Mac + Garmin = WTF???

[kevinmrowland]

Got a Garmin 60Csx

It does not work with my Mac
Says right on the CD, "PC Only"
Bastards

Did some searching, and it seems that purchasing "MacGPS Pro" Is the best bet.
Anybody use it?
Any better options before I waste another $50 on this little plastic toy?

Thanks for any info, and for any Mac users, beware that Garmin software does not work on a Mac.

[GeoRoss]

MacGPS Pro does work very well. A quick search will show several thread on it.

There are rumors that Garmin will have a Mac version sometime this year. That is what you will need to upload and download maps as Garmin and all other mfg's use proprietary code.

MacGPS Pro can be used in real time and for the upload and down load of waypoints and tracks.

[SinCity4r]

Here's a little how-to.
http://www.bensinclair.com/article/h...-mac?printer=2

I also have macgps pro. It's a little clunky but seems to work well.
The only way at this point to get maps (not routes/tracks/waypoints) onto your gps though is to run Mapsource.

[TEPUI]

Originally Posted by GeoRoss

MacGPS Pro does work very well. A quick search will show several thread on it.

There are rumors that Garmin will have a Mac version sometime this year. That is what you will need to upload and download maps as Garmin and all other mfg's use proprietary code.

MacGPS Pro can be used in real time and for the upload and down load of waypoints and tracks.

hijack: is your GPS connector serial or USB? I haven't been able to connect my serial cable to the Mac, I've purchased 2 adapters already, none of them work.

[DuManchu]

I have Route 66 RouteUSA 2004 and the Rayming TN-200 USB GPS receiver for my PowerBook. It seems to work alright but I prefer Delorme Street Atlas USA on my Dell lappy.

I keep hoping for Delorme caliber software for Mac, but still haven't seen it.

[alvarorb]

MacGPS Pro is a great program. I've used it for years. Their maps are very detailed. It's the equivalent of OZ explorer for the Mac.
On the other hand if you run a Mac with an Intel chip, you can run parallels and MapSource. Your 60 CSX should work just fine.

While at MacWorld in San Francisco earlier this month, I spent some time at the Garmin booth. Even though they could not promise release dates, one of the programers who I talked to said that they plan to bring full support of Garmin products to the Mac. So we'll see what happens in the next year or so.

BTW, there this a great mailing list about all things Mac & GPS:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/macmap/

Our own Sam McCandless is one of the moderators.

Regards

Alvaro

[GeoRoss]

Originally Posted by TEPUI

hijack: is your GPS connector serial or USB? I haven't been able to connect my serial cable to the Mac, I've purchased 2 adapters already, none of them work.

For some reason, only the Keyspan one works. I know that the Belkin one doesn't. Keyspan works for me.


http://www.macgpspro.com/

[GeoRoss]

IIRC, Garmin has been say this for a year or so. Not that it would do me any good as I use a GPS76 with next to no memory.

Originally Posted by alvarorb

MacGPS Pro is a great program. I've used it for years. Their maps are very detailed. It's the equivalent of OZ explorer for the Mac.
On the other hand if you run a Mac with an Intel chip, you can run parallels and MapSource. Your 60 CSX should work just fine.

While at MacWorld in San Francisco earlier this month, I spent some time at the Garmin booth. Even though they could not promise release dates, one of the programers who I talked to said that they plan to bring full support of Garmin products to the Mac. So we'll see what happens in the next year or so.

BTW, there this a great mailing list about all things Mac & GPS:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/macmap/

Our own Sam McCandless is one of the moderators.

Regards

Alvaro

[zander]

Yes this bites, and I wouldnt hold my breath for the mac version. I run a mac and Garmin and have found a few solutions.

1. I boot my new intel mac under windows and use that for loading maps.
2. I use Mac GPS pro gor getting waypoints etc in and out of the Garmin when on the mac side.
3. I use a nifty script from grand high wiyard software in Austrlia for using my gps and mac in realtime in google earth. this rocks.

[quote=kevinmrowland;1774161]Got a Garmin 60Csx

It does not work with my Mac
Says right on the CD, "PC Only"
Bastards

QUOTE]

[kevinmrowland]

Well, thank you very much for the info.
Looks like I will give MacGPS Pro a shot.

