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Got a smartphone or a small-screen tablet? check out the Uploader for Garmin!

Improved support for Garmin Etrex, Foretrex, GpsMap and Oregon

1/14/2013

47 Comments

 
note: this post covers only handheld models configured in serial / garmin mode; it doesn't cover models configured in mass storage mode. I suggest that you start from this more recent tutorial instead, which also covers mass storage mode. That tutorial will redirect you here if needed, with a much better picture of why you may want to set up your unit in serial / garmin mode in some cases.



When I first thought about creating Sportablet and the Garmin Uploader, my idea was to support the Forerunner and the Edge family. I’m mostly a runner these days, I used to mountain bike, and I occasionally swim in open waters, so those are the devices and the activities I’m most familiar with.

Still, at some point you guys started to ask me to support other Garmin devices, like the eTrex, the GpsMap, the Oregon, etc. I don’t have most of those, so it took me some time to support them at a decent :-) level. With Sportablet 3.4 and the Uploader 2.5, I would say that I reached a reasonable level, with some important parts yet to come.

State of the app
Sportablet and the Uploader have been tested with these models:
  • eTrex 20
  • eTrex 30
  • eTrex Legend HCx
  • eTrex Vista C
  • Foretrex 401
  • Oregon 550t
  • GPSMap60CSX 

If you use the GPSMap60CSX, please make sure you upgrade your firmware to version 4.20, as the communication protocol is much cleaner in that version.

If you have a different unit, read on and give the app a try. If you run into troubles, get in touch. If it works, send me a log :-).

Setting up your unit
At this time, for all the devices above, you have to set your unit in Garmin Mode. If you want to connect your unit in Mass Storage mode, see the other tutorial as linked above. The setting is usually under the System menu, sometimes is a little buried. If you can’t find it, get in touch. NOTE: some models don't have a "garmin mode". They have a "spanner mode" or a "serial mode". Try those that you have, in this order (garmin / serial / spanner).

With the unit in garmin/serial mode, my app will be able to access your tracklog. At least for some models (eTrex 20 and eTrex 30), that basically corresponds to what you have in your current.gpx file inside the unit. It won't access the history.

As observed in the eTrex Legend HCx, if you save your tracklog, the eTrex will "compress" the track by removing some GPS points and removing the time coordinate from all points. In this case, the app will set the track time to the download time, and will space sampling points evenly in time - which means, of course, that speed won't be real. 
This is an issue on the eTrex side, which cannot be fixed by external software. Details are available in many websites, like: 
http://tchester.org/sgm/analysis/gps/etrex_saved_track_accuracy.html
http://www.gpsmap.net/GarminHints.html
http://www.gpsinformation.org/dale/tracklog.htm
http://gen5.info/q/2009/06/03/getting-a-good-track-from-a-garmin-etrex

Setting up the app
What I’ve found is that the tracklog protocol (as opposed to mass storage mode) does not split your tracks properly. They’re all sent as segments of a single long track.

In most cases, that would make the app useless, so I added a simple heuristics to split segments in tracks. When a segment starts over 1 hour later than the previous segment ends, I simply create a new track. It’s a simple a quick strategy, which should work fine in practice (it certainly did with the data I got from you guys).

Still, that strategy is optional, and is off by default. However, it is suggested that you turn it on, by clicking “options”, scrolling down to “GPS tracklog”, and enabling the autosplit.

Connecting the unit
Please understand that the Garmin handhelds are not full-fledged ANT+ devices. They can read from ANT+ accessories, and can exchange some data with similar units over ANT+ using a Garmin proprietary protocol, but they cannot exchange data with a computer over ANT+. In fact, they are not sold with an ANT+ dongle like (for instance) the Forerunner 310/910, and there is no Garmin software even on Windows that can communicate with the handhelds over ANT+. Since your Android device is playing the role of your computer here, you'll have to follow the same rules, and use a USB connection. 

[For those of you who wants to know more: ANT+ is a complex protocol with many profiles. Some profiles are standard. Some are not. The unit-to-unit profile / protocol used by the handheld models is not standard, it's one of the many Garmin secrets. It can be reverse engineered, of course. I did that, for instance, for the Forerunner 405/410. But it takes time and energy, and at this stage, my apps simply don't have the kind of ROI to justify the investment. With significant more support (read: purchases, but also spreading the word etc) from users, things may change.]
Picture
You will probably need an OTG adapter like this to convert your micro-usb port into a type-A female host port. 

