Make:

sure - you might be able to, download and try out usaphotomaps, it might be able to connect to gps and map the location, you'll just need to select the right port (likely com 1 or something).

http://www.jdmcox.com/

cheers,
pt

<a href="http://tuxmobil.org/navigation_gps.html">http://tuxmobil.org/navigation_gps.html</a>

Is the definitive resource for Linux GPS stuff.

I use my Garmin Legend with <a href="http://roadmap.digitalomaha.net/">Roadmap.</a>

Jake.
<a href="http://www.vonslatt.com">My Projects</a>

There is a program called nRoute from Garmin that does this. It can be found at http://www.garmin.com/support/mappingsw.jsp

<p>More generally than any specific software package, the protocol that most (nearly all) GPS receivers use to transmit information is called the NMEA 0183 protocol. A simple Google for that will probably yield more information than you can shake a stick at, but you can check out the <a href="http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/nmeafaq.txt">NMEA FAQ</a> for starters, and <a href="http://pcptpp030.psychologie.uni-regensburg.de/trafficresearch/NMEA0183/index.html">here</a> for some more examples.
</p>
<p>
A couple years ago I <a href="http://brainwagon.org/archives/2003/08/15/152/">hacked together some crufty code in Python</a> to read this protocol from my Delorme Earthmate GPS, so it can be done.
</p>
<p><a href="http://brainwagon.org">Mark VandeWettering</a></p>

I looked at nRoute and apparently it costs money (as in, you can download it, but when you go to install you have to already have a Garmin product on your machine).

I found <a href="http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/interface.htm">this page</a> which exhaustively describes the Garmin PC interface. The page also mentions a "text out" mode which just streams position and velocity data like it was serial data. I might write to that because I really don't feel like doing the byte mashing for NMEA, especially since the eTrex doesn't support bi-directional communication via NMEA, and so all I'd get for my hacking was some extra data other than position and velocity.

Apparently the "text out" format is similar or possibly identical to the format used by cameras when they store GPS info in EXIF, which was one possible application I had in mind for this data.

I'll try out other suggestions just as soon as I recover the Garmin DB9 connector from beneath all the mess in my house.

I use Delorme's Topo USA with my Garmin, I have also used shareware programs that will communicate with garmins. Googling "garmin gps shareware" brought up a bunch. I believe that you can now get usb cables for garmin.

I did this a while back, it was really cool. I used the cheapo Garmin I think its the eTrex (the yellow one) and Delorme maps. I remember I went for a bike ride and did the route thing, and when I plugged it in, it showed me the route I had taken. Also you can download all your waypoints and see them on the map. Very cool.

It was a while ago but I seem to remember it was not trivial - I think I used the serial plug that Garmin made available and plugged it into a Serial to USB converter I got from Radio Shack ( it was a little expensive, like $40 or so).

There's several programs that can communicate using the GARMIN protocol like - GPSBabel : http://www.gpsbabel.org/

GARtrip : http://www.gartrip.de/

I'm sure some of the guys who have done the development work on this stuff can help you with the communication protocol to talk to a Garmin GPS. And your GPS will also talk in the NMEA standard - you can switch it under "Setup -> Interfaces"...

Don't limit yourself to importing track data "after the fact" (i.e., after it's been recorded in your GPS unit). If you have a subscription version of Google Earth, you can import real-time GPS data into it and follow yourself around the globe. And, as others have mentioned, there are freeware tools that do similar things.

The Garmin eTrex series (original, not color) all use the same serial cable for communications. This cable is used to upload updates (software/firmware and maps) and can be used for supplying GPS coordinates. If you go to the Main Menu -> Setup -> Interface screen you will be able to select the format of your choosing. NMEA In/NMEA Out will work with most mapping and GPS programs supporting that format.

The amateur radio community uses gps with 2 meter handheld radios and the information is transmitted through a system called APRS for Amateur Position Reporting System. You can then look on a computer on the net and see where you're at as well as other licensed amateur radio folks. Take a look at http://www.aprs.org if you're interested.

<p>One of the previous posters mentioned <a href="http://www.gpsbabel.org">GPSbabel</a>, which I think deserves a stronger mention here...</p>
<p>GPSbabel is, aside from <a href="http://gpsd.berlios.de">gpsd</a>, the only program I currently need for talking to my GPS (also, coincidentally, a Garmin Etrex). It handles waypoints, routes, and tracks. The only feature I'm missing is ability to create and upload my own maps, which I gather a few Windows(tm) programs can do, but I haven't found any others (and, honestly, have very little need for it, so I've not had reason to look too hard.).</p>
<p>GPSBabel ALSO reads and writes <a href="http://www.gpsbabel.org/capabilities.html">a mind-boggling array of other GPS-related formats</a> as well - though I haven't yet gotten the "import Google Maps route directions data into the GPS" hack mentioned in "<a href="http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/googlemapshks/index.html">Google Maps Hacks</a>" to work yet...</p>
<p>(If I think I really need a map, I just use <a href="http://gpsdrive.kraftvoll.at">GPSDrive</a> instead anyway...)</p>

You can make the cable yourself too.
I tried the instructions here but my cable didn't work. http://www.jens-seiler.de/etrex/datacable.html

There is a huge community out there that makes their own nicer garmin cables. Instructions on how to do it are here http://www.geocities.com/etrexkb/cable.htm

After my failed attempt, I just bought a cheap cable on ebay.

Check out easygps at http://www.easygps.com/
It'sa free program that will load your waypoints, routs and tracks. Plot them on the screen (no maps) and store them in a plain text file.

And Expertgps (free 31 day trial and ~$60 to buy) at http://www.expertgps.com/
Easygps plus maps and more.

PT mentioned http://www.jdmcox.com/ and I would look into that.
With it when connected to the internet you grab arial photos for your area, then when you are in the field with your laptop and gps, it will plot your position on the photos.

I use GPS TrackMaker with my legend.