[gcfishguy]

If this has been covered, please post a link to the how-to....thanks :-)

I've been caching for a few years and am very familiar with my 60CSx and have customized the GSAK output files to run paperless and everything...but I have never used one of the newer GPSr's that can read gpx files so I'm at a loss...

I have 10 rolling PQs and I load them into GSAK, GSAK creates a Regular Db and a Micro Db, puts each of the two gpx files into a folder with a custom icon (an M or an R), and I use POI loader to load them onto my 60CSx so it's pretty much paperless with the cache name shortened, the type and container and terrain and difficulty all in the cache name on the screen, hints and stuff in the description etc etc...

A friend wants to try caching and got himself an eTrex 20. Just to get him started, i thought I'd download all 10 of my PQs, load them into GSAK, generate a gpx and give him that to put in the 'GPX' folder on his eTrex20. Since it's set up for paperless caching, I figured the caches would show up on the map screen and you just select them to see the details and everything.

Well, it's not working.

Also, I'm helping him through facebook chat, so I can't get my hands on it so it's tricky walking him through stuff.


Should I just send him the 10 PQ files and have him drop those in the GPX folder rather than using the gpx that my GSAK generates?

Is there a limit to the number of caches a GPX can contain, and is there a limit to the number of gpx files he can have in the 'GPX' folder?

maybe it worked fine but he has to enable a 'show on map' option or something?

I may just get him to sign up for a free account and use the 'send to gps' feature to get started....but would be nice if he could just load up the gpx I sent him, since it contains all the caches in our province...

Trying to help him out at the moment, so if anyone has some info, post up quick. LOL Post faster! You're not posting fast enough!!!! :-)

Thanks in advance if anyone can help!!

[StarBrand]

Don't send him the GPX files or any other cache data - that is a violation of the site TOU.


But yes placing the PQ files directly from the site on the unit should make it work.

He should get a 30 day trail PM with purchase of that unit.

[Harry Dolphin]

Sharing files is against the TOS. I'm using the eTrex30, which should be very similar (except for the compass) to the eTrex20. I use GSAK, and the paperless macro to ceate a file. Garmin POI loader to load it into Gupy, and the nuvi. Different macro than I used for the eTrex Vista HCx (which was not paperless.)

[gcfishguy]

 StarBrand, on 30 March 2012 - 04:19 PM, said:

Don't send him the GPX files or any other cache data - that is a violation of the site TOU.


But yes placing the PQ files directly from the site on the unit should make it work.

He should get a 30 day trail PM with purchase of that unit.

Wasn't aware that couldn't be shared.. gotcha. Scrap that idea.

Would there be a coupon number or promo code or something for Groundspeak in the box the 20 came in? If so i could give him a hand setting up his own PQs.

Oh, and I finally found the limits.... I guess the 20 will handle a max of 2000 gpx files and a max of 2000 caches. So, 10 gpx files with 200 each, or 1 with 2000, or 2 with 1000....etc. And each 'send to gps' creates its own gpx, so limited to 2000 of those.

Until he decides to get a PM or not, he's sending some one-by-one, and scrapped the gpx I supplied him. Sorry again!

[gcfishguy]

 Harry Dolphin, on 30 March 2012 - 04:21 PM, said:

Sharing files is against the TOS. I'm using the eTrex30, which should be very similar (except for the compass) to the eTrex20. I use GSAK, and the paperless macro to ceate a file. Garmin POI loader to load it into Gupy, and the nuvi. Different macro than I used for the eTrex Vista HCx (which was not paperless.)

You mean eTrex30, rather than nuvi? If not, you lost me. :-)

Given that I've never used a unit that can handle caches in GPX, I'm running blind....but unless I'm mistaken, the idea of the unit being able to use a gpx is to let you drop the files right on the gps, and avoid having to use GSAK and macros and all that. (No offense Clyde!!) :-)

[gcfishguy]

I appreciate the quick responses folks!! Looks like he won't be able to load up gobs of caches like he was hoping, at least right away. He'll send the ones he's interested right to the unit and we'll dive into PQs for him when we have more time.

I know it sounds nuts to some to want to have so many caches on the unit, but our province is loaded with them and there's 1000's within a 30 minute drive in any direction. I got caught with nothing on the GPS in the area I was in at the time so I learned how to use GSAK to ultimately generate POIs with custom names so I'm not caught short again. :-)

Other hobbies took over for the last while but planning on getting back into it as soon as the woods dry up a bit in a few weeks.


Thanks again!! And sorry about the 'infraction'....thanks for letting me know.

[thebells!]

I have an etrex 20 and as a PM have generated some PQ's and then the gpx file that is emailed to me - I save to my computers desktop, import them into Basecamp (the software that comes with the etrex 20) and then dragged them from the program to the gsp. Very easy to do and have serveral 100 on there now.

You can also load additional free maps onto the 20 - instrcutions are here http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm