Step1:
Download the Free GPS Trackmaker Software
from gpstm.com
Step2:
After you download and install the Free GPS
Trackmaker Software, go to your park of choice
(from BigDaddyMaps.com), click on the the
GPS file, and select "open" when
prompted. This will automatically open the
GPS Trackmaker Software with the GPS file
that you selected.
Step
3:
Once GPS Trackmaker is open with the GPS
file that you chose, connect your GPS receiver
to the computer via its USB or Serial cable.
Once that is done and the computer recognizes
it, go to "GPS" in the menu and
select the correct manufacturer interface
for your GPS receiver.
Step
4:
Once the interface menu opens... make sure
to enter the proper inputs (e.g. connection,
model, etc.). Depending on what manufacturer
you have, these interfaces will differ a
little. Make sure to check for any warnings
associated with your GPS receiver as they
pop up on the interface. After the settings
are fixed, you won't have to worry about
doing them again unless you change GPS models.
Step
5:
The interfaces-by-manufacturer may differ
a little when it comes to transferring data...
but you want to make sure that you are sending
information to the GPS rather than collecting/capturing
from the GPS. To make sure you are sending...
make sure the "Send" button is
highlighted. Once that is highlighted...
you can begin sending Waypoint Data and
Trackpoint Data separately. You do that
by clicking the buttons for each.
Make sure to send both Waypoint & Tracklog
information over to the GPS... otherwise you
will not be able able to see the Waypoint
Data and/or Trackpoint Data on your receiver
during your trip. Also make sure...
to not transfer "Route"
information over to the GPS... because it
will cause confusion for ground based navigation.
For more information on the differences between
Waypoint Data, Trackpoint Data, and Route
Data... please click here.
Step
6:
Check to make sure that your Waypoint
Data & Trackpoint Data were successfully
uploaded by either checking your GPS receiver
itself or by restarting GPS Trackmaker
(by closing it and opening a blank file)
and downloading coordinates from your
GPS receiver to your computer. If you
did it right, you will see squiggley lines
between between waypoints rather than
straight lines. Tip...
If you have pre-existing coordinates on
your GPS receiver, checking might be a
little confusing.
