Mapping Software Garmin 60 csx

[E_Cups]

I just began geocaching and purchased a Garmin 60 CSX GPS. I know there are many mapping updates available, but as usual, all come at a cost. What mapping software is best to purchase to get the most out of the unit and the geocaching experience?

[+Miragee]

Welcome to the Forums!

 

You can purchase the older Topo maps on eBay to save some money on those. They don't have "unlock codes." The best street mapping software is City Navigator which has an "unlock code" and can only be used on one GPS unit. Some people buy MetroGuide and then use a "hack" to get the auto-routing feature from those maps. I think one of those programs is called MetroGold.

[O-Mega]

I just began geocaching and purchased a Garmin 60 CSX GPS. I know there are many mapping updates available, but as usual, all come at a cost. What mapping software is best to purchase to get the most out of the unit and the geocaching experience?

 

You can download some free ones from a link here: Free Maps

[E_Cups]

Thanks for the details. I did see "update" maps available on ebay but wasn't sure if they were cumulative or not. In other words, I wasn't sure if you needed to have the previous updates, if any, installed before you got the new update. Can you shed any light on this?

 

Welcome to the Forums!

 

You can purchase the older Topo maps on eBay to save some money on those. They don't have "unlock codes." The best street mapping software is City Navigator which has an "unlock code" and can only be used on one GPS unit. Some people buy MetroGuide and then use a "hack" to get the auto-routing feature from those maps. I think one of those programs is called MetroGold.

[roybassist]

I did see "update" maps available on ebay but wasn't sure if they were cumulative or not. In other words, I wasn't sure if you needed to have the previous updates, if any, installed before you got the new update. Can you shed any light on this?

The terminology can be confusing. Your unit came with a basemap. When you add more detailed maps to the unit, that is not considered by Garmin to be an “update”. You are just adding detailed maps. To do that, you have to buy an original-install version of a map product. After that, you can buy updates for that map product when they become available, usually about once a year. You can skip updates, but you can’t start with an update. You have to start with a full-install, or original-install, version. Unfortunately, the original-install versions are not labeled explicitly as such. They just don’t say “update”. I hope this makes sense.

 

Bottom line: You shouldn't be buying any product labeled "update" at this point.

[E_Cups]

Thank you!!![

 

quote name=roybassist' date='Jun 20 2008, 11:09 AM' post='3525022]

I did see "update" maps available on ebay but wasn't sure if they were cumulative or not. In other words, I wasn't sure if you needed to have the previous updates, if any, installed before you got the new update. Can you shed any light on this?

The terminology can be confusing. Your unit came with a basemap. When you add more detailed maps to the unit, that is not considered by Garmin to be an “update”. You are just adding detailed maps. To do that, you have to buy an original-install version of a map product. After that, you can buy updates for that map product when they become available, usually about once a year. You can skip updates, but you can’t start with an update. You have to start with a full-install, or original-install, version. Unfortunately, the original-install versions are not labeled explicitly as such. They just don’t say “update”. I hope this makes sense.

 

Bottom line: You shouldn't be buying any product labeled "update" at this point.

[E_Cups]

Any suggestions on the better map products out there?

 

I did see "update" maps available on ebay but wasn't sure if they were cumulative or not. In other words, I wasn't sure if you needed to have the previous updates, if any, installed before you got the new update. Can you shed any light on this?

The terminology can be confusing. Your unit came with a basemap. When you add more detailed maps to the unit, that is not considered by Garmin to be an “update”. You are just adding detailed maps. To do that, you have to buy an original-install version of a map product. After that, you can buy updates for that map product when they become available, usually about once a year. You can skip updates, but you can’t start with an update. You have to start with a full-install, or original-install, version. Unfortunately, the original-install versions are not labeled explicitly as such. They just don’t say “update”. I hope this makes sense.

 

Bottom line: You shouldn't be buying any product labeled "update" at this point.

[roybassist]

Any suggestions on the better map products out there?

Miragee pretty much said it. Map software other than Garmin's (or custom maps generously made available by some very nice individuals) will not be able to transfer maps to the unit. They will only let you transfer data such as waypoints, tracks, and routes.

 

With City Navigator (CN), you have to choose between NT or non-NT. The NT maps are compressed, so they fit in less space on your memory card, but many people here say that the screen redraws are slower with the NT maps. I use NT maps on my 76CSx, which is functionally the same as the 60CSx, and I don’t find the screen redraws to be a problem.

 

If you plan to have topo and CN on the unit at the same time, NT might have an advantage, because there is a limit of 2025 map segments total that you can have on the unit at one time. The NT version of CN has fewer segments, with each one covering more area; so it won’t use up as much of your 2025 limit as the non-NT version.