Jump to content

MicroSD card and Etrex 20


Lineman101

Recommended Posts

Hi everyone. I just figured out how to use a smart card in my Etrex 20 thanks to the nice folks in this forum. I know the 20 is capable of storing 5000 caches on the internal memory. Is it possible to put another 5000 on the card for a total of 10,000? Thanks.

i have an etrex 30 myself (the 24 channel receiver appeals to me soome to be accurate right away even under bridges and in valleys)

 

and a 10 year old etrex without sd slot this holds only 500 catches

i loaded all these(it was at its limit) into the etrex 30

 

I was a bit worried so found an sd card 2gb

 

the hand held unit works with SDHC card so unless there is some sort of arbitrary limit you can do far better than a 2Gb max SD card smallest sdhc card is 4Gb

 

I have the usa relief maps on the 2G card and havent overflowed yet

 

try the garmin site a lot of people there have done things

 

There are some exceptions that are strange in the garmin catalog (like SD rather than SDHC)

 

the forum there has a lot of stuff where people push the limits

Link to comment

I guess a person could avoid putting any caches in the GPX folder of internal memory, then swap SD cards with their own GPX folder that contains the *.gpx cache file(s). However, swapping cards will force a full reload of the file on initial startup, and that takes a while. And although the geocache_visits.txt file for field notes won't care and would upload just fine, you'd lose a record of which caches had been found on the 'other card' when you swapped. Has anyone tried this yet?

Link to comment

Really? Where have Garmin said that? Here is their official advice:

 

https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={e1f8cf10-260f-11e1-73d0-000000000000}

 

Here, from the horses mouth!

 

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?55192-etrex-30-32GB-sd-card-issue

 

"Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

 

I am happy to assist you with this today.

 

I sorry to hear that the 32GB Micro SD card(s) aren't working properly in your device. The only 32GB Micro SD card we have tested to see if it will work is the SanDisk 32GB Micro SD HC card. We can't speak for every card made by every manufacturer but that is the only one we know works for sure. We usually don't advise to use a card that large though. For most people a 4GB-16GB will work for almost everything. Sorry for any problems that this may have caused.

 

With Best Regards,

David 6310

Customer Care - Outdoor Team"

 

 

<_<

Edited by PigSti
Link to comment

Hi everyone. I just figured out how to use a smart card in my Etrex 20 thanks to the nice folks in this forum. I know the 20 is capable of storing 5000 caches on the internal memory. Is it possible to put another 5000 on the card for a total of 10,000? Thanks.

No, you can not double the number of caches from 5,000 to 10,000 by putting 5,000 on a smart card. If the eTrex 20 is capable of 5,000 caches, you can load up to that number, period. A larger datacard won't increase that number, nor will a different coloured card. Using two or more cards is right out.

Edited by coggins
Link to comment

Hi everyone. I just figured out how to use a smart card in my Etrex 20 thanks to the nice folks in this forum. I know the 20 is capable of storing 5000 caches on the internal memory. Is it possible to put another 5000 on the card for a total of 10,000? Thanks.

No, you can not double the number of caches from 5,000 to 10,000 by putting 5,000 on a smart card. If the eTrex 20 is capable of 5,000 cashes, you can load up to that number, period. A larger datacard won't increase that number, nor will a different coloured card. Using two or more cards is right out.

 

Then multiple cards is the way to go when traveling. Thanks for your input.

Link to comment

Just be sure you delete any from the internal memory GPX folder when you do this. What you put on a uSD card in a GPX folder doesn't replace what is loaded on internal, it augments it. So to get the full count on each uSD card you load up, you want NO caches loaded on internal memory.

 

Got it. Thanks. Were heading to Hawaii next month so I'll just have four cards preloaded (One for each island)with nothing loaded in the internal memory. Thanks again for your help.

Link to comment

OK - I'm confused. Why load a separate card for each island? There aren't enough caches on all of the islands put together to overrun your unit's 5,000 capacity. You are allowed to have more than one GPX file on your unit for caches (just use different names), or bundle them all up using GSAK or similar into a single *.gpx file. A couple of carefully placed centers for PQs and you've got them all.

