clark5080

Just bought a Venture HC yesterday at REI and was wondering if anyone had any tips or tricks for setting it up?

Also in the MapSource software when you make a route using the waypoint tool is there a way that the points will be in order when you select them on the list to make a route?

Finally gave up and used the route tool and that seemed fine.Also do you put a point at every twist and turn of the highway usually?

Going to play with a couple of routes and the track function today before we head out to Mi Rainier tomorrow.

My head is spinning with all the new stuff to learn.

Thanks in Advance
Jim

HumVee

Hello, Jim. Your Garmin eTrex Venture HC is a Route capable device (the Specifications tab on the Garmin site shows it can store 50 seperate routes). With the MapSource software, if you're creating waypoints first and then adding them to your Route, you can name the waypoints numerically. 01 Start, 02 Cascade Trailhead, etc. Be aware that the eTrex device will likely only be able to see 16 characters or so - so any names longer than that will be truncated when you download them to the GPS (or if you uploade them back up from the device).

With a topographical map, yes. They don't contain the built in turn-by-turn data capability found in the road maps - which is fine, because your Venture HC is not capable of it anyway. I have created a tutorial for MapSource that might help you.

Enjoy your hike on Mt. Rainier! I love that area. I bet you could spend years hiking all the trails there.

clark5080

I think I see my problem after looking over the tutorial. Since I only have the stock maps that came with the Venture HC there is not a Routing tab. I assume that tab will be added when I get the detailed city maps ad on?

Thanks for the tutorial it is great

Jim

HumVee

Thanks, Jim! I'm glad you found the tutorial of use. If you think of any ways I can improve on it, I would be happy to do so.

Right, most Garmin GPS units do not come with a full blown map DVD & instead just come with the maps preloaded and a Trip & Waypoint Manager install disc. This is done to keep the cost down - and since the other major GPS makers don't bundle map discs with their units either, it keeps Garmin competitive.

Trip & Waypoint Manager, being a limited subset of MapSource (which is bundled with full map discs) does not have a Routing tab. There is a work around for getting MapSource without purchasing a detail map DVD/CD. It's discussed in this thread:

• nuvi 750, saving trip logs?

Give that a try, and see if that helps you out.

clark5080

I do have map source there is just not any rout tab and no way to choose the feature to follow the highway si for now I just have to input a bunch of way points for the route. I wil watch ebay for the detailed maps.

Thanks
Jim

HumVee

Where did you get MapSource? It didn't come with your eTrex. Trip & Waypoint Manager is not the full MapSource application.

I'm sure the street maps will load on your Venture HC - but you are aware that it won't do turn-by-turn directions, right? I think at best you will be able to use MapSource on your PC to create a route, and then visually see that you're on the route or not on the map display.

You may be able to do that now, without purchasing City Navigator. You can try installing the Garmin Communicator Plugin for Internet Explorer & Firefox (there's also Mac version for Safari & Firefox, if that's the way you swing), and then using MapQuest to create a route and download it to your Garmin GPS. That would be a free solution for road map route creation.

clark5080

I understand it will not be turn by turn

I have Mapsource version 6.15.6 it came with the gps though it was an older version but I hit the update and it updated to 6.15.6
See attachment

Attached Thumbnails

 

HumVee

It looks like the update fixed your Route tab problem! That's good news. Now you can experiment at least with the major roads. Also try out the web based solutions I discussed above, if you have the inclination.

clark5080

All I can get mapqwest to do is download the starting and stop point. Is that all it can do?

HumVee

Not at all! You should be able to click anywhere with the Route Tool, and have it add to your Route. You should be able to double-click on a saved Route in the route tab, and then manually insert a waypoint, move it up and down in your list, etc. You should be able to use the Find tools to find points of interests and add them. As we've already discussed, to gain greater detail and functionality, you'll have to purchase more detailed maps from Garmin on DVD or CD. MapSource isn't very intuitive - but with time and patience and trying out different things, you will find that it is a powerful tool.