gelfling6

fast forward 3 years, and learning this the hard way. It's definitely not the Magellan, and despite what Microsoft says, it IS Windows. I was lucky to get a Win 8.1 laptop to recognize the GC, but only doing the age-old repair method. unplug it, wait, then plug it in when the computer shows it as a disk drive with partial free space. So-far, both GSAK and Vantage Point see the GPS. super slow on transfers (a 5000 database takes over 15 minutes with GSAK, haven't really tried feeding it with VP yet.). I haven't tried making Windows look like its running Win-7, as I had to with a Garmin eTrex Vista. I guess Satya Nadella, ceo of Microsoft, isn't much of a geocacher.

I've replaced 2 Nuvi screens, same internally.. Same search on EBay should produce a few replacements. only caviate, the connector needs to be perfectly aligned.

not true. I've used gsak, mapsource, even EasyGPS with the yellow classic, but as has been said, it requires connection though a USB to RS-232c adaptor. the classic's only drawback, was not being able to load maps to it. Even the Venture model (opaque blue) had the same connection (TTL level RS-232) all three programs were capable of waypoint dowload as well as upload. glad user was able to fing the suitable cable

Well, one note, Garmin maps won't work on a Magellan... I'd love to be able to find some way of converting some of the free maps out there for the Garmin line, to Magellan. and really give my GC (If you saw the size of the new Topo map they released with Firmware 2.15, You'd understand. It's HUGE!) a workout. Unfortunately, there aren't many Pre-made free maps for Magellan that I can find... Nor support for the Linux platform, even if the GC acts like a standard flash drive.

I noticed since upgrading the firmware from 1.7/8 to 2.15, the device is a LOT more power hungry. (drains batteries like they were sugar candy!) (such is the lifespan of ANY Win-CE, Android, or iOS device as of late.).. I think the company now owning Magellan has lost some of the customer satisfaction they used to have with the original company. I got my GC back about a year after they originally came out, and I think even back then, they were already starting to talk about discontinuing the device. (even though they're still on the shelves of retailers.) My only gripe, is the poor quality of rubber for the keypad.. The joy button has already worn through, and finding a replacement for the insert alone, is impossible without their wanting to replace the entire device. (I've run into the same with Garmin as well.. To say nothing of the outrageous price for the parts alone.. $15.00 (USD) for the joy button w/extension? $17.00 (USD) for the joy button rubber cap? You're looking at a 60% mark-up!) I mostly use the GC now, as a paperless, and enter coordinates into my old, and trusty Vista.

Final shot, would be checking if your GC is set to Connect To Computer, Power-Only, or MNEA mode. look in your Tools, settings for Connection. Also, sometimes, You'll have to wait.. the 2.xx firmware versions seems to lag-down the speed of the device. (where it should be a USB 2.0, it reacts to some computers as a USB 1.2 (slow speed)..

Absolute worse case, put the GPS into Card Reader mode. (I don't own a 60CSx, But I just got the 60CSx manual off Garmin's website..) Page 68, To activate USB Mass Storage: 1. Connect the unit to a PC using the USB cable. 2. Highlight the on-screen USB Mass Storage button and press ENTER . 3. Observe an illustration of the GPSMAP 60CSx connected to a computer and an Unplug or Eject icon shown on a PC’s system tray or a storage device icon for the microSD on a Macintosh®. 4. Double-click on a PC’s My Computer to observe a new Removable Disk Drive listed. If drives are networked, see the note below. If using a Macintosh, double-click on the icon to view the directory of files on the microSD card. This will put the GPS into a 'Card Reader' mode, using the SD card as a drive. While it's connected this way, go to [My Computer], click ONCE on the drive for the microSD card, then Right-click it. At the bottom of the menu, Should be the selection "Properties". click on it! One of the tabs along the top, should be [Tools]. Click on it. Now, here's where it's going to take some time.. You're now about the CHKDSK the SD Card. You should see [Error Checking] at the top... click on it. Now, Scan for and Fix Errors should already be checked. DO NOT check the Scan for bad sectors. (doing so kinda shortens the lifespan of the SD card. these are only good for just so many write operations.) Click on start, and just let it finish! Do not stop or pause it, let it do it's work. Some versions of Windows will also come up, if the file allocation file is corrupted, it will ask if you want to re-format the drive.. If the data is that badly corrupted, this may be the only option, to reformat the card blank, and re-write everything from scratch to the card. Also, note the mentioning of the 'Ejector Unplug' icon on the bottom-right system tray? Use it before disconnecting the GPS. this essentially flushes any pending data to be written to the card, out of the PC's memory. If you disconnect it before it finishes writing all of the data, it has a greater chance of corrupting the data. Hope this helps! It's rare to have a SD card go over the #write-cycle lifespan. But not impossible either.

