myjeeprocks

Correct, on the 60csx, if you hit "save" it will clear the timestamp info - and more. It needs to be extracted/downloaded to the computer while it's an active log for the info to be transferred. I'm still learning too, and it's turned into more of a hobby than I would have liked it to, but that's ok

Thanks for your reply. I'll add it to the GPSBabel wiki (never knew this existed!) when I get a chance. In the meantime, if you want to - sweeeet! I haven't played with the GPSB track filter yet, but I will check it out. In fact, most of the advanced features I still need to check out. Thanks for the pointers. The other thing I'm hoping for is that saving to the data card will allow for more track info to be saved, instead of wrapping or truncating. @ Barrikady: I thought it would be easy enough to do as well - without instructions - but quickly noticed that it's very easy to delete timestamps by either saving the track to the GPS, or using an app that doesn't support timestamps (like MacSimple GPS - it turned all times to year 1904 12:01 or similar) or make other devastating errors. I spent a long weekend in Yosemite recently, and saved the tracks to the GPS. The only geotags I had to go by were the waypoints.

I haven't been able to find a solid workflow for sharing tracks on the Mac - and wasn't about to spend another several hundred dollars on software - so here's what I've come up with. I still need to do a real-life test, but I think I have something worthy of sharing. If anyone has any tips on how to cut out a step or two, please let me know... Goals: To share trail tracks in GPX format; To geotag photos; To edit tracks and view them before transferring to the GPSr or sharing; To complete all tasks on Mac OS X with a budget of $0. Required software: GPSPhotoLinker: http://oregonstate.edu/~earlyj/gpsphotolinker/download.php Google Earth: http://earth.google.com GPSBabel: http://www.gpsbabel.org Issues: Many WYSIWYG track editors delete time stamps upon save. Saving tracks on the GPSr (clicking "save") before the memory fills up deletes time stamps. Mapsource doesn't run natively on the Mac. Many geocaching applications don't support tracks. Workflow: [1] Setup the GPSr to save tracks to the data card. Tracks > Setup > Data Card Setup (this retains time stamps) [1a] Be sure to check current time on the GPSr and camera - adjust if necessary. They need to match, of course. [1b] Drive your favorite trail and log some tracks! [2] Connect GPSr to the Mac via Main Menu > Setup > Interface > USB Mass Storage [3] Drag & drop gpx tracks to the computer. [4] Link tracks and photos with GPSPhotoLinker. [5] Archive original tracks. (Save them in a safe folder - to retain time stamps.) [6] Open tracks in Google Earth. View, edit, and export selected as .kml. [7] Use GPSBabel to convert from .kml to GPX XML. (note: deletes time stamps) [8] Add a name to the track file. Open TextEdit and between <trk> and <trkseg>, (limit to about 15 characters) and add: <name>###</name> [9] Optional: Open new GPX trail file in Google Earth to double-check file accuracy. [10] Use GPSBabel to transfer to GPSr. Be sure to select TRACKS! Tested with: Garmin GPSMap 60csx

Wow! I have been wondering about this. Does Mapsource see the card then as "the GPSr?" What size card are you using and how long is the transfer? Thanks a bunch, this is the first I've read about it. Getting a CSX soon! - Sarah

Hmmm. So we're still good on the GPX format then? I also noticed that .trk's (track files) can directly be imported into Mapsource. (without needing another application) Searching now to see if other applications will do the same thing. Interesting peter, about saving the tracklog in the GPS first. Good tip.

greengolf: i was looking over the g7towin website and it says "Support for the Garmin GPSMAP 60C via Serial and USB port." i would assume the 60cs would be the same? have you gone to the configuration under the file menu and checked the USB box!? you also have to go to tracks > list or waypoints > list to see the opened data/ anyway here's another file you can try: i was able to import this into mapsource actually. right click and save: http://www.myjeeprocks.com/maps/tracks/calico.trk let me know if it works!

Ok, now that I'm sitting in front of this: In EasyGPS 1. Select OPEN and choose the GPX file. 2. Providing you have 3 horozontal panes showing, in the bottom pane double click the name of the track. The waypoint/tracks will show in the middle pane. At least that's how it works here, but I didn't try transferring them to the GPS. I was using the Calico.gpx file. Are all three panes blank when you load it? Are you using the latest download of EasyGPS?

