[pct-l] Garmin Oregon 450T On Sale

Tue Jun 29 21:19:36 CDT 2010

First, let me state:  I do NOT own an eTrex and I do not have access to one to test with.  I do use a Mac and I have experience with some different types of Garmin devices (but not the eTrex).

So, out of curiosity, you got the Trex Vista Hcx:

Questions:

What size microSD card did you get?

Which "Garmin DVD" you get?

Do you have a "card reader" that will allow you to attach the microSD card to your computer?

What happens when you plug the Garmin, via the USB cable, to your Mac? Does a new "drive" appear on the Desktop?

Do you have access to any computers running Windows?  (When the eTrex was created, Garmin "didn't do Mac")

Observations:

eTrex waypoint storage: 1000 max,  HalfMile's maps: CA alone is almost 4200 waypoints!  You could carve them up into subsets of multiple Sections and swap sets along the trail, but you would have to get comfortable with the process. 

A reduced set of waypoints in general might be a better idea.  Postholer has a set that are 1151 waypoints, so it might still need to be shortened or loaded in pieces at different points along the trail.   http://postholer.com/gmap/trails/pct/pctWaypoints_2009.gpx

On HalfMile's waypoint file for Section A, there are 295 waypoints to go from the Mexican border to 110 miles north.  If you strip out the waypoints that are just distance markers from the border, and keep the ones that indicate locations like campsites and water sources, etc - it becomes 75.  All of CA goes from about 4200 to about 730 - loadable on the eTrex!  (It would be awesome if HalfMile had an alterego: ZeroMile and maybe also TwoMile - hint, hint...  ;-)

BillB

On Jun 29, 2010, at 6:15 PM, Tortoise wrote:

