allory

Pressing the menu on the satellite page gives the option of 'GPS Elevation'

Along the top border of the page in Google Earth is a time scale. Make sure the end time is slid over to the right to show all the tracks/points you have sent. I haven't figured it out yet, but it doesn't automatically expand to display everything.

In MapSource: Edit > Preferences > Display > Terrain Shading

Of course if you only climb 100 feet in a mile your bike computer will also ignore it because the extra distance will be less than the precision of a wheel based unit which measures in hundredths of a mile can deal with. If you compare all the data from both your GPS and your bike computer (odometer, ave speed, max speed, etc) and everything is within a couple of percent then you are probably ok. The GPS will cut off corners on the odometer reading, the wheel sensor will skip a rotation occasionally. Neither is perfect 100% of the time.

Consider that there are only about 32 satellites up there, and that at any point in space or time about half of them will be on the other side of the planet. Thats why in the real world 12 channel units work just fine. No idea whether its a good unit, but if it is it isn't because of having more channels.

If you really want to get rid of the detail maps and restore what you were warned about overwriting, you can go to the Legend update page and download the 'Preloaded Marine POI Database for eTrex Legend'. You will no longer have any detail maps, but will have more coastal bouys and tide stations than most of us need.

But that is version 2.30 for the Legend HCx. The update being discussed is for the GPS chipset and could improve the tracking issue. It can only be accessed by running the WebUpdater. Garmin could have done this in a less confusing way.

I could give you a very short list of things it isn't. There's also a type B update at http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3622

Using the info on page 92 of the manual you should be able to hack together a cable from an old serial cable you have laying around. Then you can use EasyGPS (or whatever) to get your caches loaded.

GPS Chipset Type M software version 2.30 as of August 28, 2007 http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=3733 Might not help with the problem, but might be worth running the WebUpdater and finding out.

No options for changing the basemap, but if you browse ebay you may be able to come up with an older copy of MapSource Roads & Rec or Topo. Since your GPS won't do auto-routing there's no point in getting CityNav. The older versions may be out of date, but can often be had for ~$30.

The 76 series got auto-routing along with color. If it isn't color, it won't auto-route. If it is one of the auto-routing units it will still need detailed maps which support auto-routing to do anything useful for geocaching.

It seems your gps is set for degrees-minutes-seconds or degrees-decimal minutes. Minutes and seconds only go to 59.xxx. In the settings for your gps you need to specify decimal degrees, probably listed as DD.ddddd

The Minnesota DNR has created DNR Garmin which may do what you are looking for.

I think we have most of the older versions in the GPSInformation archives

Basically, v. 7 is approximately three years more current than v. 4. Of more interest to some is that v. 4 still supported auto-routing on receivers that do it and has a much better selection of dirt roads in my home area.

You can get a third party cable, or parts to make your own from http://www.pfranc.com/ I made my first cable from an old serial cable and a scrap of credit card weight plastic because I didn't want to wait for the parts to arrive.

The last maps you sent to the unit will be the only maps there. You have to load all the maps you want at the same time. The map loading process begins by deleting all the previously loaded maps.

The new Venture HC would be a good compromise between size and cost. It can use your existing maps, hold enough for most bike rides, and has good enough reception to work while you're bent over blocking its view of the sky.

2.80 is also available for the Venture Cx and the Vista Cx. They've been available via the WebUpdater since at least Aug 19th.

POIs, yes, with POI loader for Mac. Geocaches, waypoints, tracks, routes, yes, with MacGPS Pro and others. Maps, yes (with major restrictions) with MapInstall for the Mac.

The equivalent update for the Venture Cx was available on Friday, presumably the Legend also.

If you're using your gps on a boat on a lake or ocean then the elevation can be set to fixed. At that point the altimeter functions as a barometer and can be used in weather forcasts. If you leave the elevation as variable then it will continue to view pressure changes as possibly influenced by changes in elevation.

This would probably be the way to load them. http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=545

Check the map setup page. If you have marine colors selected the lakes will be white.