Reviews

If you own a Garmin Astro 220 this is a great add on. Most dog hunters spend a lot more money on snacks and drinks over a weekend than this will run you

Reviews

I wasn't sure I would like the Astro because I loved my 60CSx. All it took was a few days of playing with my Astro and realizing it does and has everything the 60CSx has just a differnt menu. For search and rescue it's perfect.

The GPS is an excellent model on its own, and the dog tracker works really well hiking with our aussie. We haven't taken him into country where line-of sight would be a problem, though, and from the instructions it appears that because the link between the dog and the handheld unit is 2-way radio, that could be an issue. Reviews at other sites indicate the car-mounted version has much greater range, but we don't intend our aussie to get that far away from us! I had to return the dog collar because it wouldn't take a charge, but Amazon shipped a new one immediately and a free shipping label, so I could return the first one (i.e., we got the new one before we had to return the old one). The DC 30 charger connection didn't work on either one but after jiggling it a bit on the second one, I discovered that the connector from the charger didn't slide quite far enough into the connector on the dog collar. So I filed down one side of it a tiny bit with a nail file so the connector fit more tightly, and it worked fine. Garmin should fix the plastic injection molding tool used to manufacture that part, which apparently is worn enough to cause this problem. You have to buy maps and extra memory (SIM cards like your camera uses) if you want to add street maps and topo maps, but the software to transfer maps comes with the unit. I had no trouble establishing connections between the computer and the unit. VEry happy!

Reviews

Getting the most from your GPS: Garmin eTrex Vista C, Cx, H, HCx 5/30/10 OVERVIEW of this review: If you already know the basics of using a GPS and don't have a problem learning from the unit's manual, you probably don't need this DVD. If you are not confident about using your GPS and/or don't do well with manuals, the DVD might be worth purchasing. The 40 minute DVD covers about 17 subjects, with each one having a title on the DVD title page/menu, so you can easily select any subject you want to view. The subjects are listed under three sections: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Basic includes a discussion of the GPS unit's buttons, turning the unit on and finding satellites, how to adjust the background lighting, positions and datums, using a computer, etc. Intermediate includes waypoints, navigation, highway pages, the map page, and finding locations. The Advanced section includes a discussion of the altimeter page, routes, tracks, editing, customizing the unit, and using micro SD cards. This arrangement makes the program very user-friendly. As I have indicated, I think the DVD would be especially useful to a beginner. The DVD does give a brief but reasonable visual overview of the basic functions of these GPSs and how to perform them. Actually seeing the steps performed can supplement the GPS's instruction manual to facilitate learning. For the newcomer, the DVD briefly explains how the GPS satellite system works as well as the basics of map navigation. These areas are not discussed in the GPS manuals (at least not in mine). The DVD also gives some basic information about using the GPS with the computer and with Garmin's MapSource map program on the computer - areas that are also not covered in the GPS manuals (mine, anyway). I have a Garmin eTrex Vista HCx unit. Throughout almost the entire DVD the unit used for the demonstrations is an eTrex Vista C. While most of the demonstrations are probably relevant to the eTrex Vista Cx, H and HCx, there are some ways these units differ from the Vista C that is used for the film, at least in the case of my HCx. For example, when background lighting is discussed, it is in the context of using the Power key, which probably works with all of these units. With the HCx, however, you can also use the Enter/Rocker key if you want to fine tune the amount of lighting. This is not mentioned in the DVD. In addition, while the DVD discusses the basics of creating tracks, it does not demonstrate or discuss the procedure for setting up and saving a track log, information that is in my unit's manual. Among the many areas covered, the DVD shows how to enter a location into the GPS by putting in the longitude/latitude or UTM coordinates which, for some reason, is not described in my GPS manual. For the most part, however, most of the information on the DVD is pretty well explained in the unit's manual. It would be nice to have a little more information about using MapSource, although an instruction manual is available with MapSource and/or can be obtained from the Garmin website. There is no mention of Garmin's new Base Camp map program, which supersedes MapSource (and which, unlike MapSource, comes with NO instructions - at least as of a few weeks ago - a bad move on Garmin's part).

Reviews

The video adds nothing to the Garmen instructions. Not worth the price...just read your manual.

