GPS to computer, over

“Just yesterday I bit the bullet and hooked the Etrex Legend up to the computer.... of course, not really knowing what I'm doing.

I saw the book talked about having to have the Mapsource software. (AHEM... I am still looking to get this software... LOL)

I had already logged five geocaching coordinates on a map on my N'tl Geographic TOPO mapping software... I figured I'd try to do this both ways: getting the coordinates from that program, and also getting them downloaded to the GPS directly from the geocaching website. So I perused that site and downloaded EasyGPS geocaching management software.

Was successful at downloading both sets of coordinates to the GPS!! Although I am still wondering how to label. I noticed the geocaching site used the code THEY give each one that starts with "G..." From the mapping program, it just went by numbers. So I suppose I would need to put a code letter in front of them??? And then they went sequentially: 1,2,3,4,5

I am going to try to delete waypoints when the cache is found, at least local ones. Might keep cool ones from vacation on it, or ones where the coordinate is determined somehow

(like one I need to do yet, with the cache at the intersection of two straight lines. For each line, one coordinate was given... and then a person had to physically get the other two at the location. I guess there's a math forumla to figure this, but no thank you... I have plotted on mapping software!!! lol... and as backup, contacted someone who had found it. Will check that coordinate if I don't find anything with the one I determined.)

Now I'll need to get coordinates on the GPS and upload to computer. I asked this before somewhere and don't think it was answered: Can the Legend be set to automatically take readings every so often timewise or every so many feet? Or you physically enter it when you make a turn, etc?

One thing that did surprise me... I figured the GPS would show up as an external hard drive, say, like a digital photo card. But, nope!

anyhoo..... it was fun! (and I get nerdier by the day! LOL!)”

“The Topo should show your realtime location and direction of travel.”

“....you might try reading the users manual that came with the legend.”

“AAACK NO DON'T MAKE ME READ THE USERS' MANUAL!!!!

$#!@$!@%!!@%^!!!”

“DON'T YOU MAKE FUN OF MY BOYFRIEND HAROLD!!!!

Uncle Red says we are good together, eh?


Hey, ya know, I have been reading the manual... some. It told nothing about uploading/downloading. Said to refer to Mapsource software.

When I used it with Easy GPS and with Natl Geo. TOPO, *** THOSE *** programs/applications told me what to do. Not the Legend.”

“Buy the US-Topo maps from Garmin. They come with Mapsource. It's a wonderful enhancement to your GPS experience.”

“You mean the software mapping program, right??

CARLETTE!!! ;-)

lol”

“lizs, use EasyGPS (the free software from geocaching.com). Very simple to use.”

“I did use that and it was easy. :-)

I just wondered about tracking when on a hike (automatically, or manually marking waypoints)... so a person could put hikes on a map.

Wondering how people do it... and if there are any tips NOT in the manual. lol”

“i really need to break down and get me one of the new fangled things...i've been caching for about 2 years now with out gps and i've just about found all the caches i can find with out one...i'm just too much of a tight @ss to get one”

“Is The Red Green Show still on?
I used to watch reruns on the local PBS.”

“I've been working on a way to show trail routes on a map without use of a GPS. Currently I'm using Mapcard.com, where I can mark routes on maps and save the waypoints into GPX files, and I'm writing my own software to display the results. Here is a screen shot I generated recently:



This is from hikes I've done in the Uintas. The blob at the bottom is Moon Lake, and the small downward spur just to the right of the center is King's Peak. 28 bag nights over the course of two trips.
last edited: 8/22/05 10:00:00 AM”

“Wowser, Liz.
Not bad for a right-brainiac. Next thing you know, you'll be a technical writer. Then? Heavan forbid... an engineer! Ewww!

(Confession: I always wanted to be an engineer, but the found out my parents were married. lol!)”

“LOL, I sent Wounded Knee a very nice map I plotted on the mapping software by tracing the trails I **think** he will use. Also then marked some trail junction waypoints for him and whomever goes.

Maps are F-U FUN!!! What did you guys think I was gonna say?!???!!”

“The default mode for the Legend is to create a "track" automatically. This can be changed to other user preferences such as time or distance based. "Waypoints" can be set by marking them with the Legend as you travel, entering the lat/lon coordinates, or downloading them from the MapSource or other mapping software. However, maps can only be downloaded from the Garmin MapSource software. With MapSource, it's very to create a "route" for your hike and download it to the Legend.”

“This is a JPG of a typical GPS upload that I get with Terrain Navigator. I tried to upload a PDF, but I could not get my picture file to accept it.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/pic/eiberd6dzrz.php”

“bbw:

Your map shows one of my favorite put-ins when floating the Mulberry river. Are you an Arkansawyer? Perhaps a kayaker or open-boater, too?”