I've done it at last...

[richie]

Just ordered a GPSMAP 60C. Sportextreme 516 euros to my door. After months of faffing about. The extra memory and colour screen made me get it instead of the GPS V. I have installed The garmin software already and have unlock code. Just waiting for the thing to arrive to get the second unlock code.

There is a massive hole in ireland though, but I'll still be able to use it on the boats.

I'll let you all know how it goes...

 

[richie]

Just arrived, have to wait till I get home to play with it and sort out the second unlock codes.

Any last minute tips or advice on the registration of a second GPS and the demand for unlock code would be greatly received, or is it really all very easy and straightforward. I am looking forward to trying it out on Sat with BGD.

 

[Dutchman]

Second Unit Unlock Code....

Hi Richie

By coincidence I've done the 'second unit unlock' process only this morning....

Go into the Garmin unlock pages as if you were going to unlock your ORIGINAL unit again....and after entering your customer number you'll see a section for unlocking the MapSource software you already have for a second unit (owned by you).....it will then ask you for the unit serial number of your NEW GPS......searches the Garmin database.......

Just follow the on screen instructions.....takes two minutes......no additional charge....

Hope this helps....

Dutch

 

[richie]

Dutch,
Thanks for that, I knew you were after another one as you already told me. My map software is the city navigator one from my bro in law (2610). So I am going to his so he can log on and get the second code for me. I have no problems with registration in his name.

By the way I believe that mine comes with a points of Interest CD is there any point installing it for him and me in his name or is it fully covered already in his existing software?

Cheers, happy GPS'er'ing

 

[Dutchman]

Dutch,

By the way I believe that mine comes with a points of Interest CD is there any point installing it for him and me in his name or is it fully covered already in his existing software?

Cheers, happy GPS'er'ing

Sorry Richie, can't help you with that bit.......know nada about it......

 

[adamski49]

...By the way I believe that mine comes with a points of Interest CD is there any point installing it for him and me in his name or is it fully covered already in his existing software?

Cheers, happy GPS'er'ing

Richie

Don't bother, I doubt it'll have anything that CN doesn't already have. Only worthwhile if you have no other software - it's pretty poor in comparison to CN or CS.

HTH

Adam

 

[Gecko]

Richie,
Where did you buy it for € 516 ? I just spoke to my local supplier and they are asking € 699 for the 60C and €779 for the CS !!

Is is a US model which you are using the second unlock code to activate ? Also can you get RAM mounts etc for them and can you operate them sideways ? What I mean is can you mount it sideways in 'landscape' format or only in 'portrait' view ?
Cheers
Gecko

 

[richie]

Hi Gecko,

I ordered it Midnight Friday and it arrived this morning. It could of arrived already yesterday but UPS effed up the delivery. Still no problem. I also ordered a handlebar mount and have already used it for a short 20 mile ride on roads I don't really know. Not bad but I was riding a bit to quickly to follow it properly so I did not do exactly my planned route.
It came from www.sportextreme.com and it is a euro model. The unlock code I got from garmin using my bro in laws software. City Navigator. (It does not come with maps)

It is very quick at recalculating routes I noticed and even though the screen looks very strange in a house on my sunny evening ride I had no problem reading it. Without using the backlight system.

I'll use it this weekend with BGD in france and will give a fuller report. To be honest though I am still not sure that I really need a GPS as I have a very good sense of direction.

Richie

 

[Gecko]

So I guess I can unlock a second unit seeing as I have a GPS V anyway. If I sell my V to my brother we are both happy......this is very tempting. I'd like to hear more about how you get on with it. Maybe I'll come down and have look sometime because the 60c looks like a nice piece of kit and more than double the GPSV memory will do me fine

 

[Gecko]

Richie ,
A few things I'd like to know if you can check....

1) Does the unit work only on batteries or can it connect to a car/bike through and extrenal power source ?

2) Can it be mounted and used sideways i.e. on a handlebar mount ?

3) Does the tracback function really give you a route or does it just provide a point to point track and how does it appear on the screen ?

4) On the Garmin site it says:
The GPS V uses :
Database or Basemap Americas Autoroute or
Atlantic Autoroute

The 60c uses:
(Recreational Routable Basemap, Americas) or
(Recreational Routable Basemap, Atlantic)

....what does this mean ? I already have City select 5.0 on the V - will I be able to use this with the 60c ?