> I spent a lot of time and a little money trying to load the file Yoshihiro load on my Garmin etrex Vista Hcx and finally gave up. I don't know what the problems were but I was tired of spending my time on this and move on to other activities.
> 
> I got the Garmin DVD and after a couple tries was able to load a bunch of maps. But not all of the DVD.  I haven't yet figured out how to load Halfmile's .gpx PCT waypoints onto the GPS. For now though I'm using my unit to log my hikes around here.
> 
> For each of us, it is a question of how much time and effort we want to spend as well as how much expertise we have versus spending money for a solution.
> 
> I could get a sewing machine, etcetera, and learn and then make my own gear, but I'd rather pay to have someone else who knows how and is set up to do so make the gear and I'll just buy it. Others for various reasons prefer to make their own gear. Each to his own way.
> 
> Tortoise
> 
> <> Because truth matters! <>
> 
> On 06/29/10 17:10, Bill Burge wrote:
>> 
>> Yeah, but that doesn't really interest me.  I could make it work. (I
>> spent about 6 hours hacking the iPhone/iTunes backup process last
>> weekend. That DID interest me.)  I could put in the hours to twist and
>> tweak and tune it and it might not even bite me in the butt on a hike or
>> road trip when I least expect it.  But it might.
>> 
>> Like the last time this topic went by, someone said "if I spend the<$100
>> on the maps, it will just work".  So, I could just do the "nose to the
>> grindstone" on my current consulting contract for an additional hour and
>> have it "just work".
>> 
>> Some people either can't/won't spend the money AND have the capability
>> and the time; but they better have BOTH - and not as many of them do.
>> Sadly, when they can't get it to work the way it should (and COULD),
>> after trying "free maps" and other corner cutting things - they blame
>> Garmin.
>> 
>> But it's not just GPS's.  I took a Sierra Club class with a very nice
>> person who just could not get their mind around the use of a topo map
>> and a compass.  A GPS is harder to use (well) than a map and compass.
>> With what we expect to do with a GPS is "load waypoints", "add tracks",
>> update maps", etc. and now users have to know about USB, SD, computer
>> software, installation, and a whole bunch of stuff that is way beyond
>> "hey I got a GPS!".
>> 
>> I love my GPS('s - I own 6 of them). GPS's are easy to carry and will
>> answer the question "where am I this instant" with more confidence for
>> the majority of users than that same user with a map and compass.  When
>> you know how to work with a map and compass, the GPS becomes a nice
>> convenience instead of a replacement for the confidence that a user
>> should have without it.  As people have noted, they are more valuable
>> when everything is covered in snow and/or when visibility makes compass
>> sighting difficult or when you'd rather not take your map out in weather
>> like that! ;-) You can carry hundreds of pounds of topo maps in one 6
>> ounce GPS.  You can add little references (waypoints) to make memories
>> (we camped here!) or tell other people (bad water here).  I love 'em.
>> 
>> BillB
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Jun 29, 2010, at 4:31 PM, Yoshihiro Murakami wrote:
>> 
>>> Dear Bill
>>> 
>>> If you want to save money, you should not buy the DVD at the same
>>> time.　With a little study about folder structure of your Oregon 450T,
>>> you will be able to use many Garmin compatible free maps.  As I had
>>> previously posted May 27:
>>> 
>>> I put a Garmin compatible map at my server for you and for someone,
>>> who have a Garmin GPS. You can download from
>>> 
>>> http://psycho01.edu.u-toyama.ac.jp/Garmin/gmapsupp.img
>>> 
>>> I combined the free routable maps(
>>> http://garmin.na1400.info/routable.php ) and the topological map of
>>> California (  GPSFileDepot:   http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/ ) , so it
>>> will be beneficial for the PCT hikers.
>>> 
>>> Your task: 1. Download the file. 2. Make a "Garmin" folder in your
>>> micro card. 3.Copy the gmapsupp.img in this folder. 4. Put the micro
>>> card in your GPS device. 5. Set the world geodetic system to WGS-84.
>>> 
>>> I had used sendmap20.exe to combine image files.  The combined map is
>>> not indicated at the computer, it is indicated at GPS only.
>>> 
>>> The folder structure might be different from my Map60Csx. But if you
>>> send the file in the adequate folder, it will work.
>>> 
>>> I am at job now, so I cannot confirm file structure exactly. But I
>>> think:  If you want to use Hallfmiles waypoints, your task is to copy
>>> *.gpx files into the root of the micro SD card. That's all.
>>> 
>>> Do not manipulate the micro SD card by Mac, Mac makes invisible
>>> files, and some troubles were reported.
>>> 
>>> When you failed to use free maps, then you should buy the DVD maps.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 2010/6/30 Bill Burge<bill at burge.com>:
>>>> 
>>>> With little looking, the best price I could get on the Garmin 24K
>>>> Topo West DVD (has complete PCT coverage):
>>>> 
>>>> $83.59 + shipping
>>>> 
>>>> https://www.antonline.com/p_Garmin--010-11314-00--Garmin-010-11314-00-Mapsource-Topo-Us-24k-West-Dvd-_614650.htm
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
> BillB
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Jun 29, 2010, at 11:45 AM, Bill Burge wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> I've been wanting one for a while and was going to get one at REI
>>>>> during the sale, but the 20% off cannot be used on GPS's!
>>>>> 
>>>>> So I was just going to get one and wait for my 10% at the end of
>>>>> the year, and my 5% for using an REI credit card, but decided to
>>>>> Google around a bit.  (It sounds crazy - but you can find an awful
>>>>> lot if you search!  ;-)
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://www.cabelas.com has the Garmin Oregon 450T
>>>>> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=63350 on sale for
>>>>> $370!  Down from $500!  It also looks like they did not charge me
>>>>> sales tax here in California (don't know why).
>>>>> 
>>>>> So, for those who are not math majors! 28.9% after factoring in
>>>>> sales tax savings and shipping costs!  Even if you factor in the
>>>>> $75 I'd save with REI dividends, it's still a 17.7% savings over
>>>>> THAT!
>>>>> 
>>>>> Get them while they are still accepting backorders!  Yes, they are
>>>>> out of stock; but they are still taking backorders on the sale
>>>>> price and expect to ship in about a week...
>>>>> 
>>>>> BillB
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
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>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -- Sincerely --------------- --------------------------------------
>>> Hiro    ( Yoshihiro Murakami ) HP:http://psycho01.edu.u-toyama.ac.jp
>>> http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/ Backpacking for 30 years
>>> in Japan 2009 JMT, the first America.
>>> ------------------------------------------------------
>> 
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> 