Dear Colleagues,
Thank you all for your replies re my query. They
were very useful, but there is still no simple,
user friendly, solution. (Other hints are most
welcome!) - (And if you find out that something
works easily, please contact me!)
Since some of you have asked for a summary of
hitherto replies to my query (it seems to concern
more people than I thought ;-) ).... Here goes:
Cheers, Werner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Werner Haberl
Former Chair, Insectivore Specialist Group, IUCN
Hamburgerstrasse 11/17
A-1050 Vienna, Austria
Phone & Fax: (+431) 941 13 13
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The Shrew Shrine: <http://members.vienna.at/shrew>
or new: http://members.chello.at/natura
The Dormouse Hollow: http://www.glirarium.org/dormouse
=========================================================
Original Message:
Dear Colleagues,
I recently bought a Garmin E-trax GPS (Vista HCX) system and have
problems adjusting it to my MAC computer. Is there anybody in the
group who can help me with advice? (I am a novice!)
=========================================================
Copies of replies Identiies were deleted):
=========================================================
Alas, most GPS manufacturers do not support the
supreme elite of computer operating systems :
OSX. ;-) I was forced to purchase Virtual PC to
download all of my scientific peripherals;
dataloggers, GPS etc. If you have a recent
MacPro however it run windows and may even be
bundled with the OS at time of sale.
Unfortunately I have not upgraded my powerbook as
yet so I'm behind the curve a bit.
Also you may try contacting Garmin and see if
they have software available for Mac OSX at least
it will communicate a market for the software.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You might want to check the groundspeak site at the link below if you
haven't received any answers from others on the list. They been running
messages back and forth regarding the Garmin units and Mac's.
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=179300
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would be interested to know what you learn from the question you posted to
Ecolog. I use Mac and am considering a Garmin GPS unit.
Thanks!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I expect to run into the same challenges with my
GPSMap 60CSx and my new Mac--as soon as I can get
the GPS back from my boss, that is. That means
that I don't have any answers for you right now,
but at least I can direct you to these websites:
Garmin Apple-Mac blog:
http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/applemac/index.html
Garmin's new software for Mac OS X:
http://www8.garmin.com/macosx/
To see how other folks have tackled this problem,
you might want to look at this thread:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=283360
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would strongly recommend to contact customer service at Garmin first. They
were very helpful with me the other day. They might have a phone number for
Europe in their website.
Hope it helps,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I do not know of it is useful for you know, but i hope so,
try downloading the programs MapInstall &
MapManager from
<http://www8.garmin.com/support/mappingsw.jsp>http://www8.garmin.com/support/mappingsw.jsp
if you have done this you can try the bobcat
program
<http://www8.garmin.com/macosx/>http://www8.garmin.com/macosx/.
If it does not resolve the problem, you will have to try other software like:
James Associates. 2006. Mac GPS Pro. Versión 7.
<http://www.macgpspro.com/>http://www.macgpspro.com.
Revisada Febrero 2008
Chimoosoft. 2004. GPS Connect:A Freeware Garmin
GPS Connection Tool for Mac OS X.
<http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/gpsconnect/>http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/gpsconnect/.
Revisado Febrero 2008.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For MAC there are two alternatives: MacGPSPro und GPSy. MacGPSPro
*MacGPS Pro 7.6*
*Which GPS receivers work with MacGPS Pro?*
<http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/macgpspro/workswith.html>
New in Version 7
* Works with the Garmin Colorado GPS receiver series.
* Simultaneous Display of Maps in different datums.
* Edit track and route names.
* Stitching together of MacTopos Canada maps.
* 5 X faster USB transfers.
* Improved USB support for Garmin receivers means more Garmin
internal software versions will work no problems.
* Support for the Magellan eXplorist series of GPS receivers.
* Print the Map Window complete with multiple maps and overlaid GPS
data.
* Plot Elevation versus Distance for Routes and Track logs.
* Real-Time update of the Elevation versus Distance for the active
Track Log.
* Print Elevation versus Distance Graphs.
* Use with our New MacElevation digital elevation data to know and
plot the altitude of any US map or GPS data.
* Print the Satellite Visibility Window.
* Improved import of Backroad Mapbooks Canadian Topo Maps.
* Expanded and revised Help
<javascript:void(window.open('../help/macgpsprotitle.html','nameq','height=740,width=565,toolbar=1,scrollbars=1'))>
menu.
* New USA locator maps make it easy to find and open the correct
MacTopos map with a simple double-click.
