Usb Cable With Either The Geko / Etrex?

[Andys101 & Redfrock]

As you may know from previous thread I need to buy a second, cheap GPS for when Hubby is away. Have narrowed this down to a Yello Etrex or a Geko 201. However as I don't want to have to buy additional cables - we already have a Garmin Map 60, which downloads from the PC by USB - I need to know whether either the Etrex or Geko 201 can also connect via a USB cable. Reading specs I think the Geko does, but the Etrex doesn't, but just want to be sure.

 

Ta

Edited August 9, 2005 by Andys101 & Miss Redfrock

[+jochta]

For my Geko 201 I use a USB to Serial adapter which works fine.

[NickPick]

As far as I know, the etrex can only be connected to serial (rs 232), so if you don't have a serial / com port, you'll need to get a usb-serial coneector, (or fit a serial card to your pc)

 

NB: for the non-technical: serial, rs232 and com port are all the same, if there's a 9 pin connector on the back of your pc, that's the serial port.

[+HazelS]

As far as I'm aware the yellow etrex doesn't come with any cables, so you'll have to buy one anyway. The usb-serial adapter works fine the the etrex/emap. Just make sure that if you're buying a new one that it's the WAAS version and not the older one so you can get the most up to date patches from GARMIN.

[+The Hokesters]

I think that your answer is a data cable for 'Geko/eTrex to Serial' then a 'Serial to USB' adapter which works fine. You can pick the adapters for less than a fiver now.

[+rutson]

FWIW, I failed miserabley to ges Longfram Kev's etex to work with a USB-> etrex lead and I'm no newbie!

[+The Hokesters]

OK - I know mine works - buy the Geko and we'll sort the rest later

[+The Hancock Clan]

We bought an Etrex (yellow) to USB cable (with a built in serial adapter) from gpsw.co.uk a few months ago but some reason they don't seem to do them anymore? There's an alternative cable here though.

[Andys101 & Redfrock]

We bought an Etrex (yellow) to USB cable (with a built in serial adapter) from gpsw.co.uk a few months ago but some reason they don't seem to do them anymore? There's an alternative cable here though.

 

 

Ouch that cable is nearly £40! Maybe I should have bought a more expensive GPS! At least our GPS map60 came with a USB cable as part of the package. Thanks for the link though!

Edited August 10, 2005 by Andys101 & Miss Redfrock

[dpoet]

The basic Etrex yellow is very limited with wayoints/routes.

I use a Geko 201, my Daughter has an etrex Legend. The Legend came with a serial lead which works with the Geko too. About £8 on ebay for the cable.

The geko 201 in my experience is more accurate than the legend.

I would pit my Geko against an Etrex anytime.

The only downside to the Geko is AAA batteries, and battery life.

the best AAA rechargeable batteries i can get are 900ma

The AA rechargeable batteries are cheap at 2000ma

The batteries in my daughters legend last twice as long as my Geko 201.

Even considering this, i still prefer the Geko. I am buying a Geko 301 soon.

I hope this helps.

http://www.garmin.com

has a comparison page where you can select products to compare specifications.

I hope this helps.

Don

Edited August 10, 2005 by dpoet

[+The Hokesters]

A couple of rechargeable AAA 800Mah last for more than a days caching in my Geko 301.

 

£15 will buy you an in car charger for the rechargeables if you are out on a long trip but we have about 4 banks of spare batteries with us most of our long trips.

[Andys101 & Redfrock]

Just to let you all know that I have found a fantastic chap who does all the cables for Garmin GPS' and some others. Dead reasonable and also he was soooooo helpful, even when it wasn't certain that I would be buying anything.

 

His ebay ID is vaerlosen but he also has a website: http://gpsbitz.co.uk/gpsbitz_store/

 

and he's called Colin.

 

PS I have no affiliations to this site as you probably realised anyway by all my requests for help!!!

[+The Hokesters]

I had been wracking my brain as to who I bought my cable off and it was said - Colin and I can concur that he is incredibly helpful even to the point of technical support which is great for an eBay buyer.