myotis
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Posts posted by myotis
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What is a custom type file and what is it used for?
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I am not sure if I am understanding you correctly, but I think I know what you are asking. You can see my trail map at http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/maplist.php?author=4216
What I do is if I am going to backtrack after GPSing a part of the trail, is I will turn off the GPS and then turn it back on. That will make the 60CSX start a new track. That usually makes things easier. When I get home, I upload to MapSource. In MapSource I will split tracks and clean them up and name them. Then I save the file. Then I import them into GPSMapedit. Then I will zoom in on where tracks connect and adjust to make them connect if needed. It is much easier to split the tracks and clean them up in MapSource than in GPSMapedit.
Since we're on the topic of trails... I've been messing around with creating my own custom topo and trail maps for my Garmin 60CSx using the info contained at: http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm.
This has been the only place where I've been able to get around the problem of .gpx tracks. The problem I have with them is that they force the track to be linear. I can't figure out a good way to walk a trail system without creating a number "loops" in my track log.
I have imported my .gpx files into GPSMapEdit and then converted them to Polylines, that I can split and connect as I need to for accuracy. But, have any of you figured out any other methods for creating track logs that are adequate for mapping not only long linear hikes, but also the branching trails off of the main trails in a single file?
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I have a simular problem with my 60CSX. In set up, go to system and turn off proximity alarms.
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Yes, the map in question is there ... appears to be a MapSource defect.
I have 2 topo img files now .,.. 7.3M and 8.6M ... the smaller loads fine along with my streets maps and the larger crashes mapsource as soon as I zoom in.
Thanks for the help ...
dave
so the limit must be somewhere in between ...
Another posibility is there is some error in the MP file that is the problem. When you split the file, the error was in the bigger part. Or it could be a size issue.
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The best option is run pocket querries and use GSAK. You can enter them all at once.
But for the way you are doing it, you need to have two instances of MapSource running. Open one then open the other. Drag one waypoint at a time to the second copy. Then cut and paste the waypoint into the first instance of Mapsource. Then open the second waypoint and then cut and paste it.
Hi all
There HAS to be a way to do this. I'm trying to transfer more than 1 waypoint at a time to my 60csx, but the Waypoint Manager is not letting me. Everytime I try and drag and drop multiple .loc files into the Waypoint tab, it only accepts one of them. If one is in there already and I try and drag and drop a second, the one that was in there gets replaced! I can't enter (well, don't want to) 10 waypoints 1 at a time! Any suggestions here, or are there other freeware programs that are better for transferring multiple waypoints to your GPSr?
TIA!
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I downloaded and installed the Nov 27 version. It removed my topo maps and all my created maps. It also would no longer load maps to my GPS. No matter what, it would say there was not enough space on my card even if there was more than twice enough. I ended up having to completely uninstall all my garmin software and reinstalled it. What a mess. I hope the new version fixes the problems. I think I will wait for the next version before I upgrade.
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It depends on how you have your tracking set up. Was the track memory full?
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I installed it and it uninstalled TopoUSA and all my custom maps. I had to run TopoUSA install and then reenter the stuff for the custom maps into my regestry. Then it worked OK. At least I think it is.
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The best option for you would be City Navigator and make your own topos. Then you get good topo maps and they overlay on City Navigator. I have one I made for a large hunk of Hoosier National Forest posted at
http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/maplist.php?author=4216
Recently purchased the 60CX and now ready to get some software to maximize it for geocaching and general use.
Basicly it is mainly used for geocaching but it would be nice to use it if I need to find a particular street if caching in a town or even a larger city.
Basicly my Initial thoughts from reviewing them on Mapsource View on the Garmin Website:
U.S. Topo-East: Plus-Has county roads, creeks/ditches
Minus- No streets in even the basic towns and topo lines are not down to scale enough to be
worth anything, Not all ponds, etc.
City Navigator Ver8: Plus- Has town streets along with the cities.
Minus- No county roads, creeks, ditches, worthless unless you are in a only.
I hunt in rural Indiana and would like detailed topo maps on the GPSR plus streets, etc. of towns, minor cities. Indianapolis or South Bend streets is asking for Pie.
