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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: prglor on December 11, 2011, 07:17:11 AM

Title: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 11, 2011, 07:17:11 AM
I am thinking of buying a Garmin Etrex Summit HC as my first hiking gps.  I realize that it is limited by the 24MB internal storage size.  I live in Western North Carolina close to the Pisgah National Forest , Dupont State Forest and Blue Ridge Parkway and do almost all of my hiking in these places so I don't need a lot of memory to hold something like a whole state or the whole Southeast.  I'm wondering if 24MB is large enough to store these 3 places, which are fairly close to one another.

I would also welcome comments from members of this forum about the Summit HC, other than the memory size limitation.  I'm particularly interested in how well free maps can be used with this unit because I hate the way Garmin overcharges for their maps and even after you purchase them doesn't allow you to use them on a new gps if you upgrade.  So, in essence you're only renting the maps, not owning them.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 11, 2011, 07:52:45 AM
Suggest you download and install an NC map, and select sections you want to visit.  In MapSource the size of the maps shows up in the map tab.  In BaseCamp the total size shows up as a bar on the right of the map selection screen in MapInstall.

Any questions, read these tutorials:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-install-mapsource-if-it-didnt-come-with-your-gps/
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-open-maps-in-garmin-basecamp/
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-open-maps-in-mapsource/

Keep in mind that you really only need BaseCamp to figure this out.  Some folks find MapSource more convenient, but BaseCamp is the software Garmin is currently developing, and it supports newer GPSrs more fully.

Regarding the Summit HC.  Apart from it's memory size, it also won't support "Garmin Custom (raster) maps", Birdseye, and wireless geocaching.  I don't know how it performs relative to other Garmin's of the same vintage like the 60CSX, but I assume it's adequate when handling tracks and waypoints, which are what you really need in a a pinch.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Indrid Cold on December 11, 2011, 11:48:46 AM
Quote from: prglor on December 11, 2011, 07:17:11 AM
I am thinking of buying a Garmin Etrex Summit HC as my first hiking gps.
I would pass on that unit unless I was getting it for around US$50.00

If you are expecting to want to use high resolution maps, you are going to want a unit that has a card slot. Sooner or later. Give the new eTrex line a look, at least you can get something you can grow into.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: EagleBoy on December 12, 2011, 07:48:49 AM
Compare THIS to the eTrex!  http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-gpsmap-76csx.html  A Killer deal on a nice unit with features you need.

US link: http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-gpsmap-76csx.html
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Indrid Cold on December 12, 2011, 08:32:59 AM
Quote
Compare THIS to the eTrex!  gpsmap-76csx.  A Killer deal on a nice unit with features you need.
A nice unit in years past but it's feature set had been outdated by the newer eTrex series.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on December 12, 2011, 08:37:55 AM
That's a Canadian site, but I think North Carolina is still part of the US.  ;) Rich just posted some very nice sale prices at gpstracklog.com - available today only - from EMS here in the US. The eTrex 20 is going for $152. You wouldn't have the compass and barometer, but it's a much more compact unit than the bulky 76 series, receives the GLONASS satellites, supports BirdsEye imagery and custom maps. The 76 series doesn't have any of that.

Getting back to the original question, even though you said you didn't want comments about memory size, I think that is the "elephant in the room". You should care about memory size if you plan to keep this unit for awhile for the reasons Indrid mentions. If not today, a couple years down the road you'll wish that you spent few bucks more for a unit with a card slot. And you may also wish that you could use aerial imagery and "custom maps" which you can easily make yourself.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 12, 2011, 05:10:30 PM
Thanks for all the input.  I looked at reviews of the eTrex 20 on amazon and was turned off by this 1-star review:

8 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars disappointed, September 11, 2011
By Graham (NH) - See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Garmin eTrex 20 Worldwide Handheld GPS Navigator (Electronics)
I was beaten up for 'pre-reviewing' this as one-star vaporware. Now I have purchased it and - very regretfully - returned it. I cannot rate it any higher. Small can be a virtue but it can be taken to the point of being a liability. This screen is SMALL. Not only that but it is primitive in terms of reflectivity and visibility. My cellphone screen is both MUCH larger and MUCH more viewable. I found the tiny screen almost unviewable, particularly in street mode. The whole device is a good deal smaller than it needs to be and the screen does not make good use of the already minimal real estate. The non-touch interface is just plan clunky. This has the feel of a product that has been designed down to a price point not up to a spec. If cellphones makers can make easily pocketable devices with great screens so can GPS makers - they only have to incorporate a fraction of the functionality.

