Garmin GPSmap 60CSx: Not So RUGGED

[JaitcH]

My employer has many GPS units and has recently bought a GPSmap 60CSx for trialling.

The unit is described by Garmin as being 'rugged'.

I used the unit during a recent bicycle-based survey of a medium-sized Vietnamese city suspending the unit with the belt clip (supplied with the unit) from my side and coupled to our data logging equipment using a Bluetooth adapter plugged in the rear.

After 17 consecutive days of use, and not being subjected to any other stress, the unit fell to the floor!

Why? Because a small metallic 'nut' molded into the rear of the unit first had worked loose. The belt clip retained the adapter and the "nut". The hole in the rear of the GPSmap 60CSx exposed the inner circuit board.

Garmin believes this pathetic, undersized, threaded insert is sufficient protection for this USD$500+ receiver. IT IS NOT!

Neither is the strap wrist of much use, either. I had the opportunity to test the case, after it was replaced, and found that the plastic pin around which the wrist strap is secured failed with a weight of 1.9 kilos - hardly rugged, either.

If you need to secure this device securely, as I did, purchase the bicycle mount, insert the receiver into it (all mounts use the same weak 'nut') and then place a stainless steel hose clamp, to which a chain can be attached, around it and tighten slightly, sufficient to hold the GPSmap 60CSx securely.

Bottom line? Don't trust Garmin for device security - even if a unit is described as 'rugged'.

[philpugh]

Sounds like a manufacturing fault - report it to GARMIN - if you do then they can investigate - if you don't then they won't know there is a potential problem. However the device is rugged - it still worked even after being dropped

I have had a GPS 60 for a while now - it's been on numerous on/off road bike rides in UK - for the first one (120 miles) it was held onto the handlebars using two elastic bands - proved to be quite shock-resistant, it even stayed on the bike when I didn't! Not had any problems with the GARMIN handlebar mount over the last year. As I say - have a word with GARMIN - they may even replace it for you.
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Phil

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