Basic opinion, U.S. Topo-East would work but forget it for actual topo usuage. It is basicly a county road map with some worthless lines for the major hills only.
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First a couple of comments on garmin maps. TopoUSA is not that detailed and the resoluiton can be a problem sometimes. But it is fairly good and much better than nothing. The Garmin 24K National Park maps are very good quality and simular to the USGS 1:24,000 maps. But they are limited in coverage. You can make your own topo maps that are extremly high quality and accurate. Or you can go to http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/ and download maps others like me have made.
If you want to go the paper map route, you need to set you GPS to give your position in UTM UPS (instead of Degrees, Minutes) (Under set up, units, format). Most places that sell maps will sell a UTM reader which is a plastic card with a grid marked on it. That is all you need to plot your location on a USGS map within about 50 feet.
All the USGS maps have the UTM grid on the side of the map (you will see numbers like 42 99 42 98 every kilometer on the margin of the map), the newer maps have the UTM grid drown on the map. It will be 1 kilometer boxes on the map (don't confuse this with the township grid). Most of the mapping programs you buy will print the UTM grid on the USGS maps when you print them out.
You can probably find some more detailed directions by googling UTM, but basically here is how you plot your location:
Your GPS will give your latitude and longitude in UTM and you can plot those numbers on the grid on the map. Lets say your latitude (longitude works the same way) was 4298500, that means you are halfway between the grid at 42 98 and the grid at 42 99 grid. If you were at 4298750 you would be 3/4 of the way from the grid at 42 98 to the grid at 42 99.
The UTM reading of your location will tell which UTM grid line to measure from and how far you are from the line. Since it is meteric, it is easy to plot with the UTM reader.
It is much easier to show someone than to try to explain it. Like I said, try google. Once you know how to do it, it is real simple to plot your location on a USGS map. I used to do it all the time before I had a GPS with maps.
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You could buy an inverter. I have one I use for my laptop or running other devices.
Remember, these batteries last a LONG time. At most you could go through 2 sets in one day if you have some low powered batteries. My PowerX battereis will usually last 21 hours on a charge. It should be no big deal to have enough batteries to get you to your next place to charge them.
On the point of having to fumble and change, remeber they last a long time and the GPS has a battery guage. When you stop for gas, food, bathroom, etc, look at the guage and if it is low, change the batteries. This seems so much easier than buying and messing with a cable.
Besides, having the rechargables is the way to go anyway. They last longer and you save lots of money in the longrun and reduce landfilled material.
Hey guys, help us by answering this question: so if we use the 12v adapter...should be removed the battery inside the GPS just in case? or is it okay to just leave it inside...dont know...maybe it could drain the batter as well if we leave it inside? thanks for answering!
The batteries will neither charge nor drain. So when you buy your next charger, make sure that it is a rapid charger (1 hour) and has a cigarette lighter option as well.
Jan
Thanks for the respond, but I already got the battery charger...and it doesnt include the cigarete lighter option whatsoever...
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No it is NOT worth $75. I found a few things fixed, but the vast majority (including something I have been pointing out to them for several years) still are not fixed. I was very disappointed with the upgrade and I got it for free. When I purchased version 7, I complained that they still had a bridge there that has been closed for 5 years and it kept telling me to use it. Since I had previously complaned about it, they gave me the upgrade for free. Guess what, they did not fix it.
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I remember getting an error something like that when I was first trying to figure this stuff out. I had the wrong version of cGPSmapper.
I have a map, which I was able to export to an .img file. I loaded it to the GPS via sendmap. It worked on the gps. Now I want to compile it so I can use it in mapsource. When I run cgpsmapper, it gives the following error message: Error E032: Layer 0 of the map cannot be empty.
I opened the .img file in gpsmapedit and there is my map in level zero.
I have the levels set as follows
Level 0 = 23
Level 1 = 21
Level 2 = 19
The following is the test_pv.txt file I created.