Does this guy have a valid point or not?  What is the bird's eye view and what is the advantage of it?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 12, 2011, 05:20:13 PM
Forgot another question I have.  What are "custom maps" and wireless geocaching.  Are "custom maps" the same as "Garmin Custom (raster) maps"?  If so, are they only available from Garmin and how does that fit with "  "custom maps" which you can easily make yourself. "

As you can see I know next to nothing about handheld gps, so this forum is a godsend for me.  But it may take awhile to get up to speed from where I'm starting.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on December 12, 2011, 05:55:54 PM
Quote from: prglor on December 12, 2011, 05:10:30 PMDoes this guy have a valid point or not?  What is the bird's eye view and what is the advantage of it?

Well I haven't used one myself, but can tell you this much. If that guy didn't like the eTrex 20, he would absolutely HATE the eTrex Summit. User interface is very old-school and awkward IMO, screen has the same low resolution but only 256 colors, like the old IBM PC.  ;D

Birdseye info here: http://www.garmin.com/us/maps/birdseye

This is Garmin's guide for making simple custom maps yourself. There are a variety of free and shareware programs that can be used to make larger and better ones: http://www.garmin.com/us/products/onthetrail/custommaps

Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 12, 2011, 06:23:42 PM
Quote from: prglor on December 12, 2011, 05:20:13 PM
Forgot another question I have.  What are "custom maps" and wireless geocaching.  Are "custom maps" the same as "Garmin Custom (raster) maps"?  If so, are they only available from Garmin and how does that fit with "  "custom maps" which you can easily make yourself. "

As you can see I know next to nothing about handheld gps, so this forum is a godsend for me.  But it may take awhile to get up to speed from where I'm starting.

"Garmin custom maps" are georeferenced raster images.  Could be areal or satellite images or scanned imaged of paper maps.  These are positioned so that they correspond with the actual conditions on the globe.

Custom maps (not Garmin) are the sort of vector maps you download from this site.

I don't geocache so I can't answer much about that except that geocachers seem to regard paperless cacheing very highly.  The wireless feature permits you to exchange data wirelessly in the field with cachers that have other wireless Garmin units.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 12, 2011, 06:47:55 PM
So the custom vector maps that can be downloaded from this site can't be used with the eTrex summit gps? If I buy this gps I'm stuck with buying my maps from Garmin - am I understanding the comments about compatibility of different map types correctly?

What about the eTrex 20 review where the reviewer complained about the small size of the screen and poor visibilty and viewability.  What's everyone's opinion of this review?

If the eTrex 20 complaints are valid, I'm thinking of going with the eTrex Vista HCx instead of the Summit.  You guys have pretty well convinced me I need a model with an external card to be able to load more or bigger maps.  What does everyone think of this model?  Can the maps from this site be used with it?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on December 12, 2011, 07:25:38 PM
Vector maps consist of a database of coordinates along with instructions on how to "connect the dots" to create a map. These are traditional Garmin maps, and they will work on any mapping receiver. Yes, most of the maps here would work on the Summit, subject to memory limits.

Raster maps are basically pictures that have been wrapped on the face of the earth in the correct place. Only the newer Garmin models can use this, not the Summit or Vista.

As I said above, the screen on the Vista and Summit is just about the same size as the eTrex 20 (actually the eTrex 20 is slightly larger) but the newer model supports 64,000 colors and the old models only support 256 colors. If you don't like the eTrex 20 screen, I think you would like the Summit/Vista screen even less. They are all very low resolution by today's standards (compared to something like a smartphone).

