barbeelu

Hi, i am brand new to this gps thing. I live in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
I received a gpsmap60csx for christmas. i plan to use it for geocaching and in the car for directions. i guess to use it in the car I need to buy the City Navigator? From what I have read I should get the NT version on DVD V8. Then buy a 2G MicrspSD card and install it on there. I also need some kind of mount for the car and I have read about different kinds. but i don't want something permanent. Can anyone make suggesstions as to what I should buy and the best place to buy them? None of this stuff is cheap and I don't want to make the wrong purchase. HELP! I know I will have many more questions as time goes on. Being in Wisconsin, one can't even think of going out geocaching right now. this week we had 20" of snow and it is now below 0 with windchills of -25. Thanks a bunch. Barb

dav

Welcome to the site, Barb. Some of the moderators have the 60csx, so they will be able to give lots better specific advice.

We had dinner last night with a couple that used to live in Wausau, Wisconsin. After that conversation, I don't know how anyone can do that!

The mount I recommend is the four-lobed friction mat available through Amazon.com (actually sold by ANTOnline - which is the company I got it from, so I can recommend them).

I'm not actually sure it will work with the 60CSx, so better wait for Andy or Max to say what they use. I use it for a nuvi in the car, and it works great.

Also at Amazon is the whole auto kit specifically for the 60C and 60CS. It includes the mount above, along with City Select (according to the reviews, Garmin will provide City Navigator NT) and the car charger. Kind of steep at $150, but has all of it in one package.

I assume if it fits the 60C and 60CS it will fit the 60CSx, too. But I do not know that for certain.

Max

Hey Barb,

Dav is right on - the 150$ is about what I paid if I recall correctly. You will need a map package, 12vdc adapter, and of course the mount.
I do not think the maps come on a card though - so you will need to buy a 1 or 2gb SD card. If you want to load ALL the maps - get the 2gb.


This is the kit I bought for mine and yep, 144$
GPS Discount, Inc. sells name brand GPS receivers, fishfinders, marine chart plotters and topographical mapping software along with other outdoor items.


I am actually going to be selling my 60csx and the accessories for it in the near future. If you're interested in buying good shape used stuff drop me a pm and I'll try to get it all together and get some pictures for ya.

barbeelu

now i am confused...what is the difference between 'city select' and 'city navigator'? i thought i needed city navigator?

dav

Barb, no need for confusion on this one.

City Select is what it used to be. Garmin discontinued that and now sells City Navigator in its place.

Its just that vendors stock up on this stuff, and some City Select packages are still out there. If you get such a package, a call to Garmin will get the newer City Navigator to replace it.

Just don't install the City Select or your unlock code might not work on the City Navigator when it arrives.

barbeelu

boy, i thought the maps were confusing. now i have to pick from all the data cards they sell online. can u point me in the right direction? why would i need a converter? my son ordered the accessories for me today and i should get them in a day or 2 but i need to load the maps on a sd card, right? can these cards be bought in a store like walmart or walgreens, etc.?
thanks for all your help with this. it may take me until spring til i get this right.
Barb

dav

Our local drug store is Long's. I was rather amazed to find 1Gb SD cards there for $9.99. The 2Gb cards were on sale, but I didn't have the coupon so settled for 1Gb. You should get 2Gb to hold your maps. Since my maps are preloaded (nuvi 750) I did not need as large a card.

Yes, Walmart, Walgreen's and such will have them. Do not pay more than $29.95 for a 2Gb, and be aware that SDHC cards may or may not work with your GPS. Most people find the 4Gb card works and larger ones do not.

I'm not sure what a "convertor" is. If it is just a card reader for the PC, that is a convenient way to load the maps to the card. If you have a PC of recent vintage, there is a good chance that card reader is built into your PC and you will not need another.

Mapsource (free of charge program from Garmin - on their website) is used to load the selected maps from the City Navigator maps you will be getting onto the SD Card. If you get a smaller card, you will only be able to load some of the maps (no big deal, how often do you drive to Texas?). The 2Gb card "should" hold the entire US and Canada.

Ah, a light bulb just went off. A "convertor" might be a "fake" full size SD card that you can put MicroSD cards in. According to the Garmin site here, your unit takes MicroSD cards. Your PC probably cannot take them without the convertor.

This means you have to take my prices above with two grains of salt, too. I've never priced MicroSD cards.

Max

The 60csx does in fact take MicroSD cards. The adaptor is more then likely a micro-->mini adaptor or micro-->fullsizeSD adaptor. The MicroSD is a very small card so most of the 'average' card readers don't have a MicroSD slot unless you of course get one that is MicroSD capable.
The other purpose of a converter is if you want to swap it between devices (say another GPS which is SD only rather then MicroSD).

As for pricing - give Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! a check and search for 2gb microsd, there are tons of suggestions - don't worry about any of the 'high speed' models, you don't need them.

I haven't had good luck locally except for a couple weeks ago at costco I managed to get a Sandisk 2gb MicroSD (with mini and SD convertors) for 25$, not bad considering it was in my hands then and there.


You have the option of card-in loading the maps to the GPS or loading the maps onto the card itself via a card reader if you so choose. The reader will be a little faster if you can.


Good luck

barbeelu

Dav & Max, thanks so much for answering all my questions so quickly. i am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my accessories, map and sd card. then if the weather ever warms up and the snow melts(it's snowing again), i can get started on geocaching. i bet you guys are happy you don't live anywhere near wisconsin or i might be knocking on your door for help <g>.
Thanks again
Barb

dav

Barb, you are a member of Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site, too, aren't you? Seems you are not the only Wisconsin person with a GPS! Imagine that...

On the home page of geocaching.com you can search for Wisconsin, then Waukesha. There appear to be lots of caches near you.

Although I think you might like to come to San Diego to escape some of that snow for a few days, it might be easier to find someone local who would be more than happy to take a newbie in hand to share the game.

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