Will more memory increase track data storage (eTrex Legend Cx)?

Is the track data stored to the microSD card or to built in
memory on the unit of an eTrex Legend Cx?
If it is stored to the microSD card then will a larger card
allow more track data to be stored?

Thanks,
Lou

Lou wrote:


If eTrex is like the 60/76 "x" series models you have two ways to save
tracks.

Method 1 (*.gpx files) - Check the Log Track to Data Card box. This box
is found from the Track page by selecting Setup, then Data Card Setup.
This creates a *.gpx file on the data card for each day, the file
contains all the track data for that day.

For method 1, the amount of free space on the microSD card is the
limiting factor on how many days of track data can be saved. The size
of the *.gpx files will vary with the trackpoint collection rate but the
files are fairly small. On a recent trip I collected about 9,000
trackpoints over a 14 hour period and the *.gpx file for that day was
845Kb in size.

Method 2 (Save track) - From the Track page, select Save. You can save
the entire track or choose a portion of it. You can have a maximum of
20 saved tracks, the tracks are saved to the GPS memory (not the microSD
card). The saved tracks do not included all the track data or times and
elevations.

If you download tracks from the GPS with MapSource you will get both the
track data in track memory and the saved tracks. To get the *.gpx
tracks into MapSource you can either copy the files to the hard drive
from the microSD card and open them from MapSource or put the GPS into
the Mass Storage Mode and select a *.gpx file from MapSource.

To me, method 1 is the essential choice for post trip analysis. Unless
I am severely constrained for space on my microSD card, I would never
uncheck the Log Track to Data Card box. You get all the trackpoints for
every day and also the times and elevations.

You can use the *.gpx files off the GPS (with MapSource or any of a
number of GPS utilities) to reconstruct the track and calculate speeds
and distances traveled. Simply stated, the data in the *.gpx files is
complete and wonderful. You get separate track segments in the *.gpx
for each time the GPS is turned on and each time the track log is cleared.

Method 2 saves only selected checkpoints and does not give you time and
elevation. The saved tracks can be reviewed on the GPS and used to
create a BackTrac route. I consider the Save Track feature to be useful
for saving and reviewing recent tracks or track segments from the GPS
and creating routes from there. But you will have the same data (and
more) in the *.gpx files if you are using the Log Track to Data Card
option.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Thanks for all the info, however it seems that the eTrex
Legend Cx does not let you setup the data card in the setup
page. You can only set the tracking interval and if its by
time or distance. I then tried removing the data card and
the tracks were still on the GPS so it seems the data card
is not used for track data. I cannot use method 1 so its
method 2 for me, although I will probably try to transfer
the data to the PC without saving it on the GPS unit first
so I have all the info.

Thanks,
Lou

Lou wrote:


That's too bad. The saving to the data card feature is not mentioned in
the 76Cx manual, it is a feature that has been added to the software
since the first release. Maybe they'll add it to the eTrex eventually.
Although they do have to leave some features off to keep people

But you're right, there is a third method I did not mention, downloading
the track data before it gets overwritten. On some of the earlier
Garmins downloaded track data was abbreviated a little (no times and
maybe no elevations?), hopefully that's not the case for the eTrex.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

are you sure, Jack? I never saw an old Garmin not reporting track time
stamps in the downloaded active log. My oldest one is a GPS45 bought 10
years ago. It did not report elevations in the track log, but times were
always present.

--

Heinrich
http://www.gartrip.de