SinCity4r, your comment that the only way to get maps onto the Garmin is to run mapsource is very worrisome.
MacGPS Pro does not allow you to upload maps? Or does it only allow you to upload THEIR maps?

alvarorb, when you say their maps a great, you mean the proprietary MacGPSPro maps? Are those the only one you have been able to use?

I do not have a new Mac, so no luck booting in windows.

The 60Csx comes with a USB cable, but when plugged into the Mac it does not even show up as an external drive. So I do not know if it works.

I can not seem to get the necessary downloads for the "how to" computer hacker stuff to work. Plus, I dont really like this stuff and would rather have a simple plug and play application, even if it does cost money.


Off to spend more $

[alvarorb]

Kevin,

MacGPS Pro works with any map that is an image. You can scan a map from a magazine and as long as you know the coordinates on the corners of the map, it can be calibrated to work with MacGPS Pro.

They also sell a series of Maps on their website. They are high quality topo maps and marine charts. MacGPS Pro does not allow you to download maps onto your GPS, in order to have real time information displayed on your maps, the GPS must be connected to your computer while you move.

The only way to import maps into your gps would be with MapSource from Garmin. MapSource currently only runs on PCs. I too run a non Intel Mac, so I have an old Pentium 4 PC that I use for downloading stuff into my GPS.

From the website, it would seem that the unit uses a serial port. I'd recommend the Keyspan USB to Serial Adapter. Like others have said, other adapters don't work. I think it's because of their drivers.

Regards

Alvaro

[83white]

I found out yesterday Garmin should have a solution out in the next coming weeks. Can't really go into details about it, but we have been told this should not be a concern that much longer.

[DuManchu]

Shoot I live where Garmin's world headquarters are, I even know some Garmin employees they don't even know (or won't tell) when they're gonna have Mac stuff available.

[TEPUI]

In January of last year Garmin announced that by the end of 2006 they would add Mac support for MapSource. I wonder what happened. Maybe they got discouraged by the fact that new Macs can now run Windows?

http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html

"By the end of 2006, Garmin intends to have made all its popular hardware and software applications Mac OS X compatible. This includes the ability to load MapSource map data to Garmin units via a Mac, as well as waypoint and trip planning applications. Additionally, the Garmin nRoute application will allow Powerbook and iBook users to turn their laptop into a powerful street navigation tool with Garmin’s GPS 10 or GPS 18 sensors."

[kevinmrowland]

Originally Posted by 83white

.......Can't really go into details about it, but we have been told this should not be a concern that much longer.

Who is "WE"? is "WE" privy to inside information that they would like to share with the Land Cruiser community?


[quote=alvarorb;1776501.....The only way to import maps into your gps would be with MapSource from Garmin.[/QUOTE]

That really blows.

I would have to get someone else with a PC to load the stuff. And I imagine that if they were using Garmin products you would run into problems with unlock codes and such.
It never occured to me that Mac would not be supported, seems like it would be the perfect platform to work from.

[freeze]

What kind of mac do you have? If you have the intel chipped one you can run Parallels, it's a virtualization software that is super fast. Also you can run Microsoft's Virtual PC 7 if you have a IBM/Motorola chip (G3/G4/G5). Not as quick as the Intel but it works for mundane programs. You'll need to buy Windows for Parallels and I believe Virtual PC 7 comes with Windows XP as a package.

[esh]

Hey Kevin-

http://www.gpsy.com/

[kevinmrowland]

I just have the iBookG4, no intel stuff and I would really hate to actually have to PAY for windows. I thought I left that program behind.

Thanks for the link Ken. I've been too busy to look into the issue much. Guess I am just hoping Garmin comes out with something. That program you linked to looks promising, but it did not mention anything about being able to upload maps or not.
I'll have to look into it a bit more.
Thanks for the new info guys.

[rusty_tlc]

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

Who is "WE"? is "WE" privy to inside information that they would like to share with the Land Cruiser community?




That really blows.

I would have to get someone else with a PC to load the stuff. And I imagine that if they were using Garmin products you would run into problems with unlock codes and such.
It never occured to me that Mac would not be supported, seems like it would be the perfect platform to work from.

