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To those HOSTING events (WGA or Otherwise) … if you are providing a laptop to upload coordinates at an event, but people need to bring their own cables, keep in mind that some GPSr cables require USB while others take Serial and that most newer laptops only have USB. If possible bring along a USB/Serial adapter, if this is the case … or at least “advertise” this limitation on the event page, or better yet indicate that when you can handle both USB and Serial.
To those ATTENDING an event … if an event indicates you need to bring your own cable (such as reference to “non-standard” cables for the 2006 Geo-Campout) and your cable requires Serial don’t assume there will be a Serial connection available (unless the host indicates so), consider bringing your own USB/Serial adapter.
We ended up hand-loading coordinates at a non-WGA event we attended last year because the laptop only had USB and it was “bring your own cables”.
I will bring a COM Port (Serial) cord (with USB adapter) which has been proven to work with my laptop. Garmin Equipment.
I also have a similar cord for older Magellans – Meridian series which I will bring.
No problemo!
I think that GPS units will stay with RS-232C serial ports for a while so as to be compatible with NMEA interfaces. The venerable RS-232C is being phased out of both laptops and desktops; not surprising really, it’s been around about thirty years.
The USB to RS-232 converters are a good work-around, but the software drivers must be installed on the host computer before they’re connected.
TS
It is my understanding that the three laptops we will have at the campout all have RS-232 ports on them. I will be bringing along TS’s eggplant-download-switchbox-whatchacallit-gizmo, (thanks TS) as well as a USB cable compatible with many of the Garmin units.
Evidently jthorson completed his mission of getting the switchbox to Tie in an efficient manner.
I mentioned to Geopink that I was considering donating the contraption to the WGA and he accepted the offer. So it’s now the property of the WGA. It is my intent though, that the device should be made available to other event hosts that may have a need to use it.
I’m not sure how much force the toggle switch can withstand, so care should exercised when transporting it.
TS
Will event check-in be able to handle the ROUND Garmin connector?
Our guest/kids GPSr is the Garmin 72 (I think) and it has the round connector, rather than the flat/slide-on Garmin connector that eMap and eTrex uses. Just would like to know, the cable would be one less thing to drag into the park.
My laptop only has USB but I do have the adapter and drivers installed. I also have the round Garmin cable, if you’re referring to the one used for the Garmin V.
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