I'm having problems putting in 'way-points' even with the instruction book. 800# guy talks too fast & assumes i know more than i do & looses patience :-( Also, when/if i clean-off some stuff--like trip time & distance, do i lose everything, such as way-points? Nice that it gives speed, direction & location cords, but i know there's soooo much more... Annny helps will be MA, Roger
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Garmin Etrex
You are right- adding waypoints is a bit tricky. Because this unit is primarily designed for hikers, it is designed to help you find your way back, rather than your way to a certain point. I hiker would add waypoints as he goes when he (or she) was at that point- so you just name the point whe you are at it. Us sailors want to use GPSs to go to a destination. So you have to fake it out. You name your destination- like " gibralter point" ( gibpnt) and then edit the lat-long co ordinates( which will be showing where you are at at the moment- your easy chair?). Lot of button pushing as it is a choose from menu for each character, but you get faster at it. Also take a quiet moment and read your instruction book- it helps withthe entry stuff
You are right- adding waypoints is a bit tricky. Because this unit is primarily designed for hikers, it is designed to help you find your way back, rather than your way to a certain point. I hiker would add waypoints as he goes when he (or she) was at that point- so you just name the point whe you are at it. Us sailors want to use GPSs to go to a destination. So you have to fake it out. You name your destination- like " gibralter point" ( gibpnt) and then edit the lat-long co ordinates( which will be showing where you are at at the moment- your easy chair?). Lot of button pushing as it is a choose from menu for each character, but you get faster at it. Also take a quiet moment and read your instruction book- it helps withthe entry stuff
I do mine on the computer.
For example I had a bunch of fishing holes that I wanted to mark. So I marked them on the computer using MapSource. Then downloaded the maps to the handheld. Much faster if you have a lot of waypoints to enter. Frank
For example I had a bunch of fishing holes that I wanted to mark. So I marked them on the computer using MapSource. Then downloaded the maps to the handheld. Much faster if you have a lot of waypoints to enter. Frank
Trip Computer reset
Roger, I use the eTrex Vista. When you reset all or some of your data on the Trip Computer page, your waypoints are unaffected AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CHECKMARK "DELETE ALL WAYPOINTS." When you reset the Trip Computer data, you can selectively choose what is reset, including waypoints. I typically DON'T delete anything below "Reset Max Elevation." I retain the Track Log, because I like to review it later, but I reset everything else above that. I eventually delete tracks, but do so through the Main Menu, Routes option. I will plot courses on my eTrex in conjunction with my charts. I figure out lat/lon from the chart, pan on the Map page to those coordinates (they are displayed just above the map itself), then mark the waypoint, providing a suitable label. You can relabel by highlighting the name (it always starts out as a number) & clicking on it, then using the little keyboard display to input the name. The character space is limited so you have to be creative some times. Also be sure to click on OK when you're done with relabeling, then OK again (in the lower right corner) to save the waypoint. I create Routes through the Main Menu, using the waypoints I created earlier. You can also create waypoints while creating routes, but that's a more involved explanation! I don't do any plotting on my desktop computer, then download to the handheld because, first & foremost, I'm pretty sure my Mac isn't supported! In practice on the water, I use the trip computer to keep track of distance traveled, maximum speed, and such & use that data for my log entries. I use it for navigating Routes I've made earlier, displaying either the Map or Navigation pages, though mainly the former. We have just started sailing our '93 23.5 these past 2 weekends & the PO put in many nice additions, including a small arm that swings out from the starboard bulkhead into the companionway on which I made a bracket for the eTrex. However, it's a bit more distant from where I've been sitting, so I've started to use the Big Number display on the Trip Computer so I can see the speed display better. As I'm getting to know Grasshopper, I'm experimenting with how to maximize speed. I'm a statistics nut, so I would prefer the additional input the Small Display provides, but if I can't read it, what's the point! Feel free to post other questions, but Richard's suggestion to breakout the manual is a very good one.
