Which GPS? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

herostar · 08-30-2007, 10:55 AM

I'm going to get myself a GPS for my birthday and am having trouble with all the choices out there. I will use it camping/hiking alot, but also want to use it in my car. Any suggestions? I have been looking at the Garmin 60csx, which is on sale at REI right now. Is this a good unit?

jujueye · 08-30-2007, 12:19 PM

GPS units really are split between usage. For camping and hiking, you can almost always use the base maps, but these base maps (that come with the unit) have very generic data for driving. Sure, you can zoom in on major highways and things like that, but they are very different from road-based maps that would be used more for driving. Also, road based gps units give you the option of finding an address. A camping/hiking type unit will only give you the option of finding a waypoint and it would be your job to find the road that gets there.

So I would determine where you would use it the most. I, personally, have a eTrex Legend and just love it. I do bring it in the car on trips as it will give me a general sense of where I am (and the proximity to major roads as well). But I use it for geocaching, and entering waypoints for things liek this are perfect. The 60csx is a very nice unit, as far as I know. Hopefully you've googled "Garmin 60csx review" to get more details.

What would I do? I'd get the 60csx and never mind about road data. The one thing that this unit has over the Legend is the ability to have memory cards. You can have specific maps on each card, then swap cards as you need to. For the Legend, you'd need to add one map at a time. This might be quite an advanced feature for a new user, though. Please consider the color Legend. Better price, same user interface, still very, very powerful. I think the screen is smaller on the Legend, but you can zoom in on stuff anway. The eTrex Legend is only $149 right now.

One last thing: if you decide to shop online, just make sure they are an authorized dealer. Lots and lots of great gps deals out there!

Have fun!

xepherys · 08-30-2007, 01:09 PM

the 60CSx is a great unit. I'm using mine extensively on this deployment, and will likely use it a ton at home. You can load a variety of maps on it simultaneously. As is, the base map will fade into detailed maps at a certain zoom level. If you want road data, you can get road data for most areas easily enough. I recommend it!

jujueye · 08-30-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xepherys

As is, the base map will fade into detailed maps at a certain zoom level. If you want road data, you can get road data for most areas easily enough. I recommend it!

Very cool! I didn't know that!

AquaFox · 08-30-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jujueye

GPS units really are split between usage. For camping and hiking, you can almost always use the base maps, but these base maps (that come with the unit) have very generic data for driving. Sure, you can zoom in on major highways and things like that, but they are very different from road-based maps that would be used more for driving. Also, road based gps units give you the option of finding an address. A camping/hiking type unit will only give you the option of finding a waypoint and it would be your job to find the road that gets there.

So I would determine where you would use it the most. I, personally, have a eTrex Legend and just love it. I do bring it in the car on trips as it will give me a general sense of where I am (and the proximity to major roads as well). But I use it for geocaching, and entering waypoints for things liek this are perfect. The 60csx is a very nice unit, as far as I know. Hopefully you've googled "Garmin 60csx review" to get more details.

What would I do? I'd get the 60csx and never mind about road data. The one thing that this unit has over the Legend is the ability to have memory cards. You can have specific maps on each card, then swap cards as you need to. For the Legend, you'd need to add one map at a time. This might be quite an advanced feature for a new user, though. Please consider the color Legend. Better price, same user interface, still very, very powerful. I think the screen is smaller on the Legend, but you can zoom in on stuff anway. The eTrex Legend is only $149 right now.

One last thing: if you decide to shop online, just make sure they are an authorized dealer. Lots and lots of great gps deals out there!

Have fun!

I have a outdoor GPS, Etrex Legend C, and it does allow for auto-routing and the ability to search for stores and locations by name, i can also type in addresses.... i can tell it i want either steak or Mexican food, and it will list everything in that category, or i can just type in the name of the place i want... if i'm on the road an want to eat at a certain chain of restaurants, i can find it and it will give me turn by turn directions. i can also type in addresses and enter multiple points to create a route. All of the current Etrex models except the basic legend do now support SD memory cards now, and if you get a big one, you will not have to worry about loading maps or anything.. it really isn't to hard, you just open a program and click on all the regions you want to load... with a 1gig SD card, you likely hold all the maps within a huge radius... hundreds and hundreds of miles of maps... if you can find your way on this forum, you can figure it out how to do it.

if you want to use it on the road, be sure it is auto-routing for turn by turn navigation... and if price matters, alot of the GPS units now have features like altimeters and digital compasses, which you likely could do without, depending on your use..

i love my legend C and it has guided me and keep me on track while on the road trips without a problem yet, it also rocks in the woods, fits in my pocket, and finds me gas stations and food!

jujueye · 08-31-2007, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquaFox

if you want to use it on the road, be sure it is auto-routing for turn by turn navigation...

The older eTrex Legend does have the ability to find exits and restaurants, but I sure wish I could get updates from Garmin. That would be pretty cool. But I did not know that about the Legend C. I didn't know that. Thanks!

08-30-2007, 10:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
herostar Psycho Location: South Dakota	Which GPS? I'm going to get myself a GPS for my birthday and am having trouble with all the choices out there. I will use it camping/hiking alot, but also want to use it in my car. Any suggestions? I have been looking at the Garmin 60csx, which is on sale at REI right now. Is this a good unit? __________________ Got time to chill?

08-30-2007, 01:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
xepherys <3 TFP Location: 17TLH2445607250	the 60CSx is a great unit. I'm using mine extensively on this deployment, and will likely use it a ton at home. You can load a variety of maps on it simultaneously. As is, the base map will fade into detailed maps at a certain zoom level. If you want road data, you can get road data for most areas easily enough. I recommend it! __________________ The prospect of achieving a peace agreement with the extremist group of MILF is almost impossible... -- Emmanuel Pinol, Governor of Cotobato My Homepage

08-30-2007, 12:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
jujueye alpaca lunch for the trip Location: in my computer	GPS units really are split between usage. For camping and hiking, you can almost always use the base maps, but these base maps (that come with the unit) have very generic data for driving. Sure, you can zoom in on major highways and things like that, but they are very different from road-based maps that would be used more for driving. Also, road based gps units give you the option of finding an address. A camping/hiking type unit will only give you the option of finding a waypoint and it would be your job to find the road that gets there. So I would determine where you would use it the most. I, personally, have a eTrex Legend and just love it. I do bring it in the car on trips as it will give me a general sense of where I am (and the proximity to major roads as well). But I use it for geocaching, and entering waypoints for things liek this are perfect. The 60csx is a very nice unit, as far as I know. Hopefully you've googled "Garmin 60csx review" to get more details. What would I do? I'd get the 60csx and never mind about road data. The one thing that this unit has over the Legend is the ability to have memory cards. You can have specific maps on each card, then swap cards as you need to. For the Legend, you'd need to add one map at a time. This might be quite an advanced feature for a new user, though. Please consider the color Legend. Better price, same user interface, still very, very powerful. I think the screen is smaller on the Legend, but you can zoom in on stuff anway. The eTrex Legend is only $149 right now. One last thing: if you decide to shop online, just make sure they are an authorized dealer. Lots and lots of great gps deals out there! Have fun!