Ok, if I were a better Paddlewiser, I'd keep better track of recurring GPS discussions to keep the duplicate discussions to a minimum, but hopefully you can tolerate another inquiry.... The screen on my old GPS (an older Garmin Summit) has faded badly (probably because I used to routinely carry it tucked into a little tab on the shoulder of my PFD, facing up towards the sun) and Garmin wants $89 to repair it. Given that it uses the old chipset (slow to load and less sensitive reception, no map capacity), I thinking of buying a newer model and giving my old one to my sharp-eyed son who can still read the screen. The one I'm considering is the Garmin Vista HCx (for around US$230 on Ebay). The reasons for choosing it is that it's (sort of) waterproof, lighter, cheaper and better battery life than the GPSMap 76CSx, has a color screen, and uses the newer chip. Apparently there were some bugs on this model that Garmin recently fixed (as of May 2008). I usually don't keep it on while paddling (mostly use it to check my bearing), although sometimes I'll keep it on while hiking. Anyone want to comment on this purchase or suggest an alternative? Anyone think the 76CSx is worth the extra cost and size? Thanks for any help! Evan Dallas Woodinville, Washington USA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Evan Dallas wrote: > > I usually don't keep it on while paddling (mostly use it to check my > bearing), although sometimes I'll keep it on while hiking. > > Anyone want to comment on this purchase or suggest an alternative? > Anyone think the 76CSx is worth the extra cost and size? Maybe a Map60Sx? Smaller than the 76 series, just as sensitive, and also submersible. Down side: won't float. I've been using a Map60C for three years and really love it, but under trees, it has trouble maintaining contact with satellites. For hiking, the -x variants are supposedly much better. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave Kruger wrote: > Evan Dallas wrote: > >> >> I usually don't keep it on while paddling (mostly use it to check my >> bearing), although sometimes I'll keep it on while hiking. >> >> Anyone want to comment on this purchase or suggest an alternative? >> Anyone think the 76CSx is worth the extra cost and size? > > Maybe a Map60Sx? Smaller than the 76 series, just as sensitive, and > also submersible. Down side: won't float. I've been using a Map60C > for three years and really love it, but under trees, it has trouble > maintaining contact with satellites. For hiking, the -x variants are > supposedly much better. I've got a 76Cx. The primary difference between the 76Cx and the 76CSx is that the latter has the electronic compass. Personally, I don't miss that feature on mine. When I bought mine (from GPSNOW.com) it was exactly the same price as the 60Cx. I haven't actually tested mine to see if it floats but that seems to me to be a good feature (and I don't know of any other models which claim to float). I don't know how waterproof the HCx is compared to the 60 or 76 series but for the price difference you can get a nice waterproof bag for it. It's also much smaller than the 60/76 series. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I own a 76CSX. The difference between the CX and CSX models is NOT the compass feature. It is the "Sensor" feature, which provides altimeter / barometer functions. While the altimeter can be critical in hiking use, the barometer is most helpful on the water. I chose the 76CSX over the 60CSX because I preferred the rectangle design w/o the protruding antenna. The "X" versions offer improved reception and fix functions AND allow for use of interchangeable mini-SD memory cards. You can use the provided software to download and customize your own memory cards, or buy some of their pre-programmed maps on miniSD cards. This last bit is helpful if you use your device for driving, then want to switch to a more area-specific Blue Water Chart or Topo set. I believe 2GB is the maximum size miniSD supported by Garmin. And they are slowly getting more Apple / Mac OSX friendly. -Will On May 30, 2008, at 1:05 PM, John Fereira wrote: > Dave Kruger wrote: >> Evan Dallas wrote: >> >>> >>> I usually don't keep it on while paddling (mostly use it to check >>> my bearing), although sometimes I'll keep it on while hiking. >>> >>> Anyone want to comment on this purchase or suggest an >>> alternative? Anyone think the 76CSx is worth the extra cost and >>> size? >> >> Maybe a Map60Sx? Smaller than the 76 series, just as sensitive, >> and also submersible. Down side: won't float. I've been using a >> Map60C for three years and really love it, but under trees, it has >> trouble maintaining contact with satellites. For hiking, the -x >> variants are supposedly much better. > I've got a 76Cx. The primary difference between the 76Cx and the > 76CSx is that the latter has the electronic compass. Personally, I > don't miss that feature on mine. When I bought mine (from > GPSNOW.com) it was exactly the same price as the 60Cx. I haven't > actually tested mine to see if it floats but that seems to me to be > a good feature (and I don't know of any other models which claim to > float). > I don't know how waterproof the HCx is compared to the 60 or 76 > series but for the price difference you can get a nice waterproof > bag for it. It's also much smaller than the 60/76 series. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> The difference between the CX and CSX models is NOT the compass feature. > It is the "Sensor" feature, which provides altimeter / barometer > functions. > While the altimeter can be critical in hiking use, the barometer is > most helpful on the water. > > I chose the 76CSX over the 60CSX because I preferred the rectangle > design w/o the protruding antenna. > > The "X" versions offer improved reception and fix functions AND allow > for use of interchangeable mini-SD memory cards. > You can use the provided software to download and customize your own > memory cards, or buy some of their pre-programmed > maps on miniSD cards. > > This last bit is helpful if you use your device for driving, then want > to switch to a more area-specific Blue Water Chart or Topo set. The X stands for Ex-pendable memory, C- colour dispaly, S-compass (donno why). So, CS has a compass (no memory card slot), CX - memory card slot (no compass), CSX - both compass and memory card slot. Both CS and CSX have altimeter-barometer sensor. I own CS. Didn't notice much faster response or locking time on satellites than my old black and white Vista, but display is larger and colour is nice to have. Map 60 is TAD smaller (same size dispaly as 76, I think), but it does have a protruding antenna (albeit very short), and its back isn't flat, made for hikers grip rather than for a kayak deck or sprayskirt, and doesn't float. You can add a foam pad to Map60 (Dave did), but then it will become larger than Map76. I didn't try, but units 60 (C, CS) and 76 (C, CS) does allow switching between different maps. All you need is to choose from the menu which map you want to display at the moment, - for example City Map or Topo or Bluechart (otherwise, the unit will choose automatically, according to built-in maps hierarchy). What you can not do with non-X models, is switching from one area of Blue Chart to another one - each area requires a separate $75 unlock coupon, and with non-X you keep this unlocked area on your CD, while with X you keep it on another memory card which you, in theory, can get out of PFD pocket and insert into the slot - though I personally wouldn't, at least on water. With non-X model you need to go to your computer in order to switch between different areas of Blue Chart - but these areas are quite big, you may check on the Garmin website. Non-X Map 76 has been discontinued, and can be get cheap, I think - but Garmin won't provide mapping software updates for non-X 76 series. Though, when it does provide it, it's no longer free (used to be free, but alas). It doesn't mean that you can't buy a NEW mapping sofware for non-X series - most maps are compatible with non-X (if not all). *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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