Garmin Communicator

[Frosted Flake]

I'm having a problem getting the .gpx files from GeoCaching.com to load
into my Garmin.

The file is ALWAYS downloaded to the FIRST device that is found when the
USB ports are scanned by Garmin Communicator.

When I select the GPS in the pulldown, Garmin Communicator does another
scan and sends the file to the first device in the list, not the GPS.

Does anyone have any idea how I can get around this?

Garmin said to, in essence, remove all other USB attached devices. This
is NOT an option.

[nemo]

You might try the forums at gc.com. There are a lot of loyal Garmin
customers there who should be able to either help you fix your
problem, or help you get better help from Garmin.

[Pete]

nemo wrote:

I have a thread on exactly the same problem on the forums.

Essentially it would seem that the plugin has not implemented the feature to
select the device to download to - it always uses the first one. In my case
that is an internal USB media port, so I can't just unplug it.

I will post if I find a work around.

Pete

[T Shadow]

"Pete" <psm...@supanet.com> wrote in message
news:13of992...@corp.supernews.com...

If you Remove the USB devices in Device Manager, except the one you want
accessed, it should be like they don't exist. Reboot or rescanning in Device
Manager (depending on Win version will bring them back. If you need to do
this a lot Profiles can be set up to switch between states.

[Scott]

What if he has a USB mouse? Disabling that makes it a fair bit harder
to select items without it...

Scott

T Shadow wrote:

--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

[T Shadow]

Learning to use the keyboard is a good thing.
If they use USB keyboards I guess they'd be SOL.
Leaving the mouse but juggling the USB connectors they're plugged into might
help move where they are in line when queried.
Didn't say it was a perfect or even best fix.
I've stayed away from USB mice and key boards for just that reason and
because it can make problems when booting a bitch. Everyone's
needs/priorities are different. Guess I shouldn't have posted because it
might not work for everyone.

"Scott" <acep...@bloomer.net> wrote in message
news:DoydnffsR-lYLxXa...@bright.net...

[Frosted Flake]

Doesn't seem to be hampered by any USB device except storage devices.

[Frosted Flake]

I'm dropping this: the following is a response that I put in the
Groundspeak.com forums concerning this issue:
> I have an answer to the problem with using Garmin Communicator to transfer waypoints to the GPS.
>
> I have tested this on two machines and the problem (and solution) are consistent.
>
> The problem is that, the implementations of the API to use Garmin Communicator are incorrect.
>
> Garmin Communicator scans the USB string and identifies STORAGE devices along with GPS devices. It does not find my printer or scanner which are also USB attached. When the scan is completed the results are ALWAYS the same.
>
> From the Communicator Test Page, all STORAGE devices are listed first by drive letter, followed by the GPS.
> From the GeoCaching.com site, the initial download is automatically to the first device, the lowest lettered STORAGE device. The pulldown shows all of the devices listed but, selecting the GPS, doesn't help, the implementation at GeoCaching.com does another scan of the USB string and again picks the first device, a STORAGE device.
> From the MyGarmin site, the GeoCaching download only chooses the first STORAGE device even though the page says that other devices are available. You don't get the choice to pick which one.
>
> There are two way to overcome this problem.
> 1) As the user, with the GPS, you must NOT have any USB attached STORAGE devices so that the GPS is the first (only) device found by Garmin Communicator. This works with the Garmin Communicator Test Page, the GeoCaching.com site, and the MyGarmin GeoCaching download site.
> 2) The proper fix, for ALL users must be done by someone at GeoCaching.com to resolve the GeoCaching.com problem and at Garmin to rexolve the MyGarmin GeoCaching problem.
> a) At GeoCaching.com, the implementation should respect the selection of the device by the user and NOT redo the scan for devices after a device is selected. This actually corrects TWO problems in that it allows the user to select a STORAGE device other thatn the first one and it allows the user to directly download the cache information to the GPS.
> b) At the MyGarmin site, the fix appears to be more complex. Since they have not implemented the device selection function (which I believe is a mistake), they have to do a more detailed scan of the returned string/message from the USB devices and look for "GARMIN" to determint which device to send the information to.
>
> I have spoken to Garmin Tech Support and passed this information on to the. I will also include this text as my final response to them.
> I have not been able to identify anyone at GeoCaching.com or Grounspeak.com that admits to knowing anything about any of the implementations that are available at the two websites. Maybe this mess

[Pete]

> I'm dropping this: the following is a response that I put in the
> Groundspeak.com forums concerning this issue:

<snip!>

Thanks for the info 'Frosted Flake'.

Unfortunatly my storage devices are on an internal USB port, so although I
could disable them via the Device Mangler (sorry, Manager!), it would be a
bit of a pain. Think I will probably have to go back to an RS232
connection.

Pete

[Frosted Flake]

I didn't think that Garmin Communicator worked with an RS232 port.

If you're just downloading waypoints and stuff using the USB to serial
connection, I got that to work by making sure that the software that
drives the download (e.g. OziExplorer) attaches to the (simulated) RS232
port. When I use the USB to RS232 adapter, the Serial port is 3 on one
machine and 6 on another. I set OziExplorer to use the appropriate port.

One other thing that I had to do at one time, so far back I don't
remember when or why, was 'TURN OFF Incoming on COM1'. I did that in
Control Panel -> Network Connections (I have a shortcut going there but I
don't remember exactly what I did when I got there).

[Pete]

Frosted Flake wrote:

> I didn't think that Garmin Communicator worked with an RS232 port.

Sorry, I'm talking rubbish and confusing my own and everyone elses problems
all together!!!

I used to use the GC plugin with an RS232 cable on the end of a USB
convertor. Worked fine.

Reformatted my PC and thought I'd just plug my RS232 cable straight in to
the serial port on my PC.

The testing page on Garmin's website says there are no problems. EasyGPS
can communicate with no issues. The GC plugin however lists all the USB
storage devices first and won't allow me to select the 'eTrex H (COM1)'.

So (I'm hoping!) that if I stick the USB convertor back on to the RS232
cable it'll return to the top of the list and work!

Pete

PS: I've copied your reply into the main GC website forum in the hope that
someone may pick it up as a feature request/enhancement.

[Frosted Flake]

I have a ticket with them and they said that their tech support is
working on it. I replied to the ticket with a link to the forum where I
explained what was going on. Maybe we cand get them to fix this.

Thanks - your note got me started in the right directions. We know
what's wrong as does Garmin and GeoCaching/GroundSpeak. Now it is a SMOP
to fix what appears to me to be a relatively simple fix.

[Pete]

Frosted Flake wrote:

Good news (if you hadn't already realised) - this was fixed last week.

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=184718

Just tried it and it works a treat :o)

Pete

--
hawkeye81

[Frosted Flake]

Hooray - I just tried it also from GeoCaching.com and it works. Now to
try it from the Garmin site.