The GPSMAP 60 Navigation System
For an affordable grayscale device, the GPSMAP 60 has a few goodies normally only found on more upscale models. For instance, the Garmin GPSMAP 60 comes equipped for geocaching adventures and other site navigation games. The built-in base map has auto-routing capabilities and turn-by-turn directions with tone prompts to assist drivers. Even so, some consumers don’t like that they can’t add more memory to the internally-stored chip. Color maps are simply more appealing to some people and those going into dense, difficult terrain, like canyons or deep forests, might require a better satellite receiver.
The 60 is perfect for beginner navigators or those who need a reliable GPS navigation device while wandering around the woods or waters. The built-in base map and 24 MB of internal memory will store basic marine, topography and city street information. It is waterproof for marine adventures and provides turn-by-turn automatic routing capabilities for road warriors. Hunters and fishers like the alarm clock, sunrise/sunset time, moon phase table and optimal hunting/fishing time features. With 28 hours of battery life, this device is a reliable and affordable companion for outdoor adventures.
The GPSMAP 60 is a popular low-budget GPS navigation system, but there are a few upgrades within the same affordable line. For instance, the GPSMAP 60C adds a color screen and 32 more megabytes of memory. The GPSMAP 60 CSx adds a barometric altimeter and electronic compass. One of the biggest pros for the grayscale version is its long battery life of 28 hours, while the higher-end versions only have 18 hours. Additionally, the satellite acquisition time is surprisingly fast and the USB transfer capability is handy. Consumers also like that the system is compatible with MapSource maps, has easy-to-use buttons and a sensible menu system. Some cons of the 60 include its inability to float, difficulty reading the screen in broad daylight, no memory expansion and extra maps can be costly.
The www.amazon.com editors gave the GPSMAP 60 full marks, arguing that the GPS navigation system “offers a high-contrast, four-level grayscale LCD (160 x 240 pixels) with backlighting for the display and the keypad. A large-numbers option provides easy viewing. You get 1,000 user waypoints with name and graphic symbols and 20 reversible routes. A handy trip computer provides an odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed and more. The unit also comes with a 10,000-point automatic track log, and 20 saved tracks (500 points each), which will let you retrace your path in both directions.”