[Map]
FileName=Minto
MapVersion=102
ProductCode=111
Color=32
Levels=2
Level0=21
Level1=17
Zoom0=5
Zoom1=6
MapsourceName=Minto
MapSetName=Minto
CDSetName=Minto
Copy1=Garmin
Copy2=Murray
[End-Map]
[Files]
img=00000123.img
Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? Thanks
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Reghargable batteries will last 15 to 20 hours. (My powerX battereis will usually last 21 hours per charge) Why get an adapter? Carry a charger or spare batteries. Then you don't have to mess with the cable.
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Yes GSAK is the way to go.
You should be able to search for the directions.
Also with GSAK you can create Custom POIs that will load the hint on the GPS
What about GSAK? I just bumped into this thread from clyde (GSAK) from back in April discussing Garmin X support:
http://gsak.net/board/index.php?showtopic=1739&st=0
The GPSBable beta link is broken (maybe already incorporated into product by now).
Anyone doing this w/GSAK?
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OK,
First, all the tools and data to make the cusom maps are FREE. You do not need to buy anything.
Getting things set up the first time to view your custom maps in MapSource is complicated and the regestry must be edited (this is done by double clicking on a file, not actually editing the regestry).
It would be nice if one of the programers could write a program to automate the process. I think many people do not use these custom maps due to the issue of setting it up in mapsource.
However, once you set it up the first time, it is real simple to add additional or changed maps. You can do it in about a minute AFTER you set it up the first time.
For directions on how to set it up the first time:
http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm
then follow the directions under:
Uploading your custom map using MapSource
I do somethings different. The directions say:
Create a folder named "custom" under the Garmin folder and copy your custom map to it.
I have lots of topos, POI and trail maps, I like to keep them seperate in Mapsource. So I have a folder for My Topos, My POIs, and My trails. Then in mapsource you can select you topo maps, POIs and trails like you do city navigator, TOPOUSA, etc. You just have to go through the process for each one.
Once you have it set up, to add a map or update it, all you have to do is edit test_pv.txt and add a line img=new file name. Then run cgpsmapper pv test_pv.txt Then you can restart mapsource and the new file will be there. You only have to do the other stuff the first time you set it up. (If you do as I do and have three directories, you have to do it three times intinailly).
Here is the text of one of my test_pv.txt:
[Map]
FileName=My Trails
MapVersion=102
ProductCode=111
Color=32
Levels=2
Level0=20 ' this should be the least detailed (but not empty) layer on your map
Level1=17 ' anything
Zoom0=5
Zoom1=6
MapsourceName=My Trails
MapSetName=My Trails
CDSetName=My Trails
Copy1=Garmin
Copy2=Jim Bensman
[End-Map]
[Files]
img=00000118.img
img=00000187.img
img=00000236.img
img=00000258.img
[END-Files]
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Why not check the "cache is active" box in the pocket querry. Then you only get active caches. Just load it into GSAK and have it delete the old file when loading. If you want to see the caches you have done, run the "My Finds" querry (listed after your querries).
The way I do it is I run a PQ for the area I am interesed in and set the cache is active box. I will then load that file into GSAK with a macro that does everything I need to also create the files for my PDA and export into Street Atlas. (I also have a macro that creates custon POIs that has the hint.) I also have some pocket querries that create PQs for the caches that I have found and are still active. I have a macro that creates files to download that seperately into my PDA and creates the files to use in street atlas. The macro also automatically creates a custom POI file. I like having the active caches I have found on my GPS in case I am caching with someone who has not found it. Since it is a seperate custom POI, it is completely seperate from the active caches.
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On the levels, that is what you use if you are making topo files. That does not work well for just a trail map.
Go to http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/ and download one of my (Jim Bensman) trail maps. I just updated one so right now it is the first thing you should see under maps. Download the current source and use the setting I have in there. They work well.
No once you have the map set up, you use the "add" (first icon on toolbar) to add the mapsource file.
Select "map propriites" under file menu, then check map is transparent under the gpdmapper tab.
Once you add the mapsource file, you will see the tracks (unless view attachment is not set-the paper clip on the tool bar shoud be depressed), right click on the tracks, and then select convert to polyline. You can usually select them all and then right click on one and convert them all. Depress the paper clip icon to make sure they are all created.
Also, the map will give the name of the track name to the trail. If you do not like that name or want no name at all, right click and select modify label. (or you can edit the .mp file and change it there.
