[aprssig] What is the best GPS Data RX on the market now?

[Rich Garcia]

I just remembered Brent wrote Waypoint+ before APRSsa. I think I have a copy
somewhere but if not he may still have it on the web. Waypoint+ saved and
transfered waypoints for the Garmin and then eventually evolved into APRSsa
which I was lucky enough to Alpha test. Other than a memory hog I loved that
program.

I just want to save everything up and keep it safe till I either get the GPS
fixed (I doubt I will bother) or decide on what other GPS I will use for the
property and navigation. I got 30 acres here of pine tree farm and use a
handheld GPS very often to get distances and bearings, a lot of the property
can not be seen from other spots due to rugged terrain. As we have all seen
GPS's have changed from the days of the GPS II, III and V, they have some
neat displays and features now but have also been taken mainstream consumer
which I call "stupified". Lack of serial data, lack of technical display
screens...it's going to be a tough decision.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: Stephen H. Smith [mailto:wa8lmf2 at aol.com]
  Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 4:05 PM
  To: TAPR APRS Mailing List
  Subject: Re: [aprssig] What is the best GPS Data RX on the market now?


  Greg D. wrote:
    I don't know if the GPS-18x comes with Garmin's MapSource software, but
if it does, it can download all the stuff from your older units.  My 10 year
old GPS-III was dieing about a year and a half ago (dead pixel streaks
across the screen), and I upgraded to an eTrex Vista HCx.  The software that
came with the unit had no problem downloading from the GPS-III and uploading
to the eTrex.  (The eTrex isn't for you - no serial port.)




  You don't need anything as massive and MapSource to get the waypoints and
tracks out.    There are at least two freeware utilities that will do the
the job.   Both of the programs belows are small lightweight programs that
don't sludge up Windows with "mystery DLLs dumped into the Windows system
folders or entries in the Windows registry. Either can be run directly off a
USB stick without a formal install procedure.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  G7toWin will upload/download data to Garmin units, including USB ones and
is downloadable at:

       <http://www.gpsinformation.org/ronh/g7towin.htm>

  This program will download tracks, waypoints AND bitmap graphics dumps of
the display screens of those Garmin units that have them.  It can download
into numerous of file formats including various proprietary GPS formats,
plain comma separated text files and Delorme .SAx files directly readable by
Street Atlas and TopoUSA.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  An alternative is GPS Babel downloadable at:

       <http://www.gpsbabel.org/>

  This open-source utility can both upload/download from variety of GPS
units,  and can also convert files already on your hard disk between a huge
variety of proprietary formats used by various GPS mfrs, mapping programs
and geocaching websites.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--

  --

  Stephen H. Smith    wa8lmf (at) aol.com
  EchoLink Node:      WA8LMF  or 14400    [Think bottom of the 2M band]
  Skype:     WA8LMF
  Home Page:          http://wa8lmf.com  --OR--   http://wa8lmf.net

  World Digipeater Map
    http://wa8lmf.net/APRSmaps

  JavAPRS Filter Port 14580 Guide
    http://wa8lmf.net/aprs/JAVaprsFilters.htm

  "APRS 101"  Explanation of APRS Path Selection & Digipeating
    http://wa8lmf.net/DigiPaths

  Updated "Rev H" APRS            http://wa8lmf.net/aprs
  Symbols Set for UI-View,
  UIpoint and APRSplus:



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