* Save Maps with Waypoint, Route, and Tracklog overlays as PDF files.
* Handles both uppercase and lowercase waypoint names.
Product Description:
MacGPS Pro works with Garmin and Magellan GPS receivers for
transferring Waypoints, Routes, Tracklogs, and GPS satellite
Almanacs. MacGPS Pro works with almost all brands of GPS receivers
for a real-time display of GPS information on a moving map on the
Macintosh screen. It allows import of maps from a wide variety of
sources <http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/maplibrary.html>.
These maps can be viewed with no GPS receiver connected, or used in
real-time as a moving-map display of your current position and
velocity. They can also be used as a background to graphically
create, display and edit Waypoints, Routes and Tracklogs.
Features:
*Mac OS X Universal Binary for Intel and Power PC.*
Supports most Garmin
<http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/macgpspro/workswith.html#garmin>
and Magellan
<http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/macgpspro/workswith.html#magellan>
handheld and fixed-mount GPS receivers with
displays for upload and download of Waypoints
(with their Icons), Proximity Waypoints, Routes,
Track Logs, and Satellite Almanacs. All
coordinate transfers produce a map on the screen
of the data transferred.
Supports USGlobalSat
<http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/macgpspro/workswith.html#usglobalsat>
and other displayless GPS receivers, including
Bluetooth wireless receivers, for a real-time
display of GPS information on a moving map on the
Macintosh screen. Generate and display Waypoints,
Routes and Tracklogs on the Mac screen.
Saves all GPS data in editable, tab-delimited
text files, allowing easy data exchange with
Excel, databases such as FileMaker, and text
editors such as BBEdit.
Imports GPS data from places like the
geocaching.com <http://www.geocaching.com/> web
site. Imports ".LOC" files, ".GPX" files, and
USGS Geographic Place Name files.
Exports GPX waypoint, route and track log files.
These can be opened by many other GPS programs,
including Garmin's POI loader.
Imports and Exports ".kml" files for Google
Earth. Show the waypoints, routes and track logs
from your GPS receiver on Google Earth. Generate
data using Google Earth, and transfer it into
your GPS receiver.
Captures and Displays Real-Time data (NMEA 0183
and Garmin PVT). Optional large font display
makes for easy viewing at a distance or with a
quick glance.
Collects raw NMEA data to a file, and play back
that file as though the GPS receiver were
currently connected. Playback can be sped up or
slowed down.
Imports maps from a wide variety of sources
<http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/maplibrary.html>,
or use maps you scan yourself. These maps can be
viewed, panned, zoomed, and measured even with no
GPS receiver connected. Maps are displayed with
very high image quality, even when zoomed in or
out. MacGPS Pro is an excellent viewer for USGS
Digital Raster Graphic topo maps, (NOS/GEO) and
BSB versions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 charts, FAA flight
sectionals and many other digital maps. Maps in
raster image formats such as TIFF, JPEG, GIF, and
PNG are automatically georeferenced if they are
in GeoTIFF format, or if they are accompanied by
a "world"file, a ".MAP" file (an OziExplorer
caliibration format), or a ".JPR" file (a Fugawi
calibration format). An example of automatically
calibrated maps are the ETopo
<http://etopo.ca/etopoproducts.html> topographic
maps of Canada. We produce and sell MacTopos
<http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtml/menu/topomaps.html>
maps for the USA. Maps that are not automatically
georeferenced can be manually calibrated by
clicking on a few known points. MacGPS Pro *does
not upload maps* to any GPS receiver. The maps
are used on the Macintosh screen.
Works with topo maps, marine charts, and
aeronautical charts. Topo maps are not street
maps; the USGS topo maps are used for
backroading, camping, skiing, hiking,
backpacking, 4 wheel driving, biking, kayaking,
geocaching, etc. They are for recreation - not
for finding street locations or addresses in a
city.
Shows Chart Name and Scale of BSB and NOS files in the Open window.
Includes a Maptech World Marine chart.
Includes NASA's Blue Marble World Topo Map.
Handles up to 64,000 waypoints, 50 routes, 300 waypoints per route.
Drag and drop in the Finder to import Map image file.
Batch map import and conversion to MacGPS Pro's native PICT file format.
Displays the Quad Name and the file name of the
USGS Digital Raster Graphics topo map for any USA
location, making it easy to find the exact map
you need.
