GPS Waypoints In Google Earth

“Greetings Trail Talkers.
I am a computer nerd and working on a neat little tool that was for my benefit but thought I'd give it to the masses. I need a little help.

Google Earth is a great tool, if you havent downloaded, do so. For a yearly fee you can buy it and take GPS inputs to it... naw, why pay when I can make my own. I wrote a converter to take my GPS waypoints and get it in Googhle Earth. I have a Garmin LegendC and my buds all have Garmins. My tool works with Gramins but I need a sample export of a Magellan GPS.

Garmin has MapSource program you export the points from and my tool converts it to Google Earth file and presto, non-GPS people can have all your waypoints.

I am not looking for money, when I finish it I will give it to whoever wants it. Only took me 2 hours to put it together, did while watching Olympics.

Can someone email me a Magellan Export of Waypoints, dont have to be all the points, one or two. Export it as a Text file, not as a Magellan file. I would prefer the waypoints in dd mm.sss format, I dont care how, thats the conversion I worked with.

Email it to me, mister.minn at gmail dot com.

I would appreciate it. I dont care where the datapoint is, I just need to see the format to write a parser for it.

Thanks in advance who helps me out.

If no one... oh well. Thanks for reading anyway.

GPSGuy”

“Sounds neat but I would never figure it out. I only scored 2 on the nerd test.”

“I wish I could help you. I have two GPS's and can't work either one of them.”

“No prob. SOmeone out there has it I'm sure.

For now the lucky ones who have the better GPS units, a.k.a. Garmin can play. Haha.”

“Well, I just got the same GPS unit. I work at a boatyard so I'm bound to find someone who has what you are looking for. I'll ask.

What I really wanted was a Magellan but software was the issue in the end. It was better to go with Garmin for me. If I find someone who has that, I'll let you know.”

“FWIW / FYI MapCard.com has a free download that stores GPS data in an XML format that I've used for database imports. It claims to able to load&store from 'almost any' GPS. I don't actually have a GPS, but I do download map data from their site (it's a subscription-based service)”

“I have no need to use google earth for anything. I've got all the software I need on my pc, and I can get topos and imagery from anywhere in the country at a higher res than google earth offers. It's a handy tool, but not really up to par with what I use already.”

“Actually Google Earth doesn't even work on my system, it doesn't like my screen-pivoting driver software. I use the regular Google Maps occasionally but I prefer the topo maps I can download from MapCard.”

“I understand that. Google Earth is meant for non-GPS owners who are outdoors types but for whatever reason dont have one.

Then you can share waypoints with people no matter what GPS you have into a format anyone can use. JUst open the file with Google Earth and presto instant directions, print it out and navigate the old fashioned way.”

“I have a Garmin Etrex Legend. How can your program help me?”

“I can save my maps to .jpg files or .pdf files or whatever I want. no compatability issues there.

I'm really not seeing what this program provides that isn't already offered elsewhere. Sure, it plugs into google earth, but google earth has a lot of limitations and doesn't work for everyone, so it's hardly a universal format at this point.

There are a multitude of waypoint file format conversion programs out there to make a waypoint file compatible with almost any program on the market. There's even a handy little program out there that will take the format most used by government and educational institutions as well as cartography professionals (.shp) and will let you put it right on your garmin gps (MN DNR Garmin).

Not only that, but there's a site called MotionBased (owned by Garmin) that already has a plugin to google earth for sharing information (tracks/routes mostly, though).

That's cool if you just like to tinker and did this for your own personal edification. I'm just pointing out that there are lots of programs and services out there (LOTS of them) that already do the things your little app can do.”

“Why can't you use GPSBabel to create a magellan file format?”

“leofric - just a suggestion to try. Try to open it not in full-screen. Make the window smaller and try again. Works for me.”