Unlock codes shouldn't be an issue. I can't say for %100 sure about the Garmin stuff but I know Magellean Toposend can be uploaded into an unlimited number of GPSr's.
Find somebody who has a Garmin and a PC and needs the map S/W. You both win.

[freeze]

Originally Posted by esh

Hey Kevin-

http://www.gpsy.com/

wow check out the sceenshots!.... haven't seen System 6.5 for a long time!!!
Cool website... thanks!

[kevinmrowland]

So I had a chance to dig through the GPSy site a bit. I came across this little explanation:

"......Garmin has apparently made the decision not to license the details of the map uploading protocol or the format of the MapSource CD-ROMs to any third-party. This means that it is unlikely that you will see any third-party programs on either the PC or Mac support the map upload protocol.

What this means for Mac users is that no Mac program will be able to natively upload maps to the Garmin GPS III+ or any future models that use this method........."

That pretty much seems to sum it up.
You can pretty much do everything else, waypoints, routes, tracks, current location but there is no way to upload maps. Pretty pointless when you drive across the country exploring and want to upload maps for each area.


Ken, how did you come by this program? Did someone recommend it? Most comments I find only refer to MacGPRSPro. The GPSy seems a bit more hardcore, and is a bit more money, I doubt I would ever use it's fancier features.
All I want to be able to do is upload maps and show my location.

[GeoRoss]

I may be wrong, but I think that most of the GPS manufacturers use proprietary software to upload maps. I could be wrong, but both PC and Mac (if they every release it) need the Garmin software to upload maps.

I have had bad luck with support via GPSy. Things may have changed though.

It sounds like you either need to wait for Garmin to release the Mac version of their software. Personally, I use a laptop with MacGPSPro. The trade of for bulk is better software. If I had a PC, I would use OziExplorer.

Originally Posted by kevinmrowland

So I had a chance to dig through the GPSy site a bit. I came across this little explanation:

"......Garmin has apparently made the decision not to license the details of the map uploading protocol or the format of the MapSource CD-ROMs to any third-party. This means that it is unlikely that you will see any third-party programs on either the PC or Mac support the map upload protocol.

What this means for Mac users is that no Mac program will be able to natively upload maps to the Garmin GPS III+ or any future models that use this method........."

That pretty much seems to sum it up.
You can pretty much do everything else, waypoints, routes, tracks, current location but there is no way to upload maps. Pretty pointless when you drive across the country exploring and want to upload maps for each area.


Ken, how did you come by this program? Did someone recommend it? Most comments I find only refer to MacGPRSPro. The GPSy seems a bit more hardcore, and is a bit more money, I doubt I would ever use it's fancier features.
All I want to be able to do is upload maps and show my location.

[esh]

it was mentioned at expeditionportal.com

i'm shocked you didn't see it!

I personally don't care about uploading maps and have done fine across the country in my 1MB of memory crap basemap in the III+. I've seen the same thing, GeoRoss, though Delorme's new GPS may finally change that paradigm. The proprietary maps are the main reason I've never worried about loading maps into the GPS- the PCs are much more flexible so I put effort into that side. You can get around it by working up a system of waypoints or routes and load those to refer to map objects.

OTOH showing your current location is critical.

I may buy Ozi if we head down Baja. I've seen it used to great success out in the boonies, but I stuck to TOPO! because most people I know that want this ability can't get much further than a TOPO! type of setup. Kind of the same thing with CB vs 2m.

[kevinmrowland]

Well now I just feel silly. I just went and checked and I must have missed that new thread.
Thanks for pointing it out.

In my situation I would like the maps on the GPS since I do not want to have the laptop up and running all the time. That, and I don't want to take the laptop on backpacking trips where I would like to be able to play with the GPS.
You have to remember, you are much more of a gear geek than I am.


Baja is looking like it will be really freaking hot. I don't know if we should do that to our faithful canine companions. Still thinking and researching.

[esh]

Yeah I was thinking the same thing. We should head down next winter when the baby whales are around.

For hiking, since you're limited to a smallish area, create the interesting things you need beforehand and load waypoints/tracks/routers into the GPS for references. You won't get much detail on that level from any loadable proprietary maps anyways (unless Delorme's new thing is what they say it is).