Al P

I recently installed City Navigator NT on my PC and Mac. I unlocked it using my Vista Cx, therefore using the only unlock code with that unit. I am now looking at a Garmin Edge 705 that comes with City Navigator NT preloaded on an SD card. Will I be able to make a route on the computer and download it to the Edge? I think that I will be able to exchange routes, waypoints, and tracks between the Edge and MapSource City Navigator NT on the PC or Mac, but not the maps. Is this correct? The preloaded SD card is bundled with the Edge pricing, and is a pretty good deal. I don't want to buy another DVD version of City Navigator NT if I don't have to. But I do want to be able to download to the Edge. Thanks in advance, --Al P. Tallahassee, FL

Here's a brief summary of the process for converting from a PC to a Mac. Downloads are available on the Garmin site. Seems to work pretty well, but I have just completed the conversion. Converting Garmin to Mac: 1. Download Map Converter to PC 2. Convert maps on PC and copy them to Mac 3. Download and Install the following on your Mac: MapManager, MapInstall, and Bobcat 4. Double-click on the converted TGZ map files that you copied to the Mac. This will convert them to a GMAPI file. Double-click on the GMAPI file to install it for use by MapInstall and Bobcat. 5. Connect your GPS and open Bobcat for routing and exchanging data with your GPS. Open MapInstall to upload maps to your GPS (Bobcat will not upload maps). It seems that you have to connect your GPS to use the software. Enjoy! Please post comments if I have omitted any critical details. There does not seem to be any concise documentation on the Garmin site. I did not check their forums. --Al P Tallahassee, FL

No, it is 24 MB with no expansion capability. With the included City Select software, I can load almost the entire state of Florida. City Select is the preferred software for this unit because of the smaller map quadrants. This allows more flexibility when loading maps. For example, I recently took a trip from Tallahassee to Lexington, KY with a stop in Alcoa, TN. I was able to load maps prior to the trip for all of the route. Map detail is the same as City Navigator, which is designed for units with more memory. I am in no hurry to sell the unit, and may eventually put it on e-Bay.

I have upgraded to an eTrex Vista Cx, and I have a Vista C that I would like to sell. I will include the following items: eTrex Vista C Original Owners Manuals Garmin's Trip & Waypoint Manager Software USB Interface Cable Lanyard Garmin City Select Software v7 With 25-digit Unlock Code for this Unit Garmin Topo Software- Eastern/Western US, Hawaii, and Alaska (No Unlock Code Required) The GPS is a little over a year old, and in excellent condition. It has always been used with a screen protector. With the City Select Software, you can auto-route on the GPS. It is a little more sophisticated than what you would normally need for geocaching. I would like to get $185 plus shipping for all of the items listed above. I will sell in the Continental US only. I am located in Tallahassee, FL. I recently sold my Vista B&W via this forum. I am sure that the purchaser will provide a reference if necessary.

It is sold. Thanks.

I am waiting for payment, so it is essentially sold.

I had not planned to include S&H in the price of $85 for the eTrex Vista B&W. Would you consider $10 for S&H and I'll ship via Fed Ex 3-Day? Thanks. --Al Parker Tallahassee, FL

I have upgraded to an eTrex Vista C and a Vista Cx, and I have an eTrex Vista that I would like to sell. I will include the following: eTrex Vista (B&W)- No Original Box Original Owners Manuals Serial Interface Cable Lanyard Battery Covers for Various Garmin Mounts, But No Mounts Screen Protectors MetroGuide USA v.5 Software Garmin Topo Software- Eastern/Western US, Hawaii, and Alaska The unit is like new, and has always had a screen protector in place. It does require a serial interface (or USB converter), so make sure that your computer has a serial interface port. Newer PC's may not have one. I will also include instructions for making the map software resident on your PC. I would like to get $85 plus shipping for the package. I will sell in the Continental US only. I am located in Tallahassee, FL.

I returned from my trip and had excellent satellite reception for almost the entire 225 miles. I also had good results on many of the hikes into the side canyons.

This is a little off-topic, but I figured that this SW forum would be my best shot. I am signed up for a 13-day raft trip on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon starting on June 1st. Should I take my Garmin Vista-C on the trip? Will there be adequate satellite reception in the canyon? The trip starts near Lake Powell and ends near Diamond Peak. Thanks in advance, Al P Tallahassee, FL

Neo Geo, Thanks for the informative response! At this point, I think that the monochrome Vista still satisfies all of my needs for a handheld unit. You are correct, the DeLorme software does not support USB. Just in case I change my mind... does Garmin sell a serial cable for the Vista C? I don't see one on their web site. Looks like a different connector on the back of the unit from the regular Vista. I primarily use the Vista to track bicycle routes, and then download them to DeLorme's software for permanent maps and elevation profiles. Works great, especially when roads are missing from the usual maps or software. Just got back from some extensive mountain biking in North Georgia. The Vista only lost satellite reception once for a very short period due to mountains vs. tree cover. It also never lost power mounted on the handlebars in spite of 100 miles of incredibly rough terrain. Both of these are common complaints for the eTrex units, I did not experience either one. Thanks again! Al P Tallahassee, FL

