Can a Garmin GPSmap 60c work with Mac OS these days?

[GridTrekkor]

I grabbed a free Garmin GPSmap 60c from one of the facebook buy-nothing groups last year.  I've been trying to get it working with my Macbook running 10.14.6 Mojave.  System information sees the device in USB, but neither Garmin Basecamp nor Express can find it.  The GPS device itself reports that it's connected.

 

Anyone know if it does work, or will it never work?  Thanks for any help.

Edited May 16, 2022 by geoawareUSA9
mod - edited the subject so it's clearer this is about Mac OS

[+Atlas Cached]

You will need to use MapSource for that device, BaseCamp and Garmin Express are for newer generation devices.

 

My memory suggests there was a dedicated MAC software for these devices, but I am unable to remember the name at the moment.

 

Software updates will be performed by Garmin WebUpdater.

 

The 60c is not a mass storage device, so you will not see or have direct access to internal file structure.

[+Atlas Cached]

I just checked GPSrChive and can see that you will need Garmin RoadTrip to transfer data to the GPSMap 60c using a MAC.

[+Atlas Cached]

RoadTrip was long ago discontinued, but I found a download link from the WayBackMachine.

 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by Atlas Cached
fix link

[+cerberus1]

On 5/15/2022 at 1:59 PM, GridTrekkor said:

I grabbed a free Garmin GPSmap 60c from one of the facebook buy-nothing groups last year.  I've been trying to get it working with my Macbook running 10.14.6 Mojave.  System information sees the device in USB, but neither Garmin Basecamp nor Express can find it.  The GPS device itself reports that it's connected.

Anyone know if it does work, or will it never work?  Thanks for any help.

 

 Curious... rather than trying to rig a long-discontinued GPSr, ever consider simply entering caches manually?                             

 - Takes little time, and all you need extra is a small notepad for hints n stuff.     A note pad needs a pen, so you're never without.

I've loaded caches manually to a 60csx since starting.  Simple...

[+Atlas Cached]

That's how we always did it with those older devices... had a clipboard with printed info that was needed for that days Caching run,  and a pen for notes and cache logs. Coordinates were always entered manually for each geocache.

[GridTrekkor]

8 hours ago, cerberus1 said:

 

 Curious... rather than trying to rig a long-discontinued GPSr, ever consider simply entering caches manually?                             

 - Takes little time, and all you need extra is a small notepad for hints n stuff.     A note pad needs a pen, so you're never without.

I've loaded caches manually to a 60csx since starting.  Simple...

 

Thanks.  That's what I did was manually enter the coordinates.  It's time-consuming though, so I was looking for a better way.  I remember with my eTrex 15 years ago, I had to use some third-party software to enter waypoints because Garmin didn't have what I needed for such a simple task.  Seems like they still don't.  I realize the device is old, but it IS USB, so I was thinking it might still work.

Edited May 18, 2022 by GridTrekkor

[GridTrekkor]

On 5/16/2022 at 6:12 PM, Atlas Cached said:

RoadTrip was long ago discontinued, but I found a download link from the WayBackMachine.

 

 

 

 

Thank you.  I gave it a shot, and it installed, but just hangs after opening.  Ah well!

[robertlipe]

For waypoint, track, and route transfer, GPSBabel should still work, though I won't die of shock if that combination has decayed of neglect. That's an 18 year old model and my days of plugging everything up on each release are long over. You can read a GPX or LOC from geocachign.com and write to "garmin" format on usb. 

https://www.gpsbabel.org/htmldoc-development/fmt_garmin.html

It's free. Try it. Or not.

[rlundeen]

The GPSMap 60C works just fine on MacOS with newer versions of Basecamp. I'm running Ventura 13.1 and Basecamp 4.8.11.  I do believe you have to use a USB-to-USB connection though.  It will not think it works with a USB-to-9-pin serial adapter.  

[robertlipe]

Stupid Garmin tricks (and because I had the GPS and ALL the required adapters[1] within reach, making me a packrat...)

I fired up a 60CS on my 2020 M1 MBP .  OS 13.2.1 (22D68).

 

➜  ~ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. Composite Device
Bus 000 Device 000: ID 067b:2303 Prolific Technology, Inc. USB 3.1 Bus
Bus 000 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub

 ➜ ~ gpsbabel -i garmin -f /dev/cu.usbserial-110
36.090683N 86.679550W GC1A37/THE TROLL BY A182PILOT & FAMIL -0.114380
35.996267N 86.620117W GC1C2B/DIVE BOMBER BY JOGPS & FAMILY -0.114380
36.038483N 86.648617W GC25A9/FOSTER BY JOGPS & FAMILY -0.114380
36.112183N 86.741767W GC2723/LOGAN LIGHTHOUSE BY JOGPS & FA -0.114380
36.064083N 86.790517W GC2B71/GANIER CACHE BY SUSY1313 -0.114380
36.087767N 86.809733W GC309F/SHY'S HILL BY FIREFIGHTERENG33 -0.114380
36.057500N 86.892000W GC317A/GITTYUP BY JOGPS / WARNER PARK -0.114380
36.082800N 86.867283W GC317D/INLIGHTING BY JOGPS / WARNER P -0.114380
35.972033N 87.134700W GCEBB/MOUNTAIN BIKE HEAVEN BY SUSY13 -0.114380

Or...see attached for GUI proof of life.

So, almost 20 years later, GPSBabel is STILL supporting combinations that Garmin never did[2]. I don't think they supported any serial devices on MacOS because serial was pretty dead by the time they arrived to the party. Those 11 geocaches have been part of GPSBabel's "touch test" suite since early 2002 when "GC3abc" cache IDs were new.

60CSX had a very similar serial implementation (D109's instead of D108's) and a loosely similar USB implementation (it bounced between contro and data pipes instead of staying on the data pipes) but I'd expect it to work the same. That unit is from 2006 instead of 2004.

I'll admit that my biggest surprise was that the USB serial device was still supported by MacOS - especially on M1 - which isn't exactly famous for being sentimental about hardware compatibility. I was prepared to have to wire an FTDI 232H, CH340, or other newer USB/async bridge of the "Raspberry Pi Era" just for newer serial silicon. 

Now I can swipe this whole pile into a box and get it off my desk...

[1] USB-C->USB-A->PL-2303->DB-9->Garmin Round connector.
[2] But we never supported everything imaginable. Notably, GPSBabel doesn't do MAPS and you can't just write to a card like on 60CSx, so any serial-only Garmin on a map that needs a map transfusion will still need to find something other than Basecamp to do that lifting for them, though GPSBabel can do waypoints, tracks, and routes. I think that OpenStreetMap used to have such a tool, but we're wandering into speculative weeds.

Edited March 11, 2023 by robertlipe