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Q: What GPS devices are supported?

A: QuakeMap supports:

Garmin - eTrex Legend, Vista, Geko 201 and GPS V for sure, many other models reported to work fine; For IQUE click here

Magellan - SporTrack, Meridian families for sure, many other models should work too;

Other Manufacturers - only for real-time positioning data, when using NMEA protocol.



Q: My GPS connects to computer via USB. Any way to transfer data to/from QuakeMap?

A: Use GPS-->GPSBabelWrapper menu to invoke a plug-in that transfers data via USB, among other things. You need to install GPSBabelWrapper separately, click here to download. Specifically Garmin USB devices - C60 series are known to work well with GPSBabel (and therefore with GPSBabelWrapper).

  Some USB devices allow saving tracks as .gpx files. Here is a Garmin C60 how-to courtesy Linda Day (Day Creative, Inc.)

First, be using Beta 2.71 or later on the Garmin so you have access to save things to the datacard. You can download this from the Garmin website. Then set up the Garmin to log tracks to the datacard (Menu | Tracks | Setup | Data Card Setup | check "log tracks to datacard"). If you haven't logged the track to the card while you were moving, you can save a track in the unit to the datacard with Menu | Tracks | Save (be sure to have "log tracks to datacard" checked.)


Second, connect the Garmin to the PC. Then select Menu | Setup | Interface | USB Mass Storage. The Garmin datacard is recognized as a new USB device, so you can see what's on the card by going to Windows Explorer and clicking on the various "removable disk" names until you find the Garmin files.


Third, when you open the Garmin datacard, you see a folder labeled "Garmin" and the gpx files for all the tracks saved on the card. My gpx files automatically open with QuakeMap, so when I click on a file name, it brings up QM, loads the track and displays it. Voila!!


There are several advantages to this system: First, the track does not have to be moved back into the main memory in order to be accessible. And second, the track data transfers at USB speeds, not at serial-port baud speeds.


Q: The program refuses to work with my GPS.

A: First of all, disable (stop) any palm or PDA software you might be using, it takes control of the COM port and will block any GPS communication. You can later resume PDA software. Second, make sure that your GPS serial line settings are the same as the COM port settings in the QuakeMap GPS manager.