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Post by Coolkat on Dec 20, 2015 7:01:50 GMT -8
Recently I had an acquaintance give me an old Garmin eTrex (think early 2000's). Here is the manual for it oit.williams.edu/files/2010/09/eTrex_Manual.pdf However, he didn't have a data cable for it. I've found them on ebay for about $13.00 but I'm hesitant because I'm not sure if Windows 7 will have drivers for the old boy. I also believe I've found the software for it but am also wondering if Windows 7 will run it. I really would like to use it so I'm probably gonna gamble the $13 but I'm wondering if anyone else has experience with this situation? |
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Post by llamero on Dec 20, 2015 9:50:06 GMT -8
Coolkat, I used one of those old Garmin units for years. I can't speak directly to your question about compatibility. Have you contacted Garmin. What does the Garmin software program offer? I don't recall it having much besides an electronic version of the manual. Do you have access to an electronics resell store? You might find the cable for a fraction of the cost.
You didn't ask so I beg your pardon for offering my opinion, but a free electronic unit of that age that has potentially been used in harsh conditions may not be a good deal. You did not say how you intend to use it, but beware that it could fail at a very inconvenient time. Newer units offer better reception and better battery life.
Enjoy.
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 20, 2015 9:56:22 GMT -8
No harm in asking. This is what I know of the unit. It was given to my acquaintance by someone who couldn't figure it out when he bought it new so it just sat around and finally give it to him since he knew how to use one. The guy who gave it to me said he didn't need 2 and had had purchased a much newer unit anyway.
To be honest I'm more familiar with map and compass than I am using a gps unit. After loosing a trail earlier this summer I thought it might be handy to have something that would at least give me my coordinates so I can place myself on the map. At this point that is all I need. Since I'm not familiar with gps's I'm not sure what else they do.
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dh024
Trail Ready!
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Post by dh024 on Dec 20, 2015 10:49:05 GMT -8
I used to own a couple of those older eTrex units. They actually used a serial interface, not USB, so they are finicky to get working with a PC sometimes. The good news is that you probably won't need to worry about drivers for the GPS unit at all. But you are likely to need a serial-to-USB adapter (with its own drivers), unless you have an older desktop PC with a serial port. The bad news is that I distinctly remember having trouble with different brands of serial-to-USB adapters - some worked well with the eTrex and others were a PITA to get working, if at all.
But if all you want to do is obtain coordinates from the GPS to plot yourself on a paper map, you shouldn't need a data cable for that.
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 20, 2015 10:52:59 GMT -8
But if all you want to do is obtain coordinates from the GPS to plot yourself on a paper map, you shouldn't need a data cable for that. This is true. I have a tendency to over complicate things. Simple is always better. |
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 20, 2015 13:53:51 GMT -8
Older Etrexs like that one didn't intend to be for displaying positions on internal maps as I recall, showing instead a simple graphic depiction of the track on a featureless background, so it'll be fine without connecting to a computer (it might not have even come with a data cable, an old Magellen of mine didn't). The only other thing you might want is a utm plastic plate to locate your position on the paper map as fast as possible. REI etc Carry them. m.rei.com/product/641456/universal-transverse-mercator-utm-grid-readerThe one function a cable would allow is if you wanted to upload your tracks to a mapping program such as Garmins Basecamp or GoogleEarth to show in a map. Modern gps units have displays designed to show a detailed topographic map, either preloaded or downloaded from a computer along with a desired route and or the units position on the map. Those make location as simple as it gets. Power up the unit, look at the screen to see the map with your location, match the topographic details to what you see looking around to see the real world and there's your location. Easy as pie. Much like one of the mapping apps for smartphones with the big difference that hiking gps's do NOT understand topography so they aren't reliable for the directions we're used to our phones producing. The one exception is they can be set to treat trails like roads (at least some Garmins can) and then you can get directions along trails. But off trail their directions can be dangerous: cliffs and rivers etc. mean nothing to them: do a route will be a straight line right over and through terrain humans can't cross. Last year a group in Oregon (?) got cliffed that way. The straight line "back" to their vehicle led them right over a cliff, they got halfway down, found they couldn't proceed any further and had dropped down over stuff they couldn't climb up: cliffed. |
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 20, 2015 14:51:33 GMT -8
Thanks HSF for your post and explanation. I have a UTM grid reader already. I won't make any high professions about my map/compass skills but I did take two basic courses for a SAR class about 3 years. Unfortunately I just haven't had any need to use the skills so I'm probably a bit rusty. But I am aware that a straight line on a map can be dangerous. Which is why I'm only looking for gps coordinates as I can read a topo map. I realize to that a gps doesn't tell you about large swamps, lakes, clifss etc. If I can place myself on a map I should be ok.
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tigger
Trail Wise!
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Post by tigger on Dec 20, 2015 15:23:12 GMT -8
I have the original Garmin ETrex standard (not even map capable). It still sits in my pack and is used every winter. Like has already been stated, coordinates plus paper map is pretty much the best of all worlds in my opinion.
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Dec 20, 2015 17:33:11 GMT -8
If you have any other device with a USB cable, look at the connector. The Garmin I used to use did not come to me with a cable, but the USB for my Canon point and shoot fit it perfectly and worked well.
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Ed
Trail Wise!
Philmont Advisor and FOM (Fat Old Man)
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Post by Ed on Dec 21, 2015 5:58:02 GMT -8
It doesn't have any USB connection. The Serial/data connection is a proprietary cable with 4 contact points on one end and a serial connector on the other end. The illustration is in the manual referenced previously. I think I still have my unit somewhere. I don't know if the software is compatible with Windows 7. I haven't used it in years.
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 21, 2015 6:19:22 GMT -8
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Post by High Sierra Fan on Dec 21, 2015 10:50:47 GMT -8
Why would you want a cable? |
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Post by Coolkat on Dec 21, 2015 11:42:45 GMT -8
Why would you want a cable? Sigh.. I guess it's the techie side of me coming out. But you're correct as you pointed out earlier I don't need this to do what I need it to do. That is give me my coordinates so I know where on the map I am. The only other thing I could possible think of would be to import someone else's "track/s" for a particular route. However, I'm not even sure that is possible with this model. Next week I have time off so I'm gonna do some reading and playing around with this. I might even be doing a day hike on New Years. If I can get a map in time it'll be a good way to make sure all is working. |
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Post by geophagous on Dec 27, 2015 23:55:51 GMT -8
Let me get my lazy ass in gear and I can tell you if it will work...... I have the setup with the serial to USB cable and old etrex model. Until last Christmas when I got a new version......which is much better in that it holds a signal way way better than the old one!! I have Windows 7 as well. I just need to find the cables......kids have been playing with them and using it as a rope!!!!
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Post by geophagous on Dec 28, 2015 0:05:07 GMT -8
Actually now that I think more......I was using that setup for years on the windows 7 pc with no issues....I not tried it on windows 8 or 10. I am going to guess that I downloaded any drivers off the net as well. Let me know if you have any problems but it should be fine. I got a cheap serial to USB cord and it works perfectly with the computer. What software do you have on the computer for mapping? I use the TOPO! product which works well with both the old and new GPS.....
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