buzzman63

I have a Legend Hcx and still trying to learn all that it can and should do-the included "manual" is a bit thin and doesn't seem to tell me how to do everything as far as using the gps, loading maps, tracks, routes etc. Is there a better, more detailed "how to use" manual or book out there?

I've been using a Legend Hcx for a few months and only use a mac also (imac and macbook) and have had pretty good luck loading maps onto the Garmin. The base map they include only shows main hwys, so it's not great at all for nav, but I downloaded some free maps from ibycus (check the forums here) and they are pretty good. I use Garmins mapsource, map manager and Bobcat to handle the computer to GPS stuff. Bobcat has been good/bad-it's in beta, so it always wants to check for updates, and sometimes they don't download right, or won't open....so that has been a hurdle of sorts.

Thanks for the help-if I use the "average" method, should I keep repeating the "waypoint" toggle & "average" several times, or does it just average 2 waypoints in a row?

New to GC and want to set some caches myself. I'm still learning how to use my Garmin Legend HCX and while finding my first few caches, find that I'm off by 20'-40'. I know GPS's are not always that accurate, but when setting a new cache, I want the location as accurate as possible. Best way? Take waypoints and average? Stay in that location for a longer period of time to "solidify" the location from the signal? Any other ideas? I think after reading the information here I can set up some good fun locations with history or something unique, so I'm ready to take the plunge. Thanks in advance.

For those of you using the ibycus maps and other maps on your GPS-do you just keep them on different cards? I don't see an easy way of switching between map files because the ibycus maps list all the small maps in in the map selection area and there are 100s listed. (I loaded most of the US on a 2 g card). If I had a topo map, and wanted to use it on my GPS, it would seem it should be on another card right? Otherwise, you'd have to unclick all the ibycus maps in order to see the topo one? Maybe there is a work around-I'm new to this obviously.

No, it shouldn't take 16 hrs. I did it in an hr on a T-1 line and at home it took 2hrs or so on a cell phone modem (300K) Good luck!

I'm new to all this GPS and map stuff myself...but had great luck last week downloading the ibycus maps and then just selecting the section (of the USA) that I really wanted. You can click and drag just one area (of counties) and put those on your GPS to save space.

I've noticed on the street view, there was nothing there, only the track view-I guessed the ibycus maps didn't work with street view. Onto a question-I planned a route using Bobcat, loaded it into the GPS (Legend Hcx) and started following it in the car-suddenly, it zoomed way out! So, I used the side button to zoom back to a closer level again (so I could see side roads and detailed features) and continued driving and it zoomed out again after a while. It continued this during the entire hr drive-frustrating.....My thought is the GPS does this on it's own for some reason? Maybe I need to set something up in the unit?? Anyone have this happen?

Thanks for the ideas- I DO have bobcat downloaded onto my mac and will also try the GPS Babel-thanks also for the heads up on how to save to a dada card-something I didn't know. It was mentioned that the tracks can be saved into Google earth (I have that also)- is that the only program that can read the map files and display them to print? There is the .gpx & .kml & .kmz formats...right? Oh boy, a bit confusing. Wish Garmin would have a little better owners manual on how to use it in relation to mapping. Lot's to learn n my part...

Thanks to ibycus, I was able to use my GPS (garmin Legend Hcx) on a 1000 mile motorcycle trip-each day, I'd save that track in the menu. Now that I'm home, I'd like to be able to download those tracks to my macbook, or put them in google maps or someplace....how do I go about doing that??? Do I need another program to pull them off? Thanks..new at this.

Thanks...downloaded that and Map manager and am waiting for the maps to finish downloading...whew, big file!

I'd imagine fairly small... lag will probably be your biggest problem, but without trying, there is no way to tell. Thanks wasted and ibycus-I managed to get a micro SD card at Wally world (BRF) and will attempt to download and install the maps today to my macbook, then onto my HCx. What is the step by step process? I need the map installer from Garmin also, right? ..or that Bobcat thing?

Thanks-am going to buy a micro Sd card today and try the download maps tomorrow. So can you just pick individual states to download onto the cards on the GPS?

Just got a new GPS and am anxious to get some real maps on it (etrex hcx). ibycus's maps work great, I have them loaded on both my vista hcx and my summit hc and am more than happy with them I've seen and heard of a few glitches in and around wisconsin but they seem few and far between, I'm in black river falls, about 30 miles from you, and havent noticed much around this area as far as defects, the biggest I've found so far is that the black river from hatfield to neillsville isnt colored blue, the outlines are blue but the water body isnt colored blue, the rest of the river, including the east fork, seem fine and I have yet to find anything serious enough that it takes away from the quality of these maps Thanks for the reply-I'll have to get on a faster internet to download that bnig file-nice to know it's working well. Will the maps fit on a 2 g micro SD card? Or are the maps set up to just download some maps from the computer to the GPS because of file size? (Wish I had this now-leaving for a harley trip in 2 days!) Tried the GPS for my first geocaching yesterday at Levis Mound, and found 2, but the base maps don't show anything....can't wait for more detailed maps here. Thanks!

I've been trying to follow this thread for a while now-is Wisconsin now available on http://www.ibycus.com/ibycususa? Just got a new GPS and am anxious to get some real maps on it (etrex hcx).

Garmin has all the native Mac software you need without using Bootcamp, see the links below: TOPO U.S. 2008 for Mac, Garmin Part Number: 010-11125-00 City Navigator NT for Mac, Garmin Part Number: 010-11033-00 Garmin's Mac page You can buy directly from Garmin's website or google the garmin part numbers for better web based deals. You can also get a free set of non-routable road maps for the US here: Macintosh Version that will load with Garmin's MapInstall (for Mac) where all you would have to purchase is the microSD data card. Thanks a ton!!! I'll check these out-I just didn't know where to start. I've been following a thread here of a guy who has been converting maps for free (not sure if he has Wisconsin done yet) and everyone writing in seems super happy with his project. I didn't know how to get maps loaded, so thanks for the Mapinstall info. I've read conflicting things about how big a micro SD card will work in these garmin GPS...any opinions? Lastly-how do you bring a GPS session, stored on the device, back into your computer to see the maps or to make new maps? Again, I have a mac, but have bootcamp also.

Just got a GPS for fathers day- Garmin eTrex Legend HCx. I want to use it for geocaching, hunting, mtn biking, and maybe in the car also. I have no clue what additional software I need to buy for loading maps from my computer (macbook) to the GPS, what are good maps to buy for my intended use (and where to get them). I understand I'd want more maps than the included basemap. Thanks!

Just looking for help starting off here with GPSs and geocaching. I live in west central WI and am a trail builder (Mtn bike/hiking/XC skiing) and a few years ago, stumbled onto a cache high up on a bluff near a trail I was building. Needless to say, I love being outdoors and have looked into getting a GPS for mapping and caching and finally just ordered a Garmin Legend Hcx (reading here on the forums, that seemed to be a reasonable priced unit and good for the money?). It will arrive shortly. My question is-I think it has some kind of base map on it (?) but I'll want to install other more detailed maps-I have read some not-so-good things about Garmins MapSource Topo U.S. 2008 set of maps-some detail problems (?). What I'd like to have is good topo maps for my area, or areas I visit and maybe some driving ones if I should use this in the car (I know, not like a dedicated auto GPS, but it can work-right?) Where do I go to find them and how are they installed-the Hcx has a micro SD card, I assume maps can be put on? Can maps be downloaded from a computer to the GPS and vise versa-routes uploaded to a computer (I have a mac, and not all software works there also I know-too bad) so I can make my own maps once back home? I know, lots of questions-appreciate the help!