User selectable map projections: Albers
Equal-Area Conic, Azimuthal Equidistant,
Equidistant Cylindrical, Lambert Conformal Conic,
Mercator, Oblique Orthographic, Polyconic,
Sinusoidal, Stereographic, Transverse Mercator,
British Grid, Dutch Grid, Irish Grid, New Zealand
Grid, Swedish Grid, Taiwan Grid, and Swiss Grid.
User selectable map datum, allowing coordinate
conversions to and from 116 different map datums
that are commonly used by GPS receivers and
scanned maps.
User selectable position format, with latitude
and longitude in degree/minute/second,
degree/decimal minute or decimal degree format,
UTM, MGRS, British, Dutch, German, Irish, New
Zealand, Swedish, Swiss, or Taiwan Grid
coordinates, or Maidenhead Grid Squares (used by
Ham Radio operators).
Graphical Editing of Waypoints and Routes. Add,
delete, move, change Icon, change name, change
comment, change elevation, change proximity
distance, change icon color. Combine several
waypoint files. Convert datums and coordinate
formats.
Verbally gives current time, location, altitude, speed, and direction headed.
Help Viewer provides assistance for a smooth and
easy introduction to first-time users. See the
Help Guide
<javascript:void(window.open('../help/macgpsprotitle.html','nameq','height=740,width=565,toolbar=1,scrollbars=1'))>
online.
Control many MacGPS Pro functions using AppleScript.
Carefully refined over twelve years as the
premier GPS-to-Mac program, MacGPS Pro is written
and maintained by Dr. Lawrence W. James, Ph.D., a
Stanford graduate with many years of software
design experience. Our software is updated
frequently with new features suggested by users.
We are small enough to listen to you! Readily
available telephone or email support is included
in the low purchase price.
Introduction to GPSy^TM
GPSy^TM connects your Macintosh to a broad range
of Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers,
Loran-C, DECCA, and OMEGA navigational units and
displays your current coordinates, altitude,
bearing, heading, speed over ground, velocity
made good, distance to go, current waypoint, GPS
satellite data, and more. GPSy^TM can upload and
download GPS system data (waypoints; routes;
track; almanac) from a variety of GPS
manufacturers including Ashtec, Garmin, Eagle,
Lowrance, Magellan, Rockwell and Trimble. GPSy is
also the only Macintosh program to support the
new Internet DGPS-IP services
<http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/gps/dgps-ip.html>,
giving you meter accuracy in real-time through
from free, online DGPS-IP servers.
To see what our customers and clients have to say
about GPSy, please see our Customer Testimonials
Page <http://www.gpsy.com/testimonials.html>. The
GPSy Screenshots Page
<http://www.gpsy.com/screenshots.html> gives a
good sense of GPSy in operational use while our
Compatibility Page
<http://www.gpsy.com/compatibility.html> lets you
know which GPS units we work with (practically
any). To download a free demo copy of GPSy,
please visit our Download Page
<http://www.gpsy.com/download.html>. You can
purchase GPSy online over the internet or via
more traditional means through our Purchase Page
<http://www.gpsy.com/purchase/index.html>.
If you are a boater and want support for BSB
(NOAA/NDI) nautical charts, or you work with very
large or complex map images, you may be
interested in GPSy Pro
<http://www.gpsy.com/pro/index.html>, the
big-sister version of GPSy.
If you are new to GPS technology, you may want to
browse our GPS Resource Library
<http://www.gpsy.com/gpsinfo/index.html> which
contains FAQs and tutorials on the GPS. If you
haven't yet bought a GPS unit, check out our GPS
Unit Recommendations
<http://www.gpsy.com/faq/gps-units.html> in our
FAQ.
GPSy 3.3x Feature Table
Feature Description
GPS Communication Protocols
(Real-Time Position) NMEA-0183; NMEA-0182;
Rockwell NavCore; Rockwell Zodiac; Sony IPS;
Trimble TSIP; and Garmin Real-Time
GPS Data Transfer Protocols Eagle/Lowrance
(LSI-100); Garmin GRMN/GRMN (normal; StreetPilot;
extended 12XL and GPS III); and Magellan
DGPS Data Corrections DGPS-IP Service from
Internet DGPS-IP Servers
<http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/gps/dgps-ip.html>
Real-time RTCM data decoding and display
Geodetic Datums 127 including all current NAD, WGS, OSGB, and NTF datums
Coordinate Systems Latitude/Longitude
(DMM,DMS,DDD); UTM/UPS; Australian Map Grid
(AMG); British Grid (BNG); Dutch Grid (RK);
French GRADs; German Grid (Gauss-Krüger); Irish
(ITM); Maidenhead Grid; U.S. Military Grid
Reference System (MGRS); New Zealand Map Grid
(NZMG); Swedish Grid (SWD); Swiss Grid (SUI);
ECEF XYZ
Scanned Map Formats GeoTIFF; JPEG+JGW; TIFF;
TIFF+TFW; PICT; GIF; BMP; PhotoShop; JPEG; JFIF;
and QTIF
Text-to-speech Voice synthesis of current
location, bearing and speed, and other navigation
data
Date/Time Synchronization Synchronizes
Apple system clock and PRAM to current GPS time
and location
Track File Formats Extended GPSy Format;
GPSy Classic Format; StreetAtlas 4 GPL file;
MapFan TRK; DMAPWin POT; MAPGEN; MATLAB;
Waypoint+ (MapBlast
<http://www.gpsy.com/tutorials/mapblast.html>).
