help with the etrex 20

[+matthiastrek]

I just bought the etrex 20, but managing geocaches on it is very difficult. I can't delete my finds any without plugging it into my computer and the only software where you can manage them is basecamp (I have a mac). Now the basecamp software cant read my 20. Is there any other software to manage the caches, or am I doomed to have the same caches on the gps forever?

[+duncanhoyle]

I just bought the etrex 20, but managing geocaches on it is very difficult. I can't delete my finds any without plugging it into my computer and the only software where you can manage them is basecamp (I have a mac). Now the basecamp software cant read my 20. Is there any other software to manage the caches, or am I doomed to have the same caches on the gps forever?

 

I have the 30 and connect to Windows but they're likely to work the same...

 

Outside of Basecamp I think the only thing you'll be able to do is connect the device and the access it as a USB drive. You can then delete GPX files but not individual caches. Once the GPX has been deleted you can copy across an updated one which doesn't have the caches on that you've found.

If the GPX files are stored on an MicroSD card then you could also connect to that using a card reader and do the same.

[+briansnat]

probably better off in the GPS forum

[+mpilchfamily]

Your not limited to Basecamp. You can use EasyGPS and GSAK as well. Then you can mange the files and send them back and forth from the device. Most people like using GSAK. Personally i use EasyGPS since its free. With GSAK there is a nag screen after the free trial period. But in both apps you can pull the gpx file off your unit and edit the content as you see fit then send it back to the unit where it will overwrite the old file. But i don't use the apps that much. Its much easier to run a new PQ, give it the same name as the existing file on the GPSr and brop it into the GPSr like its a thumb drive.

[jholly]

Your not limited to Basecamp. You can use EasyGPS and GSAK as well. Then you can mange the files and send them back and forth from the device. Most people like using GSAK. Personally i use EasyGPS since its free. With GSAK there is a nag screen after the free trial period. But in both apps you can pull the gpx file off your unit and edit the content as you see fit then send it back to the unit where it will overwrite the old file. But i don't use the apps that much. Its much easier to run a new PQ, give it the same name as the existing file on the GPSr and brop it into the GPSr like its a thumb drive.

Both EasyGPS and GSAK are windows programs, the OP has a mac.

[+mpilchfamily]

oops!

[Wintertime]

As others have noted, you don't need any software to put .gpx files on your eTrex or remove them; just attach it to the computer and drag files in the Finder.

 

However, you may want to figure out why Basecamp isn't working. Do you have the latest version, and the proper driver for the eTrex? I suggest you go to the Mac section of Garmin's website and verify that you have the latest software and that the GPSr is talking to your computer.

[+matthiastrek]

As others have noted, you don't need any software to put .gpx files on your eTrex or remove them; just attach it to the computer and drag files in the Finder.

 

However, you may want to figure out why Basecamp isn't working. Do you have the latest version, and the proper driver for the eTrex? I suggest you go to the Mac section of Garmin's website and verify that you have the latest software and that the GPSr is talking to your computer.

 

my computer can read the gps, I can manage maps and such, but whenever I plug the gps into basecamp, it reads an error and it crashes. It only started to do this yesterday and there were no problems before.

 

Also, how can you tell which cache is which? I have over 1000 in my gps and on the storage device it only lists 90 or so.

[+Isabelle01]

I have written a small script for the Mac to make it easy to remove caches from your eTrex 10/20/30 (and maybe more types).This script can be used on Linux too.

It gives a menu wiyh codes and name of the cache. You can give the number of the cache you want to delete, or just delete all by typing 'all'.

 

Manual:

• 
   
  
• Copy and paste the code below in a file, named del-caches
  
• In the program 'terminal': go to the directory where you've saved the file (use cd to change directory, followed by the dirname)
  
• Type here: chmod +x del-caches [Enter]
  
• Start this script by dubbelclick in the Finder, or bij typing ./del-caches in 'terminal'
  

#!/bin/bash
#########################################################
# Script to remove geocaches selective from Garmin
# By: Kerstkonijn & Isabelle01
#########################################################

# Directory on Garmin device where GPX files are stored
# On eTrex10/20/30 devices: '/Volumes/GARMIN/Garmin/GPX'
GARMIN='/Volumes/GARMIN/Garmin/GPX'

### ----- Script: delete caches from device -----

if [ ! -d ${GARMIN} ] ; then
  echo -e "\n\tNo compatible Garmin found... \n\tExiting\n"
  exit
fi

LS='ls -tr'
while [ : ] ; do
  tput clear

  ${LS} ${GARMIN}/GC*GPX &>-
  if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then
     echo -e "\n\tNo caches found on device\n\tExiting...\n"
     hdiutil unmount /Volumes/GARMIN
     sleep 2
     exit
  fi

  cnt=1
  for GC in $(${LS} ${GARMIN}/GC*GPX ) ; do
     NAME=$(grep '<urlname>' ${GC} | head -2 | tail -1)
     NAME=${NAME#*>}
     CODE=$(basename ${GC})
     echo "${cnt}) ${CODE%.*} = ${NAME%<*}"
     let cnt=cnt+1
  done
  echo '--------------------------------------------------------------------------------'

  PS3="Remove cache from device (q=quit, all=remove all): "
  select CACHE_CODE in $(for GC in $(${LS} ${GARMIN}/GC*GPX ) ; do CODE=$(basename ${GC}) ; echo "${CODE%.GPX}" ; done) ; do
     case $REPLY in
        q*|Q*)
           echo -e "\tExiting...\n\t\c"
           \rm ${GARMIN}/._GC*.GPX
           hdiutil unmount /Volumes/GARMIN
           exit
           ;;
        all)
           \rm ${GARMIN}/GC*.GPX
           sync
           ;;
        *)
           test -s ${GARMIN}/${CACHE_CODE}.GPX && \rm ${GARMIN}/${CACHE_CODE}.GPX
           sync
           ;;
     esac
     break
  done
done

(For Linux: Change the variable GARMIN (in the beginning) to the right dir where it is mounted. Remove/change the 2 lines with hdiutil)

 

The GPSr needs to be connected to your Mac with the USB-cable, of course.