Pc Emulator W/ Mac & Garmin/mapsource?

April 21, 2005

Burning question! I apologize if this Q has been asked before. Searches turned up nothing.

I'm ready to buy a "real" computer and am leaning towards a new Mac. Many people say there is something called a PC emulator, but it's slow and not much "fun". But I haven't found anyone who actually uses it for a GPSr. I'm not a very sophisticated user.

I need some way to handle my Garmin 60cs/Mapsource software, get firmware updates from Garmin, as well as use PC only cell phone PIM software. I do remember someone suggesting getting a cheap PC to do PC only stuff.

Is there a simple one machine/Mac route?

Any links or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Greenjeens

Edited April 21, 2005 by Greenjeens

April 21, 2005

To answer my own questions, seems probably easier just to have a seperate PC, especially for an unskilled computer user.

It appears, within my limited understanding, that USB/GPSr/Mac connections are not compatible.

Serial connections appear to be of some use. Firmware downloads from Garmin using a Mac seem to be a non starter.

Trying to make these devices talk, looks like a recipe for lots of grief...

unless something new and magical has changed between Garmin and newer Mac operating systems or experimental software?

Here's a discussion.

Garmin Software On Apple Imacs ?

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=78546

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sid

April 22, 2005

Hi

I'm not sure how this will all turn out but I just got started in this and have the same issue, I already own a MAC. But after looking around I just ordered this DB-9 to USB cable and then download the following software, and yes the software is free. GPSMacBabel , download the one named "Download MacGPSBabel-1.2.5.zip" and I downloaded this one too, TerraBrowser . Hopefully this gets me where I want to go, no pun intended. I'll let you know how it all works once the cabl shows up.

DB-9 to USB

GPS MAC Babel

TerraBrowser