fratermus
-
Posts
1207 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by fratermus
-
-
Well, I loaded geocaches from my Mac to the Venture CX using Geocaching Menu software, they show up in my GPS, I can go find them...but the Venture doesn't show the row of three buttons on the bottom of the Compass page. In fact, there's no way I can see to make the buttons appear, and there's no way I can see to mark a geocache as "found". When I go to my Calendar page, there's no entries listed for today's date.
Can someone who's used this mode clue me in as to what I must be doing wrong??
Are you running the most recent firmware? Run the webupdater thingy yet?
http://www.garmin.com/support/collection.j...ct=010-00440-00
Mine does the Found box stuff automagically; I didn't toy with the setup on that. I find the calendar thing useful because I can find the caches and not have to remember which ones they were when it's time to log the finds.
-
I gather from the above that mapsource does come up and say it sees your 60c sx thusly (mine shows the VentureCX on USB):
Can you xfer waypoints ok?
Is your card seated fully/correctly?
-
Question: So if I get a (cheap) Palm Pilot...say a Palm 500 or 505...I can download geocache.com info right to it and go paperless? Using a usb connection? Do I need any other software? [/b]About how many caches can be stored this way?
Here is the basic workflow.
Do not be alarmed; it looks bad but is only confusing at first. After that you can automate the process and do very little actual work.
There are commercial products like GSAK and geobuddy that simplify things a great deal. But I prefer completely free solutions that generally require noodling.
* use geocaching.com pocket queries to generate .gpx files
* convert the .gpx to indexed .html pages (GSAK, gpxspinner, gpx2html, etc)
* convert the .html to Palm format (plucker distiller, sunrise, prolly gsak)
* sync to your palm
* view with a palm viewer of some kind (plucker viewer)
Paperless caching is definitely worth the upfront work it requires.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/sunrisexp
-
idn't want to go out and spend hundreds of dollars if I can get by the cheap way.
Like the others noted, they are cheap on eBay when bought used. I got a couple that way, then bumped up to a used Treo. Works great.
-
GPSMap60 about $250 <--- A little bit high
Legend Cx about $235 <--- cheaper
Venture Cx about $200 <--- A very good starter unit
eXplorist 400 about $180 <--- Cheap but got alot of features.
eXplorist 210 about $140 <--- Good unit approx 22megs
And the 60 and CX appear to be eligible for the $50 rebate, which helps a bit.
-
To use garmin as example:
* the mapping units have a basemap of some kind built in
* garmin will sell you "detailed maps" in various configurations, prices, coverages
* you can download and use free custom maps that others have created, "detailed" or not. Search google for "free garmin maps" or similar.
* third parties will sell you custom "detailed maps", usually in regions not well-served by the manufacturer's cartography.
Regardless of of the type of map, you can use one or more than one at a time.
IMO it would be an exercise in extreme frustration for those with little computer experience.
-
I was thinking about this earlier. What impact do you think geocaching has had on the sales of gpsr?
Anecdotally, two people in my office saw me come back (scratched arms and torn clothes) from lunchtime caches and peppered me with questions. One got a Legend and one got a (uhhhh...... google google google) Magellan Explorist of some kind. Looked like a 200 but I think it was blue and white. Been a while since I've seen it.
-
I and my wife both routinely deal with the issue outside of these forums (my wife doesn't visit the forums here, so she is spared
) in our jobs as computer support techs. (actually I'm a network admin, but also do the duties of PC support) so I'm well versed in the process of holding my tongue while explaining something yet again (at work it is often to the same people over and over)On an average day [supposedly] doing telephone support on a specific application, I end up teaching windoze users these kind of skills (in order of increasing difficulty)
"locating the monitor"
"locating the mouse"
"locating the the Windows Start button"
"click vs. doubleclick"
"leftclick vs. rightclick"
On a really productive, high-end day we may work a bit further up the food chain to:
"finding the desktop, and the icons located there"
"looking at the taskbar"
"cut/paste"
"window minimization"
"running more than one program at a time"
"finding the file you just saved on your drive somewhere"
When I am very lucky I get to do the software support I am paid to do. Those brief, shining moments get me through the day.
A couple of weeks ago a caller got really aggressive with me because her software didn't work. It turns out that this is because her PC wasn't running.
