Author Topic: GPS with complete southern tier waypoints  (Read 15930 times)

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Offline bicyclerider

GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« on: June 26, 2006, 09:40:02 am »
I' looking for a GPS with the ability to preinstall the complete southern tier waypoints with a graphical map to use not just waypoints.

This would also need to have the ability to add waypoints for places of interest with lengthly descriptions. water places to each bike shops or hardware biker friendly locations.

Come on now we know its out there but who uses one and where are they available for purchase?

This message was edited by bicyclerider on 6-26-06 @ 5:44 AM
Jean Andre Vallery
Jacumba, California

Offline ptaylor

GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2006, 04:06:55 pm »
Checkout the new Garmin units. I have last year's GPSMap 76c: it holds 50 routes and 1000 waypoints. But their new model has removable memory cards, so I presume you could use 2 cards to cover the whole southern tier.

Also, if you download the Southern Tier from ACA, it will already have all the waypoints for bike shops, lodging, etc. Quite a deal since it's free! You can then add/delete/modify waypoints with Garmin's Mapsource desktop software as needed.

Paul

This message was edited by ptaylor on 6-26-06 @ 12:10 PM
Paul

Offline bicyclerider

GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2006, 06:10:18 pm »
I will not be carrying a laptop this time across and will use the gps exclusively. The ability to enter and save waypoints with a description of the new type of service is my goal. So they have add on memory cards? So half the trip on one chip and the rest on the other chip?
Has anyone used these newer devices on the road yet?
Does the gps record altitude? Is there a model that holds a internal charge so not to loose any data when changing batteries ( set info ) or is that not required to be a concern?


Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida
Jean Andre Vallery
Jacumba, California

FredHiltz

  • Guest
GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2006, 08:55:27 am »
Hi Jean Andre,

I just checked the entire Southern Tier route with Garmin's City Select version 6 detailed street maps and auto-routing data. It requires 79MB of map storage, which fits well in the Garmin 76C, 76CS, 76CSx, and 60CSx. I have heard that version 7 is built with larger map segments, which will require more space. Not a problem with the newer "x" models, but needs checking if you choose the 76C or 76CS and those maps. If you want topography too, there is plenty of room to add US Topo maps.

The route comprises 1989 waypoints, 1261 of which mark the route and 728 identify points of interest. I have not seen a consumer receiver that will hold all of these at once. The "x" models can, I read, store tracks on the removable SD cards, but I have not read about them storing waypoints. Do check this.

If I were setting out, I would consider two ways to deal with the limit of 1000 waypoints.

1. Store the data on a CD or a thumb drive with a little program like G7ToWin that can run from the CD. Find a computer shop or a friendly cyclist about half way along to reload your receiver through your USB cable.

2. Keep the POI waypoints and a few route waypoints. Every few days, spend a few minutes with the ACA maps and mark your own waypoints into the receiver for routing. You will not need anywhere near as many as the database supplies because autorouting announces the turns for you. Just enough waypoints to tell it which roads to take should be enough. From two to six per day of riding, I'd say, based on my experience doing this in New England.

Where are they available for purchase? Any of the large outdoor stores, both brick-and-mortar and on line, also many GPS specialty stores, mostly on line, where you will get more knowledgeable assistance if you have questions. An excellent list of these, along with articles about using GPS and pointers to everything, is at http://gpsinformation.net/.
My own favorite vendor is tvnav.com, and many others get good press in the newsgroups.

Does the gps record altitude? Is there a model that holds a internal charge so not to loose any data when changing batteries? All of the models in the price range you need for this much storage do record altitude with each waypoint and each point in their track logs. GPS altitudes are accurate to about +-100 feet. The "S" models add a barometric altimeter for accuracy (when calibrated) to about +-30 feet.

All these models use flash memory. No battery needed to hold their data while the main batteries are changed.

Regards,

Fred




Offline mic57

GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #4 on: June 29, 2006, 04:14:06 pm »
Hi all,
I have the Garmin76csx, I just got it about a month ago.  It is great.  I have a bike mount for it but have not done that yet.  I am still learning how to use it, so I have been taking it hiking.  It really rocks.  I decided to get this one over the bike specific one because I can see the screen much better!  That near-vision decline is not fun!  I cannot envision putting on my reading glasses to see the screen.  The other nice thing is the new chip enables you to get coverage in heavy foliage and deep canyons.  I have tried this and it works.

I just found the gps data for the AC maps.  That is such a fantastic resource.  Thanks to all who have put this together.  Great job!:)

Michell


Offline bicyclerider

GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2006, 01:09:02 pm »
Can the 256 mg chip be used in the Garmin76csx model?
loading all the maps and waypoints for half of the trip on one and the other half of the trip on the other 256 mg chip? Possibly giving you room to add  to the waypoints for diffrent features you see along the way, example bicycle shops, western auto center for tubes. Walmart, Kmart Taco bell etc...

Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida
Jean Andre Vallery
Jacumba, California

FredHiltz

  • Guest
GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2006, 09:18:23 pm »
Yes, the 256 MB chip works in the 76CSx. It is more than enough for cross-country maps. Unfortunately, we cannot store waypoints in it. They go into internal memory with a limit of 1000 waypoints. You will need to reload part way, or create waypoints in the unit from time to time, working from the ACA maps.

Fred


Offline bicyclerider

GPS with complete southern tier waypoints
« Reply #7 on: August 15, 2006, 12:20:23 pm »
I sent a reply back to the email I sent orginally to them regarding this situation.

In response to that information below.
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2027)-SDSDQ-2048-SanDisk_microSD_2GB.aspx
 
What would you suggest I should do regarding this situation.
I will be traveling without a laptop.  Riding a bicycle across the usa on the route, http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm
This organization provides additional gps info for bicycle rider info.

One suggestion was to place half of the trip on one chip and then load the rest on another.

Is it possible to have the complete map source installed on a internal chip leaving the micro-SD card available for other info to be added along the way So what would you suggest?


Here is the orginal info I just recieved from garmin,



Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

 I believe at the current time the largest micro-SD card made is a 1GB card.
The entire City Navigator program is about 1.6GB. That means there is no way to load the entire program to one chip. The size of the chip will not change the amount of waypoints you can put on the unit. You can save
Waypoint/icons: 1000 with name and graphic symbol, 10 proximity.
Best Regards,

Dan Backus
Product Support Specialist
GARMIN International
PH# 800.800.1020
FX# 913.440.5488
www.GARMIN.com

If you read the page at scandisk it says their chip is now 2 gig

Jean Andre Vallery
www.bicyclejournals.net
Sarasota Florida
Jean Andre Vallery
Jacumba, California