Garmin PC interface cable – not applicable to Geko 101
Posted by Notcot on Apr 2, 2010 in Handhelds & PDAs |
Product Description
Link to your PC For use with the eTrex and Emap This cable’s all you need to make a powerful connection between your GPS and your PC. Create routes and waypoints on your PC and transfer them to your GPS. It also allows you to download map detail from MapSource CD-ROMs. Cable features a standard 9-pin D connector. Does not provide wiring for external power.
- Connects to Serial Port
This lead is compatible with a Garmin Geko 201/301, eMap and eTrex GPS.
It plugs into an old style serial COM port on your PC.
If you only have USB ports on your PC you need to also buy a
USB to RS232 adapter cable.
I thought the description on this site was very ambiguous.
But they do list the manufacturers part number which
you can look up on the Garmin Web site.
It’s fun to upload your routes to Google Earth Plus.
Rating: 3 / 5
I had problems with my cable but in all honesty wasn’t sure if it was this half (GPS TO SERIAL PORT) of the cable or the other half of the cable (USB TO SERIAL PORT) that was at fault.
Downloading was hit and miss, sometimes it would work, other times it said it couldn’t find the GPS. It even slipped out of its connection at the GPS end on several occasions.
Wiggling the two halfs of the serial connectors together seemed to fix the problem each time the message appeared ‘unable to find GPS’, but I soon became very annoyed with this and decided to send both halves back.
In the end I settled for a one piece cable (not available on this site – see comments) which works perfectly and was cheaper too.
Rating: 1 / 5
This is a piece of kit I did not want to have to think about. The fact I have to either connect via a home-docking station or a usb-3rd party connector is annoying.
If that was not bad enough it is expensive!.
This is a rip-off and would cause be to avoid the product if it was not for the fact that Garmin make the best GPS.
Grrrrrr.
Rating: 1 / 5
Why on earth do Garmin insist in this day and age on using serial connectors? There isn’t one on my laptop and I have been forced to get a USB adapter. (The Targus one is pretty good). But since Garmin have the corner of this market you have to buy this to link your GPS. And to be honest it is good when you can link your GPS to your laptop. Instant moving map!
Rating: 3 / 5
Why can’t this cable be a bit cheaper, it’s half the cost again of my Geko unit. This doesn’t make sense.
Contacts could be better. Half the time I plug it in the computer is telling me that their is no GPS attached until I wiggle the unit and try again.
The cable does it’s job, simply enabling the cool stuff that the GPS and software can do.
Rating: 3 / 5