Garmin 62s

[The Sikes]

Got a new compass for Christmas and am trying to figure it out. It's the Garmin 62s. Are there classes you can take or forums. I've been watching some youtubes. I had a Garmin extrex long ago but it never kept signal. I gave up on it. I am hoping this one will be better if I can ever figure out how to use basecamp and load maps...

 

[DougPaul]

The 62s is a good choice for hiking.

There are many GPS advice threads spread about--please read a selection. Many answer beginner questions. (You will need to use Google advanced search to find them--the internal search facility does not index 3-letter "words" such as GPS.)

A recent thread that answers some of your questions is http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthread.php?54423-GPS-Recommendation

Read the manual and explore the menus. (The online manual from the Garmin website may be better than the printed one that comes with the GPS.) The manuals don't cover everything, but they should help you get started. Also practice with the GPS when you don't need it so you will know how to use it when you do need it.

Doug

 

[DayTrip]

Got a new compass for Christmas and am trying to figure it out. It's the Garmin 62s. Are there classes you can take or forums. I've been watching some youtubes. I had a Garmin extrex long ago but it never kept signal. I gave up on it. I am hoping this one will be better if I can ever figure out how to use basecamp and load maps...

I have this model and it was my first and only GPS ever. I found it easy to pick up how to use after learning some of the terminology and have asked many questions here for clarification. The manual is very minimalistic bit if you actually follow the steps with the unit in hand it works just fine. I'm very happy with mine.

 

[iAmKrzys]

I am hoping this one will be better if I can ever figure out how to use basecamp and load maps...

I have Garmin Topo 100K maps on DVD and I installed pretty much entire North-East onto my GPS some time ago but hopefully I still remember the steps:

1. I installed Basecamp on my computer
2. I ran installation program from Topo 100K DVD that copied that maps to my computer
3. Once I have done this I was able to select Topo 100K in BaseCamp via Maps menu
4. To select & transfer map segments to my GPS I attached it to the computer, started BaseCamp and then selected Maps -> Install Maps and followed fairly
   obvious steps.

Having said this, let me also opine that Garmin Top 100K are good for contour lines only and the street data seems really old in the version that I have (like it wasn't updated since the 50's in many locations)

I am a big fan of https://www.openstreetmap.org/ for trails & parking areas (I switch between OSM & Topo 100K when I need to view terrain), and luckily Garmin keeps their maps format open enough that it is possible for people to create OSM version for most (newer) Garmin models. You can read a lot of details at
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download however, for simple needs it boils down to 3 simple steps:

1. Select U.S. region of interest and download it from http://daveh.dev.openstreetmap.org/garmin/Lambertus/latest/kml/kml.html - this is updated weekly
2. Copy map file to your device (or memory card) to /Garmin folder
3. Enable display of OSM map via Maps settings -> Select Map (exact menu sequence varies by model.)

 

[Remix]

I have Garmin Topo 100K maps on DVD and I installed pretty much entire North-East onto my GPS some time ago but hopefully I still remember the steps:

1. I installed Basecamp on my computer
2. I ran installation program from Topo 100K DVD that copied that maps to my computer
3. Once I have done this I was able to select Topo 100K in BaseCamp via Maps menu
4. To select & transfer map segments to my GPS I attached it to the computer, started BaseCamp and then selected Maps -> Install Maps and followed fairly
   obvious steps.

Having said this, let me also opine that Garmin Top 100K are good for contour lines only and the street data seems really old in the version that I have (like it wasn't updated since the 50's in many locations)

I am a big fan of https://www.openstreetmap.org/ for trails & parking areas (I switch between OSM & Topo 100K when I need to view terrain), and luckily Garmin keeps their maps format open enough that it is possible for people to create OSM version for most (newer) Garmin models. You can read a lot of details at
http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download however, for simple needs it boils down to 3 simple steps:

1. Select U.S. region of interest and download it from http://daveh.dev.openstreetmap.org/garmin/Lambertus/latest/kml/kml.html - this is updated weekly
2. Copy map file to your device (or memory card) to /Garmin folder
3. Enable display of OSM map via Maps settings -> Select Map (exact menu sequence varies by model.)

If anyone is interested the 62st dropped below $300 today on Amazon...the price continuously changes so if you are not reading this on the day of posting then the price may go up again.

 

[iAmKrzys]

If anyone is interested the 62st dropped below $300 today on Amazon...the price continuously changes so if you are not reading this on the day of posting then the price may go up again.

I saw some folks speculate on geocaching forums that Garmin might be upgrading its outdoor gps lines based on the following sentence in Garmin's press release for 1st quarter earnings ( http://garmin.blogs.com/files/q1-2015-press-release-final.pdf ):

While outdoor started slowly in 2015, we do anticipate improvement in the second quarter as we are experiencing robust demand for the fēnix 3 and as we launch additional new products within the segment.

 

[TomD]

I have a Garmin GPSmap76CSx which I think is somewhat similar to the 60 series. I got free 24k scale maps from www.gpsdepot.com, also a great site to ask questions. I asked a bunch and got help from some very nice members.

 

[jniehof]

I saw some folks speculate on geocaching forums that Garmin might be upgrading its outdoor gps lines based on the following sentence in Garmin's press release for 1st quarter earnings ( http://garmin.blogs.com/files/q1-2015-press-release-final.pdf ):

The Epix is just coming out, which is probably part of what they're talking about.

It would be nice if they got the fenix 3 working properly. *grimace*

 

[DougPaul]

I have a Garmin GPSmap76CSx which I think is somewhat similar to the 60 series.

The Garmin 60 series and 76 series are essentially identical except for the mechanical layout.

Doug

 

[TomD]

The Garmin 60 series and 76 series are essentially identical except for the mechanical layout.

Doug

Thanks Doug, that's what l thought.