There was a 1.8 release if you really want to go back.... Yes, 2.15 is a monster! Huge, bloated, and battery-hungry! (You'll notice battery consumption is 2.5X what it was under 1.7. Also your computer will occasionally complain that the device will run faster on a USB 2.0 port. Ignore it..) The detailed map is far better! Even found, in the latest releases of VantagePoint, it will import the map from the GC, for it's own use.) Here's a step by step. To Add a Waypoint, if you're on the map, at the stage you've just found, click the Menu button Scroll down 8 selections, to [Add a Waypoint].. click the joy-button it'll give a name, distance, description, and Location menu.. Press the Joy Button twice when on the waypoint name, to edit it. (scroll to the checkmark to exit) Scroll down to location, click the joy button scroll down once more to Location, Then Press the Menu button scroll down 2 selections to Edit, click the joy button. It will show your present location. scroll to the area you want to edit, click the joy button, and up/down scroll the numbers, left-right to which one to change. joy-button click inward to set the numbers once entered. scroll down to the [OK] selection, click Back once, Scroll down once, to select the Diskette image, and joy-button click in once to save it. Click the back menu until you're at the main page, and go to the waypoint selection, choose the new waypoint, and then Joy-button click on it, press Menu, It'll still be on route to the 1st stage, so cancel route, click menu again, and then click GO on the waypoint. I know, L-O-N-G & CoNfUsInG! I learned how to do this out in the field, when tracking a Multi.. it was BONKERS!

If you have the numbers written down, the file to edit, is simple to find, and edit.. x:\APP\GeocacheAwards.ini (x: being the drive assigned ) this is the format of the one I have on mine right now... (and yes, I noticed it says Letterbpx.. what the heck?!?!?! Time to repair that misspelling ) When I upgraded the firmware on mine, I had to extract just the caches I had found from GSAK, and manually enter them as Found, to keep the info from the 1.8 firmware.. (Can't remember where I found that file, Might be the same location/file.) The .ini file is just a standard text file, editable under Wordpad, Notepad, etc.. (any standard ASCII text editor) Be sure to save it, exit the editor, and properly dismount the GPS (note a little person next to a checkmark in the lower-right? click it, and click on "Eject COMPASS" (If it says it's still busy, wait a few minutes, and try the eject again.) let the GPS run through it's checksums starting up, and You'll notice the numbers will be back to normal. Hope this helps! Stephen (gelfling6)

Exact idea! I just had Java/flash require re-installation 4 times in the past 2 weeks alone, under both Windows and Linux. Although, I use the GC just like a standard flash drive. (copying Geocache record GPX to the Geocaches directory of the GC, and child waypoints gpx file to the Waypoints directory.) Also, make sure the GC is still in Connect To Computer. the MNEA and Power-Only modes do not allow access to the flash memory.

