jmundinger

Are you sure about that? In order to post an image, it first has to be hosted some place, like imagecave, photobucket etc. or on your ISP's server. Download the image from your gpsr to your computer - if it's a garmin, you can use the ximage utility, downloaded from from Garmin's website. Then upload the image to a hosting site and then copy the link to the image into your post. For it to work, you also have to use the appropriate have use html. For posting, that would be one set of brackets, [], with the letters img typed between that set of brackets. Then, paste the link to the image. Then type a second set of brackets, [], with the letters /img typed between that set. You can see what it looks like by hitting the reply button to my post.

EasyGPS is part of the waypoint management system in ExpertGPS. You have to purchase ExpertGPS to be able to use the maps (although I think you can use it free for a trial period). With EasyGPS, the waypoints are geo-referenced on a blank screen. You can change the scale with either the zoom feature or by clicking on the "map" and using the wheel on your mouse. Before you zoom in, you might want to set one waypoint as active, or you might zoom to a blank map. You can use EasyGPS to import waypoints for caches from the web, to build files with multiple caches and to transfer waypoints, tracks and routes back/forth with your GPS. If you have a mapping Garmin, it came with MapSource. And you can do the same thing in MapSource. If you want to add a comment to the waypoint, MapSource has a larger comment field. That difference is important if you want to transfer a set of waypoints to your gpsr and a POI set.

Easy GPS doesn't have a map. But, you can unbunch your caches by changing the scale. For those who have mapping Garmins, I think MapSource, which comes with the unit, is a decent option for managing waypoints. I understand the benefit of GSAK for those who want to take the time to learn and who need the capability of sorting many waypoints. It's not quite as easy to use, but USAPhotoMaps is a piece of shareware (jdmcox.com) that is very useful for displaying waypoints on satellite images and topomaps (downloaded from Terraserver). You can't transfer the images to your gps, but you can move waypoints/tracks/routes back and forth.

My standard suggestion on matters like this is to go the the Garmin website and download the manual for one of the discontinued models (in this case either the Vista c or the Vista cx). The earlier manuals were more complete. I don't use my Vista HCx for street navigation so I don't work with addresses. But, I'm guessing that you have to first convert the address to a waypoint and then save the waypoint. Edit: I just looked at the manual for the Vista Cx. The screen sample on the page that explains how to find an address shows a save option at the bottom of the screen. That routine should convert it to a waypoint and, if so, you should be able to locate it again using the find feature. It also explains how to create your own points of interest - that's a function you an do in MapSource and then download to your gpsr with the POI loader, which you can download from the Garmin site.

Please accept my apologies. I grew up in an era when the English language included the "rule" that, when gender is unknown/unspecified "he" is appropriate (i.e. she/he was understood). Assuming that you are doing an exchange, you already have established a relationship with a dealer. If you have the option of dealing with someone else, you should note that OffRoute as a pretty good deal at the moment on the Venture HC - either by itself or bundled with Topo2008. http://www.offroute.com/product/view_produ...amp;CatID=14347 I have no connections with them except that I am a satisfied customer. The Venture HC and Legend HCx are similar units. Apart from color, the principle difference is that the Venture has 24mb of internal memory. The Legend has no internal memory - instead it has a slot for a micro SD card and the storage is limited to the size of the card that you get (separate purchase). It would also give you the option of purchasing multiple cards so that, if you wanted to change data, you could swap cards rather than reload new data. With the extra memory, the Legend also has some navigational features (primarily for use in a vehicle) that the Venture doesn't have.

no harm/no foul. I was just offering an explanation for Laurenfra's benefit.

I understand that, but the Legend, which he mentioned in his second post is a discontinued model and not high-sensitivity. That's correct, assuming that his computer has a serial port. At the same time, a Venture HC, that comes with a USB cable in the box, wouldn't cost much more than an eTrex H, plus a cable plus a USB adaptor.