Are you familiar with the comparison feature on Garmin's site? https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do?cID=145&compareProduct=87771&compareProduct=8709&compareProduct=8703
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 12, 2011, 07:41:11 PM
Quote from: prglor on December 12, 2011, 06:47:55 PM
So the custom vector maps that can be downloaded from this site can't be used with the eTrex summit gps? If I buy this gps I'm stuck with buying my maps from Garmin - am I understanding the comments about compatibility of different map types correctly?

Almost all maps from this site are suitable for most Garmin mapping GPSrs. What I meant when I mentioned "custom maps (not Garmin)" is that this site uses the phrase "custom maps" to refer to vector maps made by third party map authors.  Garmin, on the other hand uses the phrase "custom maps" to refer to georeferenced raster graphics as I described above.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: maps4gps on December 13, 2011, 05:02:16 AM
If there is a store near you which carries many models, go look/test them.  Sometimes how a unit fits in your hand, etc. is more important than some of the features.
Also see if there will be a geocaching event near you.  Get opinions of the particapents and actually see the units and the possible issues.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: EagleBoy on December 13, 2011, 06:28:05 AM
Bang on suggestion to go check them out in person.  One man's meat is another's poison is all I will say about reviews.  One good or bad review means squat IMHO.

I can say that for me, custom maps was vital as I use my Dakota for downhill snow skiing and want the trail maps embedded.  Size was important too since it needed to be easily pocketable.

And lastly, most vendors will ship cross border.  Even to North Carolina.  ;)
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Indrid Cold on December 13, 2011, 09:20:23 AM
Quote from: EagleBoy on December 13, 2011, 06:28:05 AM
And lastly, most vendors will ship cross border.  Even to North Carolina.  ;)
I added the US link for gpscity.com to your post above;););)
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 13, 2011, 02:55:37 PM
Thanks for the clarifications.  Pretty understandable when the terms are defined.  Like a word in a foreign language that means nothing until it's defined in your language.

I think your suggestion of going to a store and checking units out in person is a great idea.  Don't know why I didn't think of it myself except I've gotten into the habit of online shopping.  Thanks.  Will let you know what I decide to buy.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 14, 2011, 07:08:42 AM
I see that eTrex 20 is available bundled with a 100K topo map.  Does this map cover the entire US?  How useful is a 100K map - I see that most maps on this site are 24K. 

Does the eTrex 20 have some form of compass or altimeter?  In reading some reviews I got the idea that this might be the case, although not as accurate as what's on the eTrex 30.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on December 14, 2011, 07:23:30 AM
The eTrex 20 doesn't have a hardware compass or altimeter. It can figure out what direction you're heading from the GPS fix as long as you are moving. It can read your height from the GPS data also. These aren't the same thing as hardware that actually knows what direction you're pointing or what the barometric pressure is. I didn't find the compass all that useful on my 60csx, but the new triaxial compass on my Montana is very nice because it operates in any position and calibrates itself, unlike the old style Garmin compasses. I never use the altimeter, and you need to calibrate it at a known elevation if you want any accuracy.

The 100k topo's are a mixed bag. They can be very inaccurate, but it can be nice to have the whole country available when you need it. They also have DEM data that can produce shaded terrain, 3d views and provide elevation profiles for routes and tracks.

You can view them and see what you think here: http://www8.garmin.com/cgi-bin/mapgen/webmap.cgi?p=13107201&l=0&u=0&v=0&cp=4B21D85AFEFD585A&z=0&w=600&h=450&d=2&rz=0&k=1&sc=1
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 15, 2011, 07:16:09 AM
Thanks once again for the great information.  That link is super for seeing what the 100k topo map is like.  I looked up a similar topo map for the southeast 24k.  I'm not sure what advantage the 24k map has over the 100k one.  I zoomed down to the area around the fish hatchery in the Pisgah Forest near Brevard, NC which I'm familiar with and couldn't see much additional detail in the 24k map - maybe a few more marked trails. 