This product is perfect for those training for marathons, or other long distance running events. I've been able to chart my progress leading up to the NYC Marathon, and will use it during the race to set my pace. This product is super-easy to use. It synchs up to the satellites very quickly, and it rarely fades out of contact with the satellites (even in NYC with all the buildings, etc). I bought one of these for myself, and bought another as a gift.

Easy to buy and easy to use. 5 min and I was out running with my new watch. Perfect

The main review complaints, on other websites, is about prolonged satellite acquisition time. Maybe it's just the "Big Sky" of Montana, but instead of the several minute wait I read about about, my acquisition time is 10 seconds and less. Quite acceptable. I just wish that there was a way to use this for swimming, in regard to being waterproof, picking up heartrate and having a pace measurement that goes all the way down to meters/minute. MPH or KPH just are not small enough units to fine tune ones swim pace. Also, it would be grand to have a function to measure strokes/minute. Though I have only had this a few days, it seems to be pretty good.

Reviews

I bought this item after my Garmin car charger broke. This item has worked perfectly with my GPS, and it seems to be sturdy and durable.

This cable replaced the original cable that came with the GPS. It was compatible and arrived before the estimated date!! Very pleased!!

Items was OEM just as described and is better quality than the original DC charging cable in many ways. Highly recommended.

Lost my original and got this one through Amazon.com. Not much to say other than it works great and appears to be the factory unit for my Garmin.

The charger was delivered on time, but the one I was sent was defective. I contacted the sending company and in five days' time I was sent a replacement. The replacement is working just fine.

Reviews

I bought this item after my Garmin car charger broke. This item has worked perfectly with my GPS, and it seems to be sturdy and durable.

This cable replaced the original cable that came with the GPS. It was compatible and arrived before the estimated date!! Very pleased!!

Items was OEM just as described and is better quality than the original DC charging cable in many ways. Highly recommended.

Lost my original and got this one through Amazon.com. Not much to say other than it works great and appears to be the factory unit for my Garmin.

The charger was delivered on time, but the one I was sent was defective. I contacted the sending company and in five days' time I was sent a replacement. The replacement is working just fine.

Reviews

I received the Garmin 12 V adapter for my 720 in the alloted time. Went on a road trip in my Mini and on my return the battery ran low. Have not determined the problem; perhaps a defective fuse.

Garmin should have issued a kit to replace the orgin. cheap plastic glued to metal end that goes in cig lighter to power the Garmin nuvi660. THis cord is fantastic...all metal end!

The quality on the adapter is weak, and therefore must be handled with care, otherwise it has worked well. I dont know why Gramin makes such cheap adapters (I guess to make $). The plastic is easy to beak when removing it from the plug.

I bought this replacement car charger for my Garmin Nuvi 660 after my other one broke. This is a great replacement and works great.

So like most people I wanted to save a few bucks and not purchase this product from the www.Garmin.com. Well I got what I paid for. This product died 3 weeks after using it. Even though I bought new fuses (6 different times) for this product it still will not work. I do not recommend purchasing this product. Now I have to purchase a new one from Garmin.....

Reviews

I feel like I just got ripped off with this product. It would be great if topo 24K worked, but with no manual and email support that doesn't seem to go anywhere I have nothing. I've been holding on the 800 # support line for almost a hour and starting to feel ripped off. This is just too expensive of a product to have no documentation. 1st It doesn't want to install on any other drive then C: So have a lot of space available just to install it. 3 gigs+ 2nd Once I enlarged the boot drive so that the software would load I tried to use it. Again, with no manual and NO help there's little one can do with it unless your into a treasure hunt. I think I got some maps on the Oregon 450T, but I'm not really sure. To delete the files the program says 'find the file you want to delete then delete it'. What file, whats the name of it? Where is it located? Oh I guess one just deletes files randomly until the correct one goes away, which ever that file is???

Auto routing yes. Universal single use mapping trails great, except Garmin chose brown elevation lines and brown city roads. In parts of San Francisco distinguishing streets from a high fill of elevation lines is not that feasible. As far as preparing to write to a Micro SD card a "Core 2 Duo 6300" took 6 hours to prepare a single 8 min write. "Quad Core 9550" more than 4 hours. More than twice the estimated displayed. Also firmware update for Etrex and 60CSX allowing a 4 gig card, not quite enough capacity for CA NA OR WA 24K. I made a special card part City Navigator NT part Topo 24k. City Navigator NT disables elevation lines when active. California is two map files on NT (from map, hit menu, select setup map, check or uncheck NT map for your city needs). Topo 24K is a separate map file for a zillion USGS Quad maps. By the way, even the older City Navigator maps cover some roads in Death Vally that require experienced 4WD operators (Stripped Butte Valley Rd).

