You can use a variety of software to extract the information from the GPS - what you've seen mostly here is the garmin software. I use Garmin Roads and Recreation. It has detailed maps of streets throughout the the US and most waterway navigation marks. Obviously this is a big benefit if your gps can display mapping information because you can download it to the GPS unit. If you don't have a GPS with mapping capability, this software will still extract track history and place it on the map.

There are a lot of options out there once you have the communication cable. See this website for a list of a lot of various software options. I really like the ability to put the track over a Terraserver image (satellite picture).

http://www.iron-horse.us/mtb/gps_software_guide.shtml

You can buy the cables a lot cheeper on ebay.

Try [url=http://www.geocaching.com.]www.geocaching.com. Click on "Discuss Geocaching and then Click on "Enter Groundspeak Forums" and scroll down to "GPS Units and Software". There is plenty of info on gps units and free software.

Again, thanks for all of the info... be interesting to check out that new wrist mount GPS from Garmin... The only downside that I can see right now is the battery life on it... hope that they provide a quick car charger for it for all of us sailors, or provisions for a second battery to swap out on it...

Slow but clueless, do you know anything about the Suunto X9 gps watch??? Looks like a new product that they are launching that is also waterproof. I know you said to stay away from the M9 from your experiance with it. Just wondering you had a chance to check it out or not.

Mark Colby
1973 H16

Today I was in our computer department getting some maintenence done when I noticed one of the techs was making his own serial to Garmin connector.

Apparantly the diagrams for the pin connections are available somewhere on the net. or in the Garmin manual. (Etrex) I didn't ask where but will, if I think of it.

For the Garmin connect he used a piece of plastic a bit thinner than a credit card, cut down to size so it would slide in. There was a positioning slot cut into it. Then he used a knife (his tiny drills were at home) to drill holes for each wire to be fed into the plastic.

Then he made other holes further up the card to knit the wires in place so they wouldn't slide out. Then he lightly glued the wire to the plastic right where the contacts on the Garmin were.

He had an old serial connect kickin around that he connected to the other end of the wire. Then he just verified that the connectons were correct with an Ohmeter.

Hey any port in a storm! It worked!

He is still employed and as far as I'm concerned that's the type of guy you need working for ya!

I am thinking about a unit for navigating in my car. (mostly in Canada) I want something that will tell me where to go (voice) (I know, I know... that was wide open)

My secondary purpose would be for catamaran usage. Mostly just for fun, not racing. ie download my trip. Save waypoints of shoals, rocks etc and warn me when I am approaching them.

Any thoughts or model suggestions!

Hi Alan, Perfect timing on this very topic! There is a very good review of GPS units for giving directions in the March issue of Laptop magazine. Turns out that a number of units work well until they are in a city with tall buildings surrounding them. Here is a reference website: http://www.techworthy.com/Laptop/March2004/index.htm

Good luck!

Mike

Thanks Mike I will get the mag.

Off topic but has anyone used a wireless wristwatch fishfinder from ( www.hummingbird.co ) called Smartcast? Saw it in Popular Mechanics December 2003 issue page 29.

I was thinking in terms of checking out the water depth for checking out new areas to sail.