Geocaching Australia

Hi,

I´m very frustrated at the moment.I´ve bought a Garmin eTrex vista HCx and was looking forward to use it for geocaching.
But I can´t get it work properly.
I have two main problems :

The problems are as described below:
1.The GPS recognizes the micro SD card in the menu and the card info shows there is a map on the SD card(in the correct gmapsupp.img format integrated in the Garmin file)but it doesn´t get access to the storaged map on the SD card.It only shows the maps from the internal memory.(tracks4australia)

2.Even though we are driving on a highway shown on the GPS screen the GPS isn´t able to navigate us to the next town.After I choose "follow a road" it allways displays "Route Calculation Error: No roads near starting point."


Before I´ll claim it could you try to help me?

Thanks a lot.

Sauerkraut

(English is not my first language and I´m obviously not very capable in technological stuff like this.So explain it to me in plain english,please.
Edit:I´ve just realised tracks4australia maps does not perform auto-routing.Is it possible to use this maps for geocaching then?Might be a silly question....

Hi.
If the map on your microSD card is a commercial Garmin map, I'd contact Garmin or the retailer.
If not, I'd recommend to transfer the map from PC with Mapsource or Basecamp?
Cheers.

Hey,

What maps are you using? tracks4australia is not that detailed for road navigation.

How have you transferred the maps to the GPSr?

You should be able to find caches with it, but not road navigate to them with what you have.

To get routing you will need routable maps which you can get for free here;

http://www.osmaustralia.org/garminroute.php

Hi,

thanks for your reply.
I transfered the OSM map via USB.
I think I´ll delete the map and try it ones more.

If you don´t mind,could you write down -step-by-step- how to do it?

I already tried it with the NSW map from the link above but it didn´t work too.
I created a Garmin file on the microSD card and transfered the map after I unpacked it and renamed it in gmapsupp.img into the Gamin folder.
Sounds right,doesn´t it?
I have no idea how to do it via mapsource.
But my husband tried to bring trackpoints on the microSD card via mapsource(also in the correct format .gpx or similar?) - it´s no working as well.Even though it´s visible on the card info.

cheers

Hi Sauerkraut
I have the same GPS as you. Get the maps from here, instructions are in simple English.
http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

Then refer to one of my older posts on how to get the maps into the GPS here:
http://forum.geocaching.com.au/viewtopi ... ps#p146845

And this link will show you colour graphics of the GPS and how to do it. Refer to step 3 and4

http://sites.google.com/site/talkytoast ... k-maps-faq

Thanks @all

I tried everything but I can´t get this bl.... thing working.
Somebody from a german geocaching forum created a map for me for downloading and gave me helpful instructions as well but There is still the same problem.
The GPS is not showing the map - I can´t chose it in the map info because it´s not to find there.

There is one last option to check if the GPS is ok.I know somebody who owns the same Garmin as me.If I put my SDcard in his GPS and it shows the map-then I know my GPS is broken.Right?

Hi. Possibly.
My two cents - The Mapsource meathod should automatically name the map file and place it in the right folder on the memory card. See http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/show ... hp?t=12520 (Read down a bit) for more detail.
Have you tried a brand new (2GB) microSD card? May be a bad card, or worn or dirty contacts on the card or GPSr.

Directory structure for Mass Storage on XP should be:
↓ My Computer
↓ Removable Disc or Garmin(drive)
↓ Garmin(folder)
↓ gmapsupp.img

Hope this helps.
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If you you eliminate the impossible, everything else is possible. - Author?