I bought a GPSMAP 60Csx and the western US topo 24K maps to use for hikes in and around northern California. I specifically bought the 24K map version because it has routable trails. The problem is that the map is missing a LOT of trails. For example, in Mt Tam, Steep Ravine is not included. Around Santa Cruz, all of the trails that make up the Skyline to the Sea trail are missing. These are major, heavily used trails and having incomplete trail information really limits the functionality of the maps and the GPS unit for hikers. I have heard that the 100K version includes all of these trails (albeit with less contour information). I'm really pissed at Garmin and will probably be returning these maps.

HOW TO USE GARMIN BASECAMP WITH GPS TOPO MAPS (SOME BASICS); A REVIEW OF GARMIN TOPO U.S. 24K WEST & OTHER GARMIN BASECAMP MAPS 2/26/10 FIRST SOME PROS & CONS ABOUT BASECAMP: PROS: This is a really cool program. You can find any area on the map, blow it up to whatever size you want, print out a paper copy with UTMs and/or transfer the map to a Garmin (at least) mapping GPS, which shows you exactly where you are on the map, etc. It works great in general and is easy to use ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE IT. Excellent tech support is available via email (through [...]) or phone. It apparently works well on Mac (OSx 10.4 or later) as well as PC (I have it on Vista). CONS: NO INSTRUCTIONS EXIST (as of Feb. 2010)! It has many, but not all, of the trails that are on USGS or Trails Illustrated topo maps (although you can compensate for this by adding "tracks," perhaps with assistance from a topo map that shows where the trails are). Apparently route lines have to at least partially be on a trail or road; they won't necessarily go exactly how you want them to. YOU CAN SKIP THE REST OF THIS REPORT UNLESS YOU ARE ACTUALLY ORDERING, OR RECENTLY ORDERED, YOUR FIRST GARMIN TOPO MAP THAT USES BASECAMP SOFTWARE. IN SUCH A CASE, WHAT FOLLOWS SHOULD BE VERY USEFUL. IT CAN SAVE YOU HOURS OF FRUSTRATION AND MAKE BASECAMP USEABLE FOR YOU. IT CAN ALLOW YOU TO BE MORE CONFIDENT IN MAKING A GARMIN BASECAMP MAP AN AMAZON PURCHASE. INTRODUCTION In December 2009, after researching mapping GPSs and studying reviews on Amazon for mapping software for a Garmin GPS, I ordered a Garmin etrex Vista HCx mapping GPS, the Garmin TOPO U.S. 24K West DVD, a topo map CD of Utah from Above the Timber ([...]; works with Garmin's MapSource software) and blank microSD Cards. To my dismay, as of this time (Feb. 2010), Garmin maps that rely on BaseCamp software do not come with instructions. Nor are such instructions on the Garmin website yet. (Garmin's website does have a user's manual for their older software, MapSource, which I eventually and inadvertently discovered could be used with BaseCamp maps.) I was also unable to find instructions for BaseCamp from a brief Google web search. I ordered two books from Amazon that discussed GPSs and mapping (the newest with a 2008 copyright) in hopes they would talk about BaseCamp, but BaseCamp (c2009) was too new to be in them. Never having used mapping software before, I felt at a disadvantage without ANY directions. (This is one reason for my giving this software a four instead of a five star rating.) In my opinion, Gamin was irresponsible in not providing purchasers of its new mapping software with at least a set of basic BaseCamp instructions until a more thorough user's manual could be created. While I have a high regard for Garmin quality, this experience diminishes my faith in the Garmin name. Garmin's website does allow you to email tech support and ask questions, which I did, and my experience with their tech support has been extremely positive. I also spent many hours experimenting with my Garmin DVD map and GPS in order to figure a lot of things out on my own. To make it easier for other purchasers of this software, I have written the basic instructions for BaseCamp that follow. (I have also added some instructions for Garmin's MapSource program that are not in that program's user's guide.) Others could write something better and more complete but this is the best I can offer. As I learn more, I might make revisions. I am not aware of any other instructions for BaseCamp at this time (Feb. 2010). Thanks to Garmin Tech Support for providing some of the following information. USING GARMIN'S BASECAMP DVD MAP Opening the program on your computer: After the program was loaded into my PC (which has Vista) I was able to access it by going from the lower left Start button to Programs to Garmin to then being able to select BaseCamp (with the other option available being MapInstall). When the program opens and map appears, to find the geographic area of interest: move the marker for the "+" and "-" scale on the left up or down to select the size of the map you want to see (zooming in or out), while using the "compass" on the left (using your cursor to work with the middle section that has a pointer for each direction), and/or using the cursor's "hand image" on either of the two map images that appear, to move the map up or down, to right or left. If you use the mouse/cursor to "left click" on the "N", "E", "S", or "W", or click/hold/drag on the outer ring of the compass, it will reorient the map, if that is desired for viewing or printing. If you have entered a waypoint on the map and that waypoint is not visible on the area of the map that you are viewing, but it is listed on the left end, you can click on the symbol or name on the left and that area of the map will