The units with a joy stick have a screen with numbers/letters - you navigate the grid with a joystick to make the selections. More importantly, they also come with a USB connection and MapSource. You can download the coordinates to your computer and upload to the device and, in the case of caches, you can download the waypoints directly to your device. If you are thinking about a different model, get one of the new ones, i.e. Venture HC, Summit HC, Legend HCx or Vista HCx. The high sensitivity receivers are worth the difference.

If you are going to a cache and the waypoint for the cache is noted by an icon, there should be three buttons at the bottom of the compass page. The one on the lower left is labled "found". The screen should look something like this: As I have suggested to others, you might want to go the garmin site and look up the Vista c in the discontinued section and download the pdf file for the manual for that unit. It's functions are virtually identical with the Vista HCx - but the only manual is a lot more comprehensive than the one that came with your unit.

I have experienced that kind of an issue once with my Vista HCx, but only with an inaccurate location when the unit first powered up. That time, it had me in a spot that was about 300 miles west from my actual location and the issue went away with a restart of the unit. I also have experienced issues more like those described in the other thread with my Legend C - but those occur when the unit is trying to find itself after losing a lock on the satellites.

What software versions are on your unit? The current versions are firmware 2.60 and chipset 2.60. The unit might not have left the factory with the most current software. Run WebUpdater and check it out. The issue that was discussed here, at length, was not the problem with the track log that you described but with the trip computer. That issue was discussed at length here and significant improvements were made with the last firmware and chipset updates. If you turned on the unit right when you started your hike, the first few data points could be off a bit. And, if you didn't clear the track log, there might be an erroneous point or two in the log. Also, I think you will find that any consumer grade gps unit will give a more accurate location when it has been stationary for several minutes and, even if it is reasonably accurate, it will occasionally produce stray data points. If you are moving while tracking, there is a pretty good chance that the track log will contain a few data points that look a little weird. That isn't the fault of your gpsr - it is just a limitation of the technology. If you want a really accurate track log, you will have to spend several thousand dollars for the equipment and additional money for software to correct the data after you download it to your computer.

You are not in over your head. All of the units in the eTrex series function pretty much the same way, except that some have more features than others. The unit comes with MapSource, which includes the recreational base map. MapSource allows you to view whatever map data you have and to move data back and forth between the computer and your GPSr. The recreational base map is basic - very basic. It has metropolitan areas, major highways and large rivers and that is about it. You don't need maps to cache. Whether you get maps and which maps to get really depends on how you intend to use the unit. If it's primarily outdoor activities, I'd start with Topo2008. Note, that to use anything other than the base map, you will also need to purchase a Micro SD data card.

This thread has been a useful tip. Based on the exchange, I tried it and that is just how it worked. I created a map set in MapSource and, when I did "send", it found the micro sd card in the card reader in the usb port. And, as CarphuntinGod suggested, it was noticeably faster than loading to the GPSr with the card in the unit.

Thanks. If I understand correctly, it is the same routine as for loading maps into the GPSr, except that the card/card reader rather than the GPSr is connected to the USB port.

Assuming that you are using MapSource, I'm curious to know how you created a map file that could be transferred directly to the card.

I don't think a person would need anything more than a Venture HC and Topo2008 for backpacking. Unless you intend to hike the entire Continental Divide trail before you return to your computer, 24 mb of memory likely would be sufficient for any trip. And, regardless of which unit you decide on, you probably would appreciate having a copy of USAPhotoMaps running on your computer (shareware from jdmcox.com)

I have multiple USB cables and I don't think I have ever used the cables that came with my two etrex models. I have had a couple of issues on one computer which seemed to be a driver issue and I think I corrected that by reinstalling the other USB that didn't know it wasn't a gps.

As I have suggested in other threads, the user's manuals that come with the newer models are not as complete as the manuals that came with the older models. However, the functions of the newer models are similar/identical to the older models and the user's manuals for the older models are still available on Garmin's website in pdf format. So, my recommendation would be to download the manual for the Vista C. https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/manual.js...167&pID=263 There is a lot of useful information there. It might take a little while to get used to the buttons but, once you do, the operations all become pretty intuitive.

