Bob Morphew
-
Posts
131 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Bob Morphew
-
-
I have the same model and use approx the same settings - "Track Up" below 200 ft. I'm rarely ever usung it below 200' zoom so it runs in my preferred North Up (paper map) mode. But, when I riding my motorcycle at night I sometimes zoom down to 200' to get Track Up which acts like a moving map and I get a preview of the upcoming turns. However, when I stop at an intersection, the map jumps around as you describe because it computes my heading every second and the inaccuracy is such that it thinks I'm keep changing direction. As soon as I get moving, it locks on the Track Up mode again.
I suspect you are walking so slowly that the GPS thinks you are actually keep changing direction due to the error in calculating your exact position.
Try running
Bob
-
Costco.ca have the Garmin 60CSx for $219.99 and free shipping.
Bob
-
I keep mine set at 10,000 as that's what's in the Active tracklog. It prevents confusion when looking at a tracklog on the GPS screen and wondering why you can't see everywhere you've been.
I use the daily GPX track files on the mSD card for archival purposes on the PC, Geo-coding pictures, etc and just let the Active log always contain the last 9999 trackpoints. I never clear the trackloog or download it to the PC. I also set the Track recording to "Auto" and "Most" as the the daily GPX files are NOT limited to 9999 points like the Active log is. I like detailed tracklogs so I can make accurate trail maps from them.
Bob
-
That "Map Setup" setting ONLY affects the number of trackpoints that display on the map.
The Active tracklog will always RECORD up to 9999 points irrespective of that "Track Points" setting.
The User Manual is actually incorrect as it states that is the number of points to record.
Bob
-
.... I just want to see the trail on the map. Is there any simple way (simpler than the instructions above) to take a track and convert it to a simple "wiggly line" on a map -- just something that shows up like a trail or road? ...
One track - yes. Hundreds of tracks - no.
I agree learning to convert multiple tracks to a transparent overlay map is a pain, but once you learn how it's really quick (like a few minutes). If you just want a huge amount of tracks converted to one map, then e-mail them to me and I'll make the map for you and e-mail it back.
Bob
-
... There are special keystrokes to do a hard reset; you'll have to search for them since I've forgotten what they are.
Hard Reset for 60CSX:
1) Power OFF
2) Hold Quit, Enter, and Out. Press Power.
All data will be erased and Factory Default settings applied.
Bob
-
I just tested 2 routes - one that always had the next waypoint as the closest and one covering same path but with fewer waypoints where the next waypoint was *not* the closest. Both the 60Cx and the 60CSx always followed the route in the order the waypoints were set. In fact, I could NOT duplicate the problem I had with my Etrex Legend which would not direct you to WP 2 if a later waypoint was closer.
I noticed that you said the when you hit Navigate it immediately sends you to the closest waypoint. That means you have preset your routing options in setup. I set my routing options to "Prompted" as I sometimes want "Follow Road/Faster Time" and sometimes Shorter Distance. When riding Off-Road I need Direct (straight Line) routing so I select "Off-Road". Perhaps you have your GPS set to Shortest Distance?
What Version of Firmware are you running? I remember a F/W update a while back that resoved an issue with Navigate/GoTo.
I'm certain the these GPS will always follow the prescribed order of waypoints if the appropriate settings are selected. How are your Routing and Off-Road Transition options set?
Bob
-
the problem is that when i move along the route, i get directed to the next nearest, instead of the next one on my list. ....
Does this happen when you are in mid-route or when staring a new route? I know it happens at the Start of a route if one of the later waypoints is closer to the Start than Waypoint #2. I had to work around it by putting an extra waypoint between the Start and WP #2. I've never seen it happen during a route but usually the next waypoint *is* the closest waypoint.
It shouldn't be too difficult to do a test route where the next next waypoint is always the closest, and then your actual route with fewer waypoints where the next waypoint isn't the closest. In fact, I've got a 60Cx and a 60CSx so this is interesting enough that I'll try a test myself and see what happens
If you want a quick answer, just phone Garmin Tech Support - they know how it works.
Bob
-
... You can hardwire and power it with 8 to 36 V with this:
Thanks - I missed that. It looks like the GPS will still need 5VDC but the Garmin cable has a voltage regulator built in so the actual wires go to the 12VDC. That's much better than the cables that have the regulator built into a cigarette-lighter-type plug, as these don't work well on off-road bikes.
-
... There will not be a 4-pin Garmin serial/power connector on any of the 62's. ...
That's bad news as it probably means that the 62s will need 5VDC (i.e. USB) for external power. The 60CSx was a favourite with off-roaders as, among other things, it could be wired into the 12V system. The previous generations (Etrex) needed 3VDC and the external convertors failed regularly (probably due to vibration).
