Delorme PN-40 or Garmin 60CSx

PN-40 - released 2008
60CSx - released 2006

Both are on sale at amazon for $199.00

I have been weighing the pros and cons of each. There are two things that bother me about the PN-40. Proprietary cable and battery life.

Can anyone comment on the battery life of the 60CSx?
I am familiar with the Garmin since I currently use a eTrex.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ltblarg,

I've cached with both. You can't beat the "old government mule" 60. That being said neither one will chirp.

Since I run mine connected to a power source whenever I'm in the car...I can't really give you a good estimate.

I do however ... really like the csx. I traded up from a legend and V. I am quite happy with it. Though after seeing the oregon.... I really am drooling over that one now!

I run it on rechargeable's. I maybe take 1 set of batteries with me when I go out. But rarely have I had to change mid-way through a caching trip.

I love my 60CSX but I would like to go paperless without carrying my old palm pilot!!

I've got the new garmin 62 series on my wish list, the oregon is great but I'm afraid of what would happen to the touch screen when I drop it.

Oh yeah!, 60 vs. PN-40

I own 5 garmins (car and handheld) and I probably will never buy anything else.

I have to agree with Biker64 as he and I seem to be in the same Garmin boat....5 gps's (watch,handheld,and car)...would love to get out of the palm pilot business, but love the 60CSX....it takes the abuse and keeps on ticking.

I ended up ordering the 60CSx. I really wanted to purchase the PN-40, but I couldn't get by the proprietary cable and battery life. Thanks for the opinions.

I have a BlackBerry and use Cachesense so I am not to worried about the paperless. I am always going to have the Blackberry with me so that is what I use for the paperless caching.

Not to worried about the chirp and wherigo's at this point... although I do need to do at least ONE Wherigo. Thanks phillip4....

Got myself the Oregon 450T just before the Going Coastal event and wasn't too familiar with all it's workings but got some needed advice and info and had a great time with it. Got to use the Chirp for the 1st time too. Really cool and love the touchscreen so far. Had to beat the 60CSX though for durability and accuracy for sure. You won't be disappointed.

I have a Garmin VistaCSX, a Delorme P-40 a Magellan GC and a Garmin nuvi 205w.

I would suggest the Delorme p-40 for two reasons. 1. Maps. It come preloaded with street detail maps and topo maps. With the Garmin you have to buy the maps. So you will spend another $200.00 dollars to get the map set that comes with the Delorme. 2. Paperless Geocaching. The Delorme has it the Garmin 60 does not. Have to move up to the new Garmin 62 for paperless.
I think for the money and features the Delorme P-40 is the best deal going right now. I use to be a die hard Garmin fan but every time I bought a Garmin had to buy a new set of maps. They will not let you unlock the maps but for one GPS and if you change GPS units the maps that you have will not work with the new unit. I have now 3 sets of Garmin City Select. They have lost my business until they allow you to move maps to your new unit.

quote:

With the Garmin you have to buy the maps.

Or you could write an email and say Idiot about 100 times and then be referred to as the "Idiot Girl" any time you call in for help....

and get the maps for free.

I've always been able to move my maps...

I had the same city select on my legend and V.

I was told you could put it on 2 gps's at a time.

quote:

Originally posted by Slayerette:

quote:

With the Garmin you have to buy the maps.

Or you could write an email and say Idiot about 100 times and then be referred to as the "Idiot Girl" any time you call in for help....

and get the maps for free.

I've always been able to move my maps...

I had the same city select on my legend and V.

I was told you could put it on 2 gps's at a time.

Garmin has changed the rules. Their new maps are tied to one GPS and one GPS only. Another problem is that you can not run topo and city navigator on top of each other like you can on the Delorme. With Garmin you have to switch the sd card out and run one or the other

Well... that's just wrong.

quote:

Originally posted by Trez:
Another problem is that you can not run topo and city navigator on top of each other like you can on the Delorme. With Garmin you have to switch the sd card out and run one or the other

I assume that only applies if you buy the maps on sd cards. I got the Garmin Oregon 400t which has the topo maps already in it, and bought City Navigator on DVD. When I loaded the City Navigator into the Oregon, I have both Topo and City Navigator. But the City Navigator is locked to one GPS. Now I can load the maps to as many PC's as I want but each of them will only send the City Navigator maps to that Oregon.

DeLorme now ... DeLorme forever. Best customer service ever. End of story.

I don't know... I have wonderful experiences with the customer service with garmin. Considering the damage I inflict on my GPS's ... In 10 years I have only paid once for service and that was because I felt I should. - Lacy decision cache - that's all I'm going to say on that...

I've had free upgrades, repairs, maps, recovery of transfer of data on the units... And I don't think the units were ever in warranty when I needed assistance.

I'd have to debate ya on the best customer service thing Jim... But I'm a little intrigued about the delorme now.

Two more things I like about the Delorme.
1. No limit on number of geocaches you can load on the GPS. Only limited to the size of your SD card.2. Maps. you get street detail and topo for free but for only 29.00 you can buy a subscription to their map liberty and download every map they have if your PC has enough memory and transfer them to your GPS as needed.Go to their website and check out the map liberty. If you like maps, aerial and satellite photos along with 1:24 topo and much more then this is hog heaven

I have the Pn-40 and love it. For accuracy I will put it up against any other unit and feel comfortable that it will have the same precision. It is a little weak on the batteries, I use the rechargeables and get about 4-6 hours out of them. I have a 15 minute car charger so and two spare sets so I don't worry about them... 3 sets and I'm good to go all day. I do like limitless gpx files on the new FW upgrade, can put PQ's on for the whole state if I want to and not have to worry about where I am going to be.

I have never had to send my unit in, but I know those who have and the customer service was outstanding. (I guess that's a catch 22...)

Just my 2 cents.. the only thing I don't like about the Delorme is the lack of a touch screen... but that's just me...

I just bought the 60CSx as well when I saw the $199 price, upgrading from the 60CS which crapped out on me every time I got under some trees. I've been please with it and, combined with the Geocache app ($10) on my Droid phone for paperless, I'm set.

quote:

Originally posted by ltblarg:
... although I do need to do at least ONE Wherigo. Thanks phillip4....

You're welcome. Don't know how I missed this thread last week, but I guess I'd better chime in since I've been called out.

Wherigo on Blackberry: $0.
Finding the Silver Bonus: priceless!

FWIW, I play WIGs on my Windows phone; just had to add a $20 BT GPS receiver. Far fewer bugs than an Oregon (just ask The Waysiders). Paperless with PPC Cachemate on the same machine.

Also, you'll really enjoy your 60CSx. I've had mine since '06 and have dropped it in creeks & swamps, over cliffs, and out of the truck with no issues. What I hate is the squeeky buttons. Also, it's been around long enough that there are cool 'add-ons' folks have created for it, like custom icons & maps.

quote:

Originally posted by Phillips4:

You're welcome. Don't know how I missed this thread last week, but I guess I'd better chime in since I've been called out.

Wherigo on Blackberry: $0.
Finding the Silver Bonus: priceless!
]

Purchasing another battery for your Blackberry to do the Silver Bonus: $150.

And.. actually... I am returning the Garmin and have ordered the PN-40.

Just for that slap in the face, I'm gonna refrain from offering the use of a Garmin colorado to do the wherigo 30 miles from my house.

3 years ago I sent a PN-20 back and bought my new wife her Colorado. I just didn't like dealing with 2 brands of GPS and non compatable mapping software.