appear. After you have played with these things for awhile, you will find it easy to locate the map area of interest, and you will get an idea of how really cool this map program is. About creating waypoints: You can create and save waypoints with your GPS and then transfer them to the map on your computer. You can also create waypoints directly on your BaseCamp map on the computer, in the following manner: Once you find an area on the map where you want to create a waypoint or waypoints, you can click on "File" and go from "New" to "Waypoint." (Or where you see an image in the tool bar at the top, of either a waypoint, route, or track, you can use the mouse/cursor to activate the waypoint feature [or the route or track feature]. If the image shown is for a waypoint [a flag], click on it. If the image shown is for route or track, then click on the inverted triangle to the right of the word "New" to select waypoint.) With the waypoint feature activated, when you left click on a spot on the map, a waypoint will be created there and a symbol and number for it will appear on the left end of the screen. You can give the waypoint a name by right clicking (with PC) on the waypoint's number and selecting "rename". After creating the first waypoint you can continue to create more in the same manner. As long as you do not take the step to delete a waypoint, it seems to be automatically saved when you close the program, since it appears on the map when the program is started up again. To delete a waypoint, using the mouse, right click (with PC) on the waypoint name or number on the left end of the display screen and select "delete". If you right click (with PC) on a waypoint's name or number on the left end of the screen, the "properties" field appears, which (among other things) gives you the possibility of changing the waypoint's symbol to a different one by clicking on the inverted triangle to the right of the flag icon that is next to the word "symbol". You can turn off the waypoint mode by clicking on another toolbar symbol, like the "hand" for moving the map around. When you make waypoints on the computer map and transfer them to the GPS, they do not affect the allotted number of waypoints your GPS gives you, which only relates to waypoints you create with the GPS. Sending waypoints to the GPS: The MapInstall program will only send maps to the GPS, so other data (waypoints, etc.) is transferred through the BaseCamp program. With BaseCamp open, and the map with your selected waypoints on the screen, connect the GPS to the computer and turn the GPS on. On the left end of the screen, between "Library" and the list of your routes, should appear a "Devices" field with the name of, and an icon for, your GPS. Click/hold on a waypoint icon/name and drag it up to the GPS icon and "drop" it in. You will briefly see a little status bar showing the degree of transfer until it is complete. You can have a microSD with a map of any area in the GPS, or not have a microSD in the GPS at all, when you do this. About creating routes: You can create and save routes with your GPS and then transfer them to the map on your computer. You can also create routes directly on your BaseCamp map on the computer, in the following manner: First activate the route feature in the same way as described for waypoints. This allows you to draw routes between various points, with the cursor appearing as a pencil. Whenever you left click on the map screen it creates a "flagged" point which is one connection in the route. The lines you draw, however, appear as straight lines while you are drawing between each pair of points. It took me quite awhile to figure out how to end the process of route drawing without moving the pencil/cursor off the map page and actually closing the program. When you right click on the mouse (on PC) the process of making a route ends until you left click on a point on the map at which time the process resumes. One weird thing relates to when you are not creating a route on an actual trail or road. With some exceptions perhaps, as you create the second point the line is connected to, the straight line re-forms to go up or down to the nearest trail or road before going back up to the second point. You really just wanted a route going across country, but you end up with a route that takes you all over the place in order to utilize a trail or road. In other words, the route feature only seems to consistently work well or accurately when you are doing a route that follows a trail or road that is shown on the map. Perhaps there are some tricks to this part of the program of which I am not aware. Created routes are listed on the left side of the screen and you can right click (on a PC) on any of them and select "delete" to delete the route itself, or select "rename" to rename the route. About sending routes to the GPS: Use the same procedure described for waypoints. About creating tracks: A mapping GPS can automatically create "tracks" as you are hiking. A track appears on the GPS as a little dotted trail that shows exactly where you walked while the GPS was on. Tracks can be saved or deleted on the GPS. If they have not been deleted, they can be transferred from the GPS onto a map on the computer. You can also create tracks directly on the computer map in the following manner: In BaseCamp you activate the track feature in the same way as described for waypoints. This allows you to draw your own trail (or route) on the map that is more accurate and fluid than were you to use the route feature. The most fluid way to draw