Interestingly, the 24k map does not show Road 475 in the Pisgah Forest which goes to the Fish Hatchery and many trailheads, whereas the 100k map does.  I learned that neither map shows POI's like the Ranger Station on Rte 276 just west of Brevard nor do they show most of the trails in the Pisgah Forest.  I can see where being able to overlay a scanned image of a map having these features on them would be immensely useful to me, so I am leaning heavily towards getting the eTrex 20 or even breaking the bank to get the eTrex 30.  What other advantages does the 30 offer besides a compass and an altimeter?  Being able to share data wirelessly with other people with similar GPS's would not be useful at this point in time.

If I were to get a bundle with the 100k topo map, could scanned images or Google Earth views be overlayed onto the 100k map?  I assume they could also be overlayed onto maps downloaded from this site or maps I create myself?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: EagleBoy on December 15, 2011, 07:35:46 AM
As long as they support Garmin Custom Maps it is east to DL images and georeference them to the base map.  I do this all the time by overlaying ski area maps onto the base map for my Dakota.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: jbensman on December 15, 2011, 09:20:36 AM
First, remember everything on the 100K maps are drawn at a 1:100,000 scale.  So they are not very accurate.  If you don't zoom in any more than .2 miles, they are fairly accurate.  But if you zoom in much more, they tend to be way off.  I bought the T model for the DEM data.  The maps suck but are good if you don't have anything else.  The topo maps on this site are much better-however, they tend to not have trails.

That's where My Trails comes in.  It is a transprent overlay map.  When you load it on your GPS with another map, it will show trails and POIs on top of the other map you have loaded.  In MapSource and BaseCamp, all you see is the trails.  My Trails has extremly good coverage for the Pisgah NF.  The Forest Service (who provided me all thier GIS data) has GPSed most of thier trails an they have extensive POIs like backcountry campsites.  My Trails has the Ranger Station/visitor center you mentioned (and the amptheater, bridges, info signs and campground).  It also has lots of FS roads including 475c which goes back to the fish hatchery.  If anything is missing or wrong, you can GPS it or trace it in GoogleEarth and I can add it to My Trails.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 15, 2011, 04:54:57 PM
What is My Trails?

For that matter, what is the T model and DEM data?  Did you mean DAM(N) data?  :)
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 15, 2011, 05:51:09 PM
The T model includes Topo data.  DEM data is elevation data in a grid form, say 30m x 30m.  It can be used to generate a 3D view on your GPSr.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 15, 2011, 06:06:28 PM
And My Trails?  Is that on this website or another one?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 15, 2011, 06:47:10 PM
My Trails is on this site:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/53
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 16, 2011, 12:20:14 PM
So now I'm convinced I need a gps that can handle both kinds of customized maps and has an external memory slot.  The eTrex 20 appears to be the lowest cost unit to get these features, but I'd kind of like to have a compass and an altimeter.  Let's say I can talk myself (and my wife) into my needing to lay out about $300 in order for us to hike without getting lost, is the eTrex 30 my best choice or are there other gps's in this price range I should consider?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 16, 2011, 01:31:02 PM
I think the compass is really handy for geocachers and those of us who want to find other waypoints precisely.  I always forget to calibrate my altimeter.  It looks like the Etrex 30 is going for about $280 at REI, slightly less at Amazon, but if you are an REI member you get a dividend.  If you want a touchscreen you should look at the Garmin Dakotas or Oregons.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: maps4gps on December 17, 2011, 03:43:22 AM
'needing to lay out about $300 in order for us to hike without getting lost'
If you need aGPSr unit for that, you should not be out there.  Always take a paper map with you and know how to use it.  An electronic device can fail at any time.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on December 17, 2011, 05:41:30 AM
I didn't get my first GPS until I was almost 50 and managed to hike around fine without it.  :)

