Bow Hunter Derek Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 I have an Etrex Legend that is great. I keep thinking about buying the topo software for it called Mapsource Topo. Seems like it would be real cool for hunting trips. Does anyone have this software? Pros/cons? Would you recommend buying it, since it runs around $90 to $100? Any input would be great. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 15, 2006 Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? I use it all the time. Its great having the topo's added into my Vista. So yes I recommend it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bow Hunter Derek Posted February 15, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? Are they real good topo's? I've read some posts on other sites where guys are impressed with the Mapsource software and others say to get better topo software for your PC and just upload the waypoints from your PC. As of now, Garmin's Mapsource is the only topo that can be directly loaded into the unit. I can't see the advantage of only having the topo on the PC and not the unit. I think you'd be in need of the topo on the unit if you were ever lost or on the move chasing game. The software is a lot of money, even if I can find a used copy, so I want to make sure whatever I buy I get the most for my money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? Once you install the program into your PC. Then you hook the unit to the PC then upload the topo's into the unit via the cable, which you should have already! Mine came with the PC interface cable. Yes they have been very acturate so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bow Hunter Derek Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? I got the cable when I bought the unit. I'll probably try and pick up a copy of the software off Ebay. I see them going for a few bucks less than the stores on there. Thanks for the help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny_gun Posted February 21, 2006 Report Share Posted February 21, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? I just received the ETREX Legend as gift and was also thinking about purchasing the software. Have you been able to get the navigation feature to work? I have added a few waypoint but am unable to get the unit to tell me when to turn while driving. Is the mapping software required for this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? The unit does not talk to you, or tell you where to turn. You have too know where to turn by looking at the unit, and the map as it is displayed. I have the Vista, which has everything the Legend has plus a little more. When you set a waypoint to go too, and use the compass, it will show you which direction you need to go in order to get to that waypoint. But this is as the crow fly's! It will show the direction in a straight line. If you have several waypoints the unit can tell you when your approaching a turn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny_gun Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? Sorry for the confusion. I did not mean that I thought the unit would 'talk' to me. What I meant was the instruction manual showed the unit displaying 'approaching turn' and I have not see that on the display. I have used the 'GOTO' function to go from one waypoint to another expecting the unit display when I was approaching a turn. However all I have seen on the screen was 'arriving at destination' when I reached my waypoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? Maybe that only works on a route. I been looking at my manual and I seen the approaching turn figure in the book. But I never use it like that. If you look at page 16 of your manual. It tells you that it will alert you of your turn at 15 seconds ETA of the current point, the pointer bends to indicate the direction of the turn to the next point. So maybe if your walking it may or may not show. It seems to me that you need multiple waypoints in a route for this to work. If you dont have your manual you can get it here>>> http://www.garmin.com/support/userManual.jsp?market=3&subcategory=All&product=All Just scroll down until you see your unit listed, then right click on the download, choose "Save Target As", and save it onto your computer. You will need to be able to open PDF files for this. You can get this at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html I like keeping the manuals to the things I own on the computer. So if I ever need to read or check up on something Ill be able to get right away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? i also have the etrex legend and the mapsource software its fun for a little while but i dont hardly use it, i mostly map where the cameras are at so i can find them when they ar ina remote new loctaion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1olhunter Posted February 22, 2006 Report Share Posted February 22, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? For the Legend you can load a route on your GPS from the mapsource metroguide software and then have the GPS follow the route or backtrack the route. The new legend C (color screen) has the autorouting function. On these units you can select the waypoint GOTO function and then select to Follow Road or Off Road. If you select the Follow road the GPS software will determine the course and display it and warn you of upcoming turns. It is a really good feature if you travel a lot as I do. I have the GPS60C and the Legend C and both have the autorouting function. The original Legend does not have that autorouting capability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lobsterman Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? just make sure the you will benefit from the software, i bought the software for my rhino 110, and it did pretty much nothing, added points of intrest, like restauraunts, ect...just a waste of $$ for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? [ QUOTE ] just make sure the you will benefit from the software, i bought the software for my rhino 110, and it did pretty much nothing, added points of intrest, like restauraunts, ect...just a waste of $$ for me... [/ QUOTE ] I have the MapSource Topo for my unit. I would never get the metro map, only reason, I dont need it when out in the woods! The Topo version works great, it ads the back roads and other info that most topo maps have. I have topo's for 2/3's of Pennslyvania in my Vista! I bought this unit for hunting and fishing. I dont have the MapSource marine for fishing, I would like to get one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted February 23, 2006 Report Share Posted February 23, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? I just have the simple Garmin E-Trex but I have the MAPTECH Terrain Navigator software on my computer. I just outline the area I'll be in as a track and add waypoints...then upload that to my GPS Unit. Yes...You can get a cable for the E-Trex and upload info to it!!! You can print out the 2-D map you make for visual refference including the waypoints and label them if you wish. I also use aerial photo's to add to the 2-D map that I take with me. I have Topo's of and can do this for the entire state of NY. Here's a screenshot from the 3-D movie you can make with the software: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1olhunter Posted February 24, 2006 Report Share Posted February 24, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? GW The maptech software looks interesting. The website shows the cost at $100 for each state. Is it any cheaper in the stores? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted February 24, 2006 Report Share Posted February 24, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? Sorry...not that I'm aware of My buddy and I send tracks and waypoints back and forth in Emails...I love the program...its well worth the cost!!! Oh yeah...I bought my Garmin eTrex/Geko eMap Cigarette Power/PC Combo Cable from GPSgeek on Ebay. It made what used to be a simple tool to get back and forth to my treestand in the dark into a great Scouting Tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted February 24, 2006 Report Share Posted February 24, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? So then Gary with that software, you can only print maps with your GPS waypoints and such. You can not add any topo's to your unit. BTW, I found this program for $90, the PRO version is $300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWSmith Posted February 24, 2006 Report Share Posted February 24, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? [ QUOTE ] So then Gary with that software, you can only print maps with your GPS waypoints and such. You can not add any topo's to your unit. BTW, I found this program for $90, the PRO version is $300. [/ QUOTE ] My simple E-Trex does not have the memory capabilites to add topo's to it. That pic I posted was all an actual track I did on foot and then driving around the area I had permission to hunt in. The internal tracks you see in the middle were a couple days worth of hunting and stalking around the area on foot. My GPS low volume memory was over 75% full after all that We had to figure out a way to get the outline of an area in there and any of the waypoints we wanted to add...plus be able to add more when actually on the ground. Theres also a ton of stuff this program does I cant get into because of my GPS memory restrictions. I'm still learning how to use it the best way within my limitations until I upgrade to a higher quality GPS Unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted February 25, 2006 Report Share Posted February 25, 2006 Re: GPS topo software? I've been wondering about the Mapsourse topo program for my Etrex Vista. I know I need to go ahead and get it......there are places where I hunt that I found once and never been able to get back to, and there are some pretty noticable terrain feature that would show up on that program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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