@ greengolf, oh, i'm not sure about USB, I have the Garmin serial cable. when you open the file in G7towin it will look blank and you have to use the menubar to display tracks. @compucash, cool i'm going to check out topowest. hahah, jeep rocks are best when free, although some of them have access fees nowadays. the more the better! actually, in case you weren't kidding, "rocks" is actually being used as a verb there. and my website is www.MyJeepRocks.com @sputnik that's an interesting site, i'm going to explore it a little more! thanks!

did it work!? if you tear the thing apart will garmin still fix it (if you mess up) LOL

from their website that app looks like it rocks, how do you like the quality of maps/topo overall? do you have to have the streets program to run the topo? what formats does it work with, what will it export? thanks!

you would have to upload the tracks/waypoints in G7towin to your GPS, and then launch the program of your choice (in your case it would be mapsource) and then download them from your GPS. IIRC, easy gps will read the file too, if no you can open it in G7towin and save it as whatever you like. hope that helps sarah

Hmm, I will have to look at that again. It loads into your GPS ok though? I know the start and end are different, I will have to double check the file and see if it shows up in G7toWin (the app I used) Thanks for checking it out!

Wow. That was actually one of my concerns in the first place. If I have this one fixed for $95, how long is it going to take for it to give out again? He assured me that it would fix the problem and it wouldn't happen again. I thought, "yeah, right." I'm still not sure what to do about all of this, and they've said that they offer a ridiculously expensive extended warranty, from the very short 90-day one that comes with the repair. Talk about standing by your product!!

Taxman, sorry for the afterthought, but do you mean to say that you've been through 2 refurbished units?

Taxman, I hear ya. I told him that this was getting to be "an expensive little toy!" He reduced my price to $95, which still sucks, if you ask me. I failed to mention that I'm the admin of another board and have a writeup about the eTrex there (and its greatness)(which has now been edited, LOL). Maybe since mine's a little older he's giving me grief, I guess I shouuld have talked to them back when it started happening a little to find out what was going on. Overall I'm disappointed with ALL of Garmin's products. Including the cigarette lighter adapter, which broke too easily too, and their Mapsource software. I can't say I really beat this stuff up too bad, since I am pretty good at taking care of things I spend alot of money on. But we do Jeep ALOT, and trails are sometimes bouncy. We use the Garmin dashmount or the carrying case with the lame plastic window, so I can't really say that the unit is falling over or getting tossed out the window, but it will sometimes get over 100°F.

I must not have been nice enough, because they want me to pay $125 to fix a $289 unit, that is now outdated due to advancements in technology. Sheesh. Mine is only 3 years old. Not sure what I'm going to do yet, I don't have the loot to get a new one.

Oh good, so you guys could read it ok! Yes I did notice that some apps won't import tracks. I couldn't get Babel to run, but then again I'm still kinda new to how PCs work. I think Garmin needs to step up to the challenge of making their own software compatible with itself! LOL

Right-click and download this: http://www.myjeeprocks.com/maps/tracks/cal...gar-jeepmag.gpx I read somewhere else about how much EasyGPS sucks. Actually, I just realized that you can upload/download from G7toWin. I'm on yahoo as a99j33p if you want to chat.

Ok I found a way to do it! Using G7toWin found here: http://www.gpsinformation.org/ronh/ (thank you for that link!) You can download your tracks from your GPS, select which ones you'd like to export, and then using EasyGPS found here: http://www.topografix.com/ You can read and transfer the GPX file you just created. Yes, this means that the person on the receiving end must have EasyGPS, or something that can read GPX which MAPSOURCE WILL NOT DO. However, EasyGPS is a free application with a very small download. If anyone would like to give this a try, I can post my GPX file. Thanks for all of your help, if anyone finds an easier way that would be great! Thanks, Sarah

yup, so far that's what i've found. downloading straight from my GPS is cool if i want to go to their house, but i want to trade tracks online, so it's not really practical. so far i find the Garmin Mapsource very limiting, and am considering dumping it at first sight of something more useful.

Thanks guys, I'll give those options a try, and let you know how it works out. @ gm100guy: so you're a vnc junkie too!

Thanks for your reply. I actually want to post local trails and waypoints on my website and have people send in theirs too. True, we can maybe switch when we see each other, but it's not as fun that way.

wow, I'm glad to hear this because my screen does that too. I'm going to try contacting them this week, and see what they say. Thanks guys.

Hey everyone! Not new to GPS, but new to GPS software. I finally have a PC so I can interface my GPS with it. (MAC USER HERE!) My dilemma is trading tracks (or routes) with friends. I have the Garmin Mapsource CDs and it seems like if you don't all have the same version of the stupid software, it won't read the map! Is there a better way to do this? Thanks in advance ... Sarah