Getting 'Tracks' off my 496 and on my PC (how do I)

[DeltaRomeo]

I admit I don't read the manual as closely as I probably should . I discovered the track feature on my 496 the other day - I was driving out to the airport and I kept noticing all these circular lines around the area as I was driving up to the airport (in auto mode). Turns out it was the path the plane had made in the pattern on my previous dozen or so flights! Duh!!!

OK, I have the UPS cable that ties my 496 into the PC and when plugged in it recognizes it.

So now what do I do?

What's the application that people use to pull over their latest flight track and display it on a map of their area? Of course I'm assuming this is done already.... I have visions of overlaying my flight track over a satellite image from GoogleMaps or GoogleEarth. It would be a swell graphic to accompany a trip write-up or such...

Any guidance is appreciated.

b,
dr

PS: You can see a picture I took of my GPS track with the camera at http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3807/trackkd5.jpg

[aadamson]

Doug,

There might have been software that was included with your GPS to do this... Or, Garmin used to provide a download for a simple program to get tracks, routes, etc. Then you can search for another application called "GPSBabel", it will do the conversion from Garmin to something Google earth can use.

You can also go here and do the conversion I believe . http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/index.html

Hope this helps,

[DeltaRomeo]

Thanks Adam. Perfect

b,
dr

[jclark]

Originally Posted by DeltaRomeo

I admit I don't read the manual as closely as I probably should . I discovered the track feature on my 496 the other day - I was driving out to the airport and I kept noticing all these circular lines around the area as I was driving up to the airport (in auto mode). Turns out it was the path the plane had made in the pattern on my previous dozen or so flights! Duh!!!

OK, I have the UPS cable that ties my 496 into the PC and when plugged in it recognizes it.

So now what do I do?

What's the application that people use to pull over their latest flight track and display it on a map of their area? Of course I'm assuming this is done already.... I have visions of overlaying my flight track over a satellite image from GoogleMaps or GoogleEarth. It would be a swell graphic to accompany a trip write-up or such...

Any guidance is appreciated.

b,
dr

PS: You can see a picture I took of my GPS track with the camera at http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3807/trackkd5.jpg

Doug,

This may not be what you are looking for but tale a look at this:

http://www.appareo.com ...

I have been doing some beta testing of their products. The "data" can come from their "flight data recorder" or from the more popular GPS's (especially the Garmin handheld units).

The "Lite" version of the software is pretty low cost and all you have to do is connect your cable and download the data from the GPS.

There is some pretty slick stuff being sorted out but I will have to leave that to them to talk about. If you call or email ask for "David" and tell him I sent ya.

Good people, good product in the making.

James

[Thermos]

Doug,

I've used a program called 'G7ToWin' to pull track data from my GPSMAP 196 and save it in a format that Google Earth can import - I think those formats are .gpx or .loc files. The interface isn't super streamlined, but it works. You can find it here...

http://www.gpsinformation.org/ronh/g7towin.htm

It will also let you create, edit, upload and download user waypoints.

It's free, although the author accepts donations.

Dave

[DeltaRomeo]

Well, that didn't take 10 minutes!!!! Thanks to Matt Burch (RV builder who works for Garmin) for pointing out to me via email that the City Navigator CD that came with my 496 includes the MapSource app that will allow me to download the tracks.

I then saved the track file using MapSource into the GPS format and used www.GPSvisualizer.com to lay the file on top of sat imagery.

I love the internet <g>.

Here's the output from yesterday's flight.

[Captain_John]

Ha! You need a source of data for that terrain!

It is all brown and green!

Which way to da beach!?!

Seriously, it is good to know that this can be done!

CJ

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by DeltaRomeo

Well, that didn't take 10 minutes!!!! Thanks to Matt Burch (RV builder who works for Garmin) for pointing out to me via email that the City Navigator CD that came with my 496 includes the MapSource app that will allow me to download the tracks.

Well nuts! I got my 396 used, and while it came with a nice extra case and second remote antenna, it had no CD with it.....so I don't have MapSource. I guess I'll have to go buy that.....

Paul

[DeltaRomeo]

Iron!

I think it's a free download from Garmin: http://www.garmin.com/support/mappingsw.jsp

Maybe not, however. Not sure.

b,
d

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Well nuts! I got my 396 used, and while it came with a nice extra case and second remote antenna, it had no CD with it.....so I don't have MapSource. I guess I'll have to go buy that.....

Paul

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by DeltaRomeo

Iron!

I think it's a free download from Garmin

Yeah, the download is free...but you have to have a paid-for copy to install. Ah well, I've been thinking of getting the City Navigator anyway!

Gotta go fly - the weather looks bad for tomorrow!

Paul