This is a bit hard to learn, but once you figure it out, you can make or edit your trail map in about 5 minutes.
Topo maps are not that hard either, just a bit and they take more time to make. I can make a topo with about 15 to 30 minutes of time (that does not include the time the computer is compiling)
Red90: THANKS.
A few questions: after opening gpsmapedit in step 4, I open the GDB file that I created, correct?
As for levels, I added five levels and set the bits to match an article I read.
I don't see anywhere to check "map is transparent". I've looked everywhere. Can you please tell me where that option is?
Also, I don't any option to "convert to polyline".
I'm just wondering: is there a limited functionality version of mapedit that I'm using? I downloaded a free version. Is there a version that I need to pay for that has these additional functions? My version reads as "not registered". If I register would I find these additional features?
Anyway, THANKS AGAIN. I think I'm actually pretty close to getting this to work, and when I do I'll be very grateful for your help.
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Load your pocket querry (gpx file) in GSAK
Then ctrl G
That will bring up the export interface
Here are the settings I use:
For waypoint name I put:
%smart=13 %typ1 %con1 %last4 %Dif/%Ter %by
In maxium characters 44
Chache description format:
%hint %name %code
For the file name I use:
C:\Documents and Settings\My Garmin\POI\Geocache.gpx (This should be where you have your POI files)
Save the settings I save them as POI
Then select generate
After you set it up the first time, everytime you do ctrl G, it should bring up these settings (if not you can select them from the saved settings)
Then run the POI loader
It wiil then load them onto your gps adn you will be able to access them wioth the find menu under custom POIs.
If you still cannot figure it out, email me and I will send you a screen capture of the settings.
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You have to use custom POI comment fields as they have the most letters you can use.
In GSAK, export your file to a gpx file and put %hint in the comment field. (I use %hint %name %code in case there is no hint or still more room). Then load the file as a custom POI with POI loader. You can automate it if you want.
When geocaching, I have the waypoints loaded AND the custom POI. I use the waypoints for the find cache function and also to record the finds on the calander. Custom POIs do not work for that. If I need the hint, I just select find custom POI and it is always the closest one. Then you can see the hint in the comment field. If I need more, I get out my PDA.
I have a 60csx,premium member,registered GSAK,registered cachmate.My question is after I ran my PQ I get GPX files but no "hints" I have tried several settings and still cant get info into logs,or the important stuff like the hints. Any ideas?? I have read alot of post and searched both help faqs on all websites. The referrals to florida geo site are for older versions.Any help would be very much appreciated. Screen prints are worth a million words
I do not have any problem moving the info into my Palm(zire72) but I just cant get the hints into cachemate Forgive me for this newbie is really new to software.
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If you do not have something open in Mapsource to display on google earth (waypoint, tract). It is greyed out.
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Don't make it any harder than you need to. Open the file that has the track in it. Delete everything you do not want to send (select it and then select delete). Then on the file menus select send mail
Thanks for the clarification...I guess I was just hoping I could do a simple export of only the track log from within Mapsource. Obvisously this is not possible, oh well.
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Thanks. So you did NOT get it directly in gpsmapedit? You had to first go through oziexplorer? I was hoping for a way to skip that step. I use ExpertGPS with the Archview support pack.
So what settings did you use? I have never been able to figure out how to get stuff projected on the state plane imported into gpsmapedit.
Also lets all post our maps at:
oziexplorer with
> Mainland
> Datum: NAD83
> Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic
> Latitude 1: 41 deg 43 min
> Latitude 2: 42 deg 41 min
> Central Meridian: -71 deg 30 min
> Origin Latitude: 41 deg 0 min
> False Easting: 200,000 meters
> False Northing: 750,000 meters
>
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GPSmapedit runs cgpsmapper to create the img file.
Help again, please. I believe the final goal is a .img file. I've read two versions of getting there: (1) "gpsmapedit" can create a .img file, (2) cGPSsmapper is required to create it.
Can someone please clarify this for me? I'm starting in Mapsource with tracks only. I can "save as" either .gpx or .GDB.
What is the simplest way to get to the finish line?
MapSource City Navigator North America
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
City Navigator provides turn by turn on GPS, MetoGuide does not.