3 question challenge

[Apex_GT]

I sure hope someone can help with this..I just bought an magellan explorist 600 and was wondering about a few things.. 1st has anyone hooked an explorist series gps onto their sled?? 2nd.. I was thinking of using the visor plug as a gps plug heater..Making something..like a plastic case with a window, heated, that I could mount...Anyone know of someone doing something like this?? And lastly...Anyone able to load a pdf file into the reciever...I downloaded some trail maps from ofsc and would love to use them in my reciever... I know these questions are kind of advanced but I'm throwing them out as a challenge to see how good members really are..

 

[Starry Knight]

I've hooked up my Garmin to my sled. Look into a RAM mount...they are the best (IMO). Is your GPS waterproof? Most outdoor ones are. If you mount behind the windshield, the unit should stay warm enough.

I use my accessory plug for power to the GPS, but have no need for the heater. I would NOT advise hooking up anything heated to the factory accessory outlet, as you will probably blow the fuse.

You cannot load a PDF file into the unit per se. It is possible to make your own maps, but the effort is HUGE, and the tech. skills are significant. I made custom trail maps for my Garmin, but it took about 3 days to do about a 50 square mile area. Was not worth the effort, and I work with map data for a living.

hope this helps....

 

[Starry Knight]

One more thing....

As you ride, you can record your "tracks", which will work great for return trips, etc. Also, make lots of waypoints....they help a great deal! Spend some time learning how to make them while you ride (ie. one-button press).

 

[Apex_GT]

Thanks for the reply...I have a handle bar mount but don't think this will work too well with my apex..Want to mount it below the windshield as you did so this "ram" mount sounds promising..What is a "ram" mount?? I ride alot of the time below -10 so a heater would be ideal..I want to use the acessories outlet to power the unit and hopefully use the visor plug I had installed as some sort of heater..Just to keep it above -10...Has to be a way..Making a black rubber case with a window filled with foam perhaps...Ripping the heated wire from a visor and coiling it in this jerry rigged mount...The ideas there..Anyone who developes this I will buy it..Keep the patent for yourself..Hows that for a deal..lol Thanks for the input...I'll give ya a C+ on the advice..

 

[Sled Dog]

Posting this same question in 3 different areas is definitly grounds for two of them to go into the dog pile!

 

[Sasquatch]

I use a Ram mount on my handle bar. I like the GPS where I can see it. I plug it in to an power point outlet I installed in the dash. I turn the backlight on and leave it on. The unit is in the wind like this.

Have had no problems with my Garmin E-Trex Legend down to -20F this way. Take it inside with you when you stop if more than to get gas to keep it warm.

Have been using a Garmin E-Trex Legend C this year the same way and have had no problems down to -10F so far.

 

[actionjack]

If you search the forumns for Ram mount I am sure you will see numerous ways to mount your GPS. The most popular I've seen on the Apex are on the bars, the steering post, and on the panel near the guages (as I have done). Using the track back and waypoints is quite useful. You can get software to upload maps into the unit even on some non-mapping units. I use a Mac so I use MacGPSPro which can convert and calibrate any map or even a drawing (with less accuracy) to be used to overlap tracks on the computer or upload maps to the unit.

 

[MyOutdoors]

Go to GPS city and they will have all the mounts you want. I mounted mine to the riser block and with a 3" arm it sits right on top of the bar pad...perfect. I believe I saw something over at HCS about a gps heater, but I've never used one. Once mine is locked in, it works very good. If you use magellen mapsend or topo you can download your tracks/routes to your computer, move them around and then reload them into your gps.

 

[Apex_GT]

Thanks for the advice..Gonna go check out gps city..Looks good on the pad there.. Has it ever froze up on you though??

 

[MyOutdoors]

I haven't ridden it on this sled to know. I do have the low windshield installed which protects it better, but I've ridden other sleds with a garmin etrex that has frozen up. We'll see?

 

[JERSEYJOE]

GPS use

IT WOULD BE NICE IF ALL THE TRAILS IN QUEBEC WERE CHARTED ON THE MAGELLAN. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?

 

[actionjack]

Re: GPS use

IT WOULD BE NICE IF ALL THE TRAILS IN QUEBEC WERE CHARTED ON THE MAGELLAN. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?

They are all charted for Garmin.

http://www.gpsquebec.ca/produits/detail ... Lang=en_ca

There must be a conversion utility somewhere.