GPS tech (Garmin, Hammerhead, Wahoo, RWGPS, etc)

I keep forgetting I have an 800 now. I need maps on the bastard though. Stupid Garmin won't let me take the maps off the etrex. Fuckers.

The lock file is only a text file, something.unl

Lots of confusion over this on the Garmin forum. Apparently if you own OS maps or City Navigator or whatever you should be able to install them into Basecamp. However Basecamp cannot read the SD or MSD cards, meaning you have to call Garmin and get them to post you a DVD.

Seems like a fail to me.

There is a way to convert the .img file on the sd card to be readable by basecamp using gmaptool and cgpsmapper.
Essentially these split the .img file into tiles and also create an installer for them for mapsource or basecamp.

Not really good enough though is it? Seems unfinished.

So I'm about to purchase CIty Maps Europe but am wondering if getting the DVD or SD card is the better option. I want to plan some routes which I intend on doing in Italy during August, thus can I just get the SD card and plan using Basecamp? From Howard's comments above it doesn't look like it.

If I buy the DVD, how do I transfer to my Garmin 800 as I have no SD card!

Thanks in advance.

The lock file is only a text file, something.unl

From the 5 seconds I spent reading about it there's some communication with their server so the map and device codes are matched. If I try to plug the map into another device their online unlocking will fail.

I've ordered a set of UK maps now anyway.

If I buy the DVD, how do I transfer to my Garmin 800 as I have no SD card!

Thanks in advance.

Buy a blank SD card.
Use Garmin software to transfer maps to it when it's in the device.

Buy a blank SD card.
Use Garmin software to transfer maps to it when it's in the device.

Doh! I just had visions that the transfer would be blighted by problems such as SD card accpetance (non-Garmin issued) or something else illogical like this.

Nope. Just buy a standard SD card. Don't bother about SDHC or any of that new fangled shit and you should be fine. SanDisk work for me.

^ this.

4GB card... anything bigger may not be recognised.

Running a £5 8Gb Sandisk from ebay in my 705 FWIW.

Got my maps. Amazon Prime guaranteed next day delivery took two days...

Thanks all. Will be purchasing DVD and card.

Has anyone had problems with Garmin buttons getting harder and harder to push, eventually feeling like they're going to stop working at all? My 200's doing it.

Wiggle say I can send it back but it'll take at least two weeks. That means no Strava, which means no chance.

Has anyone got any experience of using the Garmin Oregon 450 for cycling? (or the 550 - the only difference is the camera as far as I can tell??)

I know the Oregon is heavier, and doesn't have the training features of the Edge 800 (which is the other one I'm looking at) but it appears to have a few advantages (larger screen, more waypoints per route, more internal memory, image viewer, takes AA batteries*)

*I appreciate this is only subjectively an advantage!

I doubt if I'd use most of the Edge's training features, but then I do like a stat or two...

Any advice would be appreciated.

I have a Dakota which is a similar hiking style one. There are plenty of customisable screens so you can get it displaying pretty much what you want. Batteries last for ages (I use rechargeables) and obviously easy to change.

It'll have a stopwatch with splits and so on but obviously won't have the bike functions like ghost rider, etc.

Thanks aggi.

I think I'd better do some more research into the bike-specific Edge features to see what I'd be missing out on!

I'm on OS10.7.5 which Apple have released some updates for. Now my Chrome extensions aren't working properly and Chrome cannot load Garmin Communicator – the plugin needed for Garmin Connect courses to be loaded onto my Garmin Edge 500.

Has anyone else had similar problems?

Am I likely to get a reply from Garmin help or is that wishful thinking?

I'm on OS10.7.5 which Apple have released some updates for. Now my Chrome extensions aren't working properly and Chrome cannot load Garmin Communicator – the plugin needed for Garmin Connect courses to be loaded onto my Garmin Edge 500.

Has anyone else had similar problems?

Am I likely to get a reply from Garmin help or is that wishful thinking?

Yeap same problem.

I already had the plugin installed and haven't updated anything on my computer afaik. I think it's a garmin issue possibly and not an apple one.

Actually I think the issue for me was a chrome update. Seems some people hve had issues with 64bit browsers.
I can upload on firefox(mac) without any issues.

I noticed in almost every Garmin update the bug fixes include recognising plug-ins.

Chrome is up to date, so I hope Garmin move quickly. I'll try other browsers in the meantime. Garmin Help is pretty poor.

Garmin are pretty bad with there support. I "upgraded" from a 200 to a 500 and lost the ability to map out routes and follow them on my unit.

I now have to use gpsies to create the route and download it with extra points in every 20m.

The routes function works if you downgrade the firmware but then you loss other functions. So garmin broke the function when they "fixed" other bugs. They pretty much deny that the route function should have ever worked as it did and that nothing is wrong.

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask, or if this has already been covered but...

I'm planning on going to Italy for some light touring this summer and would love to have a turn by turn gps system for my route. Is there an appropriate (an not too expensive) cycling option, and/or would it be possible to use a car gps system or do those cut out if you go too slow? I don't care about candence monitoring or heartrate etc, I just need something to tell me the way.

thanks

I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask, or if this has already been covered but...

I'm planning on going to Italy for some light touring this summer and would love to have a turn by turn gps system for my route. Is there an appropriate (an not too expensive) cycling option, and/or would it be possible to use a car gps system or do those cut out if you go too slow? I don't care about candence monitoring or heartrate etc, I just need something to tell me the way.

thanks

Probably the cheapest option is something like the etrex 20 or etrex legend with openstreetmap.
http://www.handtec.co.uk/satnav-gps/outdoor-gps/garmin-etrex-20-010-00970-10.html

How much is my Garmin 705 worth? I've got a GSC10 and a spoke magnet that can go with it, and it has the Open Street Map file loaded currently.

I have the eTrex 20, great little GPS if you're not the kind of person who record all sort of datas from Richmond Park and make it into a pie chart to show to their nearby friends and families.

I have the eTrex 20, great little GPS if you're not the kind of person who record all sort of datas from Richmond Park and make it into a pie chart to show to their nearby friends and families.

Did my parents show you my Christmas newsletter this year or something? I love a good pie, me

The Dakota 10 isn't bad as well. Slightly larger and touchscreen and a bit cheaper. http://www.handtec.co.uk/satnav-gps/outdoor-gps/garmin-dakota-10.html

You can get the Dakota 20 for slightly more which has Ant+ for cadence, heartrate, etc.

Alternatively, a holder for your phone and Tom Tom app or something plus a rechargeable battery pack can do the job

Anyone had their Edge 800 just not record anything?