRoute NA/Export/Images directory and then copy them to your SD card using Windows Explorer just as you would any other file. Sounds complicated but it's really just a basic file transfer.
After the files have transferred, stick the SD card back in and power up. The maps can be found by pressing MENU/CARD UTILITIES/CHANGE MAP.
Unfortunately, it's the battery life that's the reason this GPSR gets only 4 stars and not 5. This unit is a battery hog! If you use the color screen on high don't expect more than 6 hours per set of batteries.
Because of this I've ordered a separate 12v cigarette lighter power cable for the car and will keep the power/data cable for home use. The cable only comes with a 12v cigarette plug so I've also purchased a 110v to 12v adapter so that I can use household current. I also bought a swivel mount to use at home as a cradle -- no need to use the attachment screw on the connector and the unit is upright and viewable. Extra stuff to clutter my desk but it should save me from a lot of aggravation.
Overall the Magellan Meridian Color appears to be a great GPS receiver and the point-to-point routing features for use in the car (MapSend DirectRoute software comes with the Traveler's Pack bundle) is terrific. The expandable standard SD card capability is a feature only Magellan seems to have (Garmin, are you listening?) and that, along with the color screen, should be reason enough to get this snazzy little unit.
Happy triangulating!

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An ideal solution bundle for recreational purposes as well as vehicle navigation.This value pack includes Magellan's Meridian Color GPS and Magellan's new MapSend DirectRoute software.MapSend DirectRoute is a powerful map software package that adds address level routing and guidance to your Magellan handheld.The value pack also includes a 64 MB SD card, vehicle mounting bracket and a 12 volt cigarette adapter and data cable.

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