User Review: Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx

Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
Above: The current GPSMAP 60CSx, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed December 13, 2006 by Beaux Pilgrim

Rating:
Price Paid: $350

I have had both an Explorist 400 and this unit. This unit beats the Explorist 400 hands down. There are some features that this unit has that the Explorist 400 does not, but with the things that they have in common, this is the better unit (but you have to pay for it). This is probably where the Explorist will be in another year or two.

Here are a few things that I like about this unit:
2 double A batteries are great, Energizer rechargeable last for me about 18 hours. If they go dead, just pop in some new ones.

Street routing. The unit gives you the option of street routing for shortest or fastest route. It give you audible prompts to let you know a turn is coming and also an enlarged preview of the turn. If you miss the turn it will automatically give you directions to correct your mistake.

Many different ways to find poi’s. By city, intersection, address, type of location, previously found poi’s, and others.

Color screen is very bright and even changes to night mode automatically.

Reception is excellent. I compared it to my Explorist unit and found that the Garmin unit would pickup satellites faster; it would also pickup stronger signal under heavy cover. According to the units display the Explorist would show a lower degree of error by a couple of feet and I never completely lost signal with the Explorist but have dropped to 2d coverage before. I have never dropped below 3d coverage with the Garmin unit. I could never get a satellite connection inside my house or my office, but I could get one with the Garmin unit no problem. It would get signal almost as fast inside as it does outside. I am sure that some of this is due to the external antenna.

If you have the extra money this is the better buy, if you are not able to come up with the extra dollars the Explorist is still a good selection.