GPS Hell

[MrsCouch]

This past weekend, I went on a two-day snowmobiling trip with 2-stroke's wife. We left from Errol, NH, rode to Pittsburg and back the next day. Had a great time.

I decided it would be fun to map our route with my handy-dandy ETREX Vista GPS unit. Turned it on when we left Errol, and back off again once we got to Pittsburg. GPS captured all of our vital stats for the trip (90 miles, 9000 ft of elevation gain, 25.7 mph av, 3:35 moving time) and I assumed had mapped our route.

Low and behold, when I went to download the map to the PC last night, there is only ONE SMALL section of our entire loop that showed up on the map!!!!! I am NOT a happy camper ....

How come the GPS captured all of our moving stats, but not the map???? Any ideas?

If I can't get this thing working, it will be posted in the classifieds next week .......

[digger]

I'm not familiar with the ETREX and you don't say what mapping software you are using, but this may be a possibility. When you download tracks, make sure that there is not more than one to download. If for some reason, the gps lost signal it starts a new track, so you can end up with several if satellite reception is poor or for some reason the gps antenna is obscured. It must be tough to find a good location for the gps going at those speeds in winter - in the open for reception without cooling the batteries to a useless state.

[MrsCouch]

Thanks. I cleared all of the tracks from the gps before setting out, and never turned the unit off throughout our trip.

I am using MapSource to try to download the tracks, but even on the unit, I am only seeing one small piece of our route.

The gps was in a mesh pocket in my back pack - only place to put it where it would get a clear signal. Oh, and we weren't going THAT fast ;).

One note - we did go inside a couple of times during our trip (to pay for gas, eat lunch, etc) and may have lost reception then......

[AA]

sound like operator error to me ;D

I have used my etrex vista for road trips in the car using the tracks feature and was able to download all the info onto the map. Very strange. When you plug the reciever into the PC try to download all the tracks on the unit, it may have divided up the trip into multiple files.

If you do want to sell it i'll give you $5

[MrsCouch]

sound like operator error to me ;D

I have used my etrex vista for road trips in the car using the tracks feature and was able to download all the info onto the map. Very strange. When you plug the reciever into the PC try to download all the tracks on the unit, it may have divided up the trip into multiple files.

If you do want to sell it i'll give you $5


Very funny - NOT! OK, I will admit to being somewhat GPS naive.....

So, I didn't actually start a track when I truned the unit on - just turned it on. Should I have done something more than just power on and go????

I did download all of the tracks.

[AA]

I'm still relitavely new to the GPS thing myself & I dont have my unit in front of me but I believe that you need to turn "tracks" on.

[splat]

One other thing. werether other tracks in there from other routes ? if you don't get rid of old tracks you can fill up the memory , and at that point, it can't remeber any more new points. That one has bit me a couple of times.

[radair]

Hmmm, not sure why you can't see the whole thing. It seems to me that if the GPS has a full summary of data then you should be able to DL the full track(s).

My Garmin GPS V records tracks (by default) at all times the unit is on. Check your default settings to make sure yours is on. I suspect it is unless it was manually turned off at some point. When my track memory is full, it continues to track but erases the oldest stuff.

You very likely lost signal when you went indoors, but the unit should have started up with a new track as soon as you got in the open outside again.

Sounds like an interesting trip, anyway. Hit any moose?

[MrsCouch]

Sounds like an interesting trip, anyway. Hit any moose?


No moose, but we did see a herd of about 20 deer...... They didn't seem to be too concerned about the snowmobiles either.....

Thanks to all for the tips. I will try again, and see what I get!

[Mt.A TODD]

My etrex sucks too! I followed all the directions, saved the waypoints and still no map. Sure its operator error, but the damn thing should be easier to use. On my last bike ride everyone thought I was playing with a video game during the breaks! ...a gameboy certainly would have been more productive! Screw cell phones and GPS gadgets on outdoor adventures. Lewis and Clark didn't need all that crap!

[AA]

as the computer geeks like to say

R.T.F.M.

[MrsCouch]

as the computer geeks like to say

R.T.F.M.


Come now - you know I used to write those kind of manuals - you think I wouldn't read them too????? ;)

I DID try to read the manual, but it is VERY poorly written, and incomprehensible...... Maybe they should hire me ;D

[AA]

I DID try to read the manual, but it is VERY poorly written, and incomprehensible...... Maybe they should hire me ;D


I was waiting for that comment

[digger]

Only semi related but wanted to point out this mapping thing that is free of cost and as far as I can tell not spyware or anything. Saw a mention it recently on mtbr. Have not fully tested it out but it may be useful for someone who has a gps and no mapping system. Uses terra server topos and orthos.
http://jdmcox.com/

[ArmOnFire]

This is very insightful

Some hiker tech weenie at work is trying to sell me his e-trex

I see a trend developing.....

