SketchySmurf

Someone please help this mac user understand this arcane system of preventing unwarranted installs... So you buy City Navigator and you enter a coupon code and enter your personal information onto the Garmin website. It then spits out a "customer code" which you input during the install process and in effect allows you to do which of the following? a) Download maps from the DVD to the GPS View maps from the DVD onto your comp c) Both? So say in CN I want to download maps of New York City because I'm going there on a trip. I load the maps onto my GPS. When I come home in New Hampshire, I need to load maps of my local area for when I go hiking (in effect erasing the NYC data from my microSD card). How many times will I need to have entered the customer code? When I enter the customer code, does it send out a message to Garmin central where it confirms that I am the proper owner? What if I load them on a laptop without internet access?????

Confirmed. They'll start with the preloaded topo cards in a couple of weeks. They're broken up by region (I think about 10 N. America regions in all). Selling for $86 each. *sigh* That's not a bargain. So yes, it looks like I will be getting a modest size card and loading maps within my vicinity. And with coverage over the entire US, its the better value When the mac version gets out, I better not have to buy CN again.

OK you hoowahs. Lake Powell is great. Phil is the reincarnation of Buddha. blah blah blah. I'm going to order from them again, alright? P.S. the Map60CSx kicks butt.

Did I imagine it or did Garmin announce that the card reading X models will sell preloaded topo and CN/Metroguide maps? As a mac user, it would be so much better just to buy the card and bypass the computer altogether. If you look on the Garmin site, they have cards for sale, but I'm assuming their blank. You know what, I'm going to get to the bottom of this myself *picks up phone*

*snicker*

Keep your panties on, ladies. Phil has come through 90%...Should be arriving tomorrow. Before I start eating crow, I'll need to make sure its the right product, factory fresh, etc.

Sawdust, I have the Etrex Yellow. Waypoints and routes loaded up fine through TOPO! ended up not liking it as much as MacGPSPro for two reasons: it doesn't load tracks and the maps were too pixelated at closeup. I'm not familiar with the vista, but does it load up via serial? and if so are you using a keyspan 19HS converter?

This happens to my Etrex yellow when I'm inside and stationary. This should never happen when he's outside right?

If you're still asking about hooking up your USB Garmin to a Mac and running a Mac GPS app. (i.e. MacGPS Pro), you don't need a serial converter. But, if you have a serial Garmin (i.e. Etrex series) you need the Keyspan serial to USB adapter (make sure it is the high speed one) in order for your Mac to recognize it. (Actually, I'm not sure if your Mac will recognize the device through its standard serial port if you have one...Although macs have not had serial ports since...uh, anyone?)

Magic- I have that same SW combo...What do you use Rt. 66 for? Do you connect your GPS to your laptop and drive around with it? Haven't done that myself...Seems clunky and unsafe. I bought rt. 66 thinking that i could transfer tracks from it to my GPS...

BTW, there are other free mac native apps you might want to try. I have to admit I didn't not try any of them, the integration of MacGPS Pro and their maps, plus ease of use and versatility and great tech support is well documented so I didn't even want to bother with the others... good luck.

You can try joining the "macmap" group on Yahoo (of which I am a member) and scour the message archives there. But I actually just spent ten mins. looking for an answer for you and have not found any that you will be satisfied with. Apparently the USB problem is on the Garmin side. Some people have had varying success with other Garmin units, but unfortunately, I did not see any good stories involving yours.

weakfish, when did you place your order?

The software itself is $50. You either download it or he emails it to you. For an additional $30 you can get DVDs of a certain topo area. I, for instance, ordered the Northeasteren US. These are standard USGS maps, although there is some sort of conversion algorithm they use so it loses very little quality when you zoom into an area. (I own both National Geographic TOPO and the James associates one and James has much better quality.) MacGPS Pro reads and outputs .gpx files. And you do know that Garmin announced Mac support by end of '06?

It is possible. Although I haven't been paying attention to how. I ended up buying MacGPS Pro and haven't looked back. If there ever was a good example of customer service James Associates was it. I'm able to up/download WP, tracks, routes view them real time on maps (USGS). It's just flawless. I really have to warn you against VPC. I only run it with the absolutely least processor intensive tasks. -PB 15" 1Gig

Laugh it up, fuzzball

by "speak" do you mean on the phone? I don't see a number anywhere on the site.

Its less likely a design decision as it is an oversight on Garmin's part. The question is if/when they can do a firmware update in the future.

I'd like to know the closest foot accuracy in ideal conditions. My Etrex Yellow never gets below 15ft.

I ordered mine late last night. Opted for ground delivery, so I don't expect it until late next week. No mention of an overnight upgrade, though no company has ever done that for me. If he comes through for me as well as he did for you then I will be a lake powell convert for life...But so far, two emails sent about status, and no response yet.

No wait you are right. But weird thing is, on their home page, if you click on the CSx, it takes you to the Cx page. That's what confused me. It's still $535.

Curious, looks like they knocked the SRP down to $482.

when will they have pre loaded SD cards for the CSx models?

Good. Even you deserve to get out of your trailer park every once in a while.

The paranoid survive... I've sent TWO emails asking for a tracking number...Nothing from Phil yet...We shall see...