I just did an interesting experiment and I'm not sure what the result means. By way of background, I have two Garmin gpsr - a Legend C and a Vista HCx. When I first got the Vista, the computer did not recognize it even though I had been using the Legend on the same computer for at least a couple of years. Presumably, the older driver did not work with the newer unit and it was necessary to update the driver. Since then, I have not experienced any problems with the Legend but have had the problems with the Vista that I described earlier in this thread, i.e. the computer not recognizing the unit until the driver is reinstalled and, more recently, with the gpsr triggering the scanning wizard. So, today, I connected both units to the computer (one at a time) and both are working fine. I opened device manager and, if the units are connected and turned on, a "garmin" driver shows up in the list, but the driver does not appear if the unit is not connected or is turned off. It appeared to be the same driver for both the Legend and the Vista. Based on this little test, I'm guessing that it might not be possible to uninstall the driver using device manager. Oh, the frustrations of being cyber-cstupid!

I would like to delete and reinstall the usb driver for my Vista HCx. Do you have any suggestions about how to determine which of the various human interface devices that should up in "Device Manager" is the Vista? (and, I presume that the driver for the Vista is different from the driver for my Legend C??)

I will be curious to watch the responses to this one. I'm guessing that it's a driver issue and that the loading of Topo was just a coincidence. I don't seem to have any issues when I'm working on my laptop. But, sometimes screwy things happen when I connect the gpsr to my desktop. I have had issues when the computer did not recognize the device but it did trigger the new hardware wizard and then, with the driver reinstalled, it would function. The more recent issue is that, when I connect my Vista HCx to the computer, the computer recognizes the gpsr but the connection triggers the scanning wizard and I am unable to turn off the wizard and, since the wizard wants to do its thing, it won't let me do anything else. And, even if I turn off and disconnect the gpsr and turn off the wizard, it keeps restarting.

Enjoy! Now run webupdater

Craig - I agree with the other poster who suggested that you compare the Garmin units and get one that uses a USB connection. I would suggest narrowing it to the units in the eTrex series - specifically the Venture HC; the Summit HC; the Legend HCx and the Vista HCx. If cost is of concern and you are content with a smaller memory, I'd go with the Venture or the Summit. If you need a larger memory, go with the Legend or the Vista - for those, you would also have to purchase a microSD card. If you prefer to have an electronic compass and electronic barometer, you will want either the Summit or the Vista. If you want a basic unit that will also communicate with your computer, get the Venture. For mapping software, several of the online outlets are currently running specials that bundle the mapping eTrex gpsr's with TOPO2008. Those are pretty good deals. However, you don't have to purchase mapping software to be able to display gps data on a map on your computer. You can download USAPhotoMaps from jdmcox.com. This is a piece of shareware - you don't have to pay for it, but a donation to the author is suggested (and, in my opinion worth it). With USAPhotoMaps, you can download 1:24k topo maps and satellite imagery from the TerraServer website - the imagery may be a few years old, depending on your location - but still suitable for many applications. You cannot load this data into your gps but you can display it on your computer screen, print the images that are on your screen and move waypoints and tracks back and forth between the software and your gps.

I think the Legend would serve you well. But, for a few dollars more, why not get a Summit HC. If you buy it online, e.g. OffRoute.com, you would have a high sensitivity receiver, more functionality and the unit comes with a USB cable.

In response to the original question, the Vista HCx were with the earlier software versions. In my opinion, the major issues with those have been corrected. You should be using Firmware 2.60 and Chipset 2.60 and I agree that the easiest way to do it is with WebUpDater. I agree that WebUpDater is the easier way to do it. And, while I have manually installed firware updates - that's the way that I did every update with my Legend c - I have not found (admittedly, I have not done a thorough search) the chipset updates in the download section at the Garmin site. I have not had problems with either the manual method or WebUpDater to install updates. However, if I did have problems, I think it might be easier to do a "do over" and with a higher probability of success using the manual method.