Note that it MUST be an OTG adapter: it's not just about changing size. An OTG adapter has a wire inside telling the Android device to switch the port into host mode. Of course, your android device must also be USB-friendly, and that's up to the manufacturer.

In some cases, you'll have to provide external power. Please read Step 2 on this other tutorial to learn how to supply power. 

Current limits
At this time, the track summary you see in the main screen won’t show total duration and distance, and therefore not even average pace and speed.  The eTrex, GPSMap etc don’t send the distance over the tracklog protocol, so I have to calculate that based on all the GPS coordinates, using the WG84 ellipsoid, accounting for any spurious sample, etc.

In Sportablet, I do that when you open the track (so you get the right statistics and charts), but that requires some CPU time and memory. Currently, I'm not doing so during download; I first need to check that it won't interfere with USB timings on low-end tablets / phones.

Still, the app can transfer your tracks to Garmin Connect anyway. It actually makes all the units above compatible with Garmin Connect, even not supported by Garmin like the eTrex Legend® HCx, the GPSMap60CSX, and the eTrex Vista C. Not bad for a little app :-)
47 Comments
Peter Bozenhardt
1/16/2013 05:12:27

http://www8.garmin.com/support/collection.jsp?product=010-00422-00
Here the firmware-version for GPSMap60CSX ist 4.00. My device has 4.10. Where can I get the recommendet 4.20 ?
Thanks Peter

Reply
Jochen
3/31/2013 11:35:15

Hi peter' what about the garmin etrex venture cx?

I have an android tablet (<nextwolf>) without a gps receiver and want to connect it to my above mentioned gps unit. Will this work? Please excuse my german english :-)

Jochen

Reply
carlo pescio
3/31/2013 12:32:06

Jochen, you should probably ask me :-) not Peter.

Still, I don't have a Venture, but if you can see under settings / interface the ability to set your Garmin to Spanner Mode, then it will probably work, depending on your tablet's usb friendliness.

Give it a try (the app is free to try), and maybe send me a log (instructions on how to do that are in the "answers" page)

Jochen
3/31/2013 13:45:07

Sorry Carlo for my Peter. I'll try it out and tell you about it.

Jochen

Erwin Göddertz
5/3/2015 06:46:32

Reply
carlo pescio
1/16/2013 05:41:21

Sorry Peter,
I have no idea, I'm getting logs with that version and they seem to be much cleaner. I'll ask the guys who have it, maybe someone will help.

Anyway, the app should work fine with older versions too, there are just a few extra packets being exchanged. If you have any trouble, send me a log : )

Reply
Tomas link
3/3/2013 01:49:24

Official Garmin firmware for gpsmap60csx end at firmware no.4.00. Where you got the 4.10 Peter? Looks to website

Reply
carlo pescio
3/3/2013 12:40:56

I can confirm that there are units around with firmware versions higher than 4.00 (although yes, on the garmin website the latest version seems to be 4.00). I haven't got any log with 4.10, but I've definitely got logs where it says:

GPSMap60C Software Version 4.20

No idea where they got it though.

Reply
Claudio
3/25/2013 07:45:58

Hallo, what about dakota 20, does it work?

Reply
carlo pescio
3/25/2013 10:48:25

Claudio: I don't have a Dakota 20 but, from the specs, I would say that currently it would not work. The Dakota has no Spanner mode, and the app can't read its file format at this time.

Still, it is my intention to add better support for some Oregon and Dakota models over time. If you feel like helping, get in touch. The best way would be to send me a log (see the "answers" page), so that I can also check general compatibility with your tablet / phone.

A Dakota 20 with an SD card inside will probably look like 2 flash drives to your Android device, and quite a few won't mount it or mount only one partition (by Murphy's law, the wrong one :-)

Reply
carlo pescio
5/23/2015 15:30:09

it works now, by the way: http://www.sportablet.com/connecting-handheld-models.html

Reply
Paul Van Belle
4/18/2013 15:23:12

Connecting OREGON 450

I have send two diff logs to you.
The tracks or not found on the SD-Card, beacause they are stored in inner RAM memory (1GB). When connecting my OREGON 450 to a WIN-PC, I can access two drives on the device (f:; g:). The second one only stores the maps. My tablet only sees that last drive under /mnt/udisk/Garmin.

