Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx
From MalsingWiki
Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx is the latest generation of Garmin handheld GPSr utilizing SirfIII chipset. It replaces Garmin GPSMAP 60CS that is very popular amongst Malsingmaps members.
Contents |
Package
Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx package includes [1]:
- GPSMAP 60CSx unit
- 64 MB microSD [may not be true for all 60CSx sold locally]
- Belt clip
- USB interface cable
- MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD
- Lanyard
- Owner's Manual
- Quick-Start Guide
Brief specification
Detailed specifications can be found in http://www.garmin.com/products/gpsmap60csx/ .
Features
Saving Tracklogs to microSD
The 60CSx allows you to save all tracklogs to microSD and you don't have to worry running out of tracklog space. If you have installed firmware v2.71Beta, you should see this. [2]
- Under Track Page, go to Setup
- One extra button at the bottom Data Card Setup
- Check the box Log Track to Data Card at the top and you are done.
Basically if you toggle "Log Track to Data Card", all tracks will be recorded on the mSD. Just remember : if it is toggled, it is recording - no matter what. [3]
This is IRRESPECTIVE to what you do with the SAVE LOGS or CLEAR functions of the GPSr. So:
- if you SAVED 1 June tracklogs on 1 of your 20 slots, that log will have a max of 500 points. But if you see your 20060601.gpx file, it will have the 1 June tracklogs in full 1 sec glory. So the operation of the GPSr memory and mSD is completely independent of each other.
- if you accidently clicked CLEAR before you saved your 1 June tracklogs - the tracks will disapppear from the GPSr and can no longer be recovered but it will be intact in 20060601.gpx file.
The GPSr has a limit of 10,000 points that it can DISPLAY at any one time on screen. After that it will wrap and erase the earliest points. It wont show on screen anymore but it is being recorded on mSD.
Practical example : you used 15,000 points on 1 June
- GPSr side : you can save points 5,001 thru 15,000 only (as saved log or active log). Points 1 - 5,000 have been erased and wrapped due to 10k memory limit.
- mSD side : 20060501.gpx file will have ALL 15,000 points on the file.
So they are entirely INDEPENDENT of each other. If it is toggled, mSD is recording - no matter what.
Yes. GPX files are generated on daily basis. Each gpx file is not necessarily a continuous active log of 15,000 points. So if on 1 June you recorded on 2 occasions of 7500 points each at 8:00:30 AM and 11:35AM, your 20060501.gpx will contain : ACTIVE LOG 080030 and ACTIVE LOG 113500.
Always remember that the gpx file does NOT save your waypoints! These need to be downloaded separately by using MS in the usual way.
How Much Storage Space Do Tracks Occupy?
One of our members, Jaguar, had submitted a 10 hrs, 10 mins, 18 secs of track of 1 second intervals recently. So the points totalled to about 36,000 and his .gpx file in the GPSr occupied a size of 4.047 MB. Just by doing a back-of-envelope calculation, the statement below should be about right.
So Tracks are space efficient. With the ability to save tracks to microSD card, you can just track to your heart's content and not worry about storage issue as flash memory cards are getting cheap nowadays.
Let's take a 60CSx with a 256 MB microSD. After space taken up by malsingmaps and overhead, there is 239 MB left. Lets just knock it down to 235 MB. That will give a whooping 587.5 hours of tracks! So carry on tracking!
How To Access Tracks on the microSD From a PC
- Do NOT upload the tracks to your PC using Mapsource's "Receive from Device..." function, as only the last 9999 track points will be transferred.
- Select Setup > Interface, which will go to the page at bottom left picture. Press Enter at the USB Mass Storage option. The microSD will then be a drive, F: usually, on the PC and the GPSr will show the image as in the picture on the right.
- Access the drive and the yyyymmdd.gpx files will be listed plus a folder named Garmin. This is how you can delete your Track Logs that are saved to the microSD card. All the uploaded maps are stored in the Garmin folder in the gmapsupp.img file.
- Press the on/off button of the GPSr and the PC will disconnect from the microSD. The unit will restart.
What is in the "MapSource Trip & Waypoint Manager CD" that came with the GPSr?
See MapSource.
Reviews
Patrick Roeder's Review 10 February 2006
http://patrick-roeder.de/reviews/garmin_gpsmap_60CSx.htm
Overall, the 60CSx has many pros and not so many cons compared to the 60CS. The 60CS is already a very good GPS receiver, but I very much prefer the even better 60CSx. I consider none of the drawbacks/bugs critical or unnerving. Accordingly, I highly recommend the device to anybody, no matter if you consider upgrading from the 60CS or if you plan to buy your first GPS receiver.