Roger, I use the eTrex Vista. When you reset all or some of your data on the Trip Computer page, your waypoints are unaffected AS LONG AS YOU DON'T CHECKMARK "DELETE ALL WAYPOINTS." When you reset the Trip Computer data, you can selectively choose what is reset, including waypoints. I typically DON'T delete anything below "Reset Max Elevation." I retain the Track Log, because I like to review it later, but I reset everything else above that. I eventually delete tracks, but do so through the Main Menu, Routes option. I will plot courses on my eTrex in conjunction with my charts. I figure out lat/lon from the chart, pan on the Map page to those coordinates (they are displayed just above the map itself), then mark the waypoint, providing a suitable label. You can relabel by highlighting the name (it always starts out as a number) & clicking on it, then using the little keyboard display to input the name. The character space is limited so you have to be creative some times. Also be sure to click on OK when you're done with relabeling, then OK again (in the lower right corner) to save the waypoint. I create Routes through the Main Menu, using the waypoints I created earlier. You can also create waypoints while creating routes, but that's a more involved explanation! I don't do any plotting on my desktop computer, then download to the handheld because, first & foremost, I'm pretty sure my Mac isn't supported! In practice on the water, I use the trip computer to keep track of distance traveled, maximum speed, and such & use that data for my log entries. I use it for navigating Routes I've made earlier, displaying either the Map or Navigation pages, though mainly the former. We have just started sailing our '93 23.5 these past 2 weekends & the PO put in many nice additions, including a small arm that swings out from the starboard bulkhead into the companionway on which I made a bracket for the eTrex. However, it's a bit more distant from where I've been sitting, so I've started to use the Big Number display on the Trip Computer so I can see the speed display better. As I'm getting to know Grasshopper, I'm experimenting with how to maximize speed. I'm a statistics nut, so I would prefer the additional input the Small Display provides, but if I can't read it, what's the point! Feel free to post other questions, but Richard's suggestion to breakout the manual is a very good one.
Thanks guys
Every bit helps. Even, "...read the manual..."
Which i've done # of times :-( but... Old-dog...new tricks thingy... Had it out today at home and cleared the accumulation of old stuff. If i recall, 'trig' wasn't that easy either, eh? ;-) Roger
Every bit helps. Even, "...read the manual..."
Which i've done # of times :-( but... Old-dog...new tricks thingy... Had it out today at home and cleared the accumulation of old stuff. If i recall, 'trig' wasn't that easy either, eh? ;-) RogerEtrex Legend
Roger, I too have an eTrex Legend, they are great little GPS units. I find it very helpful to use the software on me PC to do any detailed entry, esp entering waypoints. I have about 30 currently entered in mine and all entered on the PC and downloaded into the unit. Also when you get comfortable with the PC software you can upload the tracks from the unit to the PC. There is a wealth of data stored in the tracks that can be analyzed if you so choose. Hope this helps. Bill Thompson Catalina 30 "Bill's Michael-een" Chicago
Roger, I too have an eTrex Legend, they are great little GPS units. I find it very helpful to use the software on me PC to do any detailed entry, esp entering waypoints. I have about 30 currently entered in mine and all entered on the PC and downloaded into the unit. Also when you get comfortable with the PC software you can upload the tracks from the unit to the PC. There is a wealth of data stored in the tracks that can be analyzed if you so choose. Hope this helps. Bill Thompson Catalina 30 "Bill's Michael-een" Chicago
Soft ware?
Thanks Bill, you're very encouaging! What is the 'soft ware' you mention? And details: cost, where, etc??? I know i have vast gaps of understanding the whole GPS thing. Such as, after programing in waypoints upon waypoints from various geographical areas...then passing that same point--lat/lon--weeks later, will the GPS screen tell me 'that' automatically??? Or, do i have to call-for-it??? But, it is great for speed, trip info & i can watch my progress in da little boat moving across da screen... Roger
Thanks Bill, you're very encouaging! What is the 'soft ware' you mention? And details: cost, where, etc??? I know i have vast gaps of understanding the whole GPS thing. Such as, after programing in waypoints upon waypoints from various geographical areas...then passing that same point--lat/lon--weeks later, will the GPS screen tell me 'that' automatically??? Or, do i have to call-for-it??? But, it is great for speed, trip info & i can watch my progress in da little boat moving across da screen...
Roger- Status