Garmin For Dummies

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Eli Watson
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by Eli Watson »

Altitude High wrote: Fri Aug 14, 2020 9:07 pm So if I download a map from Alltrails or something similar, and my cellphone has GPS, can I pull up the topo and see a "you are here" arrow which will tell me where I am?

I don't have a Garmin, and would rather avoid plunking down $450 if I can do almost the same thing with my phone.
GPX Viewer app + .gpx file downloaded to your phone. Tap the folder icon to open and find the file in your Downloads. Tap the bullseye to locate your position.

Free :-D
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by Altitude High »

Thanks!
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by BillMiddlebrook »

justiner wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:31 pm
Alpine Guy wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 6:12 pm Cougar, sorry if I'm pulling CaptCO's thread in a new direction but I think you said you use Basecamp to load GPX files to your device. When I've used Basecamp to load a 3rd party GPX file (not a track I created, e.g. from this site) it defaults to large flag icons at each waypoint which totally obscures the small screen on my etrex. Absolutely useless. Have you found a way around that, or does it just work right for you?
Many of the tracks you can download on here aren't tracks, but routes. You want to d/l the tracks, not routes:
FYI, the 14er (site) route descriptions have BOTH "track" and "route" GPX files. For the mobile apps, yes, they only have the route-based gpx files. In the next version of the apps, I'll try to get both gpx files out there for each route description.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by Alpine Guy »

Justin's suggestion to use tracks instead of routes did solve my display problem, so there definitely is merit in having both. But I get what I need from the website.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by nyker »

I've been using a loaner Garmin/Inreach Explorer+ (orange one) on the last few hikes-

Some notes, thoughts

* Messages sent are maybe 50:50 (unless sky is completely unimpeded, rare in the northeast), though it takes up to 20min to respond even on mountain top.
* Mapping is pretty good though a little confusing at times as the downloaded map seems to miss some features, for example my climb up Mt Marshall yesterday in the ADK did not show Avalanche Lake which made my navigating tricky since this is a peak with no marked
trail...
* Battery life good, I set it on 5min timeout when normal hiking or 30min timeout when I am using more frequently it setting waypoints, on the 20 mile hike It was at 79% when I was done.
** One issue is getting a fix - sometimes it takes 30min or more to get a fix and I am not in deep brush,forests. Anyone else have this problem? This is also an issue when setting waypoints - I get the "!" notification when the device can't get a fix.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by nyker »

Also, has anyone tried the Garmin 66i series? They claim it gets a better/faster fix and it's easier to use as a navigation unit vs. the Explorer+, holds more waypoints also.
see link below

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/623975
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by Alpine Guy »

Nyker - I haven't tried the 66, I use the inreach mini and have essentially the same experience as you describe. It doesn't punch through tress well at all (not a big problem in the western mountains). And while I have mine set to take a waypoint every 5min it can take upwards of 30min or more for my location to update on my phone app. For this reason I continue to carry an etrex30 as my primary nav device. The inreach is just for peace of mind.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by supranihilest »

Alec, you might also look into a piece of Garmin software called inReach Sync. I can't say whether there's a Mac version of it, but I use it on Windows. I rarely use my inReach for GPX tracks (because the inReach's screen resolution and GPS intervals are awful and slow, respectively; I mostly use my Fenix 5 for sticking to a track) but when I have done it I've uploaded the GPXes onto my account on inreach.garmin.com instead of via Garmin Connect. inReach Sync then syncs the GPX (and waypoints, maps, etc.) when you plug your inReach into your computer and run the software. Let me know if you'd like additional help.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by wineguy »

cougar wrote: Thu Jul 09, 2020 12:13 pm I use Basecamp to load and dump out GPX
This is the same approach I've found to work. Download the file, move it to Basecamp, then move it to your device.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by nyker »

So the attached pic shows one of the issues I was referring to when I mentioned the unit I was using doesn't always get a fix and sometimes the compass doesn't work even though the location is correct.
At this spot, the sky was clear of trees/peaks/walls, etc. I was heading North, note compass bearing is correct, but GPS says South ](*,)
Anyone else have this issue?
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by susanjoypaul »

nyker wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:33 pm So the attached pic shows one of the issues I was referring to when I mentioned the unit I was using doesn't always get a fix and sometimes the compass doesn't work even though the location is correct.
At this spot, the sky was clear of trees/peaks/walls, etc. I was heading North, note compass bearing is correct, but GPS says South ](*,)
Anyone else have this issue?
This might seem obvious, but do you calibrate your compass? I do every time I change the batteries or start a new hike. Just a habit. Otherwise, I get wonky readings.
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Re: Garmin For Dummies

Post by martinleroux »

nyker wrote: Sat Sep 26, 2020 5:33 pm So the attached pic shows one of the issues I was referring to when I mentioned the unit I was using doesn't always get a fix and sometimes the compass doesn't work even though the location is correct.
At this spot, the sky was clear of trees/peaks/walls, etc. I was heading North, note compass bearing is correct, but GPS says South ](*,)
Anyone else have this issue?
Do you have the same issue when you look at the InReach's "compass" screen? You're looking at the "location" screen, and I'm not sure if the direction under "course" is the direction in which the device is currently pointed. It may be the direction in you've recently been traveling.
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