Beer Baron 007

I keep crashing my laptop while using my mapsource software. I have previously been able to upload/download info via a serial to USB connection to my HP laptop. My wife is gonna kill me if I don't get this straightened out! Any thoughts? It will run the software just fine until I try to upload download, and then I get a consistently fuzzy BSOD. Anyone ever run into this before?

Not necessarily. My dad and I have the same unit (Garmin eTrex Legend) and I was thinking that he should download the same maps I just put on my unit. He and I will be heading to the same rural area that I just downloaded the maps for, but he's been there on four or five trips and has tons of data saved. I was wondering if I loaded the maps onto his unit, would his data remain? I'll back it up anyway, but I was just curious about how necessary it is.

I added a new map to my handheld (LOVE the new detail!!) but Ihave a question for my Dad. He's been hiking these trails with his GPSr for a few years, and has tons of data saved in his unit. I'm thinking that if we take his waypoints, routes, tracks, etc and upload them to his laptop, then install the new map, we should be able to keep the data by simply downloading the waypoints again. Or is this completely unnecessary? Prefer to be safe rather than sorry.

suh-weet!! Thanks folks. I'll probably post back with more detailed stupidity when I screw this up. I'll keep y'all posted. thanks again!

Outstanding! This is what I needed to know. So I will have great topo data for the areas I download and I will retain basemap data for the others... right? Seemed asinine that it would be any other way, but with technology, one never knows.

my mistake. Posted a new thread instead of replying to a reply. Garmin eTrex Legend. trying to add a more detailed map of an area in Northcentral PA without losing the complete map I have now. For example, I drove to Maine last weekend and had decent map data the whole way. I'm looking to upload some topo data for a particularly rural area without losing the basic data everywhere else. Can I do this?

What I need to know is if I add a map grid northcentral PA, and nothing else, my GPSr will be unable to acquire a position if I turn it on anywhere else? Or will it retain the old map anywhere I didn't upload a new map?

Still trying to figure out this new mapping thing. So, unless I selected it as a download from the CD, it won't show up on my GPSr?

Hmmm. Now I'm getting a dialogue box that states that the selected maps will wipe out the data installed by Garmin. Does that mean that my maps will only cover the areas I'm uploading and nothing else? Will I get a "Here Thar Be Monsters" warning when I go off the map? Or will my other maps remain the same, and only the areas I've selected have the higher dsefinition? Need to know asap, as I am not clicking ok unless I'm sure what I'll end up with.

Cool. So all of my waypoints and stuff will stay, and the map should have the higher definition from the downloaded map (including those beloved topo lines)? This is important, since I will be using this as a map suppliment while hiking in the mountains of north central PA, and I really wanna have those topo lines for reference, but I certainly didn't wanna lose my previously saved data.

I have the Mapsource topo version 3.02 software that came with my GPSr, and on my laptop, it shows topo lines. My end goal is to upload the maps from the CD so my GPSr will display topo lines while I'm caching. Possible or no - what say you? I'm using the Garmin eTrex Legend Additional concern is that when I upload this new map, it will wipe out my trax, waypoints, etc. I have downloaded them to my laptop, so they're backed up in case I screw this up

Prime Suspect: Unit came with Americas Marine Point Basemap , , Jan 2001 already loaded. W. Conshohocken now shows up when I told it to stop navigation to Brookhaven. I think I had inadvertantly panned the map and selected goto: Brookhaven. Now if I can only figure out how to get a better map of the Bahamas for free...

I'll be headed to a small cay in the Abacos Islands of the Bahamas in October for my honeymoon. I will be navigating in relatively sheltered seas with decent hard-copy maps, but would also like to have better GPS data when I arrive than what my eTrex Legend came with (Americas Marine Point Basemap Jan 2001). As it turns out, there's 2 geocaches on the island we're staying on. BONUS! I'm looking for a detailed map for download that won't cost me an arm, a leg and first born son. As far as I can tell there are no free downloads for this island chain in the Bahamas. If anyone knows where I might find downloadable marine point navigation maps for the Abaco Sea, I will be eternally grateful.

Oh noes! I was playing with the mapping software that came with me eTrex Legend and when I was attempting to upload a local map with saved data, I got a message that said all of my other maps would be lost, and was I really REALLY sure? Nope, I wasn't sure, so I chose to cancel Does this mean that the portion of the map I'm uploading to the GPSr will wipeout the data already there with new maps, or will this completely clear my maps, leaving only what I've selected? Currently has the Americas Marine Point Basemap , , Jan 2001 and I am using the Mapsource software CD's that came with the unit - are these the same maps?

Problem solved. Found an old Dell Inspiron in the basement. Serial port works great.

NEW ISSUE: Wow, y'all are good! Upon arriving home from the office, I checked out what you folks were good enough to determine for me already - that is a 15-pin monitor interface on my laptop and not a 9-pin serial. Since the serial won't work on Acer, the USB seems to me to be the logical way to go. Unfortunately, theLegend is only listed on the spec sheet as serial. Is this just the standard connection, and it will work with a USB, or am I looking at getting creative with the soldering gun?

StarBrand: Nope, my laptop is absolutely **ancient** by today's standards. I'm on something called an ACER Travelmate230. It keeps working (sort of)well, so I've never had it replaced. The adaptor that came with my eTrex Legend has a 9-pin serial, but is female. Looks like the type of interface used for a computer monitor with a regular desktop comp, but is also female. My original thought was to buy a 9pin adaptor that is male at both ends, but if the serial/USB will also work (and is cheaper) I'll go that route.

If I read you correctly, all I (should) need is a USB/male serial connector?

I'm trying to hook my GPSr up to my laptop, but the only port that appears to be remotely compatible is the serial connector for a monitor. My eTrex Legend came with a power/data cable that has a female connector at the other end. The port on my laptop is also female. hmmm Is the solution as simple as buying a male/male adaptor, or am I missing something here?

ymmv = gotcha My Legend also has those two items. I guess that could be, but the area it's showing is one considerably less populated than the one I'm currently in. *Shrug* I'll keep tinkering with it until I get it figured out.

Admo: I suspected it might be something along those lines. Guess the only thing that has to be put into GC mode is me! dunno what is "ymmv"? I'm getting accuracy of 9 feet (pretty good IMO) and shows a map of my true position, but for some reason I haven't figured out yet, it sometimes displays a city that's 18 miles away as my home position on the top of the screen.

My dad just bought me a Garmin eTrex Legend for my birthday . It will function mainly as a hunting tool (Northcentral Pa) but I'll be doing some boating (Abaco, Bahamas) and I'd like to use GC as a means of learning how to navigate properly. One issue I'm having is that when I fire up my gps, the Map states I'm in Brookhaven, PA. Which would be fine if I weren't in West Conshohocken, PA There's a difference of about 18miles ATCF between the two locations. I'm just hoping the accuracy is a little better when I try to actually use this thing! Any thoughts on how I reset the map to read my current location properly? Also, the specs note there is no GC mode for this product. Does this mean I can't use it to go caching?