Review of Garmin GPSMAP 62S

I have to say that I am in love with my new Garmin GPSMap 62s. This device was purchased to replace my Rhino 110 that I used for geocaching. It became time to upgrade my unit when the joystick started giving me problems. A lot of time and research was spent on the latest devices and manufacturers, which lead me to choose the Garmin GPSMap 62s. In the end, I think I made a great choice becuase this unit is awesome!

Pros

The reception of satellites is amazing. It can pick up several satellites while inside my house, even when set to normal GPS mode. I think that is very cool. The Rhino needed a line of site in order to get reception, so it was never able to pick up a signal from inside the house. Using the Rhino could also be difficult when in a vehicle. However, this is not a problem with the Garmin GPSMap 62s. Obstructions such as trees, power lines, clouds, etc. do not seem to bother the abilities of the 62s at all, as its signal is always strong.

The included memory of 1.76GB is phenomenol. I have downloaded 2 topographical maps that are of a high resolution, and I'm only using a small fraction of the available memory on this unit.

One of the biggest reasons that I purchased this device is the paperless geocaching abilities. It would take forever for me to type in all the geocaching coordinates on the Rhino. However, with the Garmin GPSMap 62s, I was able to download them straight to the device in just a few seconds. Not only could I transfer the coordinates, but also the log records, cache info, and hints. The devices keeps track of found caches in a different location that I can easily refer to when recording the finds on the website later. The accuracy of the device is helping me get very close to the cache sites. In normal GPS mode, I can get within 10 feet of the cache. Using WAAS, I am able to get within 5 feet of the site. This is amazing to me, since the Rhino could also get me about 20 feet away from the cache. Locating caches just got a lot easier with the 62s!

The buttons of this unit are very simple to use and quite intuitive. The screen is large and offers a great deal of brightness so I have no issues viewing maps or information, even when looking at the unit while it is mounted to my bicycle.

Cons

I have begun to notice that the signal starts to bounce when I am near a large metal objects such as a bridge. This isn't too much of an issue, since I'm usually close to my destination when the problem occurs.

It is cool that there are many different pre-loaded profiles and the ability to customize the views, it can be difficult to find the right view and data that I want on the screen at all times. This is partly due to the fact that you can set so many different viewing methods that I am not really sure which I truly want. A custom view isn't easily obtained either, especially since the owner's manual isn't very much help.

Removing caches can be aggravating as well, as you cannot delete them straight from the device. Instead, you have to connect the GPS to a computer and delete them through the PC. This is another thing not covered in the manual, so you have to be a bit computer savvy to get the information deleted.

Despite the cons, I still recommend the Garmin GPSMap 62s for those into geocaching. I really enjoy using the unit, and am glad I made this purchase.

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