the track (on PC) is by holding the left click for the mouse as you drag it over the map to create the trail. You can also left click on separate points and a straight line (or lines) will appear to create the track between those points. You can leave track mode by right clicking the mouse. You can delete a track by right clicking on its symbol/name on the left of the screen and selecting "delete" (or select "rename" to rename the track). About sending tracks to the GPS: Use the same procedure described for waypoints. About the search feature (the image of binoculars in the toolbar along with the "Find," "near," and "containing" fields): You have to play around with the search feature to figure out how it works. It does not always work for me. I think there are some tricks to it I have not yet learned. If you initiate a search and what you want is accurately listed on the right side of the screen (perhaps along with other options), you can click on the location's name/address to reveal where it is located on the map, and then you can click on "show on map" to have the location shown in more detail. If you wish, you can also click on "add waypoint" to mark that spot on the map. (If you can not find what you want in this way, at least many locations can be found with a little patience by moving the map around and increasing or decreasing its coverage area.) About creating and using folders: With BaseCamp open and a map on the computer screen, to the left is a "Library" section with a "My Collection" folder. The folder will contain ALL of the waypoints, routes and tracks that you add to the map. You can create other folders, each of which will contain only the features you add to the map while the particular folder is open (with all of the features also being added to the "My Collection" folder). To create a new folder, click on File and go from New to Folder In Library. With a PC you can name the folder by right clicking on it with the mouse. Whenever you open one of the folders (by left clicking on it), its data is displayed on the map and at that point, if you wish, that specific data can then be transferred to your GPS. With BaseCamp open, you can delete or rename a library folder (except for "My Collection") by using your mouse's right click feature (on a PC). About transferring selected map areas from the computer to a microSD (which is connected directly to the computer with an adaptor): If you try to save map data onto the same microSD on more than one occasion, after saving the first map data, each successive "map save" erases whatever data had previously been saved on the microSD. It is easy to intentionally erase the contents of a microSD. Connect it to the computer's USB port and open the microSD. Right click [PC] on the Garmin folder icon/name and select delete. About printing out a paper map: (You can get water & tear resistant paper for printing maps at places like REI or through amazon.com or another website.) Once you have selected the approximate area you want to print out, drag down from "File" to "Print Preview" to see how the map will look on paper. It probably won't show all of the area that was on the screen, so you may need to move the map area around a little to print what you want. If you wish, you can move the map from the print preview screen with the cursor (with PC, hold down left click and move mouse), although it tends to respond slowly. Once the Print Preview shows you what you want, you can print it out while still in the Print Preview mode. As other Amazon reviewers have pointed out, the map does not have all the hiking trails that exist on the land or on USGS maps. However, you can add a trail to the map using waypoints and route lines or tracks, while perhaps working with a printed commercial topo map that shows you the trail you want to add. Thus you can make up for the map's insufficiency regarding trails. When you have made changes to a BaseCamp map and close the program, the changes seem to be saved on the program automatically (whereas MapSource gives you the option of using "save" to save the file to the MapSource program). USING GARMIN MAPINSTALL Were it not for a friendly clerk at REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.), I would have had no idea how to get the Garmin DVD map onto my microSD and then into my GPS. The key is that you open MapInstall while BaseCamp is closed. (First add any desired waypoints, routes, or tracks, to the map of interest, with the Garmin DVD map/BaseCamp program. Then close BaseCamp.) Using an adaptor (which can be purchased through Amazon or another source), put a microSD in a USB port for your PC or Mac (or have the microSD in the GPS and connect the GPS to the computer's USB port). Open MapInstall (on my PC: "Start" > "Programs" > "Garmin" > "MapInstall") Follow the instructions from there - the process is very obvious and you are guided step-by-step, but here are a few pointers: Zoom in and out of the map until you find the area you want to transfer. Clicking on a map section on the screen selects it for transfer; if more than one section is on the screen, click on each one you want to transfer. Clicking on a map section a second time unselects it. With a little practice this process will be obvious and easy to do. MORE ABOUT TRANSFERRING DATA OTHER THAN MAPS FROM THE COMPUTER (WITH BASECAMP AND MAPSOURCE) You can transfer one or more map regions from the computer to a microSD that is connected directly to your computer. You can also transfer map regions from the computer to a microSD while it is loaded