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The Montana 710 (and other new Garmin models) uses MTP for communication with a PC or Mac. There are some restrictions regarding MTP and MacOS: the device will not show up in Finder and only one program can connect to the device at a time. So it can be accessed with BaseCamp and Express, but not both at the same time. However, Garmin Express starts up automatically by default and connects to the device. You can prevent this: open settings of Express and uncheck both options. Close Express using Cmd-Q. You can use OpenMTP to access the file system on the Montana directly, but again, not when BaseCamp or Express is running. The interface of OpenMTP is not quite according to Apple standards, but it works.
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I did have a Montana 700. With the cable I connected the GPS to my Mac, and the GPS came up as a volume in Finder. As did the extra micro SD-card with maps. For some reasons I sent Montana to Garmin, and back came an upgrade model: Montana 710. Big surprise when this GPS did not show up in Finder. The only difference as far I could see, was that the USB-cable contgact at the GPS changed from USB micro to USB-C. The strange thing is that the GPS shows up in Garmin Express, but not in Finder. This is crucial for me, as I need to export/import gpx-files to and from my cache database (iCaching), and also for importing maps to the SD card. Garmin will not do anything as they can see that the GPS turns up in Garmin Express, and therefore "nothing wrong with this GPS, this must be an Apple problem..." Any out there with the same experience? What is the way out? May be this is not the right forum, but I have to start somewhere
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This has more to do with macOS Sequoia (at least this version) and USB Mass Storage connectivity issues with the eTrex 22x & 32x (at least) devices. This is also more of a "How I got it to work" post than requesting help...but if someone has an actual solution for this issue (which seems to be on Apple's end after all my testing), please feel free to let us know. I hope this will help someone out who is also having this rather annoying issue since after extensive searching as well as contacting Garmin support, with no resolve other than my "solution" below. --- Unit: eTrex 22x -or- 32x (I have tried both and exchanged for different units to rule out a faulty unit) Unit software v2.90 (I've also tried v2.80 with the units directly out of the box) Using an M1 MacBook Air 2020 -or- an M2 MacBook Air 2022, both under macOS Sequoia, here is the problem as far as removable media and the eTrex goes: If a microSD card is NOT present in the unit, connecting it to either MacBook will properly mount the internal GARMIN drive just fine, with no issues. If a microSD card IS present in the unit, both drives will NOT mount properly and the Mac throws two identical error messages (one for each drive): "The disk you attached was not readable by this computer, Eject, Ignore, Initialize". Choosing Eject will of course eject the drives, Ignore does nothing and Initialize simply opens Disk Utility where one can do Disk Utility-type stuff to them (they *do* show up there) but NO means to manually mount them. The main problem comes with when you want to update the maps on the unit with Garmin Express. The 8GB of internal storage is not large enough to load the larger updated (2024.20) TopoActive mapset so the microSD card is required. If only the Garmin drive is present, the maps will not update telling you that the internal storage is not adequate for the update & for you to insert a microSD card for the update. If one inserts the microSD card, the drives will of course not mount correctly because of the issue. The USB cables used (3 different cables, all were Garmin supplied) was ruled out. Various USB-A to USB-C adapters were also used, as well as a powered USB-C HUB and even a dedicated USB-C to miniUSB cable, with no adapter being used (these all turned out to be just fine as shown below). The microSD cards tested (4 different 32GB cards as well as some smaller 2GB and 8GB cards used in my nuvi) were all formatted under FAT32 and work fine in the units and mount properly with the older MacBook as well as two different Windows PCs, as well as three different iPads (as below). The problem does NOT exist using two different Windows 10 desktop PC's or a MacBook Pro (Late 2011 running macOS High Sierra using the same USB cables). This problem also does NOT exist if I plug the eTrex unit into my iPad mini 6, or iPad Air M1 & M2's USB-C port using a USB-A to USB-C adapter. The iPads will easily recognize and mount the drives using the same cables/adapters tested with the MacBooks. Here's what I eventually did to get the both drives to mount under the newer MacBooks & newer macOS: 1. Log out of the current MacBook user account (stay at the login screen) 2. Power on the eTrex GPS 3. Plug in the USB cable (still at the login screen) 4. Wait a minute to a minute and a half 5. Login to the MacBook The drives are then both mounted and operate normally. Periodically, the GARMIN drive will not auto-mount and I need to use macOS's Disk Utility to manually mount the drive as the ability to mount the drive is now there. Note that If I eject the drives, they will again NOT mount if plugged back in under the same session with the same cable, etc. and the process above needs to be repeated. As I mentioned above, I chatted with Garmin support a few weeks ago and told them of this issue. The support person did mention that Apple has changed the way macOS handles removable media over the years by quite a bit and that it sounded like macOS (at least in this case) seems to not like composite (piggy-backed) drives. I also posted this at the official Garmin Forum but since they have no dedicated section for these handheld GPS units, I posted in the Garmin Express section since no other available sections "matched up" to my particular issue...the topic was promptly locked. I have reported the issue to Garmin in chat as well as email so I have done all I could on my end...the issue is formally logged with them. Hopefully, Garmin will be contacting Apple and there will be no finger pointing...just a solution.
