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Garmin GPS Experiences 02
This is a report about Mr Thomas's recent upgrade to a newer model of GPS.
Actual screen pic from Garmin 60Cx, showing resolution, tracks and waymarks from Thomas' first hike with this unit. Question mark is there because we turned GPS off in order to take this picture, at night with backlight on. We did a FIND, selected waymark 485 and hit ENTER, then chose MAP, hit ENTER. Waymark numbers match Thomas' own map of records of archaeological sites, much easier to do on 60Cx compared to GEKO 201.
This first experience with this unit creates a lot of responses, mostly positive- and questions. First, imagine how this will appear once we install the SD chip with a local topo map for the background. As you can see with the provided basemap there is a total absence of reference data. "Free" is exactly what it is worth if you are hiking away from main highways. Remember, this is why Thomas was first attracted to Delorme.
While doing this we still had questions about what was going on inside the unit regarding memory. Remember that 65 MB SD chip that came with the unit? What was it doing? If nothing than what was the GPS doing? Was all of this track data being saved internally and how much of this would it do? How many hikes could we go on using on board memory?
We submitted an inquiry to Garmin support. We got lucky, we received thorough answers from a person named Steven, Product Support Specialist. He responded, "Waypoints, routes, and tracks are stored on the 60Cx's dedicated memory and not the microSD card. This memory will hold 1000 waypoints, 50 routes, 10,000 active track log points, and 20 saved tracks.
The Tracks feature creates an electronic bread crumb trail or “track log” on the Map page as you travel. The track log contains information about points along its path including time, location and elevation for each point. The track log starts recording as soon as the GPS locates your position - unless track log recording is turned off. The track log will eventually overwrite itself unless the Wrap When Full feature is deactivated or the track log is cleared. You can save your track log as a Saved Track to use later as a TracBack. To save memory, each point in a saved track is stripped of date, time, and speed information. Additionally, the number of points in a saved track must equal 500 [or less] so the data is consolidated automatically. Saved tracks and the percentage of memory used for the current track log are listed on the Tracks page. Use the Tracks page to setup, clear, save a track log or enable the TracBack feature for the current track log.
You may find it necessary to write the track log to the data card (available on compatible units). The Log Track to Data Card feature records the current track log to the microSD card in addition to the unit’s internal memory. Using this option allows you to record a large number of points without losing information like you do with a saved track. Track logs on the data card can't be viewed on the unit or displayed on the map page. As long as the Log Track to Data Card feature is enabled, a new file is created for each day you use the unit – recording continues until the card is filled. Use the USB Mass Storage feature on the Interface Setup page to manually open the *.GPX track log file(s) in Garmin’s MapSource."
THIS was very helpful but not a literal answer to my question of "how much internal memory does my unit have?" In a follow up respond he informed me that most units have 8 MB of memory to operate and to store the amount of data describe above. So, now we know that the GPS can operate without the SD chip. Learning more about this chip is in the near future.
Penstemon Wildflower photographed on this hike. Just one of several species of penstemons that grow in Coconino National Forest.
~~~~~~~~
Next, we noticed that the "accuracy" of the 60Cx never got below 14 feet, with WAAS activated. Our GEKO 201 unit achieved 11 or 12 feet all the time. Again, we contacted Steven at Garmin:
A: Thank you for contacting Garmin International. Hmm, consumer GPS is not capable of less than +/- sub-3 meter (~9 feet) accuracy. The best accuracy I have seen in my 2.5 years working at Garmin was on a GPSMAP 60CSx at +/-8 feet standing on top of the parking garage at Garmin HQ on a clear night. Also, there's a general misconception that WAAS improves lateral accuracy. While there may be some truth to this, WAAS was designed for aviation purposes and delivers greater vertical accuracy. +/- 14 feet is well within the intended operational spec.
Well, this again helps us better understand what is possible and why. Some experimenting to do with calculations, averaging, WAAS, etc.
Having completed two local hikes, and having the "tracks" and "waypoints" embedded in the internal memory of the GPS unit, as we've now learned, we decided to conduct two other experiments. How does importing this data into our MAC computer actually work?