Also, track in real-time to NMEA-0183; NMEA-0183
RMC; Tab-Delimited; Raw; and HTML.
Waypoint File Formats Extended GPSy Format;
GPSy Classic Format; MapFan SPT; Waypoint+
(MapBlast
<http://www.gpsy.com/tutorials/mapblast.html>).
Internet Map Servers GPSyLinks (TM) to
Internet Map Servers allow you to instantly view
your position with maps updated over the
Internet. With Census TIGER, you can also run
census data analyses on your local area.
*Japan:* MapFanWeb <http://www.mapfan.com> and
MapFanWeb Route <http://www.mapfan.com>,
*U.K.:* StreetMap <http://www.streetmap.co.uk>
*USA:* MapBlast <http://www.mapblast.com>,
MapsOnUs <http://www.mapsonus.com>, Census Bureau
TIGER <http://tiger.census.gov/>, and
*World:* Google Maps <http://maps.google.com/>
CD-ROM Map Databases *Japan:* iPC MapFan II <http://www.pioneer.co.jp/ipc>;
*Japan:* Japan Map Center National Digital Maps
<http://www.jmc.or.jp> (1:25000, 1:200000 scale
map images);
*USA:* USGS DRG <http://www.gpsy.com/maps.html>
Topographic Map CD-ROM Databases
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GPSy 3.3x Protocol Support
Communications Protocol GPSy Support
NMEA-0182 Support Yes
NMEA-0183 Support Yes
NMEA-0183 Sentences AAM, APA, APB, BOD, BWC,
BWR, DBT, DPT, GGA, GLL, GSA, GSV, HDM, HDT, HSC,
MTW, RMB, RMC, VTG, WCV, WPL, XTE, XTR, PGRME,
PGRMF, PGRMM, PGRMV, PGRMZ, PRWIZCH
Rockwell Binary Protocol Support Yes (both NavCore & Zodiac)
Sony IPS (3000/5000/etc.) Protocol Support Yes
Trimble (TSIP) Protocol Support Yes
Real-time Garmin Protocol Yes
RTCM-104 DGPS Stream Decoding Yes (Real-Time and Logging Suppported)
CTB Serial Port Support Yes (up to 32 PC-Card;
PCI; USB-to-Serial Adaptor; PortShare;
PortJuggler; Internal PowerBook Ports; and other
CTB compliant devices)
Serial BPS Rate Controllable 150-57600
Bi-direction Computer Control Yes; full
featured w/ 69 commands for RTCM, remote modem,
DeLorme Tripmate, Garmin GPS 20/25/30/31/35/36,
and Ashtec SCA 12 support + extensions
Other Features
* Compatible with *any* NMEA-0183, NMEA-0182, Rockwell NavCore V,
Rockwell Zodiac Binary, Sony IPS, or Trimble (TSIP) compliant
GPS/Loran-C/etc. navigational unit
* Unique AppleEvent polling of GPS
latitude/longitude/speed/track/UTC-time using AppleScript and
GPSyLink [NEW]
* Support for Rockwell NavCore V-based GPS units (DeLorme TrackNGo
(TM) and Rockwell NavCard among others) as well as Rockwell Zodiac
Binary Protocol (DeLorme Tripmate, among others)
* Computer-command control of programmable/bi-directional GPS units
such as the Ashtec SCA-12/12S; DeLorme Tripmate^TM ; Starlink
Differential GPS units; Garmin GPS 20/20SL/30/31/35/36; and
remotely configured GPS units.
