GPSMap 60Cs

I had a GPSMap 76 last year. Then I sold it to an amateur pilot for RM700+. Meant to replace it with a newer model some time.
Last Sunday, I met up with a buyer from Ipoh, and I bought a replacement GPS.

The guy was letting go his GPSMap60CS, having replaced it with the newer GPSMap60CSx. Came with a belt clip, a pouch, the data cable and the Garmin mapping software.

The difference with the CSx version, is that it comes with a memory card slot, so you can store more maps, and it uses the latest SiRF3 chipset which is capable of greater accuracy (up to 3-5 metres) and able to read a signal even under moderate canopy and in between buildings.

But a CSx costs RM1400 at the cheapest I could source. I’m happy enough with a very new looking, second hand GPSMap 60Cs for just RM700.

In my previous blog, I had mentioned some of the features in this model. But it was way better than I had expected.

A push of the “Find” button, look under Cities, key in Kuantan, and the unit calculated a route that will take me there.

Before every turn, the unit will give me a warning beep, and tell me to “Keep Left” etc. Then the map will zoom in to the intersection, and large white arrows show me what turn to take.

But even with this, I took a wrong turn and missed the Karak Highway, and ended up on the wrong road. Not a big problem, I can circle round back again… Then I noticed the device started recalculating, and within moments, it gave me a new route to Kuantan.

It took me on the old windy road up and down the mountains towards Bentong. The road is absurdly narrow and treacherous, little wonder that it has killed so many. With the Karak highway running, this road has fallen into further disrepair, and landslides are taking away more and more of the road each day.

The CS model also came with sensors: bearing, and altimeter / barometer. They’re pretty cool on the Karak highway on the way back. With the logging and graphing functions, I could see how the roads climbed and descended. Nice feature to have when you go climbing.

The Sunrise/Moonrise feature is fun to have too. Then there’s a best fishing/hunting time feature. Not sure how useful that’s gonna be.

Also came with a few GPS games. Like a virtual maze where you walk around to collect virtual flags displayed on a mini-map. Not something I foresee playing much of. Nor ANY of. Who wants to look like an escaped Alzheimer patient walking around in circles in a wide open space.

A brilliant purchase for RM700.