Etrex/computer Interface

[capers19]

I need basic guidelines to download and transfer data from Dell computer to Etrek GPS.

[+briansnat]

You need to download software. EasyGPS is the simplest way to do it. From there it's a matter of saving a waypoint file to your hard drive, opening it in EasyGPS, then clicking on transfer to gps.

[+Blaidd-Drwg]

A few questions to help folks give you an appropriate answer.

What Operating System is your Dell running?

Does your Dell have a serial connection?

What model of Etrex do you have?

Do you have the interconnecting cable, and if so, is it USB or serial?

[Keystone]

Moving thread from the Geocaching Topics forum to the GPS Units and Software Forum.

[+LNUGE]

I have been searching this forum for the answer to this same question for myself.

I have a basic etrex yellow (not H) with a serial cable. I have attached the GPSr to the computer (a gateway AMD 6000+ running Vista Home Premium) downloaded the garmin communicator plugin software. The test says:

" Garmin GPS device is detected and communicating properly:

 

Removable Disk (F:\)

 

Removable Disk (G:\)

 

Removable Disk (H:\)

 

Removable Disk (I:\) "

 

The removable disk drives are all the media card slots included in my CPU. When I click "Send to GPS" , a window opens that says: 4 devices found and lists them all in a drop down box. If I click on write, a window pops up saying "There was a problem communicating with the data card" But when I close that, the send to GPS window indicates a successful download. Of course there is nothing new on my GPSr.

 

So, after all that: is the simple solution to get a USB adapter cable? Or is my poor old Etrex just a dinosaur and I have to continue entering waypoints manually until I can afford to upgrade?

 

Thanks for any help.

[+JohnTee]

Hi capers19,

 

Give this a try . . .

 

Download the latest Garmin Communicator Plugin and install it.

 

Connect your eTrex to your PC with the serial cable.

 

Turn your GPS on.

 

Go to a cache page description and click on the "Send to GPS" button just below the coordinates.

 

This should send the GCxxxxxx name and coordinates to your GPS.

 

Cache On!

 

JohnTee

Edited February 15, 2008 by JohnTee

[+Miragee]

I have been searching this forum for the answer to this same question for myself.

I have a basic etrex yellow (not H) with a serial cable. I have attached the GPSr to the computer (a gateway AMD 6000+ running Vista Home Premium) downloaded the garmin communicator plugin software.

 

<snip>

Welcome to the Forums!

 

I'm not sure the "Send to GPS" button on the cache pages works with GPS units connected with the Serial Cable. In fact, I've never used it, even though my GPS connects with USB. I am a Premium Member, so I get hundreds of caches in one Pocket Query.

 

For the .loc files, you can download those individually, open them in EasyGPS, and send them to your GPS from EasyGPS. You can also download the .loc files from Search pages and use EasyGPS to send all of them at one time. EasyGPS or GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) will work with your GPS and the Serial connection.

 

For the time you will save sending multiple caches at one time, it is well worth investing the $30.00 for a one year Premium Membership.

[+LNUGE]

For the .loc files, you can download those individually, open them in EasyGPS, and send them to your GPS from EasyGPS. You can also download the .loc files from Search pages and use EasyGPS to send all of them at one time. EasyGPS or GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) will work with your GPS and the Serial connection.

Thanks for responding -

I downloaded EasyGPS last night and gave that a try but again - nothing. I configured my Etrex as the troubleshooting guide suggested and still get an error message "No data was received from GPS" Of course - I'm clicking on "send" so I don't know why it is saying no data received .... unless that just basically is telling me that the computer and my gps are not able to communicate. BUT WHY???

 

I am interested in becoming a premium member and am considering it - but I don't think it is going to fix my current problem. And if I can't dowload the pocket queries to my gps - what good are they. I'm not real clear as to what pocket queries are and what there advantages are.

[+Trucker Lee]

OK, check this.

 

Go into your GPS setup menu, look for interface, and verify it is set to Garmin.

 

If you are using a serial cable, you are most likely using port "COM 2". Verify that in your program setup, whether EasyGPS or GSAK.

 

Verify the port is active on your computer. In Windows, Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager. Scroll down to Ports, and click the +. Double click the port in question to troubleshoot.

 

Edit to add -- Serial port cables need to be securely connected. Make sure you run the thumb screws down.

Edited February 15, 2008 by Trucker Lee

[+LNUGE]

[

quote name='Trucker Lee' date='Feb 15 2008, 10:31 AM' post='3320758]

OK, check this.

 

Go into your GPS setup menu, look for interface, and verify it is set to Garmin.

It is.

 

If you are using a serial cable, you are most likely using port "COM 2". Verify that in your program setup, whether EasyGPS or GSAK.

 

Verify the port is active on your computer. In Windows, Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager. Scroll down to Ports, and click the +. Double click the port in question to troubleshoot.

I am using COM 1 and EasyGPS knows it - when I click send, The Send to GPS dialog box indicates device to be Garmin Etex and "Connect on COM 1 at 9600 baud" But again, when I continue, I get the GPS error: No data was received from the GPS

 

Edit to add -- Serial port cables need to be securely connected. Make sure you run the thumb screws down.

Screwed them down tight and got the same result!

 

Thanks for the suggestions: any more ideas?

[+JohnTee]

Which interface mode are you using with the Garmin?

 

MAIN MENU -> SETUP -> INTERFACE -> GARMIN or NMEA IN/NMEA OUT.

 

The interface mode will depend on the software you are using to SEND to your Legend. If you're trying to use the geocaching.com/Garmin Communicator 'Send To GPS' from cache page descriptions, I believe you should use the GARMIN interface. Other software, you will have to check your manual.

 

Er, did I mention above . . . if you use a Palm/Palm Desktop/Hotsync, you may have to exit Hotsync before using your GPS; at least with a USB/Serial adapter. Hotsync has a notorious and well documented habit of grabbing all com ports when it is running. Try shutting off Hotsync and try it again.

 

In another thread, a poster said, "Specifically what I encountered was that when I clicked on "Send to GPS" it would search all of the USB devices and would not latch on to my eTrex. I did a work-around by unhooking all four of the USB devices from my PC and it worked like a charm."

 

Just for reference, in yet another thread, a poster said, "The download problem is related to the fact that the Legend is working off of the Serial port (how antiquated is that?) and the download applet gets confused because it is looking for a USB port to use. Another thing Garmin is planning on fixing (soon????)."

 

Cache On!

 

JohnTee

[+JohnTee]

"Just one more thing" . . . (said in his best Columbo voice)

 

Ran across this rather comprehensive reply on troubleshooting serial and USB connections:

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=162242

 

Cache On!

 

JohnTee