If you really must have the compass, I would get an Oregon 450. it is going for $260 right now at Amazon. Note that their prices can vary considerably from day to day, so you need to watch closely and be ready to buy when it drops. A more typical price has been closer to $300 at Amazon recently. http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Oregon-450-Handheld-Navigator/dp/B00313JX4W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324129197&sr=8-1
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on December 17, 2011, 07:38:10 PM
Are track logs and bread crumbs the same thing?  Do all GPS units (including the eTrex 30) create them to enable you to backtrack to where you started?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on December 17, 2011, 08:40:26 PM
Quote from: prglor on December 17, 2011, 07:38:10 PM
Are track logs and bread crumbs the same thing?  Do all GPS units (including the eTrex 30) create them to enable you to backtrack to where you started?
Yes to tracklog question.  Most(including eTrex 30) to second question.  Some nuvis don't make tracklogs.( A good thing since the police could use them to tell how fast you were going.)
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on December 18, 2011, 04:50:59 AM
Only the really old Nuvi models don't record tracklogs. The Nuvi 200, 300 and 600 series don't record tracks, but they have all been discontinued for many years. All current models record track, and in fact you can't even turn off track recording - you can clear the track but not turn it off. Garmin harvests your tracklogs whenever you do a map update and uses them to build their historical traffic flow database for the trafficTrends feature of new models.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: EagleBoy on December 19, 2011, 08:09:17 AM
That is an awesome deal - free shipping too!  I chose the Dakota 20 over the oregon only for size alone, but the Oregon is sweet.  BUY NOW!  :)
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on January 05, 2012, 03:33:46 PM
Are the 60CSx and 76CSx able to use custom maps?  What are their limitations, if any, in comparison to the eTrex20 or 30 or other moderate cost mapping gps's?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on January 05, 2012, 03:51:58 PM
When Garmin refers to "custom maps", they are talking about maps like these: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/246/ . The 60csx and 76csx cannot handle that kind of map. They also cannot handle Birdseye imagery: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=70144

Additionally they have an older style compass that requires you to hold the unit flat (screen facing the sky) to work. Newer models have triaxial compasses that work in any position. The new eTrex can also receive signals from different satellites, which may or may not make a difference in reception/accuracy.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on January 06, 2012, 05:27:23 AM
Thank you for the clarification as to which units can use custom maps.  Given this information, I guess I'm looking at the eTrex20, eTrex30 or Oregon 450 as the affordable (for me) choices.  When I read their reviews on Amazon, there are an alarming number of negative reviews claiming poor accuracy for all 3 units and difficulty reading the screen for the 450.  The 450 also gets a number of bad reviews on GPS City, the eTrex 20 and 30 not so much but they're so new there aren't many reviews for them.

Yet, along with these bad reviews that appear to show a pattern of flaws, there are many glowing reviews from satisfied customers.  Are the bad reviews just a case of lemons?  Is Garmin's quality control so poor that there is a significant percentage of flawed units being sold?  Are they, like everything else, being produced in China?

It looks to me like the return service of the place you purchase your unit needs to be the primary criterion, not price, for where you buy.  How do Amazon and GPS City stack up in this regard?  It appears that Garmin will be little help if you get a lemon based on an overwhelming number of people posting bad experiences with their customer support.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on January 06, 2012, 08:39:53 AM
Quote from: prglor on January 06, 2012, 05:27:23 AM
  Are the bad reviews just a case of lemons?  Is Garmin's quality control so poor that there is a significant percentage of flawed units being sold?  Are they, like everything else, being produced in China?

I've got an Etrex 30.  I read the reviews and bought it anyway.  So far, NO problems.  Accuracy is as good as my 62s; compass is as accurate as my 62s.  When you read the reviews keep in mind that GPSrs are complicated gadgets, and there is a lot of room for operator error.  Historically there's also been a lot of room for programming error with ORs and later Garmins, but Garmin has been pretty good at keeping up with the firmware fixes.

I had what appeared to be a loose battery terminal on my 60CSX, under warranty, and Garmin turned it around in about two weeks.  They replaced the unit so they also had to provide me with new unlock codes for City Navigator.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on January 06, 2012, 10:03:35 AM
Congratulations on the new eTrex 30. :)  When you got the replacement 60csx back from Garmin, did you check to see whether it has the MTK chipset instead of SiRF? Garmin switched chip vendors about 3 years ago, and some people are upset to have received MTK based units in exchange when they sent their old devices in for repair.

