UPDATE: Check out my hands on review of the Garmin GPSMAP 62s. I’ve also got pages posted for the GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62st.
UPDATE: GPS City is showing an estimated stock date of July 23.
As expected, Garmin has announced a successor to their most popular handheld, the 60CSx. The new GPSMAP 62 series marries the best capabilities of the Garmin Oregon line with much of the functionality of the 60 series. The three models announced this morning include the:
- Garmin GPSMAP 62 (Amazon
) – base model; MSRP $349.99
- Garmin GPSMAP 62s (Amazon
) – adds a micro-SD card slot, tri-axial electronic compass, barometric altimeter and wireless data sharing; MSRP $449.99
- Garmin GPSMAP 62st (Amazon
) – adds preloaded 1:100K scale US topos or (1:50K scale Canadian topos for the Canadian version); MSRP $549.99
The 62 series will have the capability to load BirdsEye aerial imagery and Garmin custom maps, giving you the ability to add USGS topos, park PDF maps and more. They also come with full paperless geocaching capabilities.
None of this is a surprise, nor is the confirmation that it will have a quad-helix antenna. The biggest news in the press release is that it will utilize the same mounting systems found on the Colorado, Dakota and Oregon series (as seen at right).
The interface seems to be the same as the just released Garmin GPSMAP 78 series. For a sneak peek, check out my first looks post on the 78s. And be sure to hit the comments for a detailed discussion.
Availability is listed as Q3, but I’m betting they try to hit the market as early in the summer as possible. Here’s the full news release:
Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced the GPSMAP 62 series of rugged outdoor handheld devices, bringing a sleek updated look, new mapping options and many technical innovations to a product line beloved by hunters, hikers and geocachers of all ages.
“The GPSMAP 60 series has been one of our most popular product lines, and the new GPSMAP 62 series improves the form and functionality to make a best-in-class device even better,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of worldwide sales. “Whether you’ve been using Garmin for years or are buying your first handheld, GPSMAP 62 is ideal as it combines our new breakthroughs in outdoor recreation technology with the comfortable feel of an old favorite.”
Boasting a 2.6” sunlight-readable color display, up to 20 hours of battery life and a high-sensitivity GPS receiver and quad helix antenna for unparalleled reception, the GPSMAP 62 series features three distinct waterproof models to suit various activities and interests. The basic GPSMAP 62 includes a built-in worldwide basemap with shaded relief. The GPSMAP 62s adds a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass and wireless connectivity for sharing routes, tracks, waypoints and geocaches between other compatible Garmin handhelds. GPSMAP 62s also includes a barometric altimeter that tracks changes in pressure to pinpoint your precise altitude. Users can also plot barometric pressure over time, which can help keep an eye on changing weather conditions. In addition to these key features, GPSMAP 62st includes preloaded 100K topographic maps for the entire United States (or preloaded 50K topographic mapping of Canada for the Canadian version). Coverage on GPSMAP 62st includes major trails, urban and rural roads, interstates, highways, coastlines, rivers and lakes as well as national, state and local parks, forests and wilderness areas. In addition, you can search for points of interest by name or proximity to your location and view descriptive details for terrain contours, topo elevations, summits and geographical points.
To help each user maximize the mapping potential of Garmin handhelds, each model in the GPSMAP 62 series is compatible with Garmin’s subscription-based BirdsEye™ Satellite Imagery, the free online community at Garmin Connect™ as well as Garmin’s free Custom Maps utility for transferring paper or digital maps onto a compatible handheld.
Geocachers can help the environment and be more efficient by going paperless with the GPSMAP 62 series, quickly downloading cache information directly to the device. Each model stores and displays key information such as location, terrain, difficulty, hints and description, so that you don’t have to tote printouts with you. Learn more about geocaching, getting started and going paperless at www.garmin.com/geocaching.
Subscribers to BirdsEye Satellite Imagery can use BaseCamp™ software to quickly transfer high-resolution satellite images to any Garmin GPSMAP 62 device and seamlessly integrate those images into the handheld’s maps to get a true representation of the surroundings. More details can be found at www.garmin.com/birdseyesatimagery.
