Suggestions for new GPS

I have a GPSmap 60CSx and that is much better at holding lock under trees
than my previous Garmin units (eMap, V, eTrex Vista C). It uses a microSD
card for the map memory, so one can buy one or more cards big enough to hold
the
combination of maps that one wants. In my case this is City Navigator Europe
and Topo GB or Topo Schweiz and I just change the card to the one with the
map combination that I want. I like the slightly larger screen on the 60CSx;
if you want it to float, get one of the GPSmap 76 models.

I believe that any of the models with x in the name will have the newer
SiRF3 chip, which
is the key to improved reception. Some other models without an x also have
the improved reception.

Mark I

On 19/06/2010 3:57 a.m., Mark Illingworth wrote:
SNIP

I concur, having had several different makes and models my 60cxs has far
and away the best reception in marginal conditions.
I also run two map sets, one for driving and one for tamping/hiking.
I do use a different gps as my main highway unit because I wanted a
larger screen size.


--
Skiwi's UnCommon Sense

Not a heavy canopy of trees but walking around shaded yard my Etrex
appears to track well which is one reason I upgraded from an old basic
model. I can take the unit inside near a window and still get
directions.

Little dissappointed in the map situation as I use for hunting and I
would need 2 topo maps to cover only about 4 square miles where my
major interest is between DE and PA. So I just bought the North
American road map as roads are most important anyway.

I believe that all of your choices have the same chip set (STM Cartesio).
That is still not official on the 62 but early buyers have opened the 78 to
confirm this. The Gamin web site does say the 62 has a quad helix antenna,
while the 78 appears to be a patch antenna. The Oregon and Dakota have
something Garmin calls a "ceramic antenna", IIRC. One problem that Garmin
is having with this chip set is reliably locking onto WAAS satellites. The
latest firmware updates seem to have helped this, but still not as good as
the 60CSx (or 76CSx). I believe all of your choices will have much better
reception than your current units. The 62 and 78 series are not touch
screen and should have better daylight visibility without the need to use
the backlight. There are some very knowledgeable people on the Groundspeak
forums, Technology and Software section. It is a good forum to monitor to
keep up to speed on handheld GPS developments. These are mostly geocachers,
so features they value may be of little interest to you.
Personally, unless you want touchscreen and geocaching features, the 60CSx
and the 76CSx are still the most solid units out there, although they no
longer are being made with the SirFStar chip, either. (MediaTek(sp?), now).

Klatch wrote:

Thanks for your extensive answer. I did some further research and
discovered (while reading the manuals) that the Oregon and Dakota
do not have the possibilty to look for an address, while the
78 and 60 (and so the 62 I assume) have this possibility.
And since I like that feature, I think my shortlist is
now narrowed between 78, 78s and 62S (No 62, because 62 can not
use memory cards; no versions with internal map because I either
want a free map or a (good) detailed map). But next week I will
get an opportunity to use a Oregon 450 for some time,
and maybe that will change my shortlist :).

Wim