garmin mapsource and usb gps mouse

thecrow · 05-31-2004, 11:52 AM

i currently own a street pilot III and the mapsource (and city maps) software for canada. i am able to plug up the street pilot gps to the computer using the serial cable, which is used to upload and download data, and be able to track where i am on the computer screen (rather than on the street pilot screen itself). my question is, can i purchase ANY gps usb mouse out there (looking at those ones on ebay from hong kong) and the mapsource software will work with it? or does it need to be a garmin software compatible unit? just that i've already spent a lot on the mapsource cd so why not use it in the carputer instead of spending extra on another piece of software.

second question is, where the HECK is the ADDRESS finding feature on mapsource computer software (i have the lastest patch)??? i have searched hi and low for it and it appears nowhere, and definitely NOT where it said it is on the help files. i would like to be able to plan a route on my computer before uploading the path to the gps. right now i can only search for the address from the gps unit by that 4 directional rocker switch and it's real time consuming to enter each letter to spell it out. i'd like to be able to search for an address (i.e. 123 king street) and drag a route for my day. right now there is only a city search feature which only centres on the regions (i.e. bc, vancouver, toronto, montreal). i have tried plugging and unplugging the gps from the computer to see if this feature appears, but features do not really change in any case. will this search appear if i was to use a gps mouse?

i'm hoping to be able to load this software to the carputer, use it with a gps mouse (doing away with the street pilot) and be able to search for the address from mapsource to guide my way there. thanks for the help!

halfdoc · 05-31-2004, 01:04 PM

Do you have all the most recent patches for your unit and software? I know that garmin added some significant features with patches. You might try that first. I think you may have to use garmins stuff, but others will chime in.

David

thecrow · 06-16-2004, 02:43 PM

just to followup on what i found out.

i probably can use any gps mouse in conjunction with mapsource software, it mostly looks for a com port and some standard gps interfacing. not just garmin format.

the find feature was actually NOT included in mapsource canada before v4. with v4 you can conveniently plan your routes on the desktop before loading them up for the trip. i can't believe they didn't include it in every version...simply updating the a current non v4 software will not yield the find feature. you gotta pay for the new cd to get it

yuprules · 06-16-2004, 04:07 PM

It is much more accurate (V4 Canada Mapsource), with the old version when I was driving I would be driving NEXT to the highway instead of on it. The streets worked just fine...just not highways.

You should consider upgrading to V4, it's pretty worth the price.

thecrow · 06-17-2004, 11:13 AM

yuprules, i will be upgrading to the v4 version. it was the biggest pain before to search for addresses on the streetpilot, save and then download them to the computer (so i can plan my trip on the desktop), then plot every turn of the journey (no auto routing before). mapsource without find feature is kinda like buying a word processor that doesn't have a spell check...even in the blue screen days of word dos there was!

yuprules · 06-17-2004, 11:42 AM

Yeah it is strange that you can search on the hand held GPS software...but can't do it on your PC with the same maps...really strange Garmin really strange.

I can't wait to save up and buy the Canada Topo maps.

bimmerpc · 08-26-2006, 03:48 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by yuprules

Yeah it is strange that you can search on the hand held GPS software...but can't do it on your PC with the same maps...really strange Garmin really strange.

I can't wait to save up and buy the Canada Topo maps.

Any news?
Got a free update recently, of my mapsource, would like to know if anyone has managed to use it and does it have to be stand alone or have anyone made a touch button interface for a frontend?

afterdigital · 09-26-2006, 08:52 AM

i believe you can use any, in fact MP3.com has one which many here use in their car.

I have Garmin GPS USB 18 (the puck) which i can't understand why it didn't come with the correct drivers for using it with any software. I did, however, get it to work using a driver called GPSGate or something like that.

DarquePervert · 09-26-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by afterdigital

I have Garmin GPS USB 18 (the puck) which i can't understand why it didn't come with the correct drivers for using it with any software.

Because Garmin wants you to buy their software, plain and simple.

afterdigital · 09-26-2006, 03:24 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by DarquePervert

Because Garmin wants you to buy their software, plain and simple.

that's almost true - someone here was kind enough to point me in the right direction. What i found is that you have to either call Garmin to get the correct drivers or be patient and look for the "hidden" drivers on their website.... but i do get the feeling they make it difficult so your automatic reaction is to buy their product....