Customizing maps for your Garmin outdoor handheld has never been easier. Through a few simple steps, Garmin’s Custom Maps can bring the details, labels and landmarks of your existing paper or electronic map to a product in the GPSMAP 62 series, or a compatible Garmin Oregon, Dakota or Colorado. Compatible with both PC and Mac, this free utility complements the myriad of mapping products already offered for Garmin devices, including City Navigator®, NT for turn-by-turn directions on city streets, Blue Chart® g2, for marine charting, and TOPO U.S. 24K and 100K map software for incredible terrain detail (each sold separately). To walk through the steps, to find and share maps and to join discussions about Garmin Custom Maps, visit www.garmin.com/CustomMaps.
Experiences will live on long after the activity has ended, thanks to Garmin Connect (http://garminconnect.com), the free-to-join online community of more than 20 million activities for sharing, storing, analyzing and enjoying at garminconnect.com. Outdoor and fitness enthusiasts alike can share activities on Facebook and Twitter, export to Google Earth or relive the activity in table view, calendar view or on a variety of maps including our new embedded Google Earth view.
Each device in the GPSMAP 62 series has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix, which automatically calculates and stores critical satellite information and can use that information to quickly calculate a position. The GPSMAP 62 series is made even more versatile through its universal mounting system that is compatible with the same accessories as Garmin’s Oregon, Dakota and Colorado products. Other key upgrades include photo navigation and onboard memory for downloading maps. GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62st models also feature high-speed USB for faster map transfers with your computer, as well as a 3-axis tilt-compensated electronic compass, which shows the user’s heading even when standing still, without the need to hold it level. In addition to the preloaded topographic details for the entire United States, GPSMAP 62st features 500 MB of available built-in memory. GPSMAP 62 and GPSMAP 62s are ready to be customized to fit any user’s activity, thanks to 1.7 GB of onboard memory.
The GPSMAP 62 series represents the latest breakthroughs from Garmin, which has spent 20 years developing technologies and innovations to enhance users’ lives, making Garmin a household name in the automotive, aviation, marine, wireless, outdoor and fitness industries. For more about features, pricing and availability, as well as information about Garmin’s other products and services, go to www.garmin.com, www.garmin.blogs.com and http://twitter.com/jakesjournal.
About Rich Owings
Hi Rich:
Look at the first picture, the screen shot has on the top right corner the + and – squares you can see on the Oregon’s screen. On the bottom left corner, there is the back button of the Oregon/Dakota. Now perhaps moving the cursor with the rocker might give you the effect, but I’m not so sure it would even be practical as there are buttons for this function. Maybe the picture has been “photoshopped”?
Also interesting the complete lack of mention of WAAS??????????
LMAO. I can at least confirm that the screen isn’t like that on the 78 series. Good catch! I was too busy trying to write this thing up to even notice.
So, do you think the Oregon is still going to be the lead-dog in Garmin’s handheld line up, or will the 62/78 series re-take the throne? Smart idea to incorporate the same spine mounting system as Oregon and Colorado. I guess i will soon have my 3rd handheld Garmin (when this launches). Then, a new RAM mount cradle, invisishield, case, etc…… I cant seem to bear the thought of parting with my Oregon or 60csx. Will for sure find my way to local Publix without getting lost. Wife is rolling her eyes.
Rick
There’s going to be trade offs. Pluses for the 62 series include more rugged and a few more features, while the Oregon has higher resolution, larger screen and easier text entry. Folks with stubby fingers or with other aversions to touch screens will also gravitate to the 62 series. Guess I’ll have both too!
These units sound pretty good to me. I dont care for the looks of the 78, but the 62 looks really nice. If they would have increased screen resolution, it would have been a homerun. I think many will be upset by this oversight. Maybe some technical/durability reason the screen was not upgraded. Wouldnt the screen from the Colorado have fit the bill here (non touchscreen, high res)? Anyway, thanks for your hard work. This is the sight i come to to keep up to date on all matters GPS. Thanks again
Rick
Thanks Rick! Screen brightness should have made my pros and cons list. The problem with high-resolution screens is that the more pixels, the harder it is for them to reflect light and let it pass through, so they appear less bright. I think Garmin left the resolution alone as a response to the folks who have complained about poor visibility on the hi-res models. I posted a more detailed discussion here…
http://gpstracklog.com/2008/01/screen-visibili.html
Thanks for the additional updates on the 62s.