I guess you may not have all the answers but I'd like to find out before parting with any readies

 

[richie]

Hi Mark,

You can connect it with your current cable.
It does not work in landscape
You can use your existing software
Ram do a mount for it
Have a look at this Review

I will keep you informed and I am impressed with sportextreme very pro and very cheap especialy compared to Belgian Prices.

 

[Gecko]

Thanks Richie - I just looked thru the review. It packs a lot into the machine, Only thing I don't like is not being able to use the screen on it's side like you can with the GPS V and the fixed memory but for the price from Sportextreme I think I'll give my brother a call and see if he wants my V and I may just upgrade.....much to Mrs Gecko's dismay

 

[BurnieM]

The 60c uses:
(Recreational Routable Basemap, Americas) or
(Recreational Routable Basemap, Atlantic)

The basemaps on the GPSmap 60C/60CS appear to have slightly less detail than the previous Americas/Atlantic Autoroute Basemaps.
They are no more accurate either!

The GPSmap 60C/60CS comes with Trip and Waypoint Manager which also has a WorldMap type map on the PC (but with slightly less detail). You cannot load this map to the GPSr.

 

[richie]

Burnie,
Yes thats right I did not even bother installing the cd that came with it, but I am using city navigator and its fine. I have just ridden 100KM to work of course I know the way but I brought the toy along it used exactly the same route I would use bar one turn even in the middle of bruxelles which is quite a complicated city. Only problem for me is it used the flemmish road names rather than the french ones I am used to so Westraat instead of Rue de la loi. For example. (before anyone corrects me its just an example I don't know what rue de la loi is in flemmish)

Apart from that its good. If Gecko can sell his GPSV for around €300 to his bro (good value) he'll only need to splash out €200 for a new 60C which has 3 times the memory.

I have only ever used before a 2610 in a car and I had a bit of a luagh with it, on roads I already know. The 60C calculates just as quickly, has enough memory for all I NEED. and does not have an annoying voice.

Gecko if you want to borrow it for a couple of days thats fine by me, gives you a chance to see if its worth your while. Adamski for example has sold his 60c and kept his GPSV.

 

[Gecko]

Cheers Richie,

Rue de Loi is Wetstraat ....not Weststraat (Someone has to educate you )

Have you got any pics of how you have mounted it on the bike ? I am kind of curious how it fits on the bars without obscuring the instruments.

I read that write up which was very helpful. It certainly seems to be quite and advance on the GPS V so I can't really understand why Adamski got shot of the 60c and kept the V but I guess everyone has there own reasons. For the trips I do into germany and beyond , the V memory is the big limiting factor so this may be a good alternative for not a lot of money. I also like the USB upload that the 60c has which means if you do need other maps it is done in minutes rather than hours. My brother confirmed he is interested in my V so we'll see what happens in the next few days

 

[richie]

As you know this weekend BGD and myself are having a rideout so I'll take some snaps. I have purchased a handlebar mount for £13 which I am using at the moment attached to the cross bar. The instruments are unhindered. Apart from neutral is a bit harder to see. (not a problem). I might well invest in a ram mount for it soonish to mount it in to the fairing a bit more but I will wait and see.

The upload to it is very quick. I uploaded 10meg of maps and it was almost as quick as loading to a flash card. So it won't be hours anymore.

 

[adamski49]

... I can't really understand why Adamski got shot of the 60c and kept the V but I guess everyone has there own reasons.

Gecko

If you must know, mine were financial, a slight hiccup along the lines of some fecking arse of a client not paying me a sizeable amount of money.

Didn't really get to use the 60c in anger and I needed to get my £300 back ASAP so I sold it to a mate. Once I'm back on even keel I'll probably buy it back from him (he has my second unlock code) and let him get a new unit and second unlock code from his V.

The only issue I had was the visibility of the screen in the car but I never got to use it on the bike so can't comment. Sounds like it's ok though according to Richie.

Adam

 

[adamski49]

Originally posted by richie The upload to it is very quick. I uploaded 10meg of maps and it was almost as quick as loading to a flash card. So it won't be hours anymore. [/B]

The full 56Mb of maps tracks etc is well under 5 mins using the USB connection - seriously quick compared to the V

Adam