Magellan Explorist GPS

[youngblood43]

Can anyone help with upload trails to my Magellan Explorist 500LE. I just purchase this unit and wondering if I brought the right product. I since purchase 2 rechargeable batteries, the Maposend TOPO 3D maps, and I hope that I getting to the end of the list. I just want to use my GPS! It looks like I need a seminar

[joebartels]

Somewhere there should be a function to "Import"
May be under a heading labeled "Tracks" or "Routes"

When you get to the "Import", what type of file is it asking for?
*.xls
*.trk
etc...


Actually upon looking it over some more I believe it's
Tracks => Load from file
and it's asking for a .trk
another guy asked on this on Friday

Since I have a similar program, I'll see if I can get that format out. I'll post when I have more information.

[joebartels]

I've tried using GPSBabel which is a free universal converter.

No luck on any level with trying to convert another file to mapsend.
Using the "Load from file" everything either comes up empty or an error stating
"An attempt was made to access an unnamed file past its end."

Makes no sense as I can convert anything from the mapsend format.

[nonot]

A little research has turned up:

.trk is apparently the "Magellan Mapsend" format in GPSBabel. To make matters worse, there are apparently two versions of the format, 3 and 4, use the trkver option in gpsbabel to specify which you want.

GPX to TRK seems to work with babel 1.3.4, don't know which version of mapsend you are using, gpsSendMap works with both versions of the TRK. I successfully converted the Panther Peak route.

[joebartels]

yep
I tried .wpt & .trk
I tried CompeGPS, maggeo & mapsend (all Magellan)
I tried magellanx which goes straight to eXplorist SD file
I tried options trkver 3 & 4

nothing
googled until it hurt

one of the many reasons I prefer TOPO! - it's universal!
not to mention a serious tool over the others

On the same note, I'd like to get a version out for the MapSend crowd. Just frustrated right now.

[nonot]

rename to .trk, does this work

[joebartels]

Panther Peak!

[nonot]

OK, if that worked, then I think you are set with gpsbabel:

gpsbabel.exe -p "" -w -r -t -i gpx -f "<fromfilename>.gpx" -o mapsend,trkver=3 -F "<tofilename>.trk"

change trkver as necessary

[joebartels]

Magellan MapSend users can rejoice. Thanks to nonot and some perseverance .trk is now available.

HAZ Download
While viewing a GPS Route in MapDEX left pane - click "download"

Select Magellan - TRK Format and save it to your computer (remember the folder it's putting it in, or navigate to one of your choice on IE)


MapSend
Click on "Tracks" => "Load from file"

if it doesn't show
Click on "Tracks" => Select= "Show" => "Select the file then click Show"

[Hoffmaster]

I have never tried to download a GPS route from this site, but I might try to soon. I too have a Magellan. So Joe and Steve, thanks in advance for being so dorky and figuring this stuff out. (I mean that as form of ultimate praise!!!) I don't know how you guys do it!

[Dirt4dinner]

Thanks for the hard work Joe! I guess I won't have to sell my GPS after all.

[joebartels]

We hit another snag... errr

Although Dirt and I can view the track in MapSend, download to GPS doesn't seem to work.
It goes through the motions as if it is downloading. However it goes real quick and doesn't actually transfer.

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

I thought maybe trying a wpt format instead of trk might cure it but that proved unsuccessful. The GPSBabel mapsend format specs states "read and write waypoints" but I haven't figured out how.

tried this and others without results
gpsbabel.exe -p "" -w -r -t -i gpx -f "<fromfilename>.gpx" -w -o mapsend -F "<tofilename>.wpt"

Maybe nonot can shed some more light, I've never used MapSend to upload myself.
Simply changing the <tofilename> to .wpt does nothing, it loads but loads as a trk

[nonot]

My research indicates Magellan's don't work with .trk files, you'll have to convert to Magellan SD format. There are different formats, one for eXplorist, and one for Meridian.

GPSBabel to the rescue!

[Dirt4dinner]

According to the transfer page on my Magellan Conversion Program, and the customer service guy (who I think was in India)....the only format my Explorist accepts is .trk.