I poked around Garmin’s site and was able to compare the Oregon 450 and the 62s (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do?cID=143&compareProduct=63349&compareProduct=63801) and they both show as having transflective color TFT screens (touchscreen for the 450). Obviously the 450 is bigger and has 240 x 400 pixels vs 160 x 240 pixels on the 62s.
Didn’t the 450 clear up some of the sunlight visibility issues mentioned by folks in your referenced visibility article above? If so, the main diff (aside from physical size & pixel resolution) at least as screens go would be the touch vs non-touch for these two models right?
Thanks again for these great updates.
You’re welcome!
The 450 is better than previous touchscreen models, but I think the 78 is still superior in a wider range of conditions, at least in terms of visibility and brightness. Until new technology comes along, TFT screens with a higher pixel density will still be at a disadavnatge in terms of brightness.
I wish they had kept the same mounting system as the 60Cx, but given that they’re transitioning everything over to a common system, I can’t blame them. I also notice no mention of an external antenna port – don’t use it that often, but it would be nice to have. Besides that, looks really good. Q3 starts on July 1st, so hopefully it will be available not too long after that.
It looks to me like there is a flap on the back, above where the mount or carabiner connects. It appears big enough for a mini-USB connection and an external antenna port.
The Garmin pages for the 62 models list antennas as one of the accessories, so it apparently has an external antenna connector, same standard MCX connector as the original 60Cx series models. Cool.
I was surprised to read that the 62 won’t take external microSD cards, but given the 1.7 GB of onboard memory, that’s not going to be a dealbreaker for most people. I would probably lean towards the 62S for the external memory cards, but that’s only because I’d like the option to swap in different custom mapsets in the field. If Garmin increased the size of acceptable custom maps, or gave you the option to turn on/off custom map files as desired, I’d be happy to save an extra $100 with the 62.
Nice find, Leszek! Looks like it may be another differentiator between the 62 and the two higher models too.
Hello,
I was wondering if the SD card HW/SW will support SDHC cards?
Haven’t tested it, but based on the Oregon line, they should work fine.
Amazon now has all three models available for pre-order, at full list:
Garmin GPSMAP 62 series
No indication there as to the release date.
Thanks Leszek. The link you sent didn’t work, hence my edit.
This unit is going to be a good one! Quad Helix, WAAS, Oregon style mounting bracket, and sleek design. Checked the availability of the unit and it should be in around July. Aside from Amazon, Garmin’s own Chicago store is preselling them also.
i hope there wont be a problem with the “high sensitive” reciever and the antenna.
For the MTK Chip a Helix wasnt a good choice
Interesting to me that the new model 62 (9.2 oz with batts) is nearly 2 oz. heavier than old model 60csx (7.5 oz with batts). No big deal to me, just a significant increase in weight when your only dealing with a few ounces to begin with. Hopefully translates to great perfomance and durability!
Rick
I think the mount attachment may be part of this. While not a completely fair comparison, my 60CSx battery cover weighs 0.6 oz., while my Oregon 400t cover weighs 1.2 oz.
Rich,
Maybe i missed it, but is the 78 in your possession yours, or a loaner from Garmin? Wondering if you will be able to put some birdseye on it. I am starting to be really impressed with the birdseye on my Oregon. Curious how it will look on the 78/62. Should be interesting. Thanks
Rick
Rick,
Its a loaner. I probably won’t try testing BirdsEye on it, but am testing some Garmin custom maps and will try to add aerials that way. Its going to be a complex enough review as it is, and I’d like to get it wrapped within a few weeks.
Will the 62s have the same great accuracy as the 60csx or will it have the same problems of the Oregon 450 — not being able to record accurately distance, speed, etc on the trip computer screen when travelling less the 3mph?
Does the Oregon have this problem with the newest firmware releases? I just did a quick, um, slow, test of the 60CSx, 78s and Oregon 400t, and saw little difference.