Thanks for the Kudos fishgeek. I'm one of those behind the curve computer experimenters whose been lucky to inherit a few Macs from other discarding them. (the best find, was a G4 X-Serve, and the unlocking was a piece of cake for a Linux&Mac nerd.) (Yes, I re-owned it. simple process.) Despite Apple's claim that OS-X is "Not Linux", 'Darwin' is damned close to their old A-UX, and virtually the same as most recent Unix clones, with their OS-# as the X11 interface. Unfortunately, there is _NO_ version of EasyGPS for the Mac.. I've spotted a few managers, but they're commercial (read not free). The only reliable program I have been able to find, Albeit shareware (read trial for ???, then limited til you register for $$) is MacCaching. ( www.maccaching.com ), which looks like a Mac version of GSAK. This might help. Stephen (gelfling6)

I'd suggest downloading them all to your Mac 1st, then connecting the GC to the Mac, open the folder the .gpx files are in, and selecting them all (not including other files besides the .gpx).. and simply copying them to the "magellan/geocaches folder. (NEVER Cut & Paste until you're sure they've been copied.) I've tried saving multiple .gpx files to mine, and it's read them no problem, but takes forever to load all of them. the more logical, is combining all of the individual .gpx files into one. Can't remember if EasyGPS has a version for the Mac, or not? It used to have a "Combine GPX Files" function, that's now called "Import Geocaches", which does the same, allowing you to select all .gpx files, and re-save them as a single file. Hope this is of some help? Stephen (gelfling6)

I'd suggest the direct route then... Log onto Geocaching.com If you're already logged in (Cookies), hover over the "Your Profile" area, and when it drops down, choose "Field Notes" Scroll to the bottom, and click on the link "Upload My Field Notes" On this page, note a multi-tab area, and you'll see "Magellan" 3rd from the end. Click on it. (copied from the tab) Plug your eXplorist device into your computer with a USB cable and click "Connect to PC". Click "Choose File" on this web page and go to the MAGELLAN drive (Let's say Drive X: as example)on your computer. Open the Geocaches folder and select the file named "newlogs.txt" or "logs.txt". Click "Open". Click "Upload Field Note" on this page to upload your Field Notes. We recommend that you delete the "newlogs.txt" or "logs.txt" file on your device once your Field Notes have been successfully uploaded. Once the Field Notes are uploaded you can return to the Field Notes list page to start logging your finds. (this means, Clicking on where it says continue editing field notes, and click on "Compose Log" for each one, and when you post it, a new link will show above the cache name "Continue entering field notes", until all are done.) BEFORE Disconnecting the eXplorist, ALWAYS click on the connected device icon in the lower-right, and choose Eject COMPASS . this makes sure all data between the GPS & the computer is finished, and disconnects software wise, THEN mechanically disconnect the GPS from the cable. This prevents scrambling the File table on the GPS. (Essentially, while connected to the computer, it becomes a Flash-memory, and can be corrupted just as easily as any other storage drive.) Sorry for the "Dummies" style post, but this should be helpful for ALL who need help. Stephen (gelfling6)

While out doing a Multi this afternoon (about 2 hours ago), I went after an old DNF from a few years back. The eTrex Vista HCx's joystick was acting up (old break that needs repair.), so I trusted the GC would get me close to the location.. Ah! found the 1st stage, and entered the coordinates to the final.. N xx° 44.654 W XXX° 47.415 (N/W Degrees X'd out to not spoil the stage). Okay, all well and fine entering the coordinates. Then, I clicked Save.. the North coordinates saved as N XX° 44.653. ( -00.001) Thinking I hit the joy button down before in, I re-edited it.. re-saved.. Nope, came back 44.653.. tried this 3 times.. Same result. tried saving it to a different waypoint.. NOPE! same.. What the heck? I tried .001 off each direction.. Saved.. The number stayed the same. Tried .654 again, Nope.. Back to .653 again.. Reported this to Magellan, but don't expect much back.. Also trying to find a replacement keypad, as the joy button has worn through from use, and unable to find any on EBay. Seemed rather odd, that this would be happening.. At least I kept the two coordinates that did save (.653 & .655), so I had a line area to find in. Stephen (gelfling6)

