Any GPS is better than no GPS! Even one that does not have maps still leaves a bread crumb trail that you can follow back out.

Out in the deserts like Death Valley and Mojave I carry GPS plus a laptop that has the whole state of California down to 7.5 minute maps. Works out great when you come to a intersection and it's 50 miles that way or 50 miles the wrong way <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> BTW don't run your laptop while off-roading as the hard drive will have a early death. I use hibernate mode while on the move. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Alright brutha, I did a little lookin'. If you buy an etrex or GPSMAP 60 series before 31DEC, you get $50 back. Go here, figure out which one you want, print the rebate pdf, buy the gps with your Best Buy bucks (I suggest adding some to it and buying the monochrome 60 because you get external molded antenna and external antenna plug in expandability <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />) and send smile for a long, long time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Oh yeah, the etrex does not have an external antenna port.

I hope this helps...

And Les, yes, I do agree that ANY GPS is definitely better than NO GPS.

8M for memory in the eTrex won't hold much.

I bit the bullet last night. Went to REI because I had not even HELD one before. The guy was extremely helpful, spent a lot of time with me. For that reason I paid more than I should have (like, $80 more after my dividend comes back to me), but my wife (rightly) has this thing about the "shopkeeper's law" (don't take up a shopkeeper's time, then go somewhere else with your knowledge instead of rewarding him for his effort).

So I got a bright shiney 60CSx! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

Oh, and yes it's expensive. By the time you get the software you need (City Nav, and Topo USA, and 12VDC adapter, and a 1GB or 2GB card) it's not only merely expensive, it's really quite sincerely expensive. But I'd rather have a high-zoot GPS that goes from truck to streetbike to dirtbike to hunting pack, than a bunch of cheapies.

The screen is quite fine. Backlighting definitely is good, and it is reputed to be viewable in direct sunlight.

Now I just hafta figger out how to operate the dang thing. But it's coming to me in waves. REI also has a class coming up, free to me. So that figures in to the mix.

Yeah, I have a 2000 XR650R that is sorta dualsported, and I intend to build/modify as necessary to fully dualsport it. And I almost got rid of it! What was I thinking??? An old KDX for strictly woods, a Buell for the street, I'm set for a long long time.

Yeah, you're definitely set for a very long time and very nicely, I might add. Congrats on the purchase! When I go to REI, I almost always end up talking to someone about that very unit. Those guys should offer me a job. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> I love that place.

Chris, any idea what you're going to do?

The new chips in those things are crazy. You will get a GPS lock inside your house <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I would like to get the GPSMAP 60 however Best Buy does not carry, nor will they order it. The E-Trex Legend will cost me nothing after the rebate and the gift card. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> Since I know nothing about GPS, I'm sure the E-trex will be a good entry level unit.

I noticed they sell GPS recievers for laptops. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> That would be the best for the rig. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Sorry I kind of hijacked, Thanks, -Chris

OT) Hey Chili. Never ever buy anything from "Soundtrack". The Fort Collins store tried to install a system in my wifes Sunfire. After spending about a thousand dollars in there store, I hired them to install it. They let a 16 yr old kid attempt it. He burned up my amp, my door panels were broken, the dash lights flickered,rear seat was broken <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />, And the stereo constantly cut out. When I notified them, NATE personally assured me they would fix it. He did not show up at our scheduled appointment. After about 5 attempts to remedy the blatent destruction of my vehicle. I had to take it to the dealer. They said it was all wired wrong and that I was lucky the airbags did not deploy at any given moment. They replaced the broken parts, and I sent the bill to Soundtrack. They paid me back only for the damages to my vehicle. It cost me an amplifier,my back seat is still torn up,stereo still cuts out,gas and time traveling to Fort Collins from Loveland x 5, being without my car(no rental mind you)while the dealer fixed it. Sooooooo, Dont use those crooks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

Sorry for the rant, it was tech related. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Just saw this thread...

I use (extensively!) the Garmin etrex Vista. It's tech similar to the 60csx, with more screen pixels, but smaller size and smaller (fixed size 24 Mb) memory, and really slow serial port transfers.
If were to do it again, I'd look really close at the 60csx. The ability to add your own mini SD chip is sweet, as that should let you pre-load varios map combinations ahead of time. I couldn't find a "limit" on chip Mb size usability (will it take, and use, a 2Gb chip??), but remember the data sets from Garmin are HUGE, multi CD, >2Gb collections. I use both Topo and street of the same area I plan to explore, it helps for legibility! Note: the topo maps can be loaded into the GPS units 1 map at a time, and the maps take typically 100-300kb of the gps's storage ability, whereas the USA street maps are loaded in 7Mb files, usually a major chunk of a state as one block. So only the Vista has even a reasonable chance at being useful (among the etrex series) if you want both maps or maps of a lerge area. I was able to load all topo maps between Vancouver BC and Denver CO along the hiways I was travelling, including a bunch around Moab, and Silverton as well. But on the old serial interface, it takes ~45 minutes to do that...

I find the GPS is soooo handy now that I can't travel without it!
Even used it to take a lengthy detour through the streets of Tokyo, and measured the real speed of the bullet train (287 kmph)! Here's where the etrex's small size is a bonus. But it comes at the expense of antenna sensitivity (the etrex series headache!)

Any Garmin that can upload/download can also be used to turn your laptop PC into a full-screen GPS mapper, showing current position on any map you have preloaded. And the laptop harddrive will out-store ANY memory chip!
All Garmin maps come with the Mapsource program, which sets up the maps to be usable on the PC you use to upload/download.

Don. Cant I remove maps and load new ones? I am almost never going to need a topo of the Sierras AND say the Rockies. Those would most likely be two trips for me and I can load another map before I head out. I see how you would need to hold more maps, since you cover more ground. Am I on track with my thinking on this? -Chris

My laptop holds the USA street level detail maps and the entire state of California in 7.5 minute TOPO maps.

All total it's 7GB of data.

I've been reading/following this thread because I too am interested in upgrading my GPS. I'd like to get one that has a larger screen and can show the higher res. topo maps as well as give me voice directions, including automatic recalculating them when I miss a turn while driving in the city but perhaps I'll start a separate thread on that since it's not exactly what the OP is looking for.

One note of caution for those considering the Etrex line. I own an Etrex Legend. I've been told that it will only show topo lines if you use the Garmin topo software. When using the National Geographic topo maps of CA, I can confirm that it does not show the topo lines.