Mac GPS
 

Looking for information on using GPS units with the Mac. I see a lot of map files on the internet now but will I still need Garmin PC based software to load the maps.

I saw this on the garmin site.
http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html

hey,

i have been trawling thru the various sections of the hubb trying to get as much info as i can before embarking on the lunacy that is riding around an entire continent.

one quick addition to your question bklynDakar, i will be taking a mac with me on the trip, and was also wondering if anyone knew of software you can have on your own 'trip' website that you can upload your gps data to.

by this i mean, similar to mapsource, but based in your own webpage, is it possible with mapsource, or do you always need a link to the mapsource site?

any ideas? i love the idea of uploading the exact route we will be travelling, but want to have it all contained in one website.

cheers,

nick

Mac GPS
 

At last, Garmin will support OS x by the end of the year so Mapsource info will work on a Mac and we will be able to use our MacBooks etc for real time mapping.

In the meantime..... have a look at MacGPSPro. In my view the best of the current Mac applications and the team behind it are extremely helpful.

Mac GPS
 

Garmin announced Mac support by Spring 06 and we're still waiting...

I purchased MacGPS pro and have had no luck finding Central/South America maps that will work with it. Their website has links to Bicamaps but they are not compatible as fas as I can tell.

Still taking my Mac but will need to get on a pc for my maps :(

I,m currently in the same boat, anxiously awaiting for Garmin to get their butt in gear and come up with compatible software for us Mac users. In the meantime i suppose a person could purchase a GPS that uses external media (60csx) and load everything you need before you leave. You would at least have your maps ready to go, just no computer access. Garmin states that their software will be available by the end of the year...thats only four months away :(

Mac GPS
 

If Bicamaps would just map mac compatible maps we wouldn't need Garmin but they sell their maps in some Windows only program.

This isn't a direct answer, though if you're planning on moving to a newer Mac, Garmin's software does run under Apple's bootcamp and windows on a Macbook. I haven't had any problems with it.

>>> In the meantime i suppose a person could purchase a GPS that uses external media (60csx) and load everything you need before you leave.

If you mean importing calibrated non-MapSource/etc maps then this is what I was wondering too. It would be very handy to have them stored in a GPS instead of a vulnerable laptop. A GPS specialist seller just told me "no" and I'm just waiting to hear from Garmin tech.

Chris S

Garmin's reply a few days later

Chris,
Thank you for contacting Garmin Cartography and thank you for being a loyal Garmin customer. Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to load third party maps to a Garmin GPS unit. Only waypoints and some routes and tracks in a .gpx format. Hopefully Garmin will add this capability in the future but as of right now I do not know of any plans to do so. We do get lots of requests for it so they are aware that customers would like to have this as an option.

Can't help you there, i've only used Mapsource software. I checked out the Garmin site for an update to the Mac question, all i got was this:
http://www.garmin.com/support/faqs/search.jsp


...looks like we will be waiting till 2007 now.


...Wow, that's wierd...garmin nuked my link! Anyhow, they say that they will come up with Mac compatable Mapsource software in 2007.

tom tom/garmin
 

I saw that press release too and have been hanging on for months to replace my ageing GarminV.
Contacted garmin and was told they haven't even started on the mapsource street gps software yet and have no immediate plans to, they only support some kind of "joggers wrist band GPS software" (training centre or something?)
Last week did the research, made the phone calls and bought the TomTom rider
Sellers (of both makes) and user reports say its pretty shock proof and waterproof and the back up website is as professional as Garmin's unlike some budget GPSs on sale.
Only used on street so far but it is fantastic, very intuitive and user friendly (just like my mac) compared to Garmin.
For africa etc etc I would probably go for a couple (belt and braces, loose one, break one...) of cheap Garmin hand held simple gps units and a map.

If anyone still uses Garmin V and wants my computer cables, bike mount, car charger, car mount (if I can get it off without breaking it!) and the old unit (screen keeps blacking out but may be repairable) let me know. Just pay the postage.

alan

i_eat_twigs@blueyonder.co.uk

email address above...
 

words are seperated by underscore. It doesn't show with the underlining above

alan

I have an iBook and a Garmin eTrex Vista. To download maps from the WorldMap CD to the GPS unit, my solution has been to use VirtualPC with Windows 98 or XP and a KeySpan USB-Serial Adapter. I already owned VirtualPC, so it wasn't much of an investment for me: the KeySpan adapter costs around $40.

Tech notes:
- If you have an Intel-processor Macintosh, you have to use Parallels Desktop instead of VirtualPC. Parallels is cheaper ($80) but then you need a Windows license (although it shouldn't be a problem to grab one somewhere).
- You might have to restart Windows after you assigned the Mac USB port with the KeySpan adapter to one of the PC Serial ports (COM1, etc...).
- I sometimes had connection problems when uploading a large number of maps (10-20Mb). Using a lower connection speed solved the problem.
- Use fresh batteries on the GPS unit and select "Use With GPS Off" before you transfer a bunch of maps.

Contact me by email if you have trouble finding anything. Also, I wrote some hints about using a GPS at http://www.photobiker.com/store/electronics.html#gps

Happy happy,
Pierre - http://www.photobiker.com