After you tell the GPS to connect to the computer, it should appear as a new drive on the Mac screen called 'Compass'... take the .zip file for the pocket query, and extract it. (pretty sure just click on it, and it will open as a plain folder.) it should show 2 files.. #########.gpx and #########-wpt.gpx (######### being the unique number in the filename.) Simply drag-copy the plain .gpx file to the Geocaches folder and the -wpt.gpx file to the Waypoints folder of the 'Compass' (the GC's flash drive.).. eject the 'Compass' drive (drag it to the trash), wait til it finishes, and disconnect the GC.. It will restart, and check the files added. You can add up to 5000 caches (5 pocket queries, even in separate files) safely, (even though Magellan says it can handle 10,000, it takes forever for the device to finish loading from a cold start. (power-on)) When You're wanting to load a new set of queries, simply access the 'Compass' drive, go into the Geocaches folder, and delete the .gpx files (drag to trash, I think they are not saved for recovery.) Likewise, do the same to the GPX files in the Waypoints folder. If you want to do a field-entry of the caches You've found/DNF'ed/etc., there is a file called "newlogs.txt" in the Geocaches folder. This contains the GC-Code, Found/Not Found/reports from your adventure. from the main page of GC.Com, click on [Your Profile] near the top, and click on "Field Notes". scroll down to the bottom of the page, and select Upload my Field Notes, click on 'browse', and go to the 'newlogs.txt' file on the GC (Compass/geocaches). click Upload, and you'll see 'Return to New Logs' appear. Then, you simply click on 'Compose Log' for each cache, and when you finish and post it, you'll see 'return to new logs' appear above the cache name. When done, simply delete the old 'newlogs.txt' file to free-up space. The device should show-up like any other FAT-16 flash drive to the mac. Hope this helps? Stephen (gelfling6) I usually will do a quick & dirty edit to the newlogs.txt file, prepping the logs before uploading. f you take this route, your text is in the quoted area on the right, cannot contain any quote marks itself, emoticons are usually within brackets [], and entire log entry must be on one single line per cache. Then, simply upload the finished text file.

Odd.. I have no problem with using MapSource with any of the USB Garmins I have. (Vista-HCx, even my NuVi-40 car unit.) I have 6 different map layers I put into a map file, which includes Ibycus-USA, MM-Trails-OSM, My Trails (from GPS File Depot), The New England section of OSM World Routable, Topo-100K (New England section), and trail100 (also from GPS File Depot) all selected through MapSource, and put onto Micro-SD's for both the eTrex Vista-HCX, and the NuVi-40, (which on those units WILL show all layers, unlike both MapSource and BaseCamp which will only show one of those maps at at a time.) Both MapSource And BaseCamp will work with either USB or RS-232 garmins. They still use the same device I/O DLL. (Driver) Both will check to see which device you have connected (either scan USB devices, OR query via serial for what's connected.)

The OLDER (read Pre-USB) Garmins used a 4-pin, RS-232C compatible serial link. (Not sure if the cable converted the +/- voltage RS-232 standard to TTL (0/+5) or not?) the newer use what I term a 'Motorola 5-pin USB' (Because the format was used as the recharge cable for the older Motorola cell phones, and was also a popular format for digital cameras. ) Here's a photo descibing the various formats. (including IEEE1394) the B side, the USB-Mini5B, is generic. I think they're changing Cell phones to a different Micro-4B (I like to term it the Samsung 4-pin, as it seemed to start with their equipment & accessories 1st.)

I still think the craziest for me, had to be heading out for a FTF close by, and while on the way out, it was already getting dark, on an old logging road, roughly 3/4 of a mile from the main road where I parked. As I was walking along the trail, all by myself, I heard what I could only describe at the time, as a rather nasty growl about 4 feet behind me. I was carrying a aluminum treking pole (the kind you can twist and collapse into itself.) and My gut reaction was "Oh-S***! Bear Or Wolf!".. The pole swung up in front of me, I let out a terrified Yell, and swung the pole like a sword to my right. (spent too many years at renaissance faires, so it comes with the territory.) Just as I reached 1/4-swing, I happened to catch red plastic out of the corner of my eye. Stopped swinging about 2 inches from giving a mountain bike rider an Hiking Pole dinner! Swung it down towards the ground, and started apologizing profusely. The growl I thought I heard, was the rider clearing his throat. (You're in the middle of the woods, alone, You hear a LOUD sound, What would be your 1st reaction?) The rider, just stopped dead in his tracks. and asked "How far from here to the main road?".. I said 3/4 of a mile,out to Rt. 202. He thanked me, and continued on, obviously thinking "Cripes! The Psychotics out here these days?".. Once he disappeared into the woods on the trail, I dropped to my knees, and started laughing at how close it got to causing him real harm.. Thankfully, I've completed all of the caches in that forest, so no need to return to the scene of the crime.