Because there was no power to the room she was in.
Or her building.
Or her town, county, or state (this is when much of Washington went dark during the wind storms).
Kill me now.
-
Good Day All!
This past summer we have started geocaching and scootering!
Gravel is a good deal less terrifying if you stand on the pegs, relax the arms, and let the bike wallow around underneath you. Takes practice but I am told it can eventually feel like fun. :-)
There is a gravel road off to the side on my way to work and I take that little detour every commute to keep my gravel skills building.
Here is a ratty cameraphone pic of my bike in a field during a recent geocaching adventure... I had a Legend mounted on the handlebars. Wouldn't roll without it.
-
Buy.com has a Kingston 1gb Micro SD card for $30. There is a $10 rebate available, and if you use Google Checkout, you'll get an instant discount of $10 making the net cost $10. Free shipping is available. The oofer is good through 12/23/2006.
Thanks for posting. I snagged one soon after you posted.
-
Thanks for the tips.... I guess I wonder why they include the Waypoint Mgr---doesn't seem to really accomplish very much, and yes I really need to have a better understanding of how to use "Way Points".
It allows you to manage waypoints, and (from a Garmin marketing point of view), gets you used to the Garmin MapSource interface.
It also has basemap-level cartography in it which is Better Than Nothing. Major features, highways, etc. I wouldn't have bought it, but it's ok as a free bundle.
More info on the Garmin app:
http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSourc...andwaypoint.jsp
I think freeware EasyGPS is easier to use for pure waypoint management.
As far as the Geo Caching...do I need to do anything other than pay for a membership on GeoCache and download the ones I want?
You don't have to pay. You can download waypoints in .loc format from the various search pages. To get the cache waypoints en masse, automatically mailed to you in .gpx format, and with extra search functionality you'd need to pony up for the subscription.
To test the waters I'd say use the free .loc files. If you decide 'caching is for you then pony up for the subscription. I think it's worth it.
-
I am new to this Geo world .......I just purchased this unit, which included the DVD Trip Mgr.....however, on the CD case it states "Product does not include any detailed maps.....not able to DL map detail". I thought this is what the DVD is for....so now I have still purchase another piece of software in order to map a route to an address????
A route is a collection of waypoints. You can manually plot a route in most any GPS software and upload it to the GPS and nav that way. The trick is knowing where to place the waypoints, right?
If you wanted to try the maps out cheap you could buy a set of used MG5/6 off eBay (which will automagically makes routes on your PC which you can upload). Then if you like the map stuff (many do!) step up to the latest CN for the full experience and resell the MG on ebay.
Might not be too late to ask someone to get it for you for christmas, or your birthday.
-
That is correct, you need to buy the map discs or DVD's which can run around another $100.00 or so. I don't think you can auto route with just the basemap but I might be wrong.
I think the basemap is routable on the CX line, but there is so little road detail that it might not be much use. Haven't tried it.
-
In the future make a copy of your CDs in ISO format on your PC and use products like Alcohol 52% to virually mount them as you would with the physical CD. So no need for CDs and no risk of damage or loss.
Or burn a copy and use that copy for your normal work. The original becomes an archival copy that lives in the firesafe.
-
I am not yet a premium member yet, howver that will change soon. I operate in a linux enviorment.
I am curious to know if GPSBabel will work the same as GPXSpinner for my organizing program. I know Plucker does have a linux option already.
Here's how I do it on my debian/linux box:
==This is all in a shell script==
unzip the various queries
process the PQ .gpx files with gpx2html
thereby combining into one file (.loc unfortunately) and generating the .html indicies
gpsbabel to convert from .loc to .gpx if desired
sunrise (used to use plucker) to do .html --> palm
sync to the treo.
===end===
This might look like a bunch of work to windoze folks, but it is scripted/cronjobbed so all I do on my end is press the sync button on the palm cord.
-
Got my postcard and deposited it. About 4 wks, like the others.
-
I have moved files.. and fussed and fussed. The best it would ever do it open and then shut down immed. I am not a high tech computer guy but I can follow instructions.
Assuming your goal is to upload maps to your GPSr (rather than look at them or build routes), here is the step-by-step.
You will not be running any Garmin software. None. Thou shalt not click on Garmin, Mapsource, Topo, or any other Garmin-related icons on the desktop or in any menus.
