Experiences with Maptech?

[Joe Montana]

For those who have used Maptech to download free charts: Should I be concerned about registering with my email, name, address, etc.? In spite of their privacy claim, I'm reluctant to put this information "out there" -- but I certainly like the idea of free charts. Has anyone had any bad experiences (junk mail, etc.)? What have others done? Any way around this? Or am I being too old fashioned/paranoid?

[Ron Turner]

I've downloaded a lot of charts in the last two months and have not had any bad experiences.

[Brad Smith]

I have downloaded the Maptech free Chart Viewer and charts of the Northern parts of the Chesapeake Bay. I have not noticed an increase in SPAM since I downloaded the software and charts. I was able to interface the software with my Garmin GPS-12 [old and limited, but useful]. Now I can plan routes and download them into the GPS which is much easier than direct input to the device.

Regards,

[Joe Montana]

Thanks for the responses. Brad, I'm sure it's too complicated to explain in detail, but I'd appreciate just a little bit of additional information on what you mean by "interface". Is it possible to to dowload coordinates of buoys without doing the keystrokes? I just bought a Garmin GPS 76 and I'm having a devil of a time with it. I'm not finding the manual very helpful.

[Brad Smith]

I had to buy a cable that makes a serial connection between my PC and the Garmin handheld unit. In the Maptech software under the GPS menu item, there is an entry to setup the communication interface between Maptech and the Garmin unit. The GPS 76 is listed under the Garmin units. On my GPS 12 there is a System page that has a Settings section which can be used to set the unit to "Send Configuration". I had to invoke that in order for my GPS 12 to talk to the Maptech software.

Once the communications are working, you will be able to send routes and waypoints to your GPS. Setting them up is pretty easy. Click on the 'Set up New Route' button in Maptech and click on the starting point. Then point at the first turning point and click; repeat until at the finish. Right click on the route and you can name it. You can also use the 'Routes' menu item to set up Named Waypoints and then add them to your routes.

Once your routes and waypoints are set up, you can use the 'GPS' menu item to 'Export data to the GPS. You can also import data from the GPS, if you have already entered routes or Waypoints.

Hopefully, this will start you in the right direction. Take advantage of the Help feature in Maptech and Tech Support from both Maptech [incredible that it is available for free software] and from Garmin.

Gook luck,

[Joe Montana]

Thanks Brad. I can't say I understand it all, but I get the idea, and I'll try taking it a step at a time. I think the cable you refer to came with my unit.