I've found the Windows-Vista drivers of x86 (32-bit) DO work under Windows-7 (x64, 64-bit). but it's still a trial and error.. I never liked how Microsoft loves to force obsolescence. There are some work-arounds, but if Microsoft is unwilling to support it, and the hardware manufacturer is either out of business, or unwilling to update a driver for the older hardware, You're sunk. Which is why I keep an old Pentium-1 laptop which still runs XP. And then there's DOS-BOX, which helps on both Windows-7, and Linux platforms.

geobiquette, and muddinchemist, Both of you, sound like You've either corrupted or lost the entire firmware... Not to panic, though! the latest firware, 2.15 is available for download, but be fore-warned, it takes a L-O-N-G time to get (1.5GB of raw data compressed.) Your devices are in 'Windows-CE Safe mode'. (Yep, these are based on Windows-CE, Hence the blank Windows screen.) You simply need to re-install the firmware for the GPS, which is actually a Win-CE Applet. go to the following page: http://support.magellangps.com/support/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=400 this is the download page for the 2.15 firmware upgrade. It's HUGE, so it's going to take time to download. (even over a wired cable network, it took almost 30 minutes for me.) Now, before you turn on your GC, make sure it's connected via the USB cable to your computer.. While holding the joy-button up, and holding the menu button, THEN press the power button. The Win-CE safe mode screen will appear. using the joy button, navigate over to Files,press in once, and click down to "Flash Memory", press in once, and it will re-appear on the screen in safe mode again, Except.. It's no-longer safemode.. You've just released the lock on the flash RAM. Now, run the firmware update file you downloaded.. Again, this will take time.. it takes roughly 20 minutes.. included is a upgraded topo base map, and a new menuing system (looks like Windows-8 chicklets.) If you had 1.7 or 1.8 firmware before, it's going to be a new learning curve, as everything is changed.. Now, when it finishes, follow the instructions, to unplug it (go to your PC's 'Computer' menu, and eject the 'Compass' device. (the GPS) let it reboot/install, and when it finishes, you'll need to do one more tiny patch.... re-connect the GPS to the computer, and when it asks, select 'Connect To PC'. when the flash drive of the GC shows-up on your computer, go to the following menu on it: APP In there, you will find the file 'Atlas.ini' ... Open it with WordPad. Near the bottom, you'll find a value defined as "MaxWaypointsCount", followed by an "=", and a number.. If it says anything less than 1000 or any number less, change it to 10000 (1 and 4 zeros) Save it, exit Wordpad, and close the directory on the GC. You've just upped the # of waypoints. (Original release had it as low as 500, and you had no place to put child waypoints for Multis.) Go through the task of ejecting it from the computer again, let it reboot, and now you have access to the entire GPS again. Also, look for the latest version of VantagePoint. (Magellan's manager software, available here: http://support.magellangps.com/support/index.php?_m=downloads&_a=viewdownload&downloaditemid=380&nav=0,358,350 ) This will allow you to handle the caches, waypoints, and tracks on the GPS. Also, when you run it, allow it to update the map (Which is now the new expanded map on the GC).. You'll get a large view of the map this way, with the caches as well. Now, When you edited the Atlas.ini file, you probably noticed the MaxGeocaches value was also 10,000.. From personal experience, leave it.. Yes, you can put 10,000 caches onto the device, but you'll also noticed the device will work even slower.. Welcome to Win-CE! I usually put no more than 5000 on mine.. (which is a pretty good radius).. 10,000 is a lot like overkill! (and takes even longer to upload to the GC. 5000 takes about 8 minutes on my 1.2Ghz AMD-Vision (X64) HP laptop, Via GSAK.) Now, the 2.15 firmware has it's quirks too.. It slows the USB down dramatically.. It's supposed to be USB 2.0 compliant, but the new firmware drags it down to the speed of USB 1.2 Standard. it's a trade-off, so don't be surprised if your computer complains that the device will run faster in a USB 2.0 socket. Also, Like I said, If you remember the menus for Firmware 1.8 and back, forget your directions.. It's all over the place again. It took me 3 days to figure out where the selection to erase the track data was. Hope this is of help.. You two aren't the first to have the firmware go kaphlooey. I did it the first time I tried to update from 1.6 to 1.7.. Stephen (gelfling6)