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Depends somewhat where I am. In built up CBDs I would likely use the map...if a map exists. I was in Cambodia and Vietnam last month and the maps were useless. Same the previous year in Chile. (Neighbouring Argentine was okay re the map.) Only main highways; nothing else. No smaller roads and paths. I had to use the compass, as the map had me walking though open space, when I'm in the centre of the city, Wasn't safe there to use a phone. Phone snatchers, and the smaller GPS can be better hidden in my hand. In urban places here in Australia the maps are usually good. However I might switch to the phone in the CBD, because skyscrapers block satellites. At home here in Canberra, usually the compass. And in the bush, the compass. Unless walking on a well known path, in bushland you are walking in open space on the Garmin map, so the compass.
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What Data Fields are you using with your Garmin when hunting a geocache?
kunarion replied to zeus661's topic in How do I...?
That's what i do. I have "Geocaching Dashboard" it on the Main Menu, just as a novelty. Because it's a cool-looking dashboard not fully without merit. Plus I tap it to begin my search for nearby caches. I haven't needed to slide the data fields down into the Map lately. But for the purposes of this thread, I tried it and discovered the same four fields as in the Compass screen. I will change that to "GPS Acccuracy" and some other less used gadgets into the Map screen. This thread gives me some ideas! One thing my Garmin does is it randomly changes a setting (and not just the Dashboard). Not often. But I look and a data field or two has changed (I keep the Dashboad locked so they supposedly cannot change). Because of my Garmin's mental illness, I also backup my Profiles when I think about it. I'm thinking about it now... -
With my eTrex 30 Garmin usually compass. I switch to a map occasionally, if there are paths, which there aren't always. If I want to see roads and paths, say in urban areas, I might dig out the phone. Mainly a GPS user though, as the GPS fits better in my hand and pocket. The phone won't safely fit in female silly jean pockets🤬. Last few times I have found caches, I have used public transport in combination with walking. If I am driving to an area to cache, I use a Tom Tom to get me to where I will park, before I begin walking, when I am then likely to use the compass. There may or may not be paths. Sometimes it's bush bashing. Map is good in cities, especially with kms to walk to the cache. Approaching GZ I would switch back to the compass. Map can be better in cities, but does not work so well here. Here was compass. You could so easily go off route here without it.
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What Data Fields are you using with your Garmin when hunting a geocache?
kunarion replied to zeus661's topic in How do I...?
I have a Garmin Oregon 750t, which I think has similar options. I have the map in my main window, but I've sometimes put the compass there instead. Anyway, I moved the Compass icon and Map, Geocaching, Where To, Mark Waypoint, and Activity Change onto the first page of the Menu, so I can switch quickly between Map and Compass. I have Activity Change because I also have a "Geocaching Car" activity with all of its screens set up for driving to a cache with street routing. But I use The Official App and Waze most for the car stuff now. And I use The App for cache list organization, satellite maps and live data (when available). I switch to the Garmin's Compass for the actual hunt. My Main Menu has the Geocaching Dashboard (small compass and distance). I have the same for the Map, but currently compacted that field (it's not shown). My Compass dashboard has Small Data Fields with Location of Destination (coords at the active Waypoint or cache), Destination (name of waypoint or cache) Distance to Next (to the cache or waypoint), and Time of Day (but I may change that one depending on specific caching requirements) Destination and Location of Destination let me verify that I'm locked into the correct coords for waypoint or cache, and Destination shows me the specific name of it. Otherwise, I tend to be led to the wrong one, due to accidental selection. -
What Data Fields are you using with your Garmin when hunting a geocache?
HHL replied to zeus661's topic in How do I...?
Nowadays, I'm using an Android app. When I used a Garmin some years ago my favourite screen was: Map with geocaching dashboard or the Compass page. -
What Data Fields are you using with your Garmin when hunting a geocache?
arisoft replied to zeus661's topic in How do I...?
I am not using Garmin but my favourite setup is map, distance to the cache and arrow that points to the cache direction. -
Just wondering which data fields everyone is using in their Garmins to hunt down geocaches? Currently using a Gramin 67 and I have GPS Accuracy, Distance to Destination, Bearing, and Heading. Do you use Map or Compass in the main window? How do you have your GPS setup? Just looking for a possible better way than what I am currently using.
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Is there a way to upload caches into a Navigation app such as WAZE or Google maps? I know you used to be able to do it int Google Earth, but I understand that doesn't work anymore. Years ago I used GSAK to upload into my Garmin zumo and I could see as I traveled that way but no longer use that as my nav system.
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Most of my caching is done with a Garmin GPS. No cell signal worries or dead battery. I can explore remote areas and always have a signal.
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The Apps (Geocaching.com maintains support for Android and IOS) are an additional expense, and designed for persons who wish to pay for the convenience. I would not mind if the company were to eliminate in-house "Apps" and focus on web support, likely many others would, too. Then my Premium Membership would go into features that I use most. The web site has great features for free, ideal for a Garmin GPS. Are you in need of help with using the web site?