Rich,
I took both the 60csx and the Oregon 450 on a short hike in NE Ohio. Both units are set up the same way. The results are as follows.
60CSX Oregon 450
trip odometer 5.34 3.70
moving time 2:25 2:14
stopped time 24:25 35:23
Moving ave 2.2 1.7
Overall speed 1.9 1.3
Elevation gain the same
The Oregon 450 has a problem when walking under 3mph. At or over 3mph the unit works fine. Unfortunately, when you are backpacking, you seldom going 3mph unless you are tumbling down the side of a mountain.
Dave,
I’ll try to grab the same data at the end of my next hike with the 78s. Unfortunately, due to my wife’s first week back at work coming up, and not having day care options in place yet, that may be a week away. Or it could be a REALLY slow hike.
FWIW, on my first big hill climb with the 78s, it suffered from elevation gain numbers that were way off, a problem I think they recently solved on the Oregon line.
Here’s the results of a family outing on a greenway today:
60CSx 78s
trip odometer 2.13 1.90
moving time 57.07 59.59
stopped time 42.50 40.06
Moving ave 2.2 1.9
Overall speed 1.3 1.1
Looks a little closer.
Rich,
Your numbers don’t look bad except for the odometer. That is greater then 10%, that is a lot! If you extend that out to 10 miles, the 78 would read around 8 and change??
I *was* stoked for this release – till I saw that the 62 doesn’t have expansion capability because it has no micro sd card slot. WHAT?! The price point is insane for missing that fundamental feature of a mapping GPSr. So then, to get the extra memory card capability, I’ve got to step up into the 62s model which is currently priced what, $±50 bucks more than the upcoming DeLorme PN-60? Why would I buy the Garmin when I can get everything and more in the DeLorme?! None of this makes any sense to me. It’s like I’m caught in a weird dream with everything coming in and out of focus!! And, to top it all off, my GPS external power plug car adapter for my 60cx doesn’t look like it has any home on the 62. Bummer. Oh well. I’ll give it some time and re-evaluate when you publish the hands on review. Maybe my rubber arm will twist and I will stay with Garmin after all.
I agree with you that the lack of uSD slot on the bare naked 62 is a show stopper for me too. I was also considering the DeLorme PN-60 but I hate the smaller screen, and in addition the fees for the Spot thing will make it quite expensive. What broke the camel’s back was the mapping. I never liked DeLorme’s topos but also Garmin has now extensive mapping products (free and commercial) for many locations and I just don’t see DeLorme catching up. I am considering getting a 60s.
The 62 series will get power through the mini-USB connection, so all you’ll need is a USB-cigarette lighter adapter. These are really cheap, $2 or less if you look around (e.g. dealextreme.com, meritline.com). The 62 comes with 1.7 GB of memory, and you can fit a lot of maps in that space. And as Rich points out, the Garmin map ecosystem is much richer than that for the deLorme. Factor in the larger screen and longer battery life, and I’d have a tough time picking the deLorme PN-60 over the Garmin 62 or 78 series. I’d take it over the Oregon models, though – hate the touch screen.
I don’t think we know yet what sort of discount will be offered on the 62s vs the PN-60. Or which will be discounted more quickly. In the end, the price you pay is what matters, not the MSRP.
The biggest draw back for me with DeLorme is the second-class citizenship they give to Mac OS X, especially regarding their topo software that you need to run. It had me looking Lowrance for quite awhile, but then quickly back to Garmin and now back to DeLorme. I don’t own a Windows box, haven’t since 1999 and can’t see myself getting one just to run a GPS, not crazy about Parallels either. So . . . I’m not sure. The screenshots on that PN-60 look phenomenal, much better than even the new Garmins (IMO). Can’t wait for July! We shall see the new bells and whistles of both units.
geojibby – ref your comment on 6/6/10 about GPS support in Mac OS X. new-be here and was wandering it the Mac issue is Safari related or the 3rd party venders support of Mac OS. I too and Mac based and trying to find GPS devices to support the Aperture 3 GEO Track feature- with a Nikon D700 camera body.
