Nubie Garmin 400t hand held GPS User:

[WalksInDark]

:bananaNubie Garmin 400t hand held GPS User:

Hi Folks:

Santa was good to me this year, I got a Garmin 400t hand held GPS. Problem is, even though I am a pretty tech savvy computer user, I find both the User’s manual and the MapSource documentation to be of very little use.

Can you point me to a place, person, or book (already went through “GPS For Dummies, Second Edition) where I can actually learn to use this Garmin GPS; or better yet, is there any helpful mentor close to Roanoke, VA who I can actually “Shadow” to significantly reduce what looks like a very steep learning curve.

Thanks In Advance!

WalksInDark

P.S. The Garmin units use very specific instructions and software.

[Spogatz]

What is it that you are trying to do? Maybe I can help as I have one also.

[WalksInDark]

What I am trying to do is: be able to master the MapSource (or for that matter, any other decent mapping software) so that I can download tracks, routes, and POIs to my GPS.

Second, I want to be able to see the same screen shot in both MapSource and my GPS.

Third, I want to be able to get the most out of the GPS unit as I will be using it for hiking (mostly) sailing (not so often).

:sunThanks For Your Assistance!

[Spogatz]

Your asking for a lot.

The best advise I could give you is to visit the following website.

http://garminoregon.wikispaces.com/

There is a lot of good info there on the GPS

[Chicken Feathers]

:bananaNubie Garmin 400t hand held GPS User:

Hi Folks:

Santa was good to me this year, I got a Garmin 400t hand held GPS. Problem is, even though I am a pretty tech savvy computer user, I find both the User’s manual and the MapSource documentation to be of very little use.

Can you point me to a place, person, or book (already went through “GPS For Dummies, Second Edition) where I can actually learn to use this Garmin GPS; or better yet, is there any helpful mentor close to Roanoke, VA who I can actually “Shadow” to significantly reduce what looks like a very steep learning curve.

Thanks In Advance!

WalksInDark

P.S. The Garmin units use very specific instructions and software.
I have heard Rei offers classes on GPS if you have one near you. Good luck. How do you think it will work in the summer when all the leaves are on the trees?:-?

[Wise Old Owl]

The Rei class is not a bad idea, they cover a overview of basic information for all units and brands.

I have been digging into the website and there is quite a lot there, and I believe they also make a training DVD that can get you up to speed, I will look into it for you.

WOO.

[mississippi_dan]

Have you seen the tutorial from garmin?
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/tutorial/mapsourceTutorial.exe

David Robertson (2007) put together a nice 28 page tutorial.
http://www.bestbikingroads.com/useful_docs/MapSource_Tutorial1.pdf

There is a lot of good stuff from Univ of Tennessee on this page.
http://www.lib.utk.edu/cic/gpsintro/gpslink.htm

These should get you started.

Dan