Garmin announces the new Colorado handheld GPS at CES

philpugh · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject:

Probably need to make it a bit clearer!

You can't load proprietary non-Garmin maps (eg MemoryMap), but the methods outlined in the links above will allow you to create vector map overlays that will load ontop of your 'base'map.
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Phil

Jay1967 · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 75

philpugh · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

What GEOCaching issues? I know there is some discussion in the GC forums - but to be honest it doesn't seem to be as bad as they are making out.

I copied over a 400 location GPX file, exported from GSAK, to the Colorado and it worked fine. It displays them in distance order from your current location, has all the info etc available. Seems OK to me. Went out on walk with the dogs this am and found a new local cache using the Colorado. The only problem I do have is that there is no way to create a new waypoint directly - but you can create a waypoint where you are now then edit the co-ords fairly simply. I hope they fix this as I use this quite a bit when walking. But it is a minor problem - not worth not buying one for.
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Phil

Jay1967 · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 75

Moreymach · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:10 pm Post subject:

I did three geocaches this weekend with mine.
Agreed the fact that other caches arnt shown on the map is a little odd but doesnt really cause a problem. You can always see whats nearby calling up the geocache list.
Its slightly annoying however that you cant mark them found though and the fact that to delete a cache you have to go into the device via your pc seems a bit of an oversight. Hope this will be sorted in the next few firmware updates.
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philpugh · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:40 am Post subject:

The problem about the create new waypoint issue I was having extends beyond geocaching. There doesn't appear to be an option to create a new waypoint on the device. What you have to do is create a waypoint at your current location (MARK) then edit the location for this. A little bizarre - that 's all.

I don't have a problem with it only displaying the current cache. The reason for this is that it's using the GPX description to create a 'transient' goto. This allows you to have way more than the 1000 'real' waypoints allowed on the system. As you can always get a list of the nearest caches then not displaying them on the map isn't a real problem. You're only looking for the one at a time. Also the management of them on the device isn't a real problem is it? How long does it take to reload a .GPX from GSAK or whatever you use? Have you seen a better implementation of GEOCaching on a hand held GPS? I doubt it.
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Jay1967 · Regular Visitor Joined: Mar 01, 2006 Posts: 75

philpugh · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:21 pm Post subject:

You seem to do most things via GPX files with the Colorado - which I find much nicer. When you connect it to your PC it goes into attached disk(s) mode - much like a nuvi does. This does mean that direct connection to MemoryMap or Anquet is not as it was with my GPS60 - but this has advantages in my opinion...

I've just done a whole set of routes for a walk in the hills around Buttermere, using Memory Map. Saving the routes to GPX files then copying them to the GARMIN folder on the Colorado makes the routes appear in the choices. Now I haven't followed this to a logical conclusion - but I suspect this isn't part of the number of routes allowed on the device as the route's waypoints don't appear in the waypoint list on the device! I will ned to experiment further with this. This I like, as MemoryMap always uses the WP prefix for waypoints when creating routes - which clutter up the waypoint list on my GPS60 no-end!

I also created a bespoke map using the SMC contour data along with tracks I made manually using MemoryMap. These I processed with GPSMapMaker and SendMap20 to get an 5Mb .img file with sufficient detail on it to show additional escape paths and features. All this took a couple of hours on Sunday afternoon - sat in the sun with my laptop. It looks very nice on the unit itself. Can't wait to use it for real at the end of the month.

Tracklogs confused me for a moment as Mapsource (using Trips and Waypoints V4 as supplied with the Colorado) reckoned there weren't any on the unit - which there was - I had the active track for a short walk done this weekend (about 4 miles). What I had to do was archive the track on the unit itself (automatically named to include the date) then download the (wait for it) GPX file of the tracklog. This loaded with no problem into MemoryMap and loading it into OziExplorer allowed me to split the lot up to get more relevant details. I prefer OziExplorer for this sort of work as MemoryMap doesn't let you see individual points in the tracklog that easily.

The rock-n-roll wheel is growing on me. It is possible to use it with gloves on - but I find it does require two hands then. With bare hands it's a fairly simple one-handed thing. Take a bit of time to customize the option menu on it and it becomes very efficient.

In summary - you find yourself doing things a slightly different way from what you were used to - but nothing is a show stopper in my opinion.
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Phil

Brian · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 11:10 pm Post subject:

philpugh · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject:

Brian. Nice guide Thumbs Up

(I assume it's you!).

Just like to point out that you need to register on the Zumo forum to see your post!
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Phil

Brian · Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks Phil, I wasn't sure about registering to view posts, but its a helpfull site, mainly US but plenty of Brits .. ask a question and several people will jump in with an answer. Once registered subsequent log-in's are automatic.
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AllyCat · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 12:23 am Post subject:

philpugh · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

To be honest I was only looking at the day information (not specifically the time) - will check tonight. I didn't try many apps as I know that OziExplorer will import the GPX track info then you can use it's tracklog list function to get all the info. The archived track certainly had day information in it - I'm guessing the time was there as I don't recall any blank columns.

I haven't had a problem with my GPS60 in this regard either. However I have only downloaded tracks via MemoryMap/Anquet/OziExplorer directly - which is something you can't do with the USB connection on the C300.
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Phil

philpugh · Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Ok - the archived logs do contain date/time.

here's an extract from the archived log

(/trkpt)(trkpt lat="54.324916" lon="-5.538181")(ele)102.04(/ele)(time)2008-02-06T07:38:08Z(/time)(/trkpt)

I've substituted normal brackets for the angular brackets to get the item to post!

Also the Lat/Long have been changed. Apologies if it actually points to someone!

It clearly shows a log of Lat/Long, Altitude, Date and Time.

The Active tracklog (GARMIN/CURRENT/CURRENT.GPX) has the same info.
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Phil

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