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Messages - IDmtBiker

#1
GPSr Units / Re: Maps on Garmin eTrex Vista H
January 18, 2011, 05:36:06 PM
use Mapsource or Basecamp to download a map area that will not exceed your internal memory.  you will have the same issues with any Garmin brand maps.   Not having a SD/micro slot really limits the GPS for added map data  (bad Garmin!!!). 
#2
GPSr Units / Re: NG Sat10 gps? using NG topo maps?
November 20, 2010, 07:45:54 AM
thanks for the more accurate info.  I do have a Triton 500 and I have four NG state TOPO maps (DVD sets) and have transfered portions and used them on the Triton 500. The NG TOPO maps on my Triton were poor quality than what you see on the PC, the map image on the Triton was much lower resolution in my opinion.  Maybe my transfer options were not set properly?  Anyway, if NG thinks marketing a GPSer that is not compatible(??) with their own previous NG State TOPO sets, (that many people have, including me)  that would be a very poor decision.

here is the NG link to the device:  http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/maps/mapping-software/active-10-trek-gps

g
#3
GPSr Units / NG Sat10 gps? using NG topo maps?
November 19, 2010, 03:23:54 PM
Anyone seen this yet.....new GPS device being sold by National Geographic using NG maps on a SD card..   $369 bucks without the maps.  Maps are $99bucks for each State on a proprietary SD card that ONLY works on the Sat10 Gpsr, so says the specs...ouch!
#4
This is another more detailed response from Garmin Tech support about how Auto track works:

"The Auto feature uses a "smart" recording method that does not use time or distance. Instead the Auto recording uses changes to trigger track points. These changes can be things like direction, speed, elevation, and so on. Having the interval set to more often or most often, has the unit lay points at slight changes that it would have typically ignored. A normal track will lay an adequate track but a higher interval gets the finer details of the track making it more accurate.
Time and Distance recording methods are the only time that the unit would rely on one of them to lay points."

g
#5
Below is Garmin tech support's answer to my question on how AUTO track setting works to add a track point

"The auto setting for the track recording method is to drop a track point
whenever there is a change in speed, direction , or elevation."

So, my guess is incorrect, that it would be the first (either time or dist default settings) of time or dist settings to occur, as my tests on this confirms that is not the case.  Track points are not recorded at the min of the time (30sec) or dist settings (.06 mi) when using AUTO setting.   So, based on above, if you were riding at a set speed on a straight north bike path, and it was flat elevation, you would have very few track points recorded!   Note they do not mention distance or time as a variable for the Auto setting.   g
#6
thanks for all the feedback.   I have to admit that I am a detail geek, and will play with this more, for my own amusement!  I still am not clear on what exactly "auto" settings does for recording tracks, and why would anyone want anything less than "most often" setting for the auto record option!!  haha.   greg
#7
It seems that on Garmin units (60csx, Colorado, and Oregon) the default settings for a point to be taken for your track is:  for Time is 30 sec, and distance is .06 miles.   I assume that the "auto" option does a combo of time and distance, recording the point at what ever comes first?  However, that does not explain the options for Auto to take points from less to most?   

So, my #1 question is: if I reset the Time to 10 secs (from default of 30 secs)  and dist to .01 miles (from the default of .06 miles) and then change back to Auto, will the unit record points more often on Auto setting than the default Auto setting?   What are the variables for recording track points using Auto setting? 

My #2 question is: what is the best setting to use if you want very accurate track data for a hike:  time, distance or Auto?   Same question for bike use.

thanks..g
#8
thanks, I did not see that garmin blog earlier.  Just read it now.  Folks sure seem to whine alot on those sites, whine about free apps (BaseCamp) they whine about how their $29 for a year subscp does not allow them to download the entire globe imagery!! haha.  So, the issue is likely just server limits.  I can understand that...and accept it.  I can get lots of targeted areas via Birdseye,  I only use it for special areas that I would actually go to and the topography is so choppy that the topos do not help much...
thanks for your reply.   g
#9
Birdseye downloads seem to be limited by the "server" when I use my subscription using BaseCamp.  Limits seem to be:  Standard resolution= limit is 56mb, High resolution= limit is 105mb, Highest resolution= limit is 75mb.   Note this limit is the largest "box" per download,  I can of course do multiple downloads and get a larger area. 

So, my question is: are these limits similar to what others have found?

My guess would be that these download limits are due to the total "image"s limit for each resolution, which seems to be about 4,900 images or so.  I am just trying to figure out the tech of this and cannot figure out why the max download of High is more than the max download MB of highest,  you would expect the MB size to increase from standard to High to Highest.

#10
Boyd, yes, I think you are right.  The 2-4 gb cards seem more then enough for any area of interest , plus they are on sale and cheap!!!!.  g
#11
well, that is what I thought.  Seems that Garmin support is not that well informed, which is strange.  I just did not want to buy a larger SDHC card due to the expense if it did not work fully on my gps!!

thanks...greg
#12
This question has been one that I have been interested in.  there are many posts about this on the site.  I have a garmin colorado 300 and an Oregon 400t.  So, I asked Garmin support two questions:  1. can garmin devices use both SD and SDHC cards?  The answer is below:

"The SDHC cards are more common for cards larger than 4GB. You can find regular micro SD cards at a lower cost. There is not a difference in speed of how the unit access the data. Our devices will work with any card up to the 4GB size."

Question #2: is there a size limit for SD/SDHC card for garmin devices?  The answer is below:

"the units were designed to only read up to 4GB cards. The device has to read through the card each time it is turned on. So there is a hardware limitation on the device itself. As our technology for the Outdoor handheld devices continues to grow. The units created in the future should have more memory capabilities."

What my question is now to the forums:  there are some posts that folks are using much larger SD/SDHC cards, like 8gb or larger (which are all SDHC cards).  so, are you sure that your unit is reading all that space or are you just wasting everything above 4gb (per the garmin support response above)?

thanks...g
#13
I encountered the same issue with a friend that downloaded one of the state topo mapsets.  at first it would not show up in his BASECAMP pulldown menu, but the BASECAMP version was old and it did an auto update, and after the update to v 3.0.6., the state mapset showed up!   still not sure why, but would seem that BASECAMP update likely had something in for garmin compatible mapsets that are being created on this site.!!   g
#14
Using The Maps/Garmin Software / Re: Filetypes
October 15, 2010, 06:47:49 PM
Mapsource converts the gpx files from your GPS to a .gdb file.    however BASECAMP only seem to use .gpx, so you have to import Mapsource .gdb files into Basecamp.    very strange, first time I tried BASECAMP. not sure why Garmin has these two programs set to use different .gpx/.gdb files.   just confuses people, like me!!!