Regarding Amazon, I have always been very happy and they get high marks from other people I know. I generally only purchase items that are sold and shipped directly by them and not their partners. You are absolutely correct that you need to check the vendor's return/exchange policy. REI is another good place - they have an extremely liberal return policy plus it's a bricks and mortar store that can help you in person.

If I had to rely on the reviews at Amazon, I would be too scared to buy anything. Take them with a grain of salt IMO. And beyond that, you have to ask "compared to what"? Would you be happier with a Magellan device? There is a huge amount of negative feedback about their customer support.

I am a moderator at GPSReview and see a lot of user reports about Garmin support. The experience is overwhelmingly positive. Sometimes you will need to be insistent - but nice - to get what you want. And use phone support instead of e-mail to get the best results.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on January 06, 2012, 12:58:30 PM
It was too early for the MTK when I replaced my 60CSX.  Love the Etrex, the only thing it's missing that the 62s has is a "Foreward" button to navigate pages.  The Etrex only goes "Back".
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Boyd on January 06, 2012, 01:22:43 PM
I don't think the new eTrex devices can send NMEA data to your computer for use in GPS applications either, can they? Too bad, since that would be a relatively inexpensive way to get a GLONASS receiver for PC use.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on January 06, 2012, 04:15:58 PM
Quote from: Boyd on January 06, 2012, 01:22:43 PM
I don't think the new eTrex devices can send NMEA data to your computer for use in GPS applications either, can they? Too bad, since that would be a relatively inexpensive way to get a GLONASS receiver for PC use.
No, they don't the only interface options are Garmin (which provides a spanner option) and Mass Storage.  My 62s provides NMEA, Text, and RTCM options.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on January 13, 2012, 05:54:13 PM
How well does Garmin software work with 64 bit Windows 7?  I recently upgraded to it after replacing my computer which got hit by lightning.  Now about 3/4 of my software is incompatible with my operating system.  Are there any issues with Garmin software or with stuff downloadable from this site?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: Seldom on January 13, 2012, 06:01:42 PM
Quote from: prglor on January 13, 2012, 05:54:13 PM
How well does Garmin software work with 64 bit Windows 7?  I recently upgraded to it after replacing my computer which got hit by lightning.  Now about 3/4 of my software is incompatible with my operating system.  Are there any issues with Garmin software or with stuff downloadable from this site?

That's odd, I migrated most of my software from a 32 bit WinXP machine to a 64 bit Win7 machine and all of it worked just fine.
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: maps4gps on January 13, 2012, 06:57:24 PM
MapSource and BaseCamp work fine.  Microsoft elected not to support older DOS based software in Windows 7 - had their employees working on new games, etc. 
You will need to install a 32-bit mapset like 'My trails ... ' before installing any of the State topos I uploaded in May and June 2011 - there was an unrecognized glitch in the 64-bit installer used for those mapsets. 
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: DesertCruiser on January 13, 2012, 08:58:34 PM
prglor:  if your having problems after getting Windows 7, running older programs this might help   http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html (http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html)

Don.....
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: prglor on January 14, 2012, 06:41:12 PM
Thanks a lot for the link.  I've bookmarked it - don't have time to look into it yet.  Too busy making homemade wine  :).  Perhaps I should have specified that I my upgrade was from Windows 98 to Windows 7 so most of the software I was using was pretty old - but very functional.

I see that GPS City has dropped their price for the Etrex 20 to $170.  How is their customer service, return policy on defective equipment, etc?
Title: Re: Memory Needed for a Small Section of Western North Carolina
Post by: EagleBoy on January 24, 2012, 03:10:10 PM
GPS City is excellent.  Bought a half dozen devices from them over the last 2-3 years.  30 day return policy (longer at Christmas)   Knowledgeable staff.  They now offer in-store replacement so that you do not have to return to mfg. for warranty work (extra charge though).  Great prices and they will price match!