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Hi,
I'm looking for someone to help me understand what I need. Let me start by saying Garmin is the manufacturer I feel comfortable with, which model is the issue. Here is the functionality I need. I am going to be going to all old cemeteries in my county and getting a "point" say in the middle of the cemetery. I would like to save that in the unit, let's say starting with #1 (there will be about 150-200 cemeteries or "points." I want to be able to download those points, that data, by number (I want to be able to name that point of course the cemetery name), either one by one or collect all of them in the unit and then download to my computer in some kind of a simple format, but to be able to have them on my computer to be able to email them, print them out, etc. The end result will be an overlay onto a county map by submitting those points to our county tax dept. and their GIS mapping, naming the cemetery and location. But the big deal for me is putting the points in the unit and being able to download them to my computer. Could someone help me know if there is a Garmin unit that can do what I want above. I just got a Nuvi 200 unit as a starter and I love it for getting to locations, but if you check the tech questions, I thought I had a simple question and I guess my 200 won't do that little issue! And I don't think it would be able to do the above at all!! I thank anyone who can help me in advance. I really appreciate it.

I have no direct experience with a Nuvi 200 but I would have thought it could save points perhaps a favorites. Hopefully someone familiar with this unit will comment.

Saving locations is a feature of most GPS receivers. In most cases these are called waypoints and will have a name, an icon, coordinates, elevation and some sort of a short basic description.

If no name is given units will commonly start with the name "001" and increment automatically for each successive waypoint like you desire.

Downloading waypoints is typically an all or nothing operation. Each manufacturer has their own data format but most will have an option to save the info to a text file. You may also be able to save them in a format that your county tax dept. can import directly into their GIS mapping.

The Garmin eTrexH is a good basic inexpensive model (link)


It only has a serial interface and does not come with a computer cable. The eTrex Venture® HC (link) comes with USB interface and cable and has a color display as well.

Checking Garmin's website the Nuvi200 (link) can save 500 Waypoints/favorites/locations. I don't know if these can be saved in the field or have to be uploaded from a PC.

I can save the waypoints from out in the field and name that location, in the nuvi 200, you save as a favorite; however, I haven't found anything even in the manual where I can download any of that information to my computer. So my thinking is a more industrial model or something that is geared towards collecting data and being able to manipulate that data via computer. So that is what I am looking for - advice on models that would have I guess software associated with it I suppose. Thank you.

Before you give up on your Nuvi it's a mass storage device and you can download data from it like you would from a thumb drive by copying files. I'm not sure where your favorites would be stored but look for a GPX file.

If you decide to go with a separate unit one other thing you should factor in is ease of data entry. The units I've linked to above do not have a touch screen interface. Text entry requires using buttons to scroll through the alphabet to select each letter. It's a bit of a pain but not too bad for short entries.

Yes, you can download that info into Garmin Mapsource, then if you wish to, create a custom POI file, even adding proximity alerts or on-screen icons. The Garmin link http://www8.garmin.com/products/poiload ... #mapsource will give you the basics. Another program you might find interesting is GeePeeX Editor. Their link is http://geepeeex.googlepages.com/

Both are relatively easy to use, with GeePeeX having a few more features. Good luck.