Download track from handheld => PPC or PC

blackdiamond · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 14

I have recently ordered a Garmin Geko 201 handheld which I plan to use
standalone as well as in "mouse mode" with a PPC or laptop PC. I am
researching mapping software and I need the ability to download a track
from the Geko to my PPC or laptop. According to the review of the Geko
201 on this site, the Tom Tom, OziExplorer, Memory-Map, and Fugawi
have this feature. I assume that the software must have the ability to
talk to the Geko in it's proprietary protocol for this feature.

Are there any other mapping software products with this feature? Does
the Mapopolis have this?

Thanks in advance.

Dave · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 6:38 am Post subject:

I haven't tested the Geko 201 myself so I'll have to bow to Mike's knowledge here, but with most Garmin's you have the ability to set them to export the GPS stream as NMEA 4800, and this is usually what you would set a Garmin or Magellan GPS Receiver to, and connect with the same settings from the Pocket PC end.

Generally the only products that allow a track feature to be downloaded are topographical products, but TomTom Navigator 2 does have a record track log faclility and you can then play back a route you have recorded in TomTom Navigator.

blackdiamond · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 14

Dave,

The following was copied from the review of the Geko 201:

"However with applications like OziExplorerCE and Memory-Map if the interface is set to GARMIN then the receiver can upload and download information for management within the PDA.

I have used this configuration successfully with Tom Tom Navigator, OziExplorer, Memory-Map and Fugawi

An example of this is the image to the left. It shows the track of a flight from London Heathrow to Barcelona, Spain. This is a screen shot of OziExplorer with a map of Europe. Although I had my iPAQ displaying the flight I was not recording it. When we got to Barcelona I downloaded the track file from the Garmin Geko 201. You can also see my journey to Heathrow displayed from the eastern area of the UK.

I also used the Garmin in standalone mode to record waypoints at some of the tourist locations in Barcelona and then transferred then to the PDA back in my Hotel."

From the first sentence, "if the interface is set to GARMIN", I assumed
that the software would be talking to the Geko not in NMEA, but in some
proprietary Garmin format. Like you said, it would be great if the Geko
could upload any saved track in standard NMEA but I don't know if it has
that ability. That way, any GPS software could download the stream.

Thanks for helping this newbie.

Dave · Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2003 7:20 pm Post subject:

There's two ways of downloading track data. If you were using it connected to a PDA or PC then you could run OziExplorer or another program and it will capture data in real time if NMEA 4800 is set. That way you can output the data directly to a log file on the remote device.

If you want to do it after the event, you can connect on the PC to the Geko with G7toPC or for a Pocket PC G7toCE. This you will need to connect in GARMIN protocol format, as this is Garmin's native format.

If you want to upload data to the receiver, then you have to use Garmin's own protocol, NMEA won't work.

You can also download track data etc from within Garmin's own software, although I've never tried it.

blackdiamond · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 14

Sorry about not being clear on my first post, but I was referring to the
second option, that is, downloading saved track data(after the fact) from
the Garmin to the PPC or PC.

I will take a look at the G7ToPC and G7ToCE products that you suggested.
I am thinking of just buying Garmin's own MapSource software, which I
heard will have the ability to download and manage tracks/waypoints.
Any opinions on how the MapSource works for navigation?

MikeB · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 10:36 am Post subject:

I have responded to this in the Garmin thread.

Basically to download to a PDA or PC you need to set the GPS for the Garmin protocol. Most mapping applications can use this as well as NMEA. This gives additional functionality such as the import and export of routes, waypoints, and tracks.

In addition to the Mapsource and G7to... you can also use Memory-Map, Fugawi, and OziExplorer, all of which have PC and or PDA management facilities. You could also use Anquet Maps on the PC as well.
_________________
Mike Barrett

blackdiamond · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 14

Thanks for all the help. I will checkout the software suggested.

I'm basically looking for mapping software on the PC and PPC that will do
the following:

1) Basic navigational tools such as autoroute and voice
2) Can manage waypoints and tracks from the Garmin.
3) Can download a saved track from Garmin and display the route on
the map.
4) Relatively inexpensive(<$100USD) as this is just for fun for me.

MikeB · Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2003 9:03 pm Post subject:

Where abouts are you based. The mention of <$100USD implies you are not in the UK.

Are you in America. Your location will affect what mapping data is available for you.
_________________
Mike Barrett

blackdiamond · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 22, 2003 Posts: 14

Mike,

Yes, I am in the US. I realize that this is a UK based forum, but it was the
best I could find.

Would you happen to know of the Delorme Street Atlas USA for laptop
navigation use? They seem to have almost all the features I want, except
for the management of tracks/waypoints from my Garmin. It is also
priced very reasonably. They also have a PDA version.

Thanks for your help.

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