GPSMAP 66st vs. 60CSx

Just for others, the OP is talking about handheld devices for hiking, etc.

You should see a difference between the display on the two devices, but not huge. The 66cst screen is 240 x 400-pixels and I think the older unit is 160 x 240 pixels. I would think also some improvement in the dispaly in sunlight. You should have noticeable improvement in processing, which you’ve mentioned and waypoint storage.,

One compromise in these devices is always what can be done in the way of improvements as a tradeoff against battery life. Being a hiking device, battery life is always at the top of the list.

I don’t know if contrast to a GPSMAP 64st will help.

I went from an eTrex Vista Hcx (I’ve no idea why I am so anal about getting the case right) to a GPSMAP 64st. With the eTrex at the end of a hike I could turn it off and later, at home, turn it on and see the summary statistics e.g. distance and altitude gained. With the GPSMAP when I turn it on again it adds the distance from where I turned it off to where I turned it on. Annoying.

The GPSMAP 60CSx was a great platform, I had one. I updated to the GPSMAP 64s.

The form factor, etc. is very good, which is why it was a hit when it first came out, and continues to be a factor.

I was going to upgrade from the 64 to a 66, but not yet.

The HUGE benefit you have with the 66 is the number of maps tiles/segment the device can use. HUGE!!!! Even with my 64, I have hit limits. And the 66 has huge built-in memory. All those little things add up to a much more capable device.

Do a side-by-side spec comparison to see what the differences are so you make sure you know what they are so you can use them.

I hope they use the latest version of the USB spec. Transferring a couple GB of maps is painfully slow with an older version of USB.

I know when I load new maps, the transfer of maps from my computer to the GPS device is the long pole in the process, by far. And that is because of the speed, or lack thereof, of the USB.

It's designed to work that way but you can stop that by saving the current track before you turn it off.

Yeah, it will keep writing tracking data to the same track log file. You can end up with wild looking tracks if you had the GPS on and off for long times and distances. Lots of straight lines connecting the ending and beginnings of travel tracks.

You can go into the track log file in BaseCamp and edit the file, break it up, and make individual tracks out of the one big track file. Make a back up copy before you edit, just in case.

The other thing to do is save the track file when you are done with each hike, drive, etc. Then clear the current track, and it will start a new track.

Practice a bit before you try this on a trip, hike, etc.

Thanks. I'll do an experiment to test that. If I remember right, and I'm pretty confident that my geriatric memory is OK on this, the eTrex Vista HCx was different.

As long as I was in the manual I changed auto archive to daily from when full. I wonder if I understand what archive means and the manual doesn't help.

Thanks for all the replies here. In looking at the pre-installed maps, it says Basemap DEM and Topo US and Canada but when zooming in and out, it honestly looks like City Nav for auto routing as it has all the streets but no topo. IDK ... they are both clicked on so I guess I need to play around with this some more. In addition, I was trying to figure out how much internal memory came with it and how much was available. Still going through the motions with it and hopefully will find out more soon.

Thanks!

If it's like UK mapping then it has an underlying CN map to allow you to use it for routing on roads. Topo maps aren't always routeable.

Do you have CN mapping installed?

The appearance also depends on the detail setting. TOPO maps can look rather plain, or like CN mapping, when the map detail is set to low. If you set the detail to high, it will look like a TOPO map for sure. Also, experiment with Shaded Relief to see how you like it.

Some newer TOPO mapping enables routing.

Go into Setup > Map to adjust Map appearance. You can then set Detail and Shaded Relief.

I'm advising from the perspective of a 64s. After looking over the owners manual for the 66 series, they are still very much the same.

If you have CN installed, and multiple maps selected, the CN mapping takes priority and will be displayed. It does appear that the data from other maps will still be available.

Good points and observations.

The earlier GPSMAP devices (the 60CSx) used to strip out detailed data when it archived a track file. My "newer" 64s does not strip out detailed track data, all detailed info is in the archived file.

Just think of an archive file as one that the device does no longer writes to, and the archived file is just stored. The current track file is the open file that the GPS will write data to.

The Current Track file is limited in size. You can archive it daily, or when full when it reaches the max allowable size. It is rather tedious and cumbersome to deal with a huge track file. But if you aren't traveling that much in one day, daily might work. It also depends on how often the GPS writes data points, yet another setting. So you have to figure out what is right for you and what sort of logging records you want, and how to manage the tracks.

I'll play around with the detail. Also, not sure how to upload screenshots here but the pre-installed maps state:

WORLDWIDE DEM BASEMAP, NR

and

TOPO US & CANADA V.2.00

I have no additional maps installed or any SD card installed as of yet.

Thanks.

There is a new 66, the GPSMAP 66sr and an couple of 65s.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/outdoor/why-multi-band-qa-...

I have my eye on that 66sr.

Intriguing capability. Feature set looks great.

Let's see what pricing looks like when it gets out to the market.

$500 re: https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/707627

I wanted to go with the SR as well since for $50 more, it has the multi-band tech which would make it more accurate in tougher terrain (or as advertised) but since I got this on points, it wasn't offered. Overall still learning about the 66st and it seems to be fairly decent. I need more time with it since spring is setting in now and I can go outside more. I do find it locks on faster to sats than the old 60CSx though.