A lot has happened since I install and serviced GPS sets on ships back in the early 90-ies. I wanted to catch up on the technique and also get around the notoriously inaccurate hiking maps around here. So far so good, but I’m not sure if Google Earth has the UTM grid wrong or if it’s the GPSMAP 62s that puts me 17 meters easterly of the correct spot. I’ll keep on working on it. But please Garmin, amend the software so that individual maps can be enabled/disabled in the set. It’s not practical to change SD-cards in order to alternate between satellite images and maps. Just check the forums on your own My Garmin and you will find it the top priority for improvement wishes. Else I’m satisfied and impressed with the unit. It is rugged with a solid feel but still easy to handle. The display is readable also in bright sunshine. A highly recommended “gadget” for the devoted off the beaten track hiker.Read full review
The most pleasant feature for me is possibility to use raster maps with specific data. I like how this device keeps the satellites. Consumption of the batteries - more o less acceptable, near 12-14 hours of non-stop work for NiMH (Powerex Imedion 2400). But. At least my 62s has some bugs. Suddenly it changed consequence of waypoint numbers and steady persisted in the new order... Fun, but I don't like it. I did not catch how to load my raster maps separately: all in one package, I can't on/off the maps separately, only all together. If I open some archived tracks the GPS 62s does not show a part of current track... Sometimes joystick does not work properly. Etc etc. I just use it only a month, not mastered a lot, however I don't like so sophisticated and not very reliable interface.
This was one of Garmin's later edition GPS Mapping gadget . . . so greatly improved over the years, since say, the ETrex Vista I had originally bought new. Also, like any great invention, keeping it simple means less potential issues can arise, for example, like one of the newer models with apparently a touchscreen. Honestly, who REALLY NEEDS a touchscreen when all is said and done. Since these units are no longer for sale from Garmin, then buying a used one, overall is a GREAT Deal!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Geocaching since 2001 with almost 14,000 finds, hiking, backpacking, trekking to various places throughout the world, my Garmin 60CSx had proved reliable over and over again, but age began to take a toll and I decided to "upgrade" to the newer 62s. I knew what I was in for having read numerous reviews. I will say that the 62s hardware itself is pretty darn robust. The buttons are a bit more heavy-duty, along with the case, and especially the rear access door -- no tiny little plastic thingy that can easily break like on my old 60CSx. But as for the software -- it is an absolute and total DISASTER in my book. It appears that Garmin threw out everything good with the GUI interface on the 60 models and just started over from scratch with the 62 -- as though they didn't learn a darn thing over all those years. Just deleting a single waypoint on the 60CSx -- 5 keypresses. To do the same thing on the 62s -- 11 key presses!! What were they thinking?? Screen pixel count is identical on both the 60 and the 62, but they wasted so much precious pixel real estate on the 62 adding useless frames and boxes around text fields that take up 3 to 4 pixel widths. Why? Text resolution is a joke -- every character is blurry and hard to read on the 62s -- I guess they decided since the 60 used 256 colors and the 62 used 65K colors they'd take advantage of aliasing, so every text character has a "gray-ish" pixel shade along the edges, making all the characters appear washed out and fuzzy. Why? On the 60 you could delete waypoints by icon, so you could group them on your own for ease of use. Not on the 62 -- you either delete ALL your waypoints at once (BAM, they're gone!), or you delete them one at a time (11 keystrokes per delete as mentioned above). To turn on or off a set of maps on the 60, you just select the map and toggle it with one keypress -- if it was on, it's off -- if it was off, it's on. Not on the 62 -- you have to select which map you want to toggle, then get presented with ANOTHER dialog giving you TWO options -- enable OR disable. Couldn't they have just allowed you to enable or disable the maps when you actually select the map, same as on the 60? Want to edit a note or add some text? Go ahead, type away. But after say 30 characters and you realize you made a mistake at character 3 and missed a character, you have to scroll all the way back (one character at a time per key press since holding down the arrows won't automatically scroll across characters) and try to enter the missing character. But wait -- do the rest of the characters shift one place to the right to make room for the added character -- NO! You have to retype everything all over again from there onward. Why? I could go on and on -- there are at least 20 more poorly executed features in the 62's GUI that make using it an exercise in frustration. I will say that the new 2000 waypoint limit and the ability to store more tracks (without the 500 point limit per track), is a lot better. The USB interface on the 62 finally moved to version 2.0, so it's faster than the 60. The file structure is a little better -- you can now actually access the internal and external (SD card) memory from your computer. Redraw of maps appears to be faster. That's enough for now. Every time I think of how Garmin managed to mess up a perfectly good user experience on the 60 when they introduced the 62, it makes my blood boil. Idiots!!Read full review
He is the newest version of Garmin Map 60 CSx, with more internal memory, better graphics and features such as custom maps and bird-eye, where you can download images from google earth and download directly to your GPS. Garmin Map 62S, is mounted on an interface spectacular. For those who already knew the Map 60 CSx, just found a fantastic creation of the Map 62S. Battery box fairer, not allowing them to disconnect even with high leaps, water resistant, fast satellite reception, easy to handle
The GPS is pretty good, but they are trying to make it more into a GPS unit used in a car. Unlike the Garmin 60 unit which is really easy to use. If they would have just taken the 62 like the 60 and included the paperless log in the 62, which would have made it a nice unit. Unable to delete Geo Caching logs from unit. There are several things that can be changed to help this unit out to make it a top of the line unit.
This one was like new, almost never used. Anyway, the 62s has a learning curve, but probably no more so than any smartphone. The newer Garmin models might be better but they sure cost a lot more. The 62s stands up to rigorous activity. I lost my first one and relocated it 5 days later. It worked fine in spite of being rained on. It's not a touch screen and I like that.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great GPS, fast, great sat imagery support (BirdsEye) needs some firmware improvement (testing v3.10) mostly on track management and others little stuff, but i´m sure that Garmin will fix it soon. I would be happy also garmin open the sattelite imagery support then we can use our without restrictions. Screen is very clear, buttoms feels very comfortable, altimeter and compass are great!
Great GPS Receiver. It's much better than GPSmap 60Csx. Easy to use. Adding more maps is easy with Garmin's wide array of detailed topographic, marine and road maps. With 1.7G of onboard memory, you can conveniently download 24K and 100K topo maps and hit the trail, plug in BlueChart® g2 preloaded cards for a great day on the water or City Navigator NT® map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads (see maps tab for compatible maps). GPSMAP 62s also supports BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery , that lets you download satellite images to your device and integrate them with your maps. In addition, the 62s is compatible with Custom Maps, free software that transforms paper and electronic maps into downloadable maps for your device.
very reliable unit and fun to use
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned