WayneH Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 I have a new 60C and would like to download Geocache waypoints from this site and transfer to the unit using USB - can this be done now, and how? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment
+jbar Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 I just got a 60c also. None of the old software works with the USB cable. I've been using the serial cable that came with my garmin 76s. The usb cable is great for xfering maps. Quote Link to comment
+robert Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Normally you would use a program like EasyGPS or Mac SimpleGPX however at this point neither of those is set to transfer the waypoints via USB. I believe at this point you may need to enter them manually or get the serial cable. You can get it cheap here. It's the 5th one down, stating "GPS 3+, V, 76, StreetPilot, 12, 38, and 40 PC Interface Cable (comparable to Garmin part # 010-10141". Your other option is the Garmin one, for $30-40. GPSGeek is top notch. If someone who actually has the 60C already knows of another method, please chime in! BTW the software I listed above should be updated fairly soon, so these methods won't be needed for TOO long. Good luck! Quote Link to comment
WayneH Posted January 25, 2004 Author Share Posted January 25, 2004 Would using a serial-to-USB adaptor work maybe? Quote Link to comment
+SBPhishy Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Wow that sucks. Leave it to Garmin to release a great new GPSr, that even has a dedicated Geocaching options, without the capability of using the most common "Geocaching" software out of the box... Quote Link to comment
+RocketMan Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Garmin's Mapsource program supports USB. You should be able to just export your GPX or LOC files to Mapsource format using GPSBabel or EasyMPS and then dump the waypoints into your GPS from Mapsource. Quote Link to comment
+aka Monkey Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 What is the MapSource format? It isn't listed as an option on MacGPSBabel. Quote Link to comment
+RocketMan Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 What is the MapSource format? It isn't listed as an option on MacGPSBabel. I don't know about MacGPSBabel, but in my version on the PC, I have a Format Choice of "Garmin Mapsource." Maybe Robertlipe can chime in here and help you out. RM Quote Link to comment
+MeeCachers Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 You can also import in Garmin PCX5 format - if MAC GPSBabel supports that option? For those that don't have MapSource - the 60C does come with the Garmin "Trip & Waypoint Manager" software. I'm not sure if this supports the Import function (check under the "File" menu). I can't tell anymore because I have installed CitySelect V5 as well so I am not sure if this is where the Import function comes in. Quote Link to comment
WayneH Posted January 25, 2004 Author Share Posted January 25, 2004 Thanks Rocket Man! EasyMPS does work with Mapsource, and I have been able to download a number of caches. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 If someone sends Robertlipe a 60C (on an extended loan) I'll lay odds he can get GPSbabel to upload correctly and directly. It would help if Garmin would release their file format specs. Quote Link to comment
Neo_Geo Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 (edited) Thanks Rocket Man! EasyMPS does work with Mapsource, and I have been able to download a number of caches. THIS VIDEO demonstrates the geocaching mode of the 60C. The "instructor" says that he loaded the hint directly from geocaching.com. Do the cache notes/clues automatically populate in the "Note" field of the geocache page? I think this is one area where Garmin dropped the ball on the 60 series. There appears to be a lot of confusion over how the geocaching mode works. They should've worked closer with Jeremy and some of the various gps/geocaching software authors in designing and implementing the Geocaching mode of this otherwise awesome unit! Edited January 25, 2004 by Neo_Geo Quote Link to comment
topografix Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 THIS VIDEO demonstrates the geocaching mode of the 60C. The "instructor" says that he loaded the hint directly from geocaching.com. Do the cache notes/clues automatically populate in the "Note" field of the geocache page? I think this is one area where Garmin dropped the ball on the 60 series. There appears to be a lot of confusion over how the geocaching mode works. They should've worked closer with Jeremy and some of the various gps/geocaching software authors in designing and implementing the Geocaching mode of this otherwise awesome unit! The instructor "loaded" it by manually typing in some text he read directly from a webpage on geocaching.com. The GPS doesn't know anything about geocaches, clues, terrain and difficulty ratings. "Geocaching mode" is really just a "find/goto waypoint" mode that only shows you waypoints that use the geocache icon. The only new feature in geocaching mode is that after you click the find button, it asks you if you want to find another one, and it enters "found GCxxxx" into the GPS calendar. Quick poll: how many people have ever used the GPS calendar? If you regularly seek multiple caches in a single outing, and you rely heavily on the data you've put in the note field (either by hand, or using EasyGPS, GPS Spinner, or others), geocaching mode will probably save you a few key-presses. But I doubt it will be a major improvement over the way you already seek caches. Quote Link to comment
thcri Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Wow that sucks. Leave it to Garmin to release a great new GPSr, that even has a dedicated Geocaching options, without the capability of using the most common "Geocaching" software out of the box... I don't think it sucks. USB is so much faster. The developers of the Geocaching software such as ExpertGPS will change their programs to accept the change. Serial is long gone. My last lap top I purchased doesn't even have a serial port. And yes you could get a serial to USB adapter like I got for my laptop. But remember, if was said here to download some maps via serial took hours and when he downloaded over the USB it took three minutes. I welcome the change and I believe everyone else will too. murph Quote Link to comment
thcri Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 Quick poll: how many people have ever used the GPS calendar? Dan, I have never used my calendar on my Vista. In fact I didn't even know it was there until I was cleaning it up to sell. If my new CS is easy to get to I may just use it. I would love to have a tie in on waypoints. In other words I could click on a waypoint and it would tell me when I was there last or even all dates. That would be neat but I am sure that would have to come from Garmin? murph ps: I have ExpertGPS and love it. Can't wait for CS to come and hoping ExpertGPS is updated by then. If not I will just wait. Quote Link to comment
topografix Posted January 25, 2004 Share Posted January 25, 2004 I don't think it sucks. USB is so much faster. The developers of the Geocaching software such as ExpertGPS will change their programs to accept the change. Garmin could have made this situation a lot better for users by releasing the new USB interface protocol a few months in advance so that software developers could have something ready when the new units shipped. I'm getting hammered right now by new 60C owners wanting to know when EasyGPS and ExpertGPS will support USB transfers. If I had had the spec and a unit to test with two months before the release, I would have had software available the day the 60C shipped. I do now have a copy of the USB transfer spec, and I'll be purchasing a 60CS for testing when they come out. Unfortunately, I'm working on major new changes to ExpertGPS for a summer 2004 release, and so it will probably be a few months before a new ExpertGPS release with USB support is available. Quote Link to comment
+robert Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 Would using a serial-to-USB adaptor work maybe? It should. Quote Link to comment
+Lil Devil Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 I'm working on major new changes to ExpertGPS for a summer 2004 release, and so it will probably be a few months before a new ExpertGPS release with USB support is available. Dan, Any chance of getting an interim release any sooner that would support the new icons on a 60C via serial? There are several new ones like cubes and flags and pushpins that ExpertGPS doesn't understand. It converts them all back to "waypoint" when uploading. Thanks. Neo_Geo, et al, The geocaching mode simply shows the description field, a field which has been available on many GPS units for a while. The 60C and 60CS just show this field in a "new" way. GPX Spinner will enable you to put whatever you want into this description field. So, if you want the hints there, Spinner will do that quickly. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 ...Neo_Geo, et al,The geocaching mode simply shows the description field, a field which has been available on many GPS units for a while. The 60C and 60CS just show this field in a "new" way. ... Ah...good. I've been looking that up the hard way on the GPS V. Quote Link to comment
+dino_hunters Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 I'm working on major new changes to ExpertGPS for a summer 2004 release, and so it will probably be a few months before a new ExpertGPS release with USB support is available. Hey, topografix, what is big & new in the update for expertgps that you are hopeing to get out next summer? I'm a registered user & look forward to updates on your great program. thanks Quote Link to comment
