Mac Users

[TwoWeims]

I am a new user here, so please forgive me if this has beed covered already.
I am just curious about how many other Mac users there are out there and what GPS Hardware, Mapping Software, etc. other Mac users are using.

[Jeffshadows]

Virtualbox Mac with Windows XP loaded and the standard Garmin software running on it. It is actually the very last thing in the world I still use Windoze for any longer...and has been for almost five years (Come on, Garmin!!)

[chumley]

I use Topo! from National Geographic. My GPS is old skool however and only features an old serial cable which apparently only works with PCs. I believe the newer USB versions work just fine with Topo! on Macs.

I use the software all the time for printing maps which I carry with me. I will also use it to enter waypoints manually into my GPS before embarking on a new adventure.

[azdesertfather]

Virtualbox Mac with Windows XP loaded and the standard Garmin software running on it. It is actually the very last thing in the world I still use Windoze for any longer...and has been for almost five years (Come on, Garmin!!)

Are new Garmins an issue for Mac platforms still? I'm getting close to finally shelling out the $$$

[TwoWeims]

Here is the address of the Garmin Mac information page.

google garmin macosx

I am considering buying a 60CSx or an Astro (to keep track of the Weims).

I have an old Lowrance iFinder. There is a nice program called LoadMyTracks that will convert many proprietary GPS File formats into GPX.
It is the only software that seems to let me get the data out of my iFinder.

[Jeffshadows]

Well, they have Bobcat and some other thing that 'works' on a Mac, but not super-well. It's also missing a lot of functionality vs. MapSource. I'm on Linux so I know there's nothing on the horizon open source-wise, but I'd use my wife's Mac if Garmin would take creating MapSource Mac more seriously ...

[TwoWeims]

Well, I took the Plunge today and ordered a pair of Garmin Rino 530HCx units. I like the idea of having two-way radios that can transmit the position of the other radio. I also ordered the TOPO 2008 for Mac DVD. I'll keep you updated as to how my Garmin/Mac experience progresses.

[azdesertfather]

please do...i'm just a little behind you...i'll probably order in the next month. after matt gilbert's warning on the magellan triton, i'm looking now actually at the Colorado 400t. I'll also be interested to hear how user-friendly Garmin's stuff is with a Mac. Are you running Leopard (OS X 10.5)?

[TwoWeims]

FedEX says that they've shipped from Keasby, NJ with delivery expected 9/12.
I also ordered the Topo 2008 for Mac DVD. I have a (~4 year old) Garmin City Select North America CD. I wonder if it can be used on the Rino.

Stay tuned for the unboxing photos!
Our first hike with it is scheduled for Saturday.

[TwoWeims]

UPDATE:
The Rino is on the FedEx truck for delivery.

I got my TOPO US 2008 for Mac DVD yesterday. I loaded the map data into the Garmin RoadTrip. It seems to work OK until I tried to play with the "Find" feature. I picked some search criterion (I can't remember the exact combination.) that produced a never ending beachball.
I was pretty excited to see that Garmin had implemented Smart Folders...until I tried to use them. There are only two rules, "kind" and "date" and you can't even make boolean combinations of these :yuck: At least it is free. It is a nice Beta but still needs work.

I have been unsuccessful at getting my old City Select maps converted to use on the Mac Side. I tried to install the original software on my MacBook Pro in Windows 2000 using VM Ware. It keeps complaining about missing the install disk. I think I need the original Install disk for my old Garmin iQue 3600 in addition to the City Select install disk, which I no longer have. .

I am going to go sit on the front porch and wait for the FedEx driver.

[Jeffshadows]

Like I said, the Mac stuff is still a little behind...

They're working on it, though.

[TwoWeims]

I got it.
I have the battery charging. The instructions indicate that I can use it while it is charging so I decided to load some maps.
My first conclusion...Mapinstall SUCKS! First, I have a fairly recent iMac, a 2.1GHz G5 with 2.5 Gigs of RAM.
The first estimate I saw was 1 hour and 34 minutes to build the Map Image. (There is nothing else running to slow down the system)
One hour later I have 1 hour and 6 minutes remaining. Garmin has a twisted sense of time. The progress bar gives no meaningful estimate of time either. The next gripe is the abysmal slowness of the MapInstall user interface. It was nearly impossible to select maps. My first instinct was to click and drag a selection rectangle. I clicked and dragged...nothing but a beachball. About a minute later the beachball stopped and a few small map regions were selected near the center of where my selection would have been. The trick is to click, wait for the beachball to stop, drag, wait for the beachball to stop, then release. Panning and zooming are equally as frustrating.

This process is slower than using my old 386 PC to generate maps for my Street Pilot back in 1999!!!!!!

I am sure the battery will be charged well before the map gets generated. I hope by morning.

The unit itself, a Rino530HCx, looks like a work of art. I can't wait to use it.
I sure wish Garmin would hire some decent Mac developers and get this done right!

I'll go for a hike tomorrow and give a report on track logging, battery life, and track/waypoint management using the RoadTrip software.

[azdesertfather]

Do you have a version of Windows installed on your Mac, say under bootcamp? Wonder if it works lots better that way? Probably so...although who wants to taint their Mac with Windoze OS files??

[TwoWeims]

No, This is a G5. I used to have Virtual PC but it was too slow to be useful.

[TwoWeims]

UPDATE:
It looks like I have an defective unit. I will verify with Garmin on Monday.
I cannot transmit to another FRS/GMRS radio farther than about 20 feet away.
I have found others with this problem on a GPS forum.

[TwoWeims]

UPDATE:
I just took the Rino on a short hike to test the GPS, Track Logging, and the RoadTrip Software.
This part worked very well. I was very impressed with the accuracy when approaching a saved waypoint from a different direction. It was spot on.
Here is a screen grab of my track log loaded into RoadTrip:

[TwoWeims]

The Rino is on its way back for a refund and a replacement is on its way back to me.
I bought this Rino from BuyDig I had never purchased from them before. They came up cheapest on PriceGrabber so I went with them.
I would highly recommend them after going through this experience. They took the defective unit back with no problems.
I also bought a second Rino for my wife. We tend to hike at different speeds and the Rino allows you to share your positions over the radio.
We should have both working Rinos by Thursday, 9/18.

[TwoWeims]

We got the second Rino today. It has the same problem!!!
We are able to walk around the block in opposite directions with a pair of Motorola T5950 Radios and stay in constant contact.
We can't get more than 20' apart with the Rinos before we can no longer communicate. All four radios are set to the same channel and squelch code.

I know I am driving this thread far off the original course... I'm sorry. I did not expect the radio trouble.

[big_load]

Have you checked for software updates or issues with the default settings?

[Jeffshadows]

You probably already tried this, but are you in an area where there might be a lot of channel interference? Maybe try taking them to a park or something?