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Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
Garmin is one of the most trusted names in GPS navigation systems today. While TomTom, Magellan and Navignon manufacture fine GPS systems, there is much broader support and accessories that go with Garmin, which has been in the outdoor GPS business since 1989.
Their handheld product line can be a bit overwhelming sometimes, but they actually offer a navigation device for everyone. Whether outdoor adventurers, hikers, boaters or hunters, they have a dedicated GPS for it.
The Garmin GPSMap 60Csx sits at the high end of Garmin's handheld line. It has lots of features and does a pretty good job in maintaining its position. The unit comes with a relatively large screen for a handheld, making it easier to read the map. The SiRF star III chipset is fed through the bulbous helix antenna for excellent reception in all kinds of situations, and the expandable micro-SD card storage system allows you to take a lot of maps and data with you on your trip.
Because of its size, the GPSMap 60CSx is certainly a portable handheld device, but not exactly pocketable. Anyone not absolutely fixated on portability will enjoy the extra screen real estate and the luxury that the SiRF star III chipset can bring in terms of no-doubt satellite reception.
The GPSMAP 60CSx is in fact an improved Garmin handheld GPS Receiver. The two key features of the 60CSx include the ability to upgrade the map memory with a larger microSD card and the addition of a Sirf star III receiver chip, which dramatically improves satellite reception. The Sirf Star III chip is the most noticeable change in the 60CSx. Acquisition times are very fast, even with a cold start, typically less than 30 seconds.
The GPSMap 60CSx is loaded with features, and the primary difference that separates it from its 60Cx sibling is the added electronic compass and barometric altimeter functionality. Both come with the SiRF star III chipset, the big screen, microSD slot and great GPS capabilities. The on/off button is placed at the top of the unit next to the antenna. The unit has a series of buttons across the bottom that allows you to access the most used features easily and quickly. At the top of the arc on either side, you get a “+” and a “-“ button that allows you to zoom in and out on map pages. Going down the left side you have the “Find” button which brings up dialogue for finding waypoints, and Points of Interest, like towns, geographical features, etc. The button also functions as a Man Over Board button when held down.
The unit will then mark the location of a man over board and then navigate back to that location. The Mark key is next, which allows you to mark your location as a waypoint. “Enter” and then “Menu” are classic software navigation keys that are very handy to have access to. Lastly the “Page” button allows you to flip through the various pages that you can pull up and look at.
On the backside of the unit you have three ports: 1) The Mini-USB connection, 2) an aux antenna port, and 3) a serial external data port. The unit also has a lanyard holder and the battery door where you access the two “AA” batteries, under which there is the tiny microSD cardholder. The unit is waterproof to IPX7 standards (1 meter of water for an hour), which essentially keeps you safe in rain and splash situations. The 60CSx is rated for 15 hours of use on a pair of batteries, which is pretty good, but is probably driven down by the big screen it’s using.
The ability to upgrade the memory is a huge improvement to a handheld unit. In the 60CS, you have 56 MB of memory available. In the 60CSx the included microSD card, (found underneath the batteries) is a 64MB card. However, it will accept up to a 1GB microSD card, meaning that you can load just about as much map memory as you could ever want, up to two thousand and twenty five (2025) separate map files.
Another improvement with the 60CSx, is that you can power the unit through the USB port. When you connect it to the computer through the USB, it will power the unit. You can also power it through a Garmin USB DC power cable. There are both AC and DC type adapters available from Garmin as additional accessories.
Garmin says the average battery life in the 60CSx is 18 hours. In the 60CS, you can expect at least 20 hours of use. Using WAAS will reduce this some as well as extensive use of the backlight.
The 60CSx does not contain at least three features found in the 60CS. The alarm clock is gone, as is the ability to set a pressure trend recording. In the marine features, the speed filter in the 60CS is also not included. And in using a 60CSx in APRS, a amateur radio hobby, the 60CSx does not overwrite when a new station is heard and downloaded into the unit. It simply adds a number to the end of the waypoint station. This can overload your waypoint capacity of 1000 within a couple of hours. Garmin says there is no way to get the unit to overwrite the stations. However, you can easily manage this by not giving any of your other waypoints the Blue Flag icon. Then delete only the icons that are Blue Flags as needed, to keep the stations from overloading your waypoint capacity.
Bottom line - the 60CSx is a great handheld GPS device. When it comes to outdoor use it is the most versatile GPS receiver. The ease of getting and keeping GPS reception, as well as the ability to increase map memory are very nice features. Plus you can automatically save tracklogs to the data card. Get it now, it's an excellent value for the money.
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