We started with Garmin's free and downloadable software they call ROADTRIP. We opened it up to our area and discovered the same basemap that is inside of our 60Cx, main highways only.
This appears to be a "vector" based image as everything is drawn with angular lines, simplified, etc. As shown with the GPS screen shot above, when you are away from the main highways hiking, there is no background reference.
Here, for example, close up, is our hiking track data so far. Now you can see how it appears on the GPS screen and within the Garmin software on our computer screen. It's obviously to scale and a perfect reproduction of what happened. We understand that this software will accommodate a topo map in the background on both our GPS unit and within this software. So, we began some inquiries to Garmin:
Q: "Is it true that when I buy the SD chip with an Arizona topo (item 4) it will replace this blank base map that is there now?"
A: The TOPO SD card will replace the basemap in the unit for that area. Maps on the cards cannot be copied or viewed on a computer. You would need the DVD for to copy or view the maps on a computer.
Q: Does this mean that I have to buy them both? That's $200.
A: No, you would just need to buy the DVD. With the DVD, you can copy or view the maps on a computer, and send the maps to the GPS using your own blank microSD card.
Q: I have read that the 65 MB SD chip isn't big enough.
A: All of Arizona requires 58 MB. A 65 MB card is small but with the latest software, the GPSMAP 60CSx can accept and use SD chips up to 4 GB.
Be sure your 60CSx has the latest unit software version 3.90 and GPS chipset version 3.00. Here's how you can check: MAIN MENU > SETUP > SYSTEM > MENU button > SOFTWARE VERSION. You can update by connecting your 60CSx to a computer and running WebUpdater.
WebUpdater is a free download that will check for and install software updates without using your Internet web browser. Download the WebUpdater for Windows here: http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=931 or for Mac here: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/downloadsDetails.jsp?id=3699&product=999-99999-27&&pID=9566
Note: This last bit of info didn't exactly work since our unit is a 60Cx, not 60 60CSx. We couldn't find SOFTWARE VERSION using this path. But we've posted this information for the benefit of readers anyway.
Also... a reader of this article just sent us this email: "The actual download file size is 1.5 GB. This seems different than the 58 MB Garmin talks about for all of AZ. I suspect the 58 MB Arizona map is based on a blowup of the 100K topo map series which would be less accurate and less detailed." This seems to be biased support information, promoting sales (?).
Simultaneously, we began experiments with the macGPSpro software.
We purchased a copy of this CD product. Oddly enough it would not work. We attempted to open it in three separate computers, none of them would recognize it. When we emailed the publisher the response was quick and unexpected. Rather than provide any support or a replacement they immediately issued a credit for the purchase and left us on our own. We were told that our email was arriving typed in ALL CAPS and they refused to deal with a customer who yelled at them. We hope that this is not typical of their customer support. We like the primary product.
Left to our own devices we discovered Charttiff.Com which provides an invaluable service online. We ordered all of the relevant DRG maps for our work and we've been using them successfully since. We ordered the shaded versions, as shown here.
Here is the very same GPS data of two hikes imported onto a Charttiff.Com DRG map, converted for use by macGPSpro software. THIS is becoming very interesting. We are aware that this map is "raster" based whereas Garmin maps are vector. But with our appetites whetted by the possibility of matching what Delorme advertises we sent an inquiry to macGPSpro:
Q: Will your MacTopos™ 2.0 Arizona load into the 65MB SD chip that came with our Garmin 60Cx unit?
A: Garmin's map transfer and map storage protocols are secret and proprietary to them. No third party Macintosh software can use them. Thus MacGPS Pro cannot read Garmin's maps, nor transfer maps into Garmin receivers. Only Garmin's software can do that, and only using Garmin's own maps.
MacGPS Pro allows two-way transfer of Waypoints, Routes, and Track Logs. It is complimentary to Garmin's software, which limits you to Garmin's maps. MacGPS Pro allows you to use most other maps on your Macintosh screen, including our MacTopos USGS DRG topo maps, and other maps downloaded from the Internet.
Best regards,
Larry James James Associates Inc.
Now we know. There's a lot to enjoy here. But our GPS unit is still sans a background topo map. Our options are getting better. We'll add more here as our experiences continue. JV
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