Reply
carlo pescio
4/19/2013 02:35:50

Paul,
if you read my post, it says: "At this time, for all the devices above, you have to set your unit in Spanner Mode. Mass Storage mode does not work with Sportablet."

Set your Oregon in Spanner mode, it that fails try Garmin mode. It won't work in mass storage mode (besided, your tablet is not mounting the 2nd partition anyway). With the Oregon properly set, do *not* force a flash drive scan, as it won't appear as a drive anymore.

Reply
Fran McGowan
11/14/2013 11:53:29

Trying to transfer from my ForeTrex 401 to my Xperia Active via Ant+ and I never get a "confirm pairing" on the ForeTrex.

Reply
carlo pescio
11/14/2013 12:04:52

Of course not :-). The ForeTrex, like most Garmin devices except the Forerunner models that I've explicitly listed in the ANT+ posts, has very limited ANT+ capabilities. Most Garmin units can *read* from ANT+ sensors, and *some* can send some data to similar units, but with the exceptions above, none can send activities / files to a computer using ANT+ (in fact, they aren't sold with an ANT+ dongle), and your phone is just like a computer. The ForeTrex has no notion of pairing, among other things.

You have to connect the Garmin using an OTG cable. You also have to follow the instructions above, and set your unit in Garmin Serial mode (if present) or Spanner mode (depending on the model).

Reply
Riek
12/26/2013 09:49:13

I am trying to connect my Etrex Venture to my Asus Memo HD7 but the tablet does not "see" the Etrex. Can you help me to connect these devices?

Reply
carlo pescio
12/26/2013 10:01:23

As far as I know (I don't have one) the Asus Memo HD7 may have some issues with usb host mode. Seems like it doesn't provide power and that you have to provide it from the outside with a y-cable. However, for some people it doesn't work that way either. Please see here (page 1 and 2 are both interesting)
http://www.transformerforums.com/forum/asus-memo-pad-hd-7-general-discussion/39177-usb-otg-tablet-2.html

Do your testing with a usb keyboard, it's much easier and does not involve any third party app (like mine).

Reply
Jami
1/5/2014 00:43:38

Hi! I got my Samsung Galaxy Note 2 connected to my GPSmap 62 in Spanner mode (must click "no" when the GPS asks about mass storage mode) using your Uploader for Garmin app. So far this has been the only app I know that has done that. However, my original problem is to get my Garmin work as a mass storage for my phone so that I can copy&paste maps saved into my phone to the GPS.

Since your app is so far the only thing that gets these two gadgets connected, my question is, are you planning on making a software/releasing a driver so that we can change the maps as well? There might be other people interested in this feature as well. Any other ideas to my problem mentioned above? Thanks.

Reply
carlo pescio
1/5/2014 08:03:04

Hi Jami,
sorry, upload of maps is not in my current plan.
Generally speaking, the community response to my apps has been "we like them, but we don't want to pay for software / support development" (well that's the gentle version :-)).
So I'm afraid that feature won't be in my future plan either :-(

Reply
Max
3/30/2014 17:32:03

Hi Carlo,

This app is just what I've been looking for in order to upload from my Oregon 550 onto my Asus transformer, however, it can't find the path to the tracks.
I'm following all the instructions, connected via USB, the GPS in spanner mode but there's nothing. If there's a solution, you have yet another happy customer!
Thanks

Reply
carlo pescio
4/1/2014 07:01:35

Unfortunately "there is nothing" tells me... nothing. Send me a log (instructions in the answers page above).

keep in main, as explained in the post, that in spanner mode the app can access the tracklog, not the archive. Also, for some garmin models you have to set the device in garmin mode, not in spanner mode.

Reply
kim
6/1/2014 19:46:55

First let me say thank you for coming up with this great option! I have a 2013 samsung note 10.1 and a garmin 800. Yesterday I suscessfully transfered a ride to strava with no problems. So excited! Today I followed the same process but the app said there was no ride to transfer. It appears all of the ride data has been erased on the garmin even though the the main screen still show the ride and total miles. Have you seen this before?
Thanks, Kim

Reply
carlo pescio
6/2/2014 08:26:52

I'll assume you mean an Edge 800, in which case the procedure described in this post does not apply to your device.
That said, it would be better to look at a transfer log to understand what is going on (instructions in the answers page above).