-
... GPSMAP 78 Owners Manual: .... No screenshots in the manual...
There's a lot of screen shots here.
-
can you load custom maps on the Nuvi series, specifically the nuvi 550?
I had a 550 a year or so ago and it did NOT co-operate with my own custom maps, which worked perfectly on 60Cx, 76Cx, 276C, Zumo, and Quest. It seemed the DEM basemap was conflicting with it and it only allowed the custom map to display at it's top zoom level (20Km, the way I make my maps). When I disabled the Basemap (by renaming it) the custom maps worked as intended. I didn't keep the 550 and returned it to Costco.
I recently bought a Nuvi 765T and it has the shaded basemap but my same custom maps worked correctly on it. I don't know if the same firmware updates have been applied to the 550, or if it still would behave the same as mine did last year. Sometimes Garmin retroactively update older model firmware, other times they just put it in the new models, and many features of the xx5 Nuvi's are NOT in the xx0 Nuvi's.
Guess you should try the actual custom maps you want to use before you buy if it's important to you.
-
... How do you get the daily .gpx files off the unit's card - do you have to use a card reader? And how is this easier than using the Active Logs (other than the wrapping problem)?
You can remove the mSD card and use a card reader but there's no need as the GPS is also a "card Reader".
On a 60Cx, you go to Main Menu / Setup / Interface / USB Mass Storage / Enter and the GPS mSD card appears as a Drive on My Computer. Just copy the GPX files to your PC.
The data in the GPX file is identical to that in the Active Log in internal memory so you can use either. I prefer the GPX file because I go on many multi-day bike trips and the Active Log is overwriting the early trackpoints before I return home. There seems to be almost unlimited storage of daily GPX files so you can download at your convenience. If you forget to get the Active Log regularily you've lost it forever.
Bob
-
... I have a Garmin 60Csx, just recently updated the software. When I download my tracks to mapsource, there is no leg time or leg speed. ...
There have been many discussions on this, but the search feature is the dumbest I've ever encountered - most searches I do need a word of less than 5 letters.
The leg time and speed is in the Active Tracklog in internal memory, and in the daily archived GPX file on the mSD card (provided you went into Track Setup and turned it ON).
When you Save an Active Tracklog or a portion of it, the time and speed data is discarded and the track is filtered to 500 points maximum.
Simplest solution is to use the GPX files from the mSD for use on your computer. Don't bother downloading the Active Tracklog or the Saved Tracklogs.
Bob
-
....
* The total length of all selected tracks/routes will now be displayed in the status bar.
...
Decided to try this feature, so I installed it and opened one of my GPX files. Saved it under a different name and then couldn't open it. Get error saying it's not a valid Mapsource file - even thougfh Mapsource just created it. Tried several different files and get same result every time.
Anyone get this?
Bob
-
.... And for all the others, who found this topic via the search-function:
Secret Startup commands for Garmin units.
....
It would be nice if there were an update on that document. The last one was in 2005 and none of the current popular models are listed (although the OP's GPS is).
Bob
-
I have another comment that may be of interest. I'd read previously about Garmin stopping the practice of mailing DVDs to people who complained that their pre-installed City Navigator needed to be on their PC as well as on their GPS, and telling them they needed to buy another copy.
I bought a Nuvi 765T on Dec 15 and decided to wait almost 60 days before updating it. Well, I just updated my 765T tonight and the maps were upgraded from 2010.10 to 2010.40, but more importantly, after the upgrade file was downloaded I was given the option of installing the Maps on my PC before updating the GPS maps. I haven't heard of this before - I presume it's a new feature.
However, when adding Mapsource to my PC it upgraded from my preferred V6.13.7 (for my custom maps) to V6.15.9 and all my maps still work. I've been reading on other Forums about problems with custom maps and the latest Mapsource, but it may be more related to newer Windows OS - I'm still on XP and all works fine (except the redraw is still too slow).
Seems to me that Garmin are going out of their way to improve their Customer Service. I've been a Garmin user for close to 10 years now and have always felt their service was excellent.
Bob
Previously owned: Etrex Legend, 60Cx, Nuvi 760, 60CSx, Nuvi 550, Nuvi 265T, Nuvi 765T
Currently own: Etrex Legend, 60Cx, 60CSx, Nuvi 765T
-
I have been doing some playing around and this is a cool program. I have a quiestion about BMP's for lines. Any suggestions on how to make a bitmap and how it should show up? A sample file would be nice.
I used genTYP to get started on making TYP files and it's a great product, but for more complex graphics I switched to this on-line editor.