* Mac System Time Synchronization to GPS/atomic time
* Static Position Calculation / SA-cancellation
* Text-to-speech of locational and navigational information
* World-map locater
* SI/Metric and Imperial conversion
* GPS Satellite Data; extensive almanac data
* Available maritime data
* Realtime data logging and playback
* PowerPC Native "Fat" binaries
* Support for all CTB compliant serial ports, including PowerBook
serials; USB-to-Serial Adaptors (Keyspan; etc.); PortShare;
PortJuggler; and PC Card GPS units and serial devices.
* Secure on-line registration <http://www.gpsy.com/purchase/index.html>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Features
GPSy^TM is a full-featured Macintosh GPS
communications software program. GPSy^TM connects
your Macintosh to virtually any data-output
capable GPS unit on the market, collects the GPS
system data, and displays your location, speed,
heading, bearing, and other information in
real-time.
<http://www.gpsy.com/screenshots.html>
*Precision Positional Information:* GPSy^TM
presents positional information in
Degrees:Minutes:Seconds (41:18'56"N), decimal
degrees (eg. 41.315550N), Degree: Decimal Minutes
(41:18.933N); Universal Transverse Mercator
(UTM); Universal Polar System (UPS); Maidenhead
Grid; U.S. Military Grid Reference System (MGRS);
Australian Map Grid (AMG); British National Grid
(BNG); Dutch Grid (RK); German Grid (GK); Irish
Transverse Mercator; New Zealand Map Grid (NZMG);
Swedish Grid; Swiss Grid; and ECEF X, Y, Z
systems. You can choose a primary and secondary
coordinate system and can select from a list of
127 geodetic datums for automatic translation.
<http://www.gpsy.com/images/gpsylink.gif>
*Automapping:* GPSyLink^TM connects GPSy^TM to
USGS topographic maps
<http://www.gpsy.com/maps.html> on CD-ROM. GPSy
also includes links to most popular online
Internet Map Servers such as GoogleMaps. You can
set a continuous update (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60
seconds) rate or single location. GPSyLink^TM can
display your current waypoint using these map
databases as well as your current bearing,
heading, distance to go, and speed. This provides
a sophisticated auto-mapping solution that rivals
some of the more expensive ($3000~) built-in car
GPS systems while also giving you the convenience
of a hand-held GPS unit.
Clients have also made extensive use of our
MapBlast
<http://www.gpsy.com/tutorials/mapblast.html>
support. MapBlast.COM is an internet map server
that also provides door-to-door routing. With
GPSy, you can easily upload these map routes to
your handheld GPS units, most of which cannot
door-to-door route themselves. This is a perfect
companion for planning road trips. Just upload
your daily route each morning before you head out
for the day.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
To create a $200-$400 GPS car navigation solution:
* Download and purchase GPSy^TM on-line
<http://www.gpsy.com/purchase.html>.
* Obtain digital maps from any of of many digital map vendors
<http://www.gpsy.com/maps/index.html> or use an internet mapping
server
* Purchase a compatible GPS unit
<http://www.gpsy.com/compatibility.html>. The Garmin GPS III+
(~$370), II+ ($250), and 12 ($175) are all highly ranked on our
GPS unit recommendations page
<http://www.gpsy.com/faq/gps-units.html>. We have a list of GPS
resellers <http://www.gpsy.com/gpsinfo/index.html#resellers> and
instructions on how to make your own Mac GPS data cable.
<http://www.gpsy.com/cables/index.html>
With GPSy and a Ricochet
<http://www.ricochet.net> radio-internet modem
strapped to your PowerBook, not only can you get
real-time Internet DGPS-IP data corrections
removing SA and giving a real-time <10 meter
accuracy; view your location using multiple
GPSyLinked Internet Map Servers; but you can also
export your current location to a HTML web file.
Using Personal Web Sharing, anyone can view your
current location. Ideal for vehicle tracking or
remote position monitoring.
*Selective Availability Cancellation:*
GPSy support Internet DGPS-IP data corrections
from free DGPS-IP servers
<http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/gps/dgps-ip.html>
for meter-accurate real-time solutions. In
addition, if the navigational unit is in a stable
location, GPSy^TM can calculate the average
static position over time. This will cancel the
cumulative effects of the government-induced
Selective Availability (SA). You will need at
least an hour of calculating the average in order
to cancel out the effects. You can reach about a
10-meter (30 foot) static solution using this
option or meter-accurate combined with DGPS-IP.
The length of the data sample; sample size n;
standard deviation; and the average dilution of
precision (DOP) are also calculated, thus giving
you an index into the sample accuracy.
For screenshots of display panels, menus, and so
forth, please see our screenshots page
<http://www.gpsy.com/screenshots.html>.