into the GPS and the GPS is connected to the computer. What neither my "eTrex HC series" manual nor the MapSource User's Manual tell you (!!!) is that waypoints, routes, and/or tracks that you create on the computer map can NOT be transferred to the microSD. They have to be transferred to the GPS itself. So if you hook the GPS up to the computer, and have a microSD card in the GPS, when you instruct the computer to transfer maps as well as waypoints, routes, and/or tracks, the map is saved on the microSD and the data besides the map is saved on the GPS. (Garmin Tech Support told me this, after I wasted a lot of time trying to transfer waypoints as well as my map selection onto microSDs connected directly to the computer.) If you have a map or map set on the microSD and the microSD is in the GPS, you can still transfer waypoints, etc., to the GPS from the computer without harming the contents of the microSD (as long as you are not ALSO transferring a map or map section[s], which would replace whatever map or map section[s] are already on the microSD). (When interfacing between the computer and the GPS, be sure the GPS is turned on and that the computer program recognizes the GPS. [For MapSource, see MapSource User's Manual, vJune 2008, p.7.]) If you have waypoints (or routes/tracks) displayed on a map on the computer and transfer them all to the GPS, then add more waypoints (or etc.) to the same computer map file, that you want on the GPS, you can again transfer all of the displayed waypoints to the GPS. At that point, only the new ones will be added to the GPS (at least in the case of my Garmin HCx), since the other waypoints are already on the devise. (BaseCamp, of course, gives you the option of selecting individual waypoints/etc. to send to the GPS. Unlike with MapSource, you don't have to send all of the ones that have been created for a particular map file.) If - on the computer map - you change the properties of a waypoint that is already on the GPS (changing, for example, its name), and you again send that waypoint to the GPS, the renamed waypoint will transfer but the original version will still remain on the GPS (until you delete it) since the GPS perceives it as different from the changed version. TRANSFERRING MAPS (from the GPS/microSD) AND OTHER DATA (from the GPS) TO THE MAP PROGRAM ON THE COMPUTER Transferring maps from the microSD onto MapSource (from Garmin Tech Support): "You can transfer maps from the data card back into MapSource by checking the `Maps' box when you connect the GPS [with the microSD in it] to the computer and select `Receive from Device.' This will send the maps to MapSource and allow you to view which map segments are on the card. There is no way to do this in BaseCamp. And this can not be done with pre-loaded datacards." For information on transferring waypoints, routes, and/or tracks, as well as more information on transferring maps, to the computer, when using MapSource, see the MapSource User's Manual, vJune 2008, p.15. With BaseCamp is open, and you connect your GPS to the computer, waypoints, tracks and routes that are on the GPS automatically show up in the BaseCamp library. From there you can transfer them to a folder that you create, which will keep them in BaseCamp after the GPS is disconnected from the computer. SAVING MAP FILES ON THE COMPUTER; BACKING UP; ETC. MapSource map files that you create with waypoints, etc., can be saved outside of the program (like in a folder on the desktop), using the program's File > Save As. (Then, if you wish, you can delete the modified map or change its name at the location of its name on the computer [using the mouse's right click feature for PC].) With BaseCamp you can do this by selecting File > Backup. Later, the first time you open BaseCamp by clicking on the name for the file that you saved on the computer, a dialogue box comes up (on a PC) with the message, "Windows Cannot Open This File." At this point, chose "Select a program from a list of installed programs" (click on "OK"), and then select BaseCamp to open the program. It will open up with the "My Collections" folder open showing all your waypoints on the program. Subsequently, when you open the program by clicking on the file name on the computer, the program will open automatically. Be sure to back up important map files that would be hard to replicate. If you think a map file that was on your program has been accidentally deleted, do a "search" on the computer to see if you can find it there somewhere. SOME INFORMATION ABOUT DELETING BASECAMP FILES Let's say you create a new folder on BaseCamp, then save it on the computer as a backup file, and then at some point later delete the folder on the BaseCamp program and close the program. If you then reopen BaseCamp by clicking on the backup file's name, when BaseCamp opens, the folder will NOT show up on the program. If you create a new folder on BaseCamp, then save it on the computer as a backup file, and then at some point later delete the backup file, the original folder will still be found on BaseCamp (at least that has been the case in my limited experience). (Some aspects related to intentionally or accidentally deleting map files from the BaseCamp program are still a mystery to me.) SOME INFORMATION ABOUT RENAMING AND DELETING MAPSOURCE FILES When you change the name of a MapSource map file where you had saved it on the computer, the new name doesn't show up on the MapSource program until MapSource is opened by clicking on the new file name on the computer (as opposed to opening the program