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The image has no geographic meaning. It's just like a background image on any windows computer, for example. Could be cute, but that's it.

Thanks for clarifying that. A bit of a disappointment. I was hoping I could output GeoTiffs from Map Maker and use them, like the low-cost Trimble (Juno?) unit.

The Delorme unit also looked promising for a while but then had no capability for user-defined datum/projection. Also close but no cigar.

So I'll stick with the 60Csx and making my own IMG maps for it.

Such maps the Colorado will accept too.

Can you elaborate Anders?

GO$Rs

What I meant is that if you make a map the GPSmap 60 CSx can accept, then the Colorado can use the same map.

Another review Colorado 400t

Dear Friends,

I own many Garmin GPS and I like them until I Bought this Colorado 300.

I own an III Plus, a 60 CSx, a 498 and a Colorado 300.

I think that Colorado 300 is a Map GPS, that you can do almost nothing using the maps.

For example:

1) I can enter a Waypoint using the map, but I cannot move the waypoint using the map.

2) I cannot enter or edit a Route using the Map. I've to program all the waypoint before I Plan a route. (It’s the worst way I can enter a route, ever).

3) When I chose "view map" in the Route Planner, Colorado shows me the entire route in a 3" display and I cannot zoom or scroll the map to see the route!

These are only 3 examples, but if you try to use Colorado to Plan Routes and manage waypoint, you will see that are so many difficulties and the map is not used at all.

For me, a GPS that is almost impossible to Plan a Route in, is a trash.

They put a revolutionary interface and made a very pretty GPS, but I think that the software needs to change allot. The only way to insert routes and waypoint in Colorado is using Mapsource, but I cannot carry my notebook on the trail or to the sea

If I understand you correctly, the 60CSx also can't do those things.

Yes, you can.
The 60 CSx is far more complex, cryptical and capable than the Colorado, when it comes to all those small details. But it has a smaller display, no internal memory for the user and a much weaker geocaching implementation.

Indeed, I have the 60CSx allmost two years now, and I'm still learning. Didn't know those three options were possible.

Your never to old too learn.

Short test of the Colorado and others.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJyt3RFycsE

I keep getting tempted by the Colorado 300 as I usually buy the latest Garmin handheld but I suspect that the problems are mainly hardware related rather than software.

I am beginning to suspect that Garmin bought this GPS in rather than designed it themselves. How else can the extremely poor hardware and software be explained?

Think I'll keep my GPSMAP 76CSx and Legend HCx. Both of these units are IMHO streets ahead of the Colorado.

I think I'll pass on this one.

With the 400t, what happens if you connect it to a laptop/notebook that's running Mapsource s/w, will the GPS be automatically be detected and work as a GPS running Garmin protocol or NMEA or will it only function as a "drive"?

Think you're right but there are some strange things happening in that movie. The colorado person had to replace his battery's, a moment later you see him running with the colorado and on the screen you see "hold level" that indicates he has swithed on his electronic/magnetic kompas.
After changing your battery's you have to callibrate your compas again and you must hold it level. If you don't do that then I think it is very possible that it looks if the "red arrow" is pointing to the "wrong direction". On a test like this I think it is only fair that all the users knows how to handle the units.
The way the "satnav 10?" user made his waypoints is also possible on a 60CSx so probably the colorada can do this too.

Think this is more a satnav 10 commersial

As of the 2.51 beta software it will do either if you have "Garmin Spanner" set as your interface. When you plug into a USB cable you will be asked if you want to got to Mass Storage mode or not. If you don't the computer can communicate with the Colorado via PVT which allows for tracking data to be transfered.