Will the MapSource MetroGuide v. 5 maps load in the new Vista C, even though Garmin does not list them as compatible? I can currently create a route in the MetroGuide v. 5 software and download it to the GPS. However, it follows straight lines between the points that I used for the route and it does not lock on the roads. I am guessing that the Vista C and the City Navigator software overcomes this problem. Is that correct? Garmin lists the Topo maps as being compatible. Will the autorouting feature work with these maps and lock on roads? I currently own a Vista and use the MetroGuide v. 4 & v. 5 maps, as well as the Topo maps. If I upgrade, I am just trying to figure out which of these mapsets will still be useful. I also use the DeLorme 2004 Street Atlas Plus and Topo 5.0. I am hoping that the Vista C will still be compatible with them for downloads from the GPS. I don't see why this would change. Thanks in advance for input regarding any of these issues.

I also owned a Legend, and quickly upgraded up to the Vista. The amount of memory was the reason. In addition to loading larger areas for navigation on roadtrips, you can also load multiple maps for the same area (eg. Metroguide & Topo) and toggle between the different maps. This quickly eats up memory. It also takes a while to transfer maps to the GPS, and the additional memory reduces the number of times that you have to perform the process. I don't use the compass much, in fact I turn it off to conserve battery life. The altimeter is not very reliable unless you calibrate it each time you start out. Instead, I download tracks to DeLorme's Topo 4.0 and print out nice maps with elevation profiles of the tracks. The Mapsource software does not offer much flexibility in the print function. I have downloaded the new beta version, perhaps it has some print improvements. --Al P Tallahassee, FL

I have the plus versions of both. There are lots of new features and updated maps. The ability to save maps as jpg files is a big plus. I think it was worth upgrading. You will notice some quirks when you try to open maps saved in the 2003 format, especially if you have downloaded tracks as draw files. You can eventually straighten them out and re-save. --Al Parker Tallahassee, FL

Use it to map bicycling rides/routes. Ride the route with GPS, download track to DeLorme Street Atlas or Topo software, add labels, and print. The beauty is being able to accurately map rides whether on or off-road or both! Al P Tallahassee, FL

Don't forget DeLorme Topo 4.0. You can pick up a regional version (Southeast for example) for about $40 on eBay. In addition to a great map with 3D views, you can also generate an elevation profile from your tracks. Version 5.0 is coming out next month, so prices will drop. Al P Tallahassee, FL

Thanks for the suggestion, but I have already downloaded the update. I think that I have finally figured it out! Apparently in Topo 4.0 you cannot control the tracks that you want to download from a Garmin... you get them all. This includes the active track log. So if you save a track, but don't clear the active track log, you get double the track! After clearing the active track log, it works fine. You also have to delete any saved tracks from the GPS that you don't want to download. In Street Atlas 2003+ and 2004+, you can select only the saved tracks that you want to download. This is a much better approach in my opinion, but I don't really mind workarounds.

When I download a track from my Garmin Vista to DeLorme Topo 4.0 Southeast as a draw file (or track), it is exactly twice as long as the actual route. This occurs in the profile mode or draw mode. These tracks are generally loops, starting and ending at the same location. I've tried different settings, erasing all other tracks in the GPS, editing in the draw mode, and everything else that I can think of. I don't have this problem with DeLorme Street Atlas 2003 Plus or 2004 Plus. Has anyone else experienced this same problem? Thanks in advance. --Al P Tallahassee, FL

Thanks for the response, Spyder40. I placed an order yesterday with Strong Engineering. Cost about $6.50 for 12. Also ordered some for my Canon digital camera at about the same price.

Does anyone make screen protectors for these units, or does one just modify some of the PDA screen protectors? For option #2, which brand seems to work the best? Thanks very much.

In regard to the rebate, all you need is the serial number from both map products (found on the jewel cases), and the UPC from the new version. The old version's UPC is not necessary. Rebate is worth $30.

I installed MG v5 two days ago. The maps and waypoints are much more current than with v4, at least in my locale. You can leave both versions on your PC, and toggle between the two within the program. I have not spent much time with the software at this point, but it seems to be exactly the same, except for the updated maps. I use a Garmin Vista. I purchased the software from 4x4 Books/GPS Now at $89. I am amazed by how quickly they fill and ship their orders, and respond to their E-mail. Regular shipping gets to my house as fast as Fed Ex 2nd day. Good folks to do business with.

I have a Garmin Vista and MapSource MetroGuide software. I have found lots of software to download and display elevation plots (including the MapSource software), but I have not found one that will allow me to copy and paste the plots into documents. Specifically, I am looking for a way to paste 2D elevation vs. distance plots into MS Word documents. I have seen this in many of the hiking and biking books, and would like to do this for local routes. Thanks in Advance, Al P Tallahassee, FL jalparker@comcast.net