Garmin & Mac Compatibility

[Guest RoyD]

Is anyone using Garmin MapSource software and successfully downloading software and firmware upgrades on Macintosh using Virtual PC emulating software? If so, what version of Virtual PC software are you using, DOS, Windows 98, Windows ME, etc.? I'm using aG3, 320 mb. memory, 6 gig HD., CD ROM, ZIP drive., Cabel Modem.

 

Let's not flame me for having a Mac. I have had Macs for 20 years and this is the only time I have not been able to find software that would do what I needed.

 

[This message has been edited by RoyD (edited 13 October 2001).]

[Guest badbitbucket]

Nah we won't flame you... after all, some of my best freinds are Mac users! ;-)

[Guest The 19th]

I have a PowerBook FireWire, but I haven't tried using the MapSource software via Windows Emulation. I have read around here that it is possible though. On those posts (I think from bridaw or WaylandersMA or someone...), I vaguely remember someone mentioning Windows 95.

 

The MapSource system requirements aren't too stringent, but 3.x or 4.x versions of VPC should be able to emulate a Wintel box that would meet them.

 

If only Mapsource made an Mac OS executable for use with their CDs... kind of like the Topo! Region series.

 

------------------

Lawrence Rillera

Elk Grove, CA

[Guest bridaw]

Can you get by with borrowing a buddy's PC when you need to upgrade your GPSR firmware?

 

Unless you already bought Mapsource CDs and want to push maps to your GPSR on a regular basis, you don't need Mapsource and there are better programs out there for the mac anyhow!

 

I use MapSource on my iBook running VPC 4.0.2 and Win98FE. Works like a charm when I need to use MapSource. I used to use Mapsource via VPC on my mac until I found MacGPS Pro.

 

I prefer to use MacGPS Pro for EVERYTHING except pushing maps to the IIIplus and the Legend which requires MapSource.

 

Now that I think about it, just pick up MacGPS Pro even if you do figure out Mapsource on the mac. Money well spent that you won't regret if you have been using macs for 20 years. Nothing emulated is as fast as a mac native app. MacGPS Pro works like a mac app, it doesn't get in your way. I like MacGPS Pro better each time I use it.

 

------------------

Brian and Terry

San Diego, CA

 

[This message has been edited by bridaw (edited 15 October 2001).]

[Guest bridaw]

Can you get by with borrowing a buddy's PC when you need to upgrade your GPSR firmware?

 

Unless you already bought Mapsource CDs and want to push maps to your GPSR on a regular basis, you don't need Mapsource and there are better programs out there for the mac anyhow!

 

I use MapSource on my iBook running VPC 4.0.2 and Win98FE. Works like a charm when I need to use MapSource. I used to use Mapsource via VPC on my mac until I found MacGPS Pro.

 

I prefer to use MacGPS Pro for EVERYTHING except pushing maps to the IIIplus and the Legend which requires MapSource.

 

Now that I think about it, just pick up MacGPS Pro even if you do figure out Mapsource on the mac. Money well spent that you won't regret if you have been using macs for 20 years. Nothing emulated is as fast as a mac native app. MacGPS Pro works like a mac app, it doesn't get in your way. I like MacGPS Pro better each time I use it.

 

------------------

Brian and Terry

San Diego, CA

 

[This message has been edited by bridaw (edited 15 October 2001).]

[Guest RoyD]

bridaw

 

Let me see if I understand this. With VPC I can download and install firmware upgrades, using the proper cable adapter, to my Garmin MAP76 receiver on my MAC G3. Also, I can use MapSource software and download to the GPSR. With Mac GPSPro I can download maps to the GPSR. Does Mac GPSPro erase the base maps in the GPSR when it is installed? Why the hell did I spend $95.00 on the MapSource software? Da! Do your homework Roy.

 

Thanks for the help

[Guest The 19th]

From how I understand it, neither MapGPS Pro nor GPSy, (nor any third party application) can upload maps to Garmin units - apparently, that's still a Garmin propietary function.

 

You can use either one mentioned above to manage waypoints (send and receive), download routes from the GPSr to the computer to lay them on map files so you can see where you've been on the computer, show real-time tracking - among other features. Note that I don't have either one of these products at this time, so I can't go into the details.

[Guest Chris Juricich]

I understand your frustration about Macs and Garmins. I looked all over for something to allow my Mac to 'sync' with the Garmin site for upgrades, waypoint downloads, etc.

 

Fortunately we have (beside the three Macs in our house) a Windoze thing which is great for the upgrades and easyGPS, as well as whatever my current game fave is (currently Sudden Strike, in case you're wondering.

 

[This message has been edited by Chris Juricich (edited 15 October 2001).]

[Guest prv8eye]

Macs? Do they still sell Macs?

[Guest jeremy]

Please. No Mac/Windows battles in the forums!

 

 

J

[Guest jeremy]

Please. No Mac/Windows battles in the forums!

