Messages

Thanks for the explanation. The files did look very small, but I don't know what a normal sized map file would look like.

It looks like the problem may have been due to using just a really small part of the big map. When I loaded up a much larger portion of the map, I could see the cross hatching outside of the map boundaries on my screen when the scale was zoomed out, but when I zoomed in so the map filled the whole screen, the map looks fine.  I have no idea what caused the problem, but it works fine now and that's all I care about at this point.

That's what I did-used the card reader.  I'm really new at this as you can tell. What I realized is that I have plenty of room on my card (2G) so I can load up a big area and just ignore what I don't need.

Now I want to figure out how to load a route onto the map.  I tried creating one yesterday and figured that part out, now I have to learn how to transfer that so that it shows up on the map. I think I understand how. We shall see.

It may be that. I deleted the map and reloaded another one by selecting a bigger number of sections.  I can see the hatch pattern until I get to the edge of the map, then it is okay.  I think that maybe the problem was that with only two segments, the GPS wasn't seeing the edge of the map for some reason. Thanks for the help.

Thanks, I will check that out.

I transfered two sections of the California Topo to my Garmin 76CSx using Mapsource.  The map looks fine on my PC, but on the Garmin, the map is covered with a blue grid which makes using it impossible. Any idea what caused this and how to fix it?

I take it that if I make a route on the PC, there is a way to transfer it to the GPS?

Different topic-Is Basecamp better to use than MapSource for topos? I downloaded it from the Garmin website, but the Installer won't install the program. All it does is install a folder.  My PC is having various problems, so I'm thinking this is a symptom of something going haywire.  I had the same problem with MapSource, but eventually got that to load up. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Thanks again everyone. I moderate on two backpacking forums and know how it can be constantly answering newbie questions, so all your help is appreciated.

I managed to isolate the Palm Springs map and put it into MapSource.  Is there a way to turn off the pink selection box and just see the map itself on my PC?

Also, I loaded the map onto a chip for my 76CSx.  Is there a way to see the map on it or do I have to be out in the area the map covers before it will show up? I'm obviously unclear how that works. I have it set in the Map Set Up but don't know what to do after that.

Also, is there a good book that explains how to do a lot of the basic stuff? I have the owner's manual, but it is pretty worthless at answering simple questions.

Thanks.

Thanks, I will give those suggestions a try. Thanks also for the link-that is a really useful site. I'm going to have to spend some time checking it out for thoroughly.

I am a total newbie with my first GPSr-a Garmin 76CSx.  I have downloaded MapSource, have a spare 2G Microcard, a reader and have downloaded the California Topo map to my computer.

How do I figure out what sections I want? For example, I want to put the Palm Springs area on my card to use in my GPSr, but can't figure out which of the blocks on the map cover that area.  Is there some kind of index or is it just hunt and peck? With USGS maps, they have names, but I haven't seen anything like that for this one.

Thanks