I usually don't measure my distance traveled, until I can read the data off the GPS onto the computer.. Either from the Magellan, or any of the Garmins. (Vista-HCx, and NuVI 40 in the car.) I'll extract track data from the Magellan GC, strip the waypoints (Geocaches, child,) then feed the .GPX file through EasyGPS, resave it (there's something funky about the GPX format right off the GC, that seems incompatible with other programs other than EasyGPS.) then I'll load the track GPX (from any source) into Garmin's MapSource, and trim down the excess data (car travel, sitting in one spot, and getting random jumps within 20-feet.) then measure the track that way. Totally freaked me out, back around Mid-May, 2013, I took a hike around a local reservoir. total track length, from home to start point, around, back to start point, back to home, was about 19 miles.. When I stripped off the home-startpoint, then the startpoint back home, the distance was in excess of 11.34 miles! (explained my legs starting to hurt the last 3!) I imagine you can do the same with Google Maps, feeding them a GPX or KML/KMZ file.

I still find my Garmin units still best on battery life.. the Magellan GC has gotten a little hungry lately. (for some reason, it's appetite for batteries got ravenous after updating to the 2.15 firmware.) I've never used a Smartphone before, and I've heard they get extremely hungry! I think the Smartphones are doing double-duty, too.. The maps are stored in a cloud server, and everytime it needs a new tile for that map, it has to draw that tile from the repository on the cloud server, and send it over the phone service, which itself is going to use power to transmit/receive the data, along with the GPS which is also drawing power. The garmins I have, are the old-school eTrex (from the Vista-HCx, down to the classic non-H yellow.).. the LCD's are designed to not require the backlighting the Magellans seem to require. (and for some reason the white LED's in the GC, and a eXplorist 500 I had before I killed it (Never plug a 9V netbook charger into the power/charger (5V) cord for the old eXplorist line!) have poor LCD backing, and don't reflect as much sunlight.) I used to run the older Garmins off a pair of Sayno Eneloops for a couple of hours, before needing to replace and recharge them.. Not too many places to buy them locally, and the Sanyo/GE batteries aren't of the same quality. Don't even bother with the Duracell rechargeables! they tend to lose power as soon as you remove them from the charger! (charged one pair at night, when they finished charging, took them out.. next morning, put them in the GPS, they only lasted an hour, TOPS! and these were the 2300mAh AA's!!)

It's doable, BUT...... (a) you'll need premium membership, ( You'll need to download your total finds as a pocket query, © You'll have to load that pocket query into the GC, and here's the killer. (d) You'll need to log ALL of them as finds. (not required to move about, just sitting there.) Now, 110, isn't bad.. try my number.. 1213 finds.. Yep.. I took almost an entire day getting 1190 of them in, in 200-record batches.. (probably explains the worn-down/through joy button. ) Stephen (gelfling6)

Sounds like a new problem to me.. Usually the flash memory of the GC is very stable.. What firmware version do you have? (shows while it is booting up when you turn it on.) The only place I know, in most of the firmware versions (1.5 to 2.15) is only by going to the geocaches selection from the main menu, then pressing Menu from that page, and scrolling down to 'Delete All', It's hardly an automatic function.

I think the original limit was 5000, not 500... When Magellan released the 2.15 firmware for the GC, they limited the waypoints to no more than 500, and it was choking on a 5000 cache packet I was feeding it, not allowing any more child waypoints (which kinda makes things a problem when you're doing a Multi!) the edit to the waypoint limit in Atlas.ini fixed this too.. (I've since edited the limit to 10,000/10,000 caches/waypoints, since the waypoint data is obviously smaller than the the geocaches gpx file.)