Also – is there a better forum for my Mac / Geotag questions? I did not intend to Hijack this 62 discussion
I tried this as a Google search term: geotagging mac forum OR discussion OR message OR board. I don’t see any dedicated forums, but I did see this…
http://www.flickr.com/groups/geotagging/discuss/72157601377827015/
Does that picture of the 62st imply that it also features a touch screen? Or would those onscreen buttons be accessed using the hardware In Out and Quit buttons?
If one adds their own topo maps to the 62s, would that make it equivalent to the 62st? Or is there some other added functionality in the t model?
No, Garmin messed up and used a photoshopped Oregon image for the screen. Those on screen buttons don’t exist. The 62st might get you more on board memory, but that would probably be the only difference. I haven’t verified that though.
Any idea why REI does not have the 62 series on their web site? I called their order line and they said that it can’t be ordered until sometime in July, even though they have a SKU number. The 78 series showed up on their web site right after Garmin announcement, could back order it before they were available.
It only passed the FCC yesterday and wasn’t approved for sale till then. That could have something to do with it, but who knows?
Rich
Saw the ad for this one while watching my Flyers lose the Cup to the Blackhawks. Looks interesting. I sent Garmin a question on their site to inquire if it does Geocaching as nothing is mentioned on the product site.
http://www.garminasus.com/en_US/garminfone/
Yeah, I’m hoping to get one to review. Early reviews have been pretty positive, although it is coming out with Android 1.6.
Got my reply from Garmin Support re: the Garminfone and Geocaching:
Yes, you could use the Garminfone for Geocaching. The Garminfone accepts coordinates like the nuvi automotive devices. However, these devices are not considered Geocaching- friendly like the devices you mentioned, the Oregon 450 and GPSMAP 60CSx.
I go thru Garmin 62s and found bike cadence/speed sensor as well HRM under 62s & 62st series. Does it mean 62s & 62st support HRM & Cadence/speed functionality??
Looks like it. They show them as accessories.
So does it support pairing with these accessories? Anybody try it out as I decide to buy EDGE705 for cycling purpose. If 62s support, then I rather to choose 62s as I’m very satisfied with 60CSx.
As a mountain biker that uses GPS for navigation, I hated the Edge units. They may be okay for city nav, but not backcountry.
From the 62 series manual:
Using Optional Fitness
Accessories
NOTE: The fitness option is available
only with the GPSMAP 62s and
GPSMAP 62st.
Before you can use the fitness
accessory with your device, you must
install the accessory according to the
instructions that are included with the
accessory.
You can use optional fitness accessories
including a heart rate monitor or a
cadence sensor with your device.
These accessories use ANT+™ wireless
technology to send data to the device.
1. Bring the device within range (3 m)
of the ANT+ accessory.
2. From the main menu, select Setup
> Fitness.
3. Select an option:
Select Heart Rate Monitor >
On.
Select Bike Cadence Sensor
> On.
You can view heart rate and cadence
data by customizing your data fields
Thanks… I’m going for 62s, hopefully it will be available as soon as possible ^_^
I still can’t find any info from Garmin but you have all the answer for my doubt
Just receive Garmin 62s today from fast delivery of UPS (US to Malaysia).
Nice gadget indeed but already encounter some problem:
1) Pairing of HRM is success but not Cadence/Speed sensor. Have no idea…
2) Each time connect to computer, GPS in storage mode. Once disconnect (software safely remove USB), the GPS will totally power off. Still prefer 60CSx feature.
3) Profile setting will lost for observation #2 above.
Wondering Garmin will fix the problem/issue as stated above???
Did you see this?… http://gpstracklog.com/2010/07/garmin-gpsmap-62-series-hits-the-market.html
Amazon still has them listed as available for pre-order only. And while they’ve discounted the 62 pre-order price a bit, the 62s and 62st are still listed at full MSRP.
Yeah, Amazon can’t seem to move as fast as smaller e-tailers in getting new products into their system.
They advertise the 62 as “rugged” and I’m wondering how much they have improved it over the 60 series.
I had to modify the battery cover on the first time I dropped my 60Cx because the plastic tab was flimsy and cracked off, the labels on the buttons wore off pretty quickly and were all white within the first couple of years and the rubber on the antenna had deteriorated and has cracks so that the unit wouldn’t be waterproof anymore even without the battery cover issue.