It has a simple graphical editor and shows previews on different backgrounds so make it much easier to use.
Bob
-
Not sure if we are talking about the same thing regarding routes and tracks. The basic Etrex (the yellow one) only handles one route (route = a series of waypoints) but seems to handle several tracks (track = series of "breadcrumbs" recorded while moving).
A route ALWAYS contains directional information as the waypoints are navigated to in the pre-set sequence.
A track has directional information while it's still in the GPS internal memory as the Active Log because every "breadcrumb" point has a time stamp. That's how you can do a TrackBack. Once the track is Saved, it loses the timestamps so there's no directional information - it's just a line.
If you are saying you can load 20 tracks and add waypoints at the start to navigate to, then I'd agree.
Bob
-
You need to open the GPX file in Mapsource and then you can transfer the tracks to your Etrex. There are MANY Etrex models and the specs may vary, but when I had an Etrex Legend I could transfer up to 20 tracks to the GPS. Each track can have a maximum of 500 points so any larger tracks need to be "filtered" to 500 maximum (use Track Properties/Filter).
When the track is displayed on the GPS there is no directional imnformation - you need to use "Routes" for that. You could make routes on your PC using the tracks in the GPX file but it's probably easier just to display the track and then watch the screen to "follow" the trail. The basic (yellow) Ettrex only allows one route, whereas most other Etrex allow 20 routes.
Bob
-
... When I sent the route to my device (a 60CSx) it informed me that the route has been truncated. When I view the route on the map it seems to be complete, though. The route has 294 waypoints.
What went wrong?
...
The 60CSx routes can have a maximum of 50 waypoints if Follow Roads routing is used or 250 waypoints if Off Road routing is used. Similarilarly with tracks, if you import a track with more than 500 trackpoints you get an error message that the data was truncated.
Bob
-
If you have "Lock on Road" turned OFF (which is essential for snowmobiling, off-road biking, etc) then I don't believe the GPS "tries to decide" if you are on the road or not - it just records your track. It probably has more to do with the track recording settings. I use "Auto" and "Normal" on my 60CSx, although some people recommend "Auto" and "Most Often", and I get good quality tracklogs for map making purposes.
Bob
-
... The way I was getting my routes was at the end of the day press TracBack. It would save up to 10 routes in Custom Routes. On a 3 day snowmobile ride with over 600 miles the Trip Log (blue line) would run out of memory and was like a snake following me around. Snowmobiling off road takes a lot of memory. So to make do with what I have. I am trying Mapwel 2009 to make my own snowmobile map. Unless you have better advice? ...
The Nuvi 550 won't normally run out of memory for tracks. Although the Active Log will only hold 10,000 points, there is an Archive file(s) created and it's stored in the /Archive folder. I only had my 550 for a month before returning it and in that time it didn't create an Archive but other 550 owners report that eventually you'll have one and it will contain ALL the tracks you made.
I've read about Mapwel but haven't tried it. I got started map making using the programs suggested by 'rws' who used to offer a tutorial on using Mapedit, cGPSmapper, and MapsetToolkit on some of the snowmobiling websites. There's a similar tutorial on GPSsledmaps.com - check this out: http://www.gpssledmaps.com/guide/
Bob
-
I got my nuvi 550 last winter for snowmobiling. I saved 10 custom routes and then got Map Source to save them on. Now I find out that some of the routes have more then 1000 via points. My GPS only takes 250 via points and no tracks. Then I phoned Garmin and they could not help me but they gave me your web site. They said if there is a way to do it you would know how. I can get GPS snowmobile trail maps for Ontario and USA but I live in Manitoba.
Can I make routes with out via points like a map?
OR can I make my own snowmobile trail map?
You generally don't need more than 250 waypoints in a route. If your route is correctly planned, you can cover a huge distance on or off-road with a 250 point route. Many of the organized Off-Road Rallies hold 2 -day rides and have less waypoints than that. If you really do need that many points then split the route into sections and navigate each sequentially.
The reason I see some routes with way too many points is that someone used a utility to convert a tracklog to route and hence got a waypoint in place of each trackpoint. That's NOT a correctly made route. You put waypoints where you need to make a turn at an intersection, either on roads or trails, and occasionally mid-way to confirm they are on the correct route.
Routes without via points are only any use in a GPS that does full auto-routing and the map has roads/trails where you want to go.
If you have tracklogs and want to use them without restriction in your GPS, then convert them to a map. There's lots of info out there on how to do it - just use Google.
Bob
Converting Polish format (.mp) to gpx
in GPS technology and devices
Posted · Edited by Bob Morphew
I use MapTK - it's free and works very well. Get it here.