[AA]

I still stand by my etrex, I used it last friday, worked perfectly

[MrsCouch]

... and mine is still for sale ;D

[Mt.A TODD]

...and I threw mine at a tree.

[radair]

Hey AA, nice GPS article in S-Tracks! A couple of those maps look just like some rides I've done!

[AA]

yup I "stole" some maps remember what it says at the bottom of the page........

Disclamer: This is a public bulletin board to share and promote mountain biking in New England. Please ride and write responsibly. The views expressed here are the sole responsibility of the authors, and do not represent the views of NEMBA. However, NEMBA reserves the right to make use of Forum content for publication in SingleTracks.


Anyway you have better software than me, my maps look kind of crappy.

[radair]

I'm flattered that you used them, thanks.

Fun stuff. The Maptech set for New England & NY was a steal at $99 and has served me well. I've seen some that's even more eye catching. No time to find it now tho....

[If_Rider]

Do any of you Etrex users know if I can use any Topo software or do I have to use Garmin Mapsource? I'm mostly interested in uploading tracks but it would be nice to be able to download maps too.

Using an Etrex Vista btw.

Thanks.

[AA]

From what I have read you need the Garmin SW only to get the map data onto the GPS unit.

To upload tracks there are several SW products out there, it usually says right on the box what GPS recievers are compatible.

[If_Rider]

Thanks AA.

Did your etrex come with some routes already installed? Mine has 10 routes in it OOTB and I'm wondering if it may be a return.

[AA]

I seem to remember mine coming with one waypoint already on it but no routes. Strange for sure.

[If_Rider]

I guess I'll delete them and cross my fingers.

[off piste]

Do any of you Etrex users know if I can use any Topo software or do I have to use Garmin Mapsource? I'm mostly interested in uploading tracks but it would be nice to be able to download maps too.

Using an Etrex Vista btw.

Thanks.




I use ExpertGPS with my basic Etrex. It's doing a great job gradually mapping out the Townsend/Brookline/Mason/Greenville expanse.


http://topografix.com/

[If_Rider]

Splat uses ExpertGPS and I like how you can overlay a track onto an aerial photo...slick. They have a 30 day eval too.

I decided to exchange my etrex for an unused one after finding a bunch of waypoints and routes already stored in it. Someone used it to go to Mohegan Sun and a bunch of other places. Maybe if it had routes for places like Lynn Woods or Great Brook I woulda kept it.

[If_Rider]

I got a new, unused one but I have a new problem. The unit turns itself off after awhile. I used it on Sunday but when I checked it an hour or so into the ride it had turned off. Same thing on Monday too?!??!?! I couldn't find an auto-off setting anywhere except for the backlight.

I don't believe the power button got depressed by mistake either it's pretty well recessed.

Any ideas before I call Garmin?

[OldSloDoggie]

Hi,
My GPS also tended to shut it self off at random. Trial and error narrowed it down to the battery and terminals. With some batteries, the connection with the terminals failed when jostled, shutting down the unit. I SLIGHTLY spreaded the terminals, and that took care of it.
Fred

[AA]

Here is your answer to the shutting off problem

http://www.nemba.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=2270;st art=0

As a side note summer can be a difficult time to use the GPS in heavy wooded areas. The foliage can decrease your accuracy and sometimes block your signal. I used mine Sat and yesterday and the accuracy way OK, just not great. When the leaves fall you get your most accurate readings.

[If_Rider]

Thanks Fred and again AA...

Not sure how I missed that one. I did a search, really, I did. ;D

[splat]

yup I "stole" some maps remember what it says at the bottom of the page........




I noticed 8) I was actually kind of flattered.

[MrsCouch]

OK. After many months of frustration I FINALLY figured out my problem with my eTrex! Seems that I had everything set properly on the unit except that the polling rate was set too frequently, filling up the memory on the GPS. This caused the unit to continuously over-write the tracks giving me only a small piece of a track instead of the whole thing.

Restored the defaults this weekend, and managed to capture not one, but THREE complete tracks!!! WOOHOO!

Oh - and thanks to If_Rider for the present in my mailbox!

And thanks to AA for the tech support ;D