can't download caches to my garmin etrex 20

[+k+kfehr]

I have an IMac computer and today I can not download any caches on my garmin etrex 20. I tried Firefox and safari. Is anyone else having trouble.

[+HHL]

I have an IMac computer and today I can not download any caches on my garmin etrex 20. I tried Firefox and safari. Is anyone else having trouble.

 

No. Do NOT use the "Send to Gps" button. It doesn't work at the very moment. DO use the "GPX file" button. It will open a standard save dialog. Select the Garmin unit (should be mounted as a drive) > select the Garmin folder > select the GPX folder > hit SAVE.

 

Hans

[+peedieduchess]

X post: this is for eTrex 30, but I suspect it will work also on yours.

 

I've spent several hours now reading all the answers here and on other sites and trying out a few things.

So I now think I've conquered the art of getting a geocache to appear on my eTrex!

So, I doubt if anyone else as dim as I am would need this, but here, step by step what I now do.

This is for eTrex 30 and IMac.

It's for loading a single or just a few caches.

 

Step 1. Connect eTrex to computer with the cable. Give it time to connect.

Step 2. Open 'Garmin Base Camp'and wait for it to load up. Seems to take ages of watching the wheel spinning round.

Step 3: on the left hand side of Garmin Base Camp highlight with the mouse 'My Collection'. It's important to do this first, otherwise it doesn't know where to put the cache.

Step 4: On the geocaching website, find the cache page you want. Click on 'GPX File'. A dialogue box will open. inside that, choose 'Save File' Do NOT choose 'Garmin Base Camp'. Click 'OK'.

Step 5: look now in your computer's downloads ( on my iMac, this is a downward pointing arrow at the top right of the screen). You'll want the one at the top as that's the one you just asked for.

Step 6: click on that download and it will go into 'My Collection' which you highlighted on Garmin Base Camp.

Step 7: NOW: important: identify your new cache in your 'My Collection' list by its GC code and DRAG it up to 'eTrex 30 Unit ID xxxxx).

Step 8: DONE!!! hooray! when you disconnect your eTrex from the iMAC and switch it on, your new cache should be there ready to use.

 

It doesn't actually take as long as may appear, I'm quite quick at it now. The slow bit is waiting for Garmin Base Camp to connect, that's when I put the kettle on for a cup of tea.

 

Please don't pity me too much for not understanding computer speak: I'm a pensioner who nearly gave up geocaching due to the problems, and now I can continue.

I'll try to create something similar for pocket queries next. Please share if you want for the benefit of other technophobes.

 

Kind regards,

 

Peedieduchess.

[+Allie_Lu]

THankyou soo much!!! I just got my Etrex today and could not figure this thing out!!! TY TY TY!!!

[+Catt R]

X post: this is for eTrex 30, but I suspect it will work also on yours.

 

I've spent several hours now reading all the answers here and on other sites and trying out a few things.

So I now think I've conquered the art of getting a geocache to appear on my eTrex!

So, I doubt if anyone else as dim as I am would need this, but here, step by step what I now do.

This is for eTrex 30 and IMac.

It's for loading a single or just a few caches.

 

Step 1. Connect eTrex to computer with the cable. Give it time to connect.

Step 2. Open 'Garmin Base Camp'and wait for it to load up. Seems to take ages of watching the wheel spinning round.

Step 3: on the left hand side of Garmin Base Camp highlight with the mouse 'My Collection'. It's important to do this first, otherwise it doesn't know where to put the cache.

Step 4: On the geocaching website, find the cache page you want. Click on 'GPX File'. A dialogue box will open. inside that, choose 'Save File' Do NOT choose 'Garmin Base Camp'. Click 'OK'.

Step 5: look now in your computer's downloads ( on my iMac, this is a downward pointing arrow at the top right of the screen). You'll want the one at the top as that's the one you just asked for.

Step 6: click on that download and it will go into 'My Collection' which you highlighted on Garmin Base Camp.

Step 7: NOW: important: identify your new cache in your 'My Collection' list by its GC code and DRAG it up to 'eTrex 30 Unit ID xxxxx).

Step 8: DONE!!! hooray! when you disconnect your eTrex from the iMAC and switch it on, your new cache should be there ready to use.

 

It doesn't actually take as long as may appear, I'm quite quick at it now. The slow bit is waiting for Garmin Base Camp to connect, that's when I put the kettle on for a cup of tea.

 

Please don't pity me too much for not understanding computer speak: I'm a pensioner who nearly gave up geocaching due to the problems, and now I can continue.

I'll try to create something similar for pocket queries next. Please share if you want for the benefit of other technophobes.

 

Kind regards,

 

Peedieduchess.

I've been trying to sort out this problem with my Garmin Etrex20, my MacBook Pro and the now defunct plug-in for longer than I care to admit. I found your post after trying multiple variations of questions and alleged 'fixes' and wow, your blow by blow description worked perfectly! The only part of your description that I didn't experience was in Step 4; no dialogue box opened but by clicking on GPX File the file chosen went straight to my MacBook's download.

 

I can't tell you how grateful I am for your instructions - Thank You!

[+Mineral2]

I'm just going to add, as I do to every single post on this topic (and it feels like there have been hundreds at this point),

 

As a premium member, STOP loading caches one at a time. Pocket queries install the same way that the above instructions do (with the added step of unzipping a .zip file first), but you can load up to 1000 geocache listings in a single file. It's much more efficient to manage your caches that way.

 

http://www.geocaching.com/pocket/

[+noncentric]

I would like to add that using Garmin Basecamp to load caches onto an eTrex is not necessary.

 

Whether you download GPX files one at a time or via a Pocket Query, there is no need to use Basecamp to transfer those GPX files.

 

• Connect GPSr to computer. It will now show up as an additional drive on your computer.
  
• Download the GPX file:
  -- Singly - click on GPX file on the cache page, then hit 'Save'.
  -- Pocket Query - click on the PQ on your Pocket Query page, go to the folder where your computer stores your downloads and unzip the PQ that you've just downloaded.
  
• Copy the GPX file(s) from the folder where your computer stores your downloads to the Garmin\GPX folder of your GPSr.
  -- Singly - there will be 1 GPX file, named something like GC12ABC.gpx
  -- Pocket Query - there will be 2 GPX files, named like 1234543_Seattle.gpx & 1234543_Seattle-wpts.gpx
  
• Disconnect GPSr after the files have finished transferring.
  
• Done.

 

ETA: Here's another post where I detailed the steps.

Edited June 15, 2017 by noncentric