with Start > Programs> Garmin> MapSource [with PC]). When you delete a map file on the computer (where it had been saved) and then open MapSource via Start > Programs etc. [with PC], the name of the file still appears on MapSource (when you click on "File"), but when you click on the name in the "File" menu to select it, a message appears saying it can't be found, and the name then disappears from the "File" menu when you close that dialogue box by selecting "OK". (There are aspects related to how file names show up or don't show up on MapSource that that are not discussed in the program's user's manual and that I don't understand. The manual does not do justice to the areas related to renaming, deleting, and saving MapSource files.) GPS (Garmin etrex Vista HCx) AND MAP USE With a map on a MicroSD that is loaded into the GPS (with "Map Data" selected in the GPS' map menu): When you turn on the GPS it shows the portion of the map related to your location as well as a location marker (assuming you are located within the area of the map on the microSD). (If you are not located within the map on the microSD, and the GPS comes with a preloaded basemap that covers your location, the location marker will show where you are on the basemap.) (Note: some mapping GPSs will allow you to load a map directly into the GPS without needing a microSD.) You can use the upper 2 buttons on the left side of the GPS (Garmin HCx at least) to zoom in or out and when the GPS is turned off and back on, it comes back on displaying the last map size you previously selected. As you walk, with the GPS on, the locator indicating where you are on the map changes accordingly. I have been told that if you load a large map area into your GPS, it will be a little slower to work with than if you had loaded in a smaller map area. Something that I wish my GPS manual had mentioned is that when using the zoom in/out feature, where you locate your pointer on the map on your screen, using the "rocker" (on a Garmin HCx at least), determines the area that will be focused on for zooming. (I am referring here to a pointer that you can move around, not to what I call the location marker that shows where you are located on the map.) For example, if you located the pointer in the lower right corner of the map that is being displayed, then zoom in or out, that lower right corner is what will be centered and focused on. (It took me awhile to learn this. When I zoomed in and out with a map on my GPS screen it was confusing to see the map areas shift around so much. It made it almost impossible to focus on a specific area. Finally I realized this related to where I had the pointer.) To find a map on the microSD that is loaded into the GPS that covers an area within which you are not located: For example, if you have a topo map of SE Utah in the GPS that you want to look at, and you are in California......when you turn on the GPS and the map page appears, it will show where you are in California (if your location is on the GPS pre-loaded basemap). With the Utah map properly selected in your map menu options, you can zoom out more and more until you can see an outline of the states. Then you can use the rocker to move over to Utah. From there use the pointer/rocker and the zoom feature to find the map area you for which you are looking. Two other ways to do this that were suggested by Garmen Tech Support: (1) You can "turn off satellites and relocate the GPS position to an area within the detailed map segment. To do this, go to the Satellite Page > Menu Button > Use with GPS Off > Menu Button (again) > New Location > Use Map > Use the click-stick (rocker) to pan to the area where you know there is detailed map coverage > Press Enter (the click-stick). Now the device believes you are in this area and you can zoom in and out to see the detail." (2) An easy way to find a distant map area in the future is to place a waypoint there in the GPS, then you can locate the waypoint in the "Find" menu, bring up the data on the waypoint, and select "view on map" [or, with my GPS, just "map"] to show that map area on the screen. MAPSOURCE VS BASECAMP; MAPSOURCE INSTEAD OF BASECAMP Since beginning to study BaseCamp I have downloaded MapSource for use with a map CD that covers Utah, and explored MapSource some. MapSource is more user-friendly and it is easier to figure out how to use most of its aspects without a manual than is the case for BaseCamp. Unlike MapSource, BaseCamp prints out maps with UTMs, which is really nice. On the computer screen (and printed map), BaseCamp shows you a small map in the corner of the screen or page which gives you an idea of where the map area you have selected is at is in relation to a larger area. A printed BaseCamp map also shows you true north and gives you the geographic area's declination. I am sure BaseCamp has other advantages as well. (Unlike BaseCamp, MapSource comes with a user's manual, although I still had to figure out some things it does not discuss.) Both programs print out maps that have a distance scale. One neat thing I discovered about a Garmin BaseCamp DVD map is that if you have a current version of MapSource (which can be downloaded from [...]), you can work with the map with either MapSource or BaseCamp. (In the toolbar section of the MapSource screen, in the upper left corner, to the left of the "+"and "-" zoom features, is a little field for selecting maps that have been loaded onto the computer.) If you want to use the simplicity (and user's manual!) of MapSource, it is nice to have the option to do so.