Malsingmap forum reviews
Many reviews and queries can be found in our GPS Hardware forum about this latest Garmin handheld GPSr replacing the ever popular 60CS. Some interesting threads:
- 9 March 2006 - What's the reasonable price for 60csx in Malaysia? - prices mentioned starting from RM2600.
- 6 March 2006 - Review on Garmin GPSMAP60CSx - referencing a number of external reviews.
- 6 March 2006 - Reception of 60CSx is exellent for me - starting with Neptune's personal experience his 60CSX.
- 14 February 2006 - FIRST LOOK : 60CSX - WITH PICS NOW - adil's review of his 60CSX from when the first few hours of playing with it, until extended testing complete with comparison tracks.
- 26 November 2006 - New Garmin Receivers with Expandable Memory and SiRF Chipset - earliest thread about 60CSX from when it was just a rumour.
External reviews
Some interesting external reviews mentioned in the above threads include:
- http://patrick-roeder.de/reviews/garmin_gpsmap_60CSx.htm
- http://gpsinformation.us/gps60c/g76Creview.html
- http://www.mtgc.org/robertlipe/showdown/
Scary Experiences
1. 60CSx could not fix any position
This was reported by member khooray in March 2007. He found that his unit could not get a fix at all. The unit was even left for 4 hours in open area for it acquire a position but it failed. An upgrade of unit software was also attempted but it also failed. The unit was in a state of not usable even though it can be powered on.
It was suggested that the unit was give a "master reset" by simultaneously pressing the Enter and Page buttons while turning it on. khooray reset the unit by this method no less than 4 times but the same state still persist. The unit just could not give a location fix.
Garmin was contacted. They told khooray to check the gps software version. This turned out to be fruitful as the unit showed Version 0.00. This indicated that the firmware was corrupted. The gps software was then reloaded with the current version, which was v. 2.90. The unit was back in working order after the firmware reload.
You can read the full thread on this issue here.
2. 60Cx is "bricked". It will not even turn on.
Member farulg went through this scary experience in March 2007. The latest firmware was downloaded and updated into the unit without any problem. After updating, there was the usual flicker when switching the unit on and then nothing happened, no beep, nothing on the display. Nothing was detected on the PC side and since the unit couldn't be turned on, it could not be reflashed. The technical term for this is the unit was bricked.
Called Garmin US tech support. The Master Reset (switching it on while pressing Enter and Page buttons) did not help. farulg was already looking at the prospect of sending the unit back to Garmin which will take a total turnaround time of about 3 weeks. The unit was still under warranty.
Lucky for farulg, another member, waypoint, had gone through a similar experience. waypoint provided with a solution that could only have come from Garmin in view of very specific steps that need to be taken. The solution was as follows. Note that this has been tested on a Garmin 60CS and 60Cx
1. Disconnect your Garmin GPSr USB cable & remove batteries from the unit. This will ensure the unit is reset.
2. Replace the batteries, reconnect the unit to the PC via the USB cable but don't turn the GPS on yet.
3. Download a known working version of the Garmin GPS software from the Garmin website and unzip it.This will give you the files, Updater.exe and xxxxx.rgn (xxxxx will vary depending on the version but typically the last 3 digits represent the version eg. 320 = version 3.20)
4. Use Windows Explorer to drag the file xxxxx.rgn onto Updater.exe. Keep your GPSr off.
5. Updater will show a USB Device _____ box and this should be blank.
6. Hold the map panning rocker switch to the left position (as when map panning ) and press the Power On button on the unit (keep the panning switch to the left ). The system will recognize the connected GPS and the word "GPS..." should appear in the Updater USB Device window. On the 60Cx at least, nothing will appear on the GPS itself ie. the display will be off.
7. Keep holding down the left panning switch and the power button. On the 60Cx releasing either button will turn off the forced detection mode. While holding down the GPS buttons, click OK on the Updater window. You may need more than two hands.
8. When the software load starts, you can release the panning rocker (I kept it pressed until the very end of the download though just to make sure ).This will revert the software back to a working version.
Of course, after this the unit was reinitialized. Many settings will have to configured again. The unit will also need to do location fix right from scratch without the baseline from any previous data. Anyway, this solution was definitely gold in lieu of the fact that one might have to send the unit back to Garmin.
The full thread for this incident is here
See also
Forum threads
- Tracklog save slots, how to increase for 60csx??? - 1 June 2006 - Detailed instruction how to save tracklogs to microSD on 60CSx.
- 60 CSx price watch - 3 August 2006 - In August 2006 ex-stock price from dealer in Malaysia is RM2600, and from a dealer in Singapore is SGD840 (RM1932). Price from another dealer in Singapore is SGD665 excluding 5% GST with 3 to 4 weeks wait in September 2006.