bbbullock

I just completed a 10 day backpacking trip at Philmont Scout Ranch and the odometer on my GPSmap 60CSx showed we trekked 92 miles. Yet, when I uploaded the 10 GPX log files and combined them into a single file/trek in RoadTrip, it says that we only traveled 72 miles. I thought I could rely on the GPS Odometer as an accurate measure of mileage. Why the large difference between the GPS Odometer and the mileage measured via the log files? Brian

The RAM for the active track log, which holds 10000 points. The gpx files you saw are your track log files that have been recorded on the card. The fact that you have gpx files on the card means that you already had recording logs to the card enabled. It isn’t an autosave feature that drops each day's log to the card. The files on the card are recorded simultaneously with the active log in internal memory. However, a new file is created on the card each day, and as you noted they are named with a date stamp. Logging tracks to the card is not “instead of” logging to internal memory, but “in addition to” it. If logging to the card is set up, the same track log data will be recorded both in internal memory and on the card. The only difference is that if internal memory fills up, the card will continue logging all track data without interruption or overwriting anything, unless the card fills up. Tracks recorded to the card are not subject to the 10000 point limitation, but they will not show up on your map screen. The active log in RAM will, if you have your map setup set appropriately. You can access the gpx files on the card only by connecting the unit to a computer and putting it in Mass Storage Mode. You can then copy them to your computer and open them with MapSource or other suitable software. It is saved to RAM, and for practical purposes there is no way to save these to the card. Yes, but since you have all the points with all the time data preserved on the card, it shouldn’t really matter. This does not affect tracks recorded to the card; once they are recorded, they are unaffected by anything that you do to the logs in internal memory. With the ability to record logs directly to the card, there is little need to use the Save function; but tracks saved in this way can be made to show up on the map screen (or not, individually settable). That can sometimes be useful. The Save function doesn’t just cut your track off after the first 500 points, nor does it drop points randomly. It uses an intelligent algorithm for reducing the points, so the ones that get dropped are generally from the middle of straight segments, and the ones that define significant turns are kept. This does a pretty good job of preserving the shape of the original track with the remaining points. It sounds like you’re already set up for logging tracks to the card, but check just to make sure: Tracks page>Setup>Data Card Setup>Log Track Data To Card. Verify that the box is checked. Enjoy your trip! Everyone, Thank you for the thorough replies to my questions. I think I now much better understand the capabilities of my GPS. One question...you mention putting the GPS in "mass storage mode" so that the unit appears as a drive on my computer. How do I put it in "mass storage mode"?

I have a Garmin GPSmap 60CSx, and have some questions about Track Logs and Saving Track Logs. Yesterday I was on a 12.8 mile hike and the Track Log takes up 21%, but of what? I have a 4 gig micro SD card in it, so with only 1992 points, I have a hard time believing that it occupies 21% of the micro SD card. If it references RAM, is there any way that I can have the software point to the micro SD card to place the track log before it is saved? When I hit "setup" on the track log screen, I get the option for "Data Card Setup". When I select, I see a new usage bar that shows only 1% used and a list of 7 gpx files with date stamps as names. Is there an autosave feature that drops each day's log to the micro SD? If so, how do I access these files? When I download to RoadTrip they do not appear. Back to the Track Log screen...After my 12.8 mile trip, I did a 'save' of the track, and it added the track to the 'saved tracks' list on that screen. Again, where is this saved to? And is there a way for saving to the micro SD (assuming that it is not)? I also note that the saved track has only 500 points of the 1992 contained in the actual trek, and that all date/time info is stripped out. Is this an inherent limitation of the 'save track' feature? The reason I need to solve this problem is that I'm headed on a 71 mile backpacking trip over 10 days this summer and want to be sure I know how to save each day's trip track so that I can piece them together upon return for a review of the entire trip. I want to be sure to adopt a save routine that does not exceed memory (RAM?) capacity, and makes maximum use of the micro SD. If there are other things I should know to help me record this trip, please mention them. Thanks, Brian

I have downloaded the Wisconsin Topo map from GPSFileDepot, but it does not contain hiking trail info...only topo detail. Other thoughts?

I'm looking for a trail map for the state of Wisconsin. Does anyone know where I might find one? Thanks, Brian

I have downloaded the following files from GPSFileDepot.com: My Trails Minnesota Topo Is there anyway to lay My Trails over MN Topo so that the trails show up on the topographic map of the area? Right now I can only view one or the other...and just seeing My Trails without a topo map doesn't do me much good. I'm using RoadTrip (Mac) v 2.0.2 Thanks, Brian

There have been a number of 60 series units that have lost their GPS firmware, resulting in symptoms similar to what you describe. You can check: press MENU>MENU>Setup>System>MENU>Software Version. If the GPS SW Version is 0.00, the unit has lost the firmware. If that is what has happened, reinstalling it, via WebUpdater , will restore your unit to normal function. Thanks to everyone for your input! After troubleshooting with Garmin Tech support, they determine the unit needed to be returned for warranty repair. I now have it back (took less than 1 week to turn it around) and it is working exactly as I would expect it to. It acquires the satellite lock in less than 5 minutes...and I no longer "move" over 1/3 of a mile while standing still! Not sure what the problem was, because they do not explain it. But it is nice to know that I wasn't doing something wrong. Brian

I have a 3 month old Garmin GPSMap 60CSx that I'm having trouble with...it doesn't acquire satellites. I just went through a 60 minute exercise where I did an "New Location/Auto" and it only found one satellite. The GPS unit was laid down on the rail on my back deck with a clear view of the sky during the entire hour. Anyone with ideas as to what I might be doing wrong? Or, do I by chance have a bad GPS unit? Thanks, Brian