Question:
Just bought the Garmin Etrex Legend C which is absolutely awesome. I was thinking about trying to get it to display through a laptop through a usb port. I just don't know how to do it. does it require additional software?

 

Yep, I have the Etrex Legend as well, not the C though. I have the National Geographic Back Roads Explorer and an interface cable. Pretty cool set up. I know there are other software packages as well.

 

DeLorme Street Atlas, and National Geographic Topo are also good software when aided with a GPS. My pre-2000 Street Atlas even has most of the dirt roads and off-road trails that some of the backcountry adventure books describe (for California).

The StreetAtlas allows display of GPS details on the laptop, in a special window.

 

I have the original Etrex yellow one, and interface it with a serial cable to a laptop.

Using National Geographics WA. state software, and it will show in real time where you are.

 

Seems like the only access the Garmin etrex legend had is through a usb cable only. When I plug it in the laptop, it searches for the drivers like it wants to set up the whole software programs. I just want to use it for the larger screen. Any suggestions?

 

It should work with the Garmin software, you can download nRoute from their web site or if you get any of their map packages, they all include Mapsource with them.

 

i dont think the ETREX will have software that will emulate the small screen on the unit on the laptop.

all (okay, with my 8 y/o garmin 12xl unit) gps units spits out data. only your GPS data. in garmin's case, it can spit out NMEA sentences or their own proprietary stream (which they finally released a few years ago). the software will just interpret the data and plot your current position onto a map that the software has...

i can tell you this, and since i've had my 12xl, i have searched high and low for the best software to use on a laptop.

and right now, microsoft streets and trips (S&T) is the one i constantly load on my laptop.

there was one year, where i bought every single software i can find. i had the NG topo map one where it uses scanned USGS maps. i didnt like that messy look.

i've had the past 2 version of DELORME's TOPO DVD software. i like them for the topo use. like S&T, the maps are rendered and can have very good street level features, but i dont like how the maps are drawn.

only downside of S&T is that i wished it looked like this view:



REMEMBER, this is NOT an actual product.. just a wishlist that people have sent to MS...

 

nice, i am setting up my own laptop right now to use with the garmin im getting, im acutally going to get the garmin gps unit that is used with laptops, usb right into the laptop, 150$ on the site. i cant wait, and i am also using microsoft streets and trips.

 

Just call Garmin. They have the best customer service around. I work at Boater's World and talk to them at least a couple times a week.