Talking About Adventure In Small Boats
Curious what you all may use to import waypoints/routes from computer to your handhelds? I have a Gamin 78sc. I admittedly don't use a handheld often anymore, I prefer satellite printouts and charts but want to have multiple routes pre-programed. I know there are a few programs such as "EasyGPS", "Garmin Homeport" but open to suggestions.
Thanks and I"ll see ya on the beach!
I use Garmin Homeport. Easy & reliable.
Bermudaboy
Member
TJAM: I'm a fan of GE/NOAAoverlays/Latest GE Sat Photos in historical bar, and Homeport, back and forth, back and forth, trading data between the too, then finally from Homeport to GPS. In 2015 this was a pretty good topic on the issue with lots of details and comments on GPS software, etc, "Homeport GE Q&A"
Im also a non-recovering gps junkie, love researching, sharing, comparing, learning bout better, bailout/camp waypoints & tracks/routes down to the nano level....
JoeWildlife
Member
I like BB use GE/NOAAoverlays/satellite photos . Save that as a .KML I think, then use GPSBabel, a simple program, to convert the KML to a .gpx format. Then usy EasyGPS to actually download the waypoints and tracks to the GPS. I don't use routes on the GPS--and fortunately in this system when I plan a "route" it ends up as a track on the gps. Tracks are static--just a line on the GPS. so they are easy to use so long as you know what way is south when you start paddling, even the foggiest of brains can follow a track if you TRUST THE ELECTRONICS. That is something I always say--mostly when I'm fishing and the depthfinder is showing me structure/fish/saved spot. I use Garmin 78 with the bluewater G2 chip in it.
MisterMoon
Member
JoeWildlife wrote:
I like BB use GE/NOAAoverlays/satellite photos . Save that as a .KML I think, then use GPSBabel, a simple program, to convert the KML to a .gpx format. Then usy EasyGPS to actually download the waypoints and tracks to the GPS. I don't use routes on the GPS--and fortunately in this system when I plan a "route" it ends up as a track on the gps. Tracks are static--just a line on the GPS. so they are easy to use so long as you know what way is south when you start paddling, even the foggiest of brains can follow a track if you TRUST THE ELECTRONICS. That is something I always say--mostly when I'm fishing and the depthfinder is showing me structure/fish/saved spot. I use Garmin 78 with the bluewater G2 chip in it.
Homeport can import KML files directly now.
Bermudaboy
Member
I think Tracks maybe good for very specific short uses, where you know you will be right next to your track. For me though when sailing, and just leaving GPS on long time, I think Routes with window set up with pointerarrow, bearing, headin and off course, specially on beating tacks is better for making sure you are pointing as high as you can..(not that I can ever concentrate that much). Also yr just naviating off the chart display window, if on routes it will always show where you are relative to the route on the display, if you are on tracks, it will always show you, but NOT YOUR TRACK if you are far from it. That helps if you hands are tied up and you at least know by the image that you've been day dreaming about Ms. Derek. Goin to some more tests to see if my failing memory is correct, but that what I recall from June when tried for first time to do all by tracks in the Shackleford Bansk expedition.... MM, let me know if I am wrong on my Tracks take...
JoeWildlife
Member
BB, I definitely see you are coming from, where routes are better than tracks if you are sailing and tacking. In my canoe, I rarely have to get "far" from a track and can always zoom out the GPS if I am far from it. It works for me, and routes seem to work for you! I just worry about the GPS trying to point the way back to the next "tick" on the route, through a reef, island, or causeway! Maybe that doesn't happen if you use enough "ticks" in when making the route?
So, on this rainy winter morning, I'm actually working on getting my GPSs loaded, and LO AND BEHOLD there is an update for EasyGPS an it now has a street or aerial photo background layer available! COOL, this is a great improvement!
Joe
JW- Are you using EasyGPS on a PC or Mac? I havent downloaded EasyGPS yet, I will tomorrow (working today). Anxious to get my GPS all set now, so I have less to worry about later.
Thanks for all the pointers fellas
Bermudaboy
Member
JW, I definetly agree for anything tight, hairpin around a shoal, a track is better. I tested about three times, and once you get past a wp in the route it can jump to the "other one" on the other side of the shoal, before it takes you around the point, is what Ive concluded....havent been able to figure out exactly what the distance is at when it jumps to the next wp...
JoeWildlife
Member
ChesapeakeTJAM, I am using a PC.
Make sure you download the real easyGPS. There are all kinds of ways to download toolbars and other garbage if you don't go to the http://www.easygps.com website directly.
MrMako
Member
I was busy today typing in Wilderness Waterway waypoints and camp sites. I found using the red with a white strip Dive Flag symbol works great for camp sites. If you use the obvious green tent symbol, it has a tendency to get lost in the flats and mangrove green. It just doesn’t show up very well. I do not want to go pass a camp site and then have to back up in the middle of a befuddled night.
WaterScout
Member
I have used a Garmin GPSMAP 64ST for years with my Boy Scouts. I use the free Garmin Basecamp application and have a Birds Eye subscription so I can download Satelite imagery to the 64ST I do all my waypoints/ POI's/ Routes, Tracks, etc on the computer and transfer the data to my devices. On my GPSMAP 78SC I do not have a Birdseye subscription but I get the benifit of the Bluecharts so I have the best of both worlds.
I have seen videos where you can do everything in Google earth and import files but I find the Basecamp is just create and upload to your device.
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