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I've been a geocaching member since November 2003 and placed my first cache over 20 years ago—it's still active today. Back in the early days, I used an iPAQ with a Garmin device, manually downloading geocache lists before each search. Then Android came along with C:geo, making things easier. But when I switched to an iPhone, my geocaching experience hit a dead end. The official app deliberately restricts access to caches unless you pay for a premium membership. Using the web interface is a frustrating and impractical alternative. So in the end, you're left with two choices: pay up or be locked out. What makes this even worse is that geocaching wouldn't exist without those of us who hide and maintain caches. We provide the very foundation of the game, yet the system gives us nothing in return. Other platforms, like FlightRadar, recognize the value of active contributors—offering premium memberships to those who provide essential data. Geocaching should follow suit and reward those who keep the game alive. If you maintain active caches, you should get premium membership as a fair exchange. Right now, it feels like a cash grab at the expense of the community that actually makes geocaching possible.
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Avoiding saturation conflicts can be done. I know this because I don't use the red circles to hide a cache. I keep the area's caches and waypoints loaded in my Garmin GPS, and while I'm standing at a candidate for a cache spot, I check how close the waypoints are. And this includes mystery caches, because why not include those, too? As mentioned, it can be done in a bunch of Apps including Locus Maps.
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GSAK. Load the caches you might find from a PQ then filter out the ones with recent DNFs. Export the DNF-free GPX to your Garmin and/or save as a bookmark list to toggle on in the app.
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Bijgaand een post in de Geocaching Groep van Facebook. Hij repareert tot tevredenheid van groepsleden Garmin Oregons. Misschien lukt dat met de Etrex series ook. Groeten Herman&Annie.
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Ik zag bijgaande post op Facebook in de Geocaching groep. Ene Paul de Wild repareert tot tevredenheid van verschillende groepsleden Garmin Oregons. Misschien kun je er iets mee.
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In Moderator voice (I both contribute to this group and I -usually lightly- moderate it.) This site's owners have never wanted this resource to be used as the tech support forums (or anything else) of other vendors. This isn't new and it's just straight up business. They pay the bills. Clearly, this group has always been a bit inherently fuzzy. It's not like half our traffic hasn't always been Garmin tech support. This is why I'm nudging and not swinging a moderator hammer. When the conversation was (also OT here) yet another "how do I download too many PQs" question, it was below my threshold of shunting to the "how do I use pocket queries" group. When it became minutiae of the macros of a specific program, it seemed worth a reminder to not continue further in that direction. The highest concentration of gsak expert volunteers remains their own forum. It's nothing unique to GSAK and I'm plenty aware of the GSAK situation and their history - I helped make it so, after all. If the app discussed were Delorme or ExpertGPS or iPAQ Sync or even GPSBabel and went from answering "can you recommend a program to do it?" to lengthy details of "how", there would be the same nudge. There are steps beyond nudging, but I'd rather be the Good Cop than the Bad Cop - that's no fun for anyone. So, please just help redirect support traffic to vendor forums. You've been here a long time and have been a long time positive influence. Nobody here is deserving the wet rubber hose and I don't want to sound like a crazy parent threatening to turn the bus around. It's not a huge deal. I'm just asking everyone's help to steer extended discussion of advanced features of apps toward the more appropriate resources of those vendors. I also fully recognize that "vendor" sounds like the wrong term in GSAK's case, but the team that's keeping that bus driving 88 has years of experience with it and has done a cracker job of supporting it before and after the apps essential freeze. I'm trying to say the rules here is the same for Fizzymagics calculator as they are for Streets and Trips.
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I disagree. The "S" is only used on the GPSMAP 60 line and its successors. Other lines do not use te "S" to indicate the presence of a compass and altimeter: Astro, Colorado, Dakota, eTrex, fenix, Foretrex, Geko, Montana, Monterra, Oregon. Even the GPSMAP 276Cx has a compass and altimeter, but no "S". The very first Garmin with an altimeter and electronic compass was the eTrex Summit (2000), the GPSMAP 60CS was introduced three years later.
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That is not necessarily true... The Garmin GPS III+ and GPS V are mapping devices (and the GPS 12 MAP, although it has 'map' in the name).
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Garmin 'GPS xx' are not mapping devices while 'GPSMap xx' or 'GPSMAP xx' devices are. The closest thing to the GPS 73 with mapping capability would be the GPSMAP 78.
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Hi, Cachly can export Caches as Garmin POI. That seems to be the easiest way for me. Z.
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GPSBabel works on MacOS, will read gpx, and will write Garmin POI.
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Simply displaying the GPX points on the map would be perfectly adequate. I only want to drive on a certain route and have it displayed when I pass a geocache. A Garmin 66s or a smartphone is always used for the last few meters. POI files really seem to be more suitable than data from a GPX file. I'll have to see how I can create POI files on the MAC.