 

 

J

[Guest bridaw]

Sorry, I was away for a few days. I see others have already responded but here is my $.02. -bridaw

 

Originally posted by RoyD:

bridaw

 

Let me see if I understand this. With VPC I can download and install firmware upgrades, using the proper cable adapter, to my Garmin MAP76 receiver on my MAC G3.

Yes. I have been able to launch VPC (running Win98 First Edition) on my iBook and then use GPSR updaters from the Garmin web site (Legend updates as well as Marine POI file) and it does not require MapSource. I use an iBook instead of one of my 2 desktop macs when I do use VPC so I must also use a Keyspan serial-USB adapter (many posts about this topic on this site).

 

Also, I can use MapSource software and download to the GPSR.

You can use all the features of MapSource supported by your GPSR and it can "talk" to your GPSR provided you have the right cables and such (keyspan adapter for USB macs). I only use MapSource on my mac to push maps to my IIIplus and Legend. I tend to keep the same set of maps in both units so I rarely use MapSource on my mac these days.

 

With Mac GPSPro I can download maps to the GPSR.

NO. No 3rd party program can load maps to your Garmin GPSR. Mac and WinTel users all have this same problem, you MUST use Garmin MapSource if you wish to load maps into your GPSR. No other option at this time.

 

However, MacGPS Pro provides real-time tracking (many programs offer this these days on mac and PC) superimposed over virtually any map from any source. Within 15 minutes of receiving the MacGPS Pro program, I had downloaded a MapBlast map of PB, CA and calibrated the map in MacGPS Pro. I pulled the tracklogs and waypoints out of the GPSR and displayed them over the Mapblast map in MacGPS Pro. I tossed the iBook into the Durango and drove around just to check out the real-time features of MacGPS Pro. This is within minutes of calibrating the map I had just downloaded from the web minutes after launching MacGPS Pro for the first time.

 

The maps I tend to use most are high quality FREE USGS topo maps from this site: http://www.gisdatadepot.com/catalog/

 

Another feature I REALLY like about MacGPS Pro other than the fact that it is a feature rich mac native app with awesome support, is that it stores all waypoint, route, tracklog files as a text file. This is SOOOO cool compared to MapSource formats or other proprietary formats that require all kinds of converters and such that make it really painful to make quick simple tweaks to your waypoint or track log files. The MacGPS Pro file format is text so you can open it in BBedit or whatever text editor you prefer.

 

Format: DMM M/D/Y H:M:S -7.00 hrs Datum[106]: WGS 84

ID Date Time Latitude Longitude Altitude

T 10/15/01 10:10:27 32°48.032' -117°14.064'

T 10/15/01 10:10:28 32°48.031' -117°14.069'

T 10/15/01 10:10:41 32°48.020' -117°14.109'

T 10/15/01 10:10:42 32°48.019' -117°14.109'

T 10/15/01 10:10:43 32°48.019' -117°14.109'

T 10/15/01 10:10:47 32°48.030' -117°14.114'

T 10/15/01 10:11:02 32°48.052' -117°14.121'

T 10/15/01 10:12:00 32°48.047' -117°14.118'

T 10/15/01 10:12:10 32°48.090' -117°14.131'

T 10/15/01 10:12:11 32°48.095' -117°14.133'

T 10/15/01 10:12:23 32°48.170' -117°14.155'

T 10/15/01 10:12:31 32°48.219' -117°14.170'

T 10/15/01 10:12:37 32°48.224' -117°14.172'

T 10/15/01 10:12:41 32°48.229' -117°14.175'

MacGPS Pro tracklog>

 

Does Mac GPSPro erase the base maps in the GPSR when it is installed?

No. I believe NO GPS program, PC or Mac, is capable of erasing the base map. The basemap is there to stay.

 

Why the hell did I spend $95.00 on the MapSource software?

Well, I did the same thing. I bought MapSource Topo and Road & Rec CD sets. I don't regret buying them (especially since I paid half price for them on eBay) since it is the ONLY way you can push maps to your mapping GPSR. What I do regret is waiting so long to check out MacGPS Pro and forcing myself to use MapSource for managing tracklogs and waypoints.

 

------------------

Brian and Terry

San Diego, CA

 

[This message has been edited by bridaw (edited 17 October 2001).]

[Guest bridaw]

Sorry, I was away for a few days. I see others have already responded but here is my $.02. -bridaw

 

Originally posted by RoyD:

bridaw

 

Let me see if I understand this. With VPC I can download and install firmware upgrades, using the proper cable adapter, to my Garmin MAP76 receiver on my MAC G3.

Yes. I have been able to launch VPC (running Win98 First Edition) on my iBook and then use GPSR updaters from the Garmin web site (Legend updates as well as Marine POI file) and it does not require MapSource. I use an iBook instead of one of my 2 desktop macs when I do use VPC so I must also use a Keyspan serial-USB adapter (many posts about this topic on this site).

 

Also, I can use MapSource software and download to the GPSR.

