Contributors to this thread:
Please humor my ignorance.....
After a couple less then desirable encounters with cell phone GPS last year I decided to buy a handheld before this years trip. Being a cheap skate I grabbed a used Garmin 120 off Ebay.
While the unit works great for getting me from A to B, I would like to have topos as well.
Issue 1: The unit did not come with a PC interface cable, not a big issue as they are available online.
Issue 2: The unit did not come with Garmins Mapsource software CD...
Here is the question, I have done some goggling and visited Garmins website and I am still a bit confused....
Will the Mapsource CD alone allow me to load topos or do I need the CD and then purchase the desired map from Garmin for download? It seems there are several versions of this CD... After some reading it appeared the CD gave you ability to use your PC to view maps, set waypoints ect that are then saved to your handheld. Other reading led me to think I could also transfer topos, yet on Garmins site the maps are clearly for sale ($99 ish)
Thanks for any info... Figured I'd hit up the Bowsite knowledge base before calling Garmin and speaking to Lord knows who...
I dont remember the capabilities of the Garmin Rino 120 but I do know that all I need for my Garim GPSMap 60 is the GarminBasemap (Downloadable from their web site) and my HuntingGPSMaps (onXMaps) and I do everything that I need for storing and transferring information between computer and handheld.
But I did sell my Rino's because they were not color screened and ate batteries.
Rod
Never heard of a Garmin 120, but there is a Garmin Etrex 20. The Garmin Basecamp program can be loaded for free on your computer right off of their website. You will then need the USB cable you said you don't have yet to transfer anything back and forth to and from your computer. Does that Garmin you bought off EBay take an SD card?
If it's an old Rino 120 it has a serial interface and no sd card capability.
Bob is correct (Rhino 120 w/radio, serial interface, no card. It has a base map of sorts loaded. Roads, highways, stateliness, POI, etc just no topo lines. I have considered using my onXMaps app for topo purposes, however it seems silly to not have it all in one package.
The Mapsource CD would allow you to upload your topo's from it to the compatible gps.
Cool... so looks like I just need to buy the CD and interface cable... Thanks guys
You can get a lot of free maps at www.GPSfiledepot.com. THey get installed through base camp, which is free from Garmin. Lots of folks have made a variety of topo maps as a hobby and posted them for general use. The base data is public domain stuff they are using. Not much in terms of public private, though there was a Western U.S. overlay available for garmin. I have the 24k Arizona one on my garmin Oregon and on my NUVI in my car. Works great
Thanks Michael, I will check that out!!
Sweet, has Mapsource and Basecamp plus the maps I need all in one spot!!!!! I knew Bowsite would deliver! Much Thanks!!