Generally speaking, I always recommend connecting the edge through a powered usb hub or a y-cable, or at the very least, connect it when fully charged. The edge expects power from the usb, and many tablets/phones can't provide enough; if they disconnect abruptly, the edge may lose some data (even though my app is only reading, not writing)

Reply
Rob Williams
6/4/2014 14:30:29

2 questions. Samsung tab 3 8.0 connects well to a Vista Hcx but when I load to Endomondo, only the altitude, and map routing shows. The distance and time from the downloaded data does not appear in Endomondo but is on the tablet. My second question is about a Garmin Oregon 450. It briefly detects a connection and then says it will quit in x seconds because the power has been removed. The tablet cannot see the Oregon.

Reply
carlo pescio
6/8/2014 09:53:02

so, this are two distinct issues. Let's start with the latter. Many garmin models require power from the usb. Most phones / tablets (samsung among them) can't provide that kind of power. You'll need to supply external power using a powered usb hub or (if you know what you're doing :-) with a y-cable + charger.

Issue #1: yes, at this stage the app does not send some statistics for the handheld family when sharing on websites, because they're usually calculated on the other side - except that endomondo doesn't. It's something that I can fix on my side, but I really need some help from you guys (I don't even have an hcx to test this stuff). Please get in touch from the contacts page.

Reply
Omri
11/19/2014 03:32:13

Hello,
Thanks for the APP.

|'m using Garmin Etrex 30 and trying to pair with galaxy S5.

when searching my Etrex I go to USB mode and can select between Mass storage and "Garmin".

there is no Spanner mode. did I miss any thing?

thanks!

Reply
carlo pescio
11/19/2014 03:42:20

no, it's ok, choose garmin mode. "Modes" are named differently in different devices, some have more than others. For a 30, choose garmin mode. I'll also update the text of this post.

Reply
Omri
11/20/2014 00:36:39

Thanks. I chose Garmin mode but still no success.

It does seems it tries to connect but then fails.

I emailed the log.

Reply
carlo pescio
11/23/2014 06:45:36

I answered your email days ago but I'll say it again here: please read the instructions above carefully. Your log shows that you're trying to connect using ant+. Instructions say very clearly that you can't do that and you need to use a cable.

Reply
Didi
1/5/2015 11:02:06

I Use a Galaxy Tab 4 8 Inch and a Garmin Etrex 30. I Got an ant connection but it stops and says: Pairing requested, please confirm on device. But there ist no message on the Etrex 30. (I try to send a track from Etrex 30 to the tablet.) Any Ideas?

Reply
carlo pescio
1/5/2015 11:52:43

Didi, if you just take 5 minutes and actually read the post :-), it explains in full detail why you can't use ant+ with an etrex, and how you need to connect and set the unit.

Reply
Dorithee
5/23/2015 14:53:56

Hello I have tried to connect my OREGON 600. Unfortunately I got a n error: usb/garmin/gpx not found. But with astro I cansee this path.

Reply
carlo pescio
5/23/2015 15:24:07

- send me a log (see answers page), it will help.
- did you set any option in the app?
- from what you're saying your oregon is in mass storage mode, so this is not really the right tutorial, it's http://www.sportablet.com/connecting-handheld-models.html

Reply
Robert
8/1/2015 13:32:17

hi, I connected a eTrex 30 to a Moto G (1) and it works in principle.
But heart rate data are not read out. Is there any solution for this?
thanks!

Reply
Carlo Pescio
8/1/2015 14:52:57

if possible with your phone, you should connect the etrex in mass storage mode, not in garmin mode, now that it's supported: see http://www.sportablet.com/connecting-handheld-models.html

with that said, the app should indeed read HR also in garmin mode, but I don't have an etrex 30 for testing. So:

- I'm not sure how do you check for HR. Do you export to garmin connect? do you save a file using "save fit/tcx/gpx"? do you click "export as gpx"? In the latter case, hr is not exported.

Once I know this, we can move further and probably fix this.

Reply
Robert
8/2/2015 03:37:34

I tried the mass storage mode but it didn't work - so I use the Garmin mode.
When I read data from the eTrex 30, they are uploaded to the phone. When I click on the data, I see it's statistic values in table Format:
Speed min/avg/max
Pace min/avg/max
Grade soon/soon/soon
Heart rate --/--/--

Exporting to Strave does not show any hear trate data.

It seems that heart rate data do not arrive the phone.
(because of Heart rate --/--/--)

Btw, normally I export recorded data directly to PC (using eTrex 30 as mass storage), and there the heart rate data are included.

Carlo Pescio
8/2/2015 11:54:14

Robert: I suggest that you get in touch with the contact form above as I'll need to see a dump of your DB to check the packet that were exchanged between the extrex and the phone.

As an aside: some etrex models remove data when you "save" the tracklog. They keep the full info in the GPX file accessible in mass storage mode, but remove them from the current tracklog accessible from garmin mode. I don't know if this might explain why you don't get HR. I'll know more once I see the database.

Regarding mass storage mode, maybe we can discuss via email about the issues you had with it; also in this case seeing a log would help.

Reply
Juan Manuel
12/13/2015 12:20:31

First of all, I appreciate your efforts answering and helping with all our questiosn.

Here I go: I am trying to send/paste tracks to my Garmin GPSmaps64s from a SamSung TabS2.

I have downloaded Sportablet and as I try to "send course to the device", it says that that feature will be availabe after purchase ¿?

Wouldn't it be more reasonable check if it works on my devices before purchasing?

Reply
carlo pescio
12/13/2015 12:35:46

well it's not just like that. It gives you a link to http://www.sportablet.com/send.html where you can check the supported models (yours is not).
Many things are "reasonable" but require more time that I can spend on these apps. For instance, allowing people to test that feature but prevent them to use it repeatedly without ever activating the app requires enough work that at this time I decided not to do it. And yeah, experience shows that people will go to extreme lengths to avoid purchasing the app.

Reply
Vincent
5/24/2016 14:15:08

Etrex 30x is supporter?

Reply
Carlo Pescio
5/31/2016 16:00:25

yes, both in serial mode (as explained in the tutorial) and in mass storage mode (http://www.sportablet.com/connecting-handheld-models.html). The app is free to try anyway, but please follow the tutorial step by step, especially for mass storage mode.

Reply
Mark Young
7/10/2018 18:28:17

I think my OnePlus 5 supports OTG, I see I can enable this under Advanced settings. So I ordered an OTG adapter and should have it soon to try with your App. I'm a bit confused as to the entire process, and if I also need to download another app to see the tracks on my smartphone after uploading the data from your App? Please help confirm next steps after getting your App to work. I have an Etrex 30x I will be attempting this with. Thanks for your help!!
Mark

Reply
Carlo Pescio
7/10/2018 19:28:57

the next step after you get your etrex to work with the app is that you upload your data somewhere (e.g. garmin connect, strava, etc) through my app, and look at your maps, data, etc there. The uploader is an uploader - it reads from the garmin and uploads to websites; it doesn't show maps or charts. Please follow the tutorial carefully: this post links a more detailed tutorial in the beginning. Read that too.

Reply
Mark Young
7/11/2018 17:29:01

The question I have (and don't see in the tutorial) is HOW do I get the data in to the Garmin Connect or Strava apps? The Garmin Connect app wants me to connect a device, and the Etrex 30x doesn't even show on their list to connect. Does your app somehow bypass the need to connect my device on the app? Really confused here. Thanks for any help you can provide for me to understand.
Mark

Carlo Pescio
7/11/2018 18:09:46

my app can upload directly to strava, garmin connect, etc. you don't need another app to do so. You can then use the garmin app or website to look at your data.

Note: garmin connect requires consent to upload, due to GDPR. Look at the latest entry in the blog.

Generally speaking, the app features are explained here: http://www.sportablet.com/mobile-garmin-uploader.html
and there are also a lot of resources in the blog.

Reply
Mark Young
7/11/2018 21:57:01

Seems the only thing I need to import tracks is the OTG cable. The Garmin connect website finds the tracks on the GPS and imports with no problems and syncs good with the Connect app. Seems like your app might not be necessary?

Reply
Cooper Bentley link
12/8/2020 04:44:17

Thankss for writing

Reply



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    About me

    I'm a decent runner, ex mountain biker, and a good swimmer. I created Sportablet to squeeze a little more fun out of my Forerunner.

    In my everyday life,  I design software-intensive systems at different scales, using a number of paradigms, languages and technologies. ​

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