Garmin GPSMap 60 Review

The GPSMAP 60 along with the GPS 60 are packed with several of the features found in the 60 series color units, but sport an affordable, high-resolution, monochrome display for outdoor enthusiasts on a budget. Optimized for both land and marine navigation, Garmin’s handheld GPSMap 60 includes a built-in Americas basemap with automatic routing capabilities. The 12-parallel-channel GPS receiver is designed to provide precise GPS positioning using correction data obtained from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS).

The Garmin GPSMap 60 also features 24 MB of internal memory for detailed maps that you can load through a speedy USB interface, and it’s fully compatible with Garmin MapSource products such as BlueChart, 24K Topo, and City Select, which provides detailed streets for turn-by-turn guidance. However, it is important to note that the Garmin GPSMap 60 does not provide voice notification.

The Garmin GPSMap 60 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 symbol and 20 reversible routes; position formats include Lat/Lon, UTM, Loran TDs, Maidenhead, MGRS, and user grid. Memory is non-volatile for permanent user data storage, requiring no memory battery.

A handy trip computer provides an odometer, stopped time, moving average, overall average, total time, max speed, and more. The Garmin GPSMap 60 also comes with a 10,000-point automatic track log, and 20 saved tracks (500 points each) let you retrace your path in both directions.

Other features include course and speed filtering; built-in celestial tables for best times to fish and hunt (plus sun and moon calculations); an alarm clock wake-up and stop watch; audible alarms for anchor drag, arrival, off-course, and proximity waypoint; and a geocaching navigation mode. Navigation instructions can be shared with repeaters, plotters, and autopilots using NMEA protocols through the serial port.

The GPSMap 60’s rugged, fully gasketed case is waterproof to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, meaning it’s submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The device derives up to 28 hours battery life using 2 AA batteries (not included).

Garmin GPSMap 60 User Said:

Unless I can gice an item an excellent rating, I do not take the time to write a review. This GPS receiver from Garmin is worth the effort!

I bought the Garmin GPSMAP 60 in October, 2005. It is my first GPS and I did a lot of research to decide what I neeeded and what features and capabilities were important to me. One capability that I decideed was important is good reception. The first unit I got did not live up to my expectations. Could not receive the satellites very well, so I exchenged it for another unit of the same model. This one is outstanding!

We had a heavily overcast day earlier this week in Atlanta, with a good deal of rain. I was amazed that even during the rain with fully overcast skies, I was able to pick up 9 satellites! As many as on a clear day!

Since this is my first GPS, I don’t have another model to compare it to. I can just say that it is working extremely well for me and I am very happy with it. The mapping screen is definitely worth having and gives enough additional information to make it worth the extra cost. The base map seems quite good as far as highways are concerned. As I get more into installing topo maps, I might wish for more memory, but so far I see no real need for that. This model will serve my needs quite nicely. I considered getting a system without mapping capability as a first unit, and I am glad that I chose to go with one with mapping.

Garmin GPSMap 60 comes with the Mapsource PC software for Garmin. After you install it, you should go to the Garmin webswite and download any updates. The version of Mapsource that came with my GPSMAP 60 was over a year old, and did not have the ability to read GPX files, but the newest version does.

I tried to use my GPSMAP 60 with Microsoft Streets and Trips 2004, but found out that Streets and Trips requires an RS-232 serial input and the GPSMAP 60 comes with only a USB serial cable. Fortunately, the GPSMAP 60 has a plug for RS-232 Serial communication, so I can buy or build a cable to interface to Streets and Trips. This is a failing of Streets and Trips 2004 and not the Garmin. I don’t know if the 2006 version of Streets and Trips is up to date with USB capability or not.

Battery life is excellent and is to me an important feature. Minimize use of the backlight, because it uses lots of extra power. Battery life is rated at about 28 hours. Some of the cheaper units have a much shorter battery life. I think the monochrome screen helps on battery life a lot. I find the monochrome screen easy to use, and I don’t miss color at all.

If you are considering Garmin GPSMap 60 receiver, you might want to download a copy of the User’s Manual in pdf from the Garmin website. It will show you all the features and capabilities of GPSMap 60. Couple those with the excelllent helix antenna and receiver sensitivity and you have a great GPS!

—– By M. L Strickland

Garmin GPSMap 60 Features

• WAAS-enabled, 12 parallel channel GPS receiver
• Built-in quad helix receiving antenna with remote antenna capability
• Case: Rugged, fully gasketed, waterproof, IEC 60529 IPX7 (Submersible 1 meter @ 30 minutes)
• Display: 1.4”W x 2.1”H, high contrast, 4-level gray LCD (160 x 240 pixels), Weight: 5.4 ounces with batteries (not included)
• Runs on 2 AA alkaline batteries; includes USB interface

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