I like the idea of having paperless geocaching ability since it means I can leave my laptop at home and if they’ve fixed the durability issues from the 60 I may have to upgrade at last.
I just purchased my first GPS (GPSmap 62st) and am pretty disappointed with the accuracy. Although it shows 8-12 satellite connections, it never shows the accuracy below 29′. Most of the time it’s listed in the 35-39′ range going to over 90′ quite often. I just finished setting up two posts in my yard to act as waypoints, separated by about 153′. Navigating from one point to another yielded a short error of 34′. This is ugly ….. (I am using the WAAS setting).
I live in rural New Hampshire.
Try giving it half an hour, stationary, under open sky, to fully download satellite almanac data and see if that improves it. I’m having some problems with my review unit, but you’re the first other person I’ve heard from with similar issues. I’m going to give it another test under canopy before sending mine back. Please let me know if your unit improves.
Most people on various discussion boards seem to be reporting good results, similar to the 78 series. Maybe there is a bad batch.
So far, all I can say is what I put in my blog, at least as accurate as the Oregon 400i with points going to the 62s due to its stronger reception (better antenna, and as ham radio operator, I can tell you that antenna is the critical factor, not power nor your rig’s features). I’ve quite often seen the 62s in single digit precision (in feet), some of the time in double digits but rarely over 20′. Only in very rare cases have I seen the numbers been worse than the Oregon and if so, by a couple of feet not more.
On thing though, the 62s, like the 60csx both like to be upright to receive, that can make a difference.
Remedies:
do what Rich told you. If it works, fine, if not use Garmin’s Webupdater to reload your software (are you running the latest software 2.40?) even if you are running the latest software, then let the GPS acquire for 30 minutes, outside in good view of the sky. I’m not sure they have a reset method available in the manual (need to connect the 62 to the computer and read it in Windows Explorer to find the manual as a pdf file).
Amir K9CHP
Thanks Amir. I spoke to Garmin support, and they told me the 60CSx procedure would do a hard reset — Page + Enter + Power. But it reacquired in seconds, so I doubt that it really did a full reset.
Thanks to both you and Amir. I’m an old computer person so the first thing I did was to get the upgraded software installed. Next I discovered the antenna sensitivity to the vertical position (isn’t it strange the compass is, iniially, calibrated in the horizontal position). All that didn’t help – then I made the blog entry. Great response from both of you.
So I tried the Page + Enter + Power routine. Exactly what Rich described — very fast and no difference. I tried it many times and still the same results. No significent improvement.
Today I called Garmin tech support, a long wait time before a tech answered. He told me the ‘proper’ key sequence is Out + Power. Guess what — nothing happened except a normal boot. So, another call to Garmin tech support with an equally long wait time. This tech told me: 1) there are no key switch combinations to resolve a satellite ‘out of rotation’ status for this model yet. Importantly, he told me the same thing Rich said to do. Page + Enter + Power. And, to release the keys as soon as the GArmin logo appeared. It worked — I got the message that everything would be erased and reset. Now, I’m getting GPS accuracy of 8-12′ consistently.
The only glitch I’ve encountered is that I can’t get it to do the Master Reset again. So, the unit is extremenly sensitive to the timing of the key release.
I don’t know what I should achieve for accuracy as the salesman told me to expect less than 10′.
Much better than I started out with. Again thank you Rich and Amir
Don Baker
You are welcome Don. Actually I managed to make the message screen warning you are about to erase all data etc. four-five times in a row. Timing is important. It is not as soon as the Garmin logo appears but TWO seconds later (maybe more, but two seconds worked well for me), counting one one-thousand, two one-thousand. Maybe others can give it a try and confirm.
@Don – You’re doing better than me. I did get it to reset. Well, I got the message about erasing all user data, but it locked onto satellites again so fast that I still have my doubts. I’m still seeing way higher than expected accuracy readings as well as readings that cycle from low to high, over and over again. I think this one is going back.
A few simple questions but no answer in manual or Garmin’s web page.
How many data fields can simultaneously be displayed in a Trip Computer page?
Does it support a navigation to waypoint in a “off-road” mode, like 60CSx do?
10 and yes.