Download sendmap20.
install it
run it
Press the Add Maps button.
Browse to the directory containing with the .img files you copied over. The specific directory is likely called West, if I remember correctly.
Pick the ones you want.
Press Upload Maps to GPS button.
This is what sendmap20 looks like when run by a casual user in a Windoze environment:
-
Fratermus.. I do not need it for the gps..
I don't understand what that means. Perhaps it means you mean only to view the map sets and not send them to the GPS. If so, I will not be of any help.
I have it there already and also on the desktop. I just cannot find the orginal disks for the install to the laptop. And I have tried to install it from the desktop to the laptop and without the disks I am just not smart enough. If you could walk me through this I would try again.
thanks
wingryder
If you are trying to upload the maps to your GPSr without a successful MapSource install, just make sure your .img files are on the box you want, connect the GPSr, and start sendmap20. Select the maptiles you want and upload.
No mapsource install is needed.
Sendmap20 is a free download out there.
-
Wont install because cant find previous ver. of mapsource. Soo I install previous disc and try again -same answer. So I have no more alternatives. Isnt garmin such a wonderful supplier - Maybe if I call their techies they will be the heros they didnt have to be if they had provided a proper program with the unit in the first place.
Mapsource in general is braindead, and Mapsource installs are doubly so. I use it as little as possible, and just install mapsets to teh HD so I can get sendmap20 to them.
-
BTW, I'm going on my day off to find my first Geocache; can't wait....
....what exactly is a micro cache? A small container??
Micros are smaller caches, if one considers an ammo can to be the standard size.
Micros generally have only a log in them. No trade items and no writing instrument, so Bring Your Own Pencil.
-
One of my goals with GeoBuddy is offer the same powerful geocache searching and filtering tools that GSAK provides, but with an easy-to-use interface, ala EasyGPS (cut and paste, multiple selections, print preview, undo, etc). Maybe you'll find it a more suitable option.
If your work with EasyGPS is any indicator, I am sure it will be an excellent product. Your interfaces are clean, predictable, and efficient.
Competition is good for the health of the herd. :-)
-
Yes the Treo is great for mobile access but I was tryiing to stick to basic services that most people might have such as mobile web browsing or wifi pda.
I do have a treo but I just keep the PQs output synched to the treo rather than doing it online realtime.
PQ from geocaching.com -->
gpx2thtml fo generate .html listings for paperless -->
sunrise or plucker to palimify the html -->
treo
Sounds complicated, but it's all batched on my computers so all I do is pay my $3 a month and press the sync button on the treo's cable.
-
I'm also looking for the metroguide that will do autorouting on my 60cs. I understand that MG v4 is the trick.
MG USA 4.x is the MG that is generally undestood to autoroute in the GPSr out of the box (ie, no tricks required. For tricks, see below).
I went to ebay, and I'm getting confused. Is this the one I want that will work for my 60cs? Thanks Dave
That is definitely a MG USA, but I can't tell from the packaging if it is 4.xx or not. MG went from MG USA to MG NA North America at some point (5? 6 for sure) so it's older for sure. Might want to ask the seller what version or what copyright date.
some info from when v4 came out:
http://gpsinformation.net/mgii.htm
Also might want to see:
http://www.mousetrap.net/~mouse/gps/MGautorouting.html
for further info about autorouting with non-4 versions of MG (the tricks mentioned above)
-
I've been caching for several years. I've always thought it would be nice to be able to discover the coordinates of caches that are near me when I'm off traveling and away from my computer. Ideally the GPS receiver would have a way to contact the internet and download cache descriptions and locations that may be near where the receiver is currently located. If not that simple, what other ways do people have of getting this info while on the road? I hate taking a laptop just for this purpose. How about a phone of some kind?
I generate PQs in advance for zipcodes I will be visiting.
) in our jobs as computer support techs. (actually I'm a network admin, but also do the duties of PC support) so I'm well versed in the process of holding my tongue while explaining something yet again (at work it is often to the same people over and over)
Venture CX - "Found" geocaches?
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
That's likely it. I just tested that on my VentureCX and it behaved as you describe.
As I get close to the cache I always force a "recalculate, off road" so I have never seen the buttonless compass screen.