You can use all the features of MapSource supported by your GPSR and it can "talk" to your GPSR provided you have the right cables and such (keyspan adapter for USB macs). I only use MapSource on my mac to push maps to my IIIplus and Legend. I tend to keep the same set of maps in both units so I rarely use MapSource on my mac these days.

 

With Mac GPSPro I can download maps to the GPSR.

NO. No 3rd party program can load maps to your Garmin GPSR. Mac and WinTel users all have this same problem, you MUST use Garmin MapSource if you wish to load maps into your GPSR. No other option at this time.

 

However, MacGPS Pro provides real-time tracking (many programs offer this these days on mac and PC) superimposed over virtually any map from any source. Within 15 minutes of receiving the MacGPS Pro program, I had downloaded a MapBlast map of PB, CA and calibrated the map in MacGPS Pro. I pulled the tracklogs and waypoints out of the GPSR and displayed them over the Mapblast map in MacGPS Pro. I tossed the iBook into the Durango and drove around just to check out the real-time features of MacGPS Pro. This is within minutes of calibrating the map I had just downloaded from the web minutes after launching MacGPS Pro for the first time.

 

The maps I tend to use most are high quality FREE USGS topo maps from this site: http://www.gisdatadepot.com/catalog/

 

Another feature I REALLY like about MacGPS Pro other than the fact that it is a feature rich mac native app with awesome support, is that it stores all waypoint, route, tracklog files as a text file. This is SOOOO cool compared to MapSource formats or other proprietary formats that require all kinds of converters and such that make it really painful to make quick simple tweaks to your waypoint or track log files. The MacGPS Pro file format is text so you can open it in BBedit or whatever text editor you prefer.

 

Format: DMM M/D/Y H:M:S -7.00 hrs Datum[106]: WGS 84

ID Date Time Latitude Longitude Altitude

T 10/15/01 10:10:27 32°48.032' -117°14.064'

T 10/15/01 10:10:28 32°48.031' -117°14.069'

T 10/15/01 10:10:41 32°48.020' -117°14.109'

T 10/15/01 10:10:42 32°48.019' -117°14.109'

T 10/15/01 10:10:43 32°48.019' -117°14.109'

T 10/15/01 10:10:47 32°48.030' -117°14.114'

T 10/15/01 10:11:02 32°48.052' -117°14.121'

T 10/15/01 10:12:00 32°48.047' -117°14.118'

T 10/15/01 10:12:10 32°48.090' -117°14.131'

T 10/15/01 10:12:11 32°48.095' -117°14.133'

T 10/15/01 10:12:23 32°48.170' -117°14.155'

T 10/15/01 10:12:31 32°48.219' -117°14.170'

T 10/15/01 10:12:37 32°48.224' -117°14.172'

T 10/15/01 10:12:41 32°48.229' -117°14.175'

MacGPS Pro tracklog>

 

Does Mac GPSPro erase the base maps in the GPSR when it is installed?

No. I believe NO GPS program, PC or Mac, is capable of erasing the base map. The basemap is there to stay.

 

Why the hell did I spend $95.00 on the MapSource software?

Well, I did the same thing. I bought MapSource Topo and Road & Rec CD sets. I don't regret buying them (especially since I paid half price for them on eBay) since it is the ONLY way you can push maps to your mapping GPSR. What I do regret is waiting so long to check out MacGPS Pro and forcing myself to use MapSource for managing tracklogs and waypoints.

 

------------------

Brian and Terry

San Diego, CA

 

[This message has been edited by bridaw (edited 17 October 2001).]

[Guest mrgigabyte]

quote:

---

The MacGPS Pro file format is text so you can open it in BBedit or whatever text editor you prefer.

 

T 10/15/01 10:10:27 32°48.032' -117°14.064'

---

 

Bridaw,

 

Do you know of any way to convert MacGPS track logs (and perhaps waypoints) into Garmin's PCX5 format? PCX5 is also just a text file. But it use fixed field width formatting, not tab delimiters. If this could be a done easily (i.e. AppleScript, Excel, MacPerl, javascript etc.) then we could load our MacGPS output directly into MapSource.

[Guest macdaddymd@aol.com]

I have no problem with my G3 or G4 and VPC running W98 and up/downloading with MapSource or EasyGPS. Firmware updates have done fine. For map work in the native Mac environment, I get pretty good results with DeLorme Street Atlas USA 6.0, including easy dumping of route plans, live tracking, etc. All using Garmin III+, Keyspan USB adaptor.

 

I'll let you know about a Titanium when it gets a combo drive, but my first-generation G3 PowerBook does fine, but slooooow.

[Guest RoyD]

bridaw / macdaddymd,

Have you been able to download software - firmware updates from your Mac to your Garmin using the printer / modem ports with the proper Mac GPSPro connector adaptor? Most of the post I see on this subject are using USB connections. I?m still dragging my feet on this issue.

Thanks,

Roy

 

[This message has been edited by RoyD (edited 27 October 2001).]

[Guest RoyD]

bridaw

Thanks for all the great info.

 

Roy