GO$Rs

My 400c says it has 2.50 and WebUpdater says that's the latest. The Garmin web site shows 2.40 (?) as the latest 'unit software'. I'd like to have the capability for a real-time GPS feed into MacGPS without another adapter...
-Tom Farr

Wish I'd found this site before I bought my Colorado 400c. I've owned Garmin GPS's since the old days and they've all had more or less the same, reasonably logical, interface. I thought the Colorado might be better and couldn't tell from the manual or a few emails to Garmin. It took a while to wade through the rather illogical interface. However, I now find it lacks some basic functions that even my aging GPSMap 76s has, mainly the ability to connect to my Mac running MacGPS so I can follow my progress on a map or image of my choosing. Another capability which I need for multi-day expeditions without a laptop is the ability to save tracks (lat, lon, elev, date, time). I thought with the SD card, the Colorado would be great. But one can't save tracks to the SD card! Finally, there's the curious omission of the WGS84 datum... I use that a lot in my work.

The only thing I still like about the Colorado is the addition of profiles, which would allow me to switch from geologic expedition mode to marine mode easily. Not worth it, so I expect to either try returning it to Garmin or selling it on ebay...

From the posts here, it appears I should have looked at the 76CsX. But I still have a question: Can one save tracks to the miniSD?

Thanks,
Tom Farr

Tracks can't be saved to the SD card. However the Colorado does have a lot of internal memory and can save megabytes of track data there. If you take a look at the Tracks section of the Colorado FAQ it will explain how track archiving works and where to find the data.

GO$Rs

For all the releases to date the 300 and 400's have all shared the same firmware. I'm assuming that this still is the case can you can just download the 2.51 400t or 300 firmware from here and load it onto your 400c.

GO$Rs

For all the releases to date the 300 and 400's have all shared the same firmware. I'm assuming that this still is the case can you can just download the 2.51 400t or 300 firmware from here and load it onto your 400c.

GO$Rs[/quote]


The update page for 400c shows only 2.40. I'm chicken to try loading firmware for the 400t on there. Besides, I've only got a Mac, so I'll have to wait 'til the webupdater has 2.51...
Thanks for the info.
BTW, what's 'Spanner'?
-Tom Farr

Spanner is an application (Windows) that translates between NMEA and PVT. Many applications talk NMEA but don't understand the native Garmin PVT protocol that runs over a USB connection.

GO$Rs

Colorado beta firmware available: 2.54

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download ... sp?id=3891

Changes made from version 2.51 to 2.54:

* Added ability to turn elevation shading off, included in user profile settings
* Added ability to log a comment with geocaching Field Notes
* Added ability to save map selections to user profile settings
* Added compass setting to saved user profile settings
* Added tracback along current track
* Added ability to determine public land survey or USGS Quad name for Topo 24k HD cartography
* Added progress bar during software updates
* Improved odometer distance calculation
* Improved Wherigo engine
* Improved backlight behavior
* Improved compass / gps heading autoswitch behavior
* Improved keyboard behavior in address & intersection searches
* Improved behavior in low battery state
* Improved behavior of turn-by-turn route recalcuations
* Improved map drawing to eliminate redraws when not necessary
* Improved map drawing to reduce partial map draws
* Improved map drawing to enhance appearance of trails
* Improved usability of WGS84 by listing as a datum rather than just a spheroid
* Improved automatic track archiving when archiving very lengthy activity segments
* Increased maximum number of GPX files processed to 200
* Corrected guidance text to not truncate streets when not necessary
* Corrected behavior of proximity alarms in custom points of interest
* Corrected potential issues that prevented user alarm from sounding
* Corrected map drawing above 75 degrees latitude
* Corrected potential issue when attempting to delete profiles
* Corrected issue that generated extra waypoints at poweron when 'Mark Waypoint' was the first listed shortcut
* Corrected potential issue preventing 'Waypoints' from being listed in 'Where to?'
* Corrected issue that prevented poor signal strength messages from disappearing if a fix was achieved
* Corrected calculated issue that prevented complete display of large numbers
* Corrected specified schema path for GPX files
* Corrected Dutch keyboard to include 'Z' for address searches
* Corrected User Grid to retain settings between power cycles
* Corrected User Grid to allow 'E' and 'W' for longitude origin entry