Link to comment

You could load a hundred GPX files to a card and rename them, maui.XXX, houston.xxx, etc.

Whatever you wanted to seek just rename it Geocaches.gpx.....this would require traveling with some sort of computer. It's a shame the Garmins won't let you " clear memory " and then load the file of your choice......sure makes me miss the Magellan Meridian filing system.

Link to comment

Well that says nothing about recognising a firmware issue?

 

Yes you're right, Garmin has refused to 'recognise' a firmware issue!

 

Let's think, ah yes 'of course' every other global manufacturer of 32 GB SD cards besides the one Garmin used to write it's firmware with got it wrong and Garmin is right to dismiss the user for their obvious stupidity in choosing amongst the 100's of SD card brands that brand that does not work on a Garmin!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It's a firmware issue. :blink:

 

 

 

.

Edited by PigSti
Link to comment

Lots of 32Gb cards work, some don't, just like some 4Gb cards work and some don't. I'd say that was a card issue :)

 

Either way if you buy a card that doesn't work, try another brand (in fact also check you haven't bought a counterfeit card, lots of them out there)

 

Or just use the card that was recommended.

Beats the try one, then another etc that you recommend susan. :)

Link to comment

The only 32GB Micro SD card we have tested to see if it will work is the SanDisk 32GB Micro SD HC card.

 

We can't speak for every card made by every manufacturer but that is the only one we know works for sure.

 

We usually don't advise to use a card that large though. For most people a 4GB-16GB will work for almost everything.

 

Say no more!

 

Yes, I got that brand, model and got the 16 GB size they recommended and it works fine.

 

B)

Edited by PigSti
Link to comment

Hi everyone. I just figured out how to use a smart card in my Etrex 20 thanks to the nice folks in this forum. I know the 20 is capable of storing 5000 caches on the internal memory. Is it possible to put another 5000 on the card for a total of 10,000? Thanks.

 

 

How do you put caches on the sd card and what setting do you use for the garmin etrez20 to show them? I have had this garmin for a little while and am having trouble with the sd card. Hope you can help

Link to comment

Hi everyone. I just figured out how to use a smart card in my Etrex 20 thanks to the nice folks in this forum. I know the 20 is capable of storing 5000 caches on the internal memory. Is it possible to put another 5000 on the card for a total of 10,000? Thanks.

 

 

How do you put caches on the sd card and what setting do you use for the garmin etrez20 to show them? I have had this garmin for a little while and am having trouble with the sd card. Hope you can help

 

stick the card in the Etrex, connect it to your computer and it should show that you've connected two drives (maybe E: and F: depending on your setup), the first drive will have lots of stuff in it (which comes with the device), the second should be empty (if it was a new card), using the Windows file manager create a folder on there called Garmin and a folder inside that called GPX, and copy your .gpx files into there, so you have something like F:\Garmin\GPX\PQ1.gpx.

 

If it's a new card I'm not sure what you do about formatting it, Maybe the Etrex has an option to do that, if not when you plug it into your PC it will probably say it needs to be formatted - just make sure you don't format the drive with all the "stuff" in it.

Edited by MartyBartfast
Link to comment

Hi everyone. I just figured out how to use a smart card in my Etrex 20 thanks to the nice folks in this forum. I know the 20 is capable of storing 5000 caches on the internal memory. Is it possible to put another 5000 on the card for a total of 10,000? Thanks.

No, you can not double the number of caches from 5,000 to 10,000 by putting 5,000 on a smart card. If the eTrex 20 is capable of 5,000 cashes, you can load up to that number, period. A larger datacard won't increase that number, nor will a different coloured card. Using two or more cards is right out.

 

Then multiple cards is the way to go when traveling. Thanks for your input.

 

Well how come I've put over 10000 on my card, I sugest that you use folders containing no more than a 1000 geocaches in each which will mean 10 files, you will get a warning that you've exceeded the 5000 caches, ignore it.

 

As below make a directory on the SD card named Garmin, inside it make another named GPX, put your files inside that one.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...