[pct-l] Follow-up to the earlier GPS discussion

Thu May 20 16:07:26 CDT 2010

On the DeLorme PN models, you can use the Topo 8!  software that comes with 
it to get around the track/waypoint limits. They have a  $30/yr unlimited 
topo downloads subscription; if you had the memory, you could  download the 
whole country, topo and/or photo and other stuff; the PN base  maps is 
1:100,000 for the whole country, but the subscription gets you the  1:24,000 
stuff. 
    I download a wide swath on either side of a trail  track; then I "copy 
to draw layer" the track(s) I have on my project. This makes  them part of 
the draw layer/project file, and frees up one of the 10, usually,  track 
limitations for most GPS units. It's a simple process, but sure as hell  not in 
their help info; I had to get it from a tech (actually the 2nd tech - 1st  
didn't know how to do it), but their tech support has been very good so far. 
It  took a lot of time for this fumbling nerd to get it all right, but it 
was worth  the learning curve.
    I bought 2 16-GB cards; the limit is 32 GB on any  one card, but I 
wanted a backup card with me. The 16 GB holds a lot of topo  coverage; I think 
I'll be able to get all the CDT, the WA PCT, the GET, the  Hayduke, the AZT, 
and a lot of Big Bend coverage in 16 GB.
    The Nat'l Geo TOPO stuff may be basically the same  thing. It's 
possible the above would apply to that map software.
    This year I'm using Halfmiles's tracks & maps  for my PCT finish in Aug 
in WA. Thanks, Halfmile! The maps are great! Up  to Trout Lake I'd been 
using the More Than a MIle maps.

Bob  "Trekker"
Big Bend Desert Denizen, and...
Naturalized Citizen - Republic  of Texas

"Government cripples you, then hands you a crutch and says,  'See, if it 
wasn't for us, you couldn't walk.' " -- Harry Browne

"If you  think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it 
costs when its  free." -- P J O'Rourke

In a message dated 5/20/2010 12:26:19 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
ken at gottawalk.com writes:

Eventually you will hit a GPS model dependent limit in the number  of 
Trackpoints. Trackpoints are the dots used to draw the track (line) on  the 
GPS window. If you space the number of tackpoints further apart you  can 
get 
longer tracks. Unfortunately the track is less accurate without  those lost 
points. I find that switchbacks seem to be the first to be  lost. The lost 
trackpoints affect the mileage of the track also. (Suddenly  your mileage 
may 
drop from 20 miles to 18.5 miles.)

No GPS can hold  enough trackpoints to map even one state on the PCT to my 
satisfaction.  The alternative is to store the tracks on flash memory and 
load new tracks  from computers along the trail. I suggest using the free 
software GPSBabel  to load the tracks and waypoints for upcoming trail. I 
have successfully  put GPSBabel onto flash memory cards with the tracks to 
reload my  GPS.

Ken
www GottaWalk com

----- Original Message -----  
From: "Sir Mix-a-lot" <atetuna at hotmail.com>
To:  <halfmile at pctmap.net>; "'PCT MailingList'"  <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 8:03  AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Follow-up to the earlier GPS  discussion

A bit off topic, but I found that you can upload  multiple tracks by
repeatedly uploading & downloading tracks to your  garmin gps. I haven't
tested the limits yet, but I've at least uploaded  sections A-D, including
the San Jacinto alternate routes. Here's an example  of how I do it:

1. Open section A tracks in Mapsource and upload it to  the gps. Now section
A is on the gps.
2. Open section B tracks in  Mapsource and then download the tracks from the
gps. Now sections A-B are  open in Mapsource. Upload this to the gps. Now
sections A-B are on the  gps.
3. Open section 3 tracks in Mapsource and then download the tracks  from the
gps. Now sections A-C are open in Mapsource. Upload this to the  gps. Now
sections A-C are on the gps.
4. And on and on...

It's  tedious, but works for me.

I am using an Oregon 550.

Sir  Mix-a-lot

-----Original Message-----
From:  pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On  Behalf Of Halfmile
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 5:35 AM
To: PCT  MailingList
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Follow-up to the earlier GPS  discussion

For most hikers I recommend either a Garmin Dakota 20 or a  Garmin
eTrex Vista HCx. You will probably also want to purchase a 4  GB
microSD card and the Garmin TOPO U.S. 24K West DVD. Get the DVD  don't
buy the maps preloaded on a card.

The Dakota 20 is a newer  model and has the capacity to store large
amounts of track data. The Vista  HCx can only store a limited amount
of track data. Both can hold an almost  unlimited number of waypoints
if you load them as custom points of  interest.

_______________________________________________
Pct-l  mailing list
Pct-l at backcountry.net
To unsubcribe, or change options  visit:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

List  Archives:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/

_______________________________________________
Pct-l  mailing list
Pct-l at backcountry.net
To unsubcribe, or change options  visit:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l

List  Archives:
http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/