topografix Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 I'm working on major new changes to ExpertGPS for a summer 2004 release, and so it will probably be a few months before a new ExpertGPS release with USB support is available. Hey, topografix, what is big & new in the update for expertgps that you are hopeing to get out next summer? I'm a registered user & look forward to updates on your great program. thanks USB support Tracklog profiling (elevation plots) More scanned map projections All world datums Better GPX support Beta testing of ExpertGPS will start in a month or so. Quote Link to comment
+aka Monkey Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 (edited) Edit: Decided to just send an email. Edited January 26, 2004 by Indiana Cojones Quote Link to comment
+Desert_Warrior Posted January 26, 2004 Share Posted January 26, 2004 (edited) As many of you know, I have been having a go-around with National Geographic TOPO support. Seems they think TOPO is already USB ready. If it is, I can't find it. The thread is HERE. Perhaps those of you who own the 60C, or are looking forward to one soon can also drop an E-mail to TOPO support and just ask them if TOPO will support USB connections and the GARMIN 60C or CS soon. If enough of us ask, maybe they will see the light. You can E-mail them at: topo@ngs.org Maybe they will get to work on it soon. EDIT: Spelling - as usual! Edited January 26, 2004 by Desert_Warrior Quote Link to comment
+Volwrath Posted January 28, 2004 Share Posted January 28, 2004 Topografix, Will the new version (1) Accept maps in state plane coordinates? (2) Have better memory management for 60 meg drg/tif files? Quote Link to comment
+Team HomestarRunner Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 (edited) Dan,Any chance of getting an interim release any sooner that would support the new icons on a 60C via serial? There are several new ones like cubes and flags and pushpins that ExpertGPS doesn't understand. It converts them all back to "waypoint" when uploading. Thanks. I found if I import the .loc files into EasyMPS select Geocache under the Waypoint Icon options then export waypoints to "Open in Mapsource" it works great. I now have all the SF Bay Area caches loaded on my 60C in the Geocaching mode, all via USB. The description field just gives Cache name and the Cacher who placed it. Used it to find a cache today and it worked great. It even logged my find on the calender and in the Caches found section. What a great step up from my old ETREX Yellow!!! Home Star Runner!! Edited January 30, 2004 by Team HomeStarRunner Quote Link to comment
topografix Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Topografix, Will the new version (1) Accept maps in state plane coordinates? (2) Have better memory management for 60 meg drg/tif files? State Plane Coordinates will be available if you have the GIS Option Pack for ExpertGPS. Send me a support email if you want to discuss memory management issues with Scanned Maps. Quote Link to comment
rray Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 I'm looking for a general review of the 60C. Is it a good GPS to replace the Garmin V on my motorcycle? Because it is so new, I'm having trouble getting any feedback even from the internet retailers. Quote Link to comment
gessner17 Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Another round of about way to transfer geocaches is if you have an older unit (legend, V) transfer it to that, then upload it to mapsource, then you can download it your 60. Its a round of about way, but it works. Quote Link to comment
+GeckoGeek Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 Would using a serial-to-USB adaptor work maybe? Does such a think exist? USB to serial, yes, but Serial to USB? Even then I'm not sure as it would work as you're going from a slow protocol to a fast one. Kinda like trying to build a serial to SCSI adapter. Quote Link to comment
+CurmudgeonlyGal Posted February 2, 2004 Share Posted February 2, 2004 ...if you have an older unit (legend, V) transfer it to that, then upload it to mapsource, then you can download it your 60. I was messing around with a couple of saved tracks earlier today and did just that! Altho, if you have the V, you already have the serial connector so it's just faster to connect the 60 via serial instead of connecting the V via serial --> to upload to the computer --> to upload to the 60. You cut out a couple of steps that way. michelle Quote Link to comment
gessner17 Posted February 3, 2004 Share Posted February 3, 2004 (edited) You can get serial to usb, you just have to make sure it is an "active" one, usually has a box in the middle with an indicator light, but they usually cost $40-70, might as well get a serial cable. I used to sell them to people with cell phones that had serial data cables and their laptops only had usb. Edited February 3, 2004 by gessner17 Quote Link to comment
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