Memory Map and Proximity Alarms

[+Alboy]

I've been using my Memory Map for some hikes recently and have tried to get my PDA to bleep as I come up to certain waypoints on the route so I can navigate easier, without having to look at it the whole time (ie just bleep as I approach a turning, as opposed to continuing straight on). However, it never seems to work, and I get no alarm. Is that right or have I got some PDA setting incorrect?

 

I've looked in the MM Help files regarding proximity alarms and it says that they work with certain Garmin GPSrs. Anyone know which ones?!

 

I'm thinking of getting a Garmin for my hiking (my PDA is great but not robust enough and does not have long enough battery life for longer distances) and I'd like one that can allow me to use the proximity alarm feature.

 

As an aside, I'm borrowing a spare Garmin etrex Legend from a rather notorious puzzle cache setter from round these parts (and yes he did delete all waypoints before giving it to me!). Can I make that notify me audibly in some way? Don't think so?

 

Any help gratefully received!!

 

Alboy

[+Bear and Ragged]

I have an etrx legend, and it has no speaker to "Bleep" at you to give you a warning.

Check which GPSr's have a speaker. PDA's have a speaker to "Bleep" so should be able to give you the warning

[+Bambography]

I've got the Garmin eTrex Vista HCx which does have the proximity beeper. I also believe the 60 CSx does too.

 

So far i've seen that you can setup individual waypoints to beep however this is a little tedious with 1000 in memory. So, what i'd like to know is, is there a way to automatically programme ALL caches to trigger the alarm automatically?

[+dino-irl]

AFAIK no Garmin GPSrs support Memory Map. I'll be very happy to be proved wrong though

 

FWIW I have a Nuvi but have never been able to proximity alarms working on it

[+Alboy]

AFAIK no Garmin GPSrs support Memory Map. I'll be very happy to be proved wrong though

 

You can download routes and waypoints directly from MM to a GPSr as long as the GPSr has a serial or USB connection. But sadly not the maps!

[+Happy Humphrey]

I have a Garmin Legend HCx (which does have proximity alarm).

 

If you set up the waypoints on MM with the Circle Radius set up, then export to the GPSr, you'll see these waypoints in the "Proximity Waypoints" list. Make sure that "Proximity Alarms" is set (under "Proximity Alarm Tones").

 

It's the same with the Nuvi as far as I can recall.

[+The Cache Hoppers]

Same question crossed my mind a few days ago when I set up my Nuvi for caching. I found this in the MM Help Pages

 

"Set a Proximity Alarm

A proximity alarm region is created by placing a Mark at the center of the region, and setting the Proximity Alarm Radius in the Mark's Properties dialog. The alarm region is shown as a red cross-hatched circle.

 

If you have a Garmin GPS that supports Proximity Alarms, the alarm region is sent to the GPS when you give the GPS / Export / Marks command. If enabled on the GPS, the GPS will alert you when you enter the alarm region.

 

If you are tracking your position with a GPS input, the computer will make a beep sound each time a position report is received from the GPS that is inside the alarm region. To turn off the alarm, either turn down the volume control of the computer, or double-click the mark, and un-check the "Visible" property to hide the mark.

 

You can create an irregularly shaped alarm region by combining several marks."

 

I haven't tried it yet though.

[+PopUpPirate]

...If you are tracking your position with a GPS input, the computer will make a beep sound each time a position report is received from the GPS that is inside the alarm region...

 

Yep and its ruddy annoying! Before anyone tries doing something posh with an export, if you've not experienced Memory Map proximity, just click on one waypoint and give it a proximity alarm with beep. Never again!

 

Edited cos I don't like the word dadgum

Edited May 18, 2008 by PopUpPirate

[+dino-irl]

I've been transferring all caches as POIs and in POILoader leaving the default setting for proximity alarms (which I think is 1km?) but never get the alarm. I also never see the POIs appear on the screen. Anyone knwo how to fix that on the Nuvi?

[+Alboy]

Thanks for everyones input so far.

 

So can someone using Memory Map confirm that the PDA CANNOT handle proximity alarms?

 

Also, what other Garmins can?

[+PopUpPirate]

A PDA running MM can do proximity alarms, yes, but AFAIK, one at a time. And it's really annoying!

[+Pharisee]

My 60CSx 'beeps' when I get to within about 35 feet of the the target coordinates but I'm sure that doesn't have anything to do with MemoryMap. So far I haven't found a way to turn it off of set the alarm distance.... Does anyone know?

[+Happy Humphrey]

My 60CSx 'beeps' when I get to within about 35 feet of the the target coordinates but I'm sure that doesn't have anything to do with MemoryMap. So far I haven't found a way to turn it off of set the alarm distance.... Does anyone know?

I imagine that it's the same as the Legend - so see above.

[+Alboy]

A PDA running MM can do proximity alarms, yes, but AFAIK, one at a time. And it's really annoying!

 

It can?! I must play around with my sound settings then, as I've never had any luck.

 

What do you mean only one at a time? If I have a route with 3 proximity alarms at various points along it would each go off as I arrived in the proximity of each? Or can only one proximity alarm be set at any one time?

 

thanks

[+PopUpPirate]

You can have a proximity alert for every waypoint on your PDA Memory Map

 

Select the properties on each one, and edit it in there.

 

If you are running a GSAK export with Roolku's script, or a variant thereof, then this can be tweaked to automatically set the proximities up for you.

 

I don't believe it's possible for it to alert you just the once, however. If you are in "the zone" then it will keep alarming all the while.