As good as Garmin is in making a trail worthy GPS; they are just as lacking in making good mapping software. The Garmin basecamp software is fine for viewing on a screen. If you want to download a map then the limitations appear. There is no annotating the map. If you place grid lines on the map they can only be in lat-long. There is no provision to place a UTM grid on the printed map. (As an aside, there is no way to display a grid when the map is displayed on the computer screen.) You get one choice in printing... Garmin's vision of how you want the map and profile to be displayed. (Another aside, there is no statistics for the elevation profile shown on the computer screen or in print. Such as accumulated elevation or gradient.) If you want good mapping software then I suggest getting the Delorme topo software. (Of course you can only download Garmin maps to Garmin GPS units.) Delorme's is a more professional grade of software with a layering concept similar to photoshop's editor. If you want a great GPS, then buy a Garmin.

Reviews

I purchased this GPS because the GPSmap 60Csx was very expensive and the only difference is that the Csx has a barometer and a Altimeter and does instruments I have them on a Casio Pathfinder I carry with me. The 60Cx is an outstanding GPS; it records tracks, is very accurate, always locks at least 8 satellites even indoors, alkaline batteries last 30 hours +, comes with mapsource software, usb cable and with carrying accessories. I find it really easy to use; the color TFT screen makes it very easy to see even at night and with the sun glare. After using my GPS adding new waypoints, tracks, routes, I sync it with my laptop and all my information is available true the mapsource software that I can modify and include to my map, it comes with an "ok" basemap but a lot of maps are available true garmins website. I was very pessimist of buying this item REFURBISHED but for a 100+ dollars save I went for it, item is in awesome conditions and very precise. BUY THIS GPS you will not regret it.

This device found satellites and pinpointed its location on the map in less than a minute out of the box -- from inside the house, where my previous GPS (a Magellan Explorist) hadn't even been able to get any reception. Battery life has been much better than earlier units I've owned. Usability outside the US is an important feature for me. When we went to Europe, we were able to buy a detailed map of Scandinavia on a micro card so that we could just bike around Copenhagen without worrying about getting lost.

Overall happy with unit. Rugged, water tight. Easy to use. Don't expect any maps. Everything has to be purchased separately. Lakes is a map and their lake maps don't put your location on the right road, so you have to purchase road maps. Their lake maps are not very accurate with anything other than the borders of the lake, but you can get to where you're going and back on the same track and you can mark spots. Lists marinas and ramps in wrong locations. Not all depth info is correct.

I purchased this as an upgrade / replacement for a 5 year old Garmin 60C. My old 60C was a steadfast companion on myriad canoe camping trips and had helped me out of dicey situations many times. This newer model is strikingly similar except for some small but significant changes. ~the receiver is far faster to lock onto sattelites and fix position ~the receiver has much greater sensitivity- this one actually can lock on and follow me in my house! ~battery life is slightly improved ~syncing to a PC seems easier and more solid At Amazon's price I paid $110- less than I did 5 years ago, and that was at a good discount.

transaction went very smoothly and the seller was great at resolving a problem with the item