GPS Data Questions...Export to Excel?

[skiing-in-jackson]

Somebody gave be a Garmin etrex Legend. Great little unit.

That's I have have though. So I went to the store and looked at mapping software & the data cable and for about $200.00 I can get all of the stuff I need.

What I really need is this:

-I want to be able to export data to an excel sheet. Typically evelation, lat/long, vertical speed & the usual culprits.

Being able to plot course on a map is not that important to me.

On the 'ole eBay, I saw a data cable for about $15.00. Is that all I need? I think I once found a site with download drivers.

What's the beta?

Thanks in Advance.

[upallnight]

I use the eTrex vista.
You need the data cable (one end is the proprietary Garmin connector, the other is a USB (newer) or serial (older) connection).

You also need a program to get the data off the device. Most, if not all, programs recognize the Garmin interface.

Common programs are:
* Garmin's MapSource (vector-based maps for the continental US)
* Topo software (typically purchased by the state for around $80/state or so)

Both of those have maps, though, which you say you don't want. The reason I mentioned them is that they can grab your data to a text file, which you could pull into Excel. GPS data is not the most user-friendly to work with (I've never had alot of luck in working with it in Excel, but your mileage may vary).

The other route....
There are other shareware/freeware programs that can just grab the data. You could download a copy of ExpertGPS and try it out before buying. This will give you a taste of importing your data to your machine and poking around with it.

I know there are other, cheaper options out there, too, but that should give you a start.

[upallnight]

PS You shouldn't need to download any drivers, but you might want to be sure that the device firmware is up-to-date on the Garmin site (it's free). If your buddy was diligent about doing this, it may not be necessary.

I recommend doing it as with the eTrex series there have been some updates over the years that improved the way the GPS tracks and handles data.

Also....once you have the data cable, you could sign up for a free trial with MotionBased. This will allow you to import your data to their service and see useful stats on the trip (along with a map) -- they pull WAY more stuff than I was ever able to pull manually...it's pretty amazing.

You should be able to upload your data to that service and then you can export it in a few formats, which you could then import into Excel.

The free version lets you see the 10 most recent activities. The pay version gives you historical access to everything. It's targeted at endurance athletes, but I'm pretty sure you will find quite a bit of value in it.

They also do a good job of filtering out bad data, an area in which the Garmin units in the eTrex series are nototriously bad.

Caveat: Friends of mine developed the service and I contributed a couple years of activity tracking, but I have no financial interest in them other than wanting to see a cool product survive. They recently got hired/acquired by Garmin. They turn GPS data into useful stuff that I struggled for years to get.

[skiing-in-jackson]

Great Start! I'l let you know how it goes.

[steve]

Upallnight pretty much nailed it. Let me add that to the 'text file' bit that you should be able to export the data to a comma-delimited file, which excel can read natively.

[skiing-in-jackson]

Update:

I purchased the cable off eBay for ~$6.00 (and the shipping was ~$7.00- classic eBay ), but the cable was pretty cheap.

It was a serial port- I knew this- my desktop Circa 2002- has a serial port, but my newer laptop does not. I ran the updater, downloaded Expert GPS and signed up for Motion Biased. I'll hike up the local town hill to see if I can get this going...

Thanks for all the help.

Also- I really want to build some elevation relief by distance traveled charts.

[snoboy]

gpsutility is good free software.

[upallnight]

Update:

I purchased the cable off eBay for ~$6.00 (and the shipping was ~$7.00- classic eBay ), but the cable was pretty cheap.

It was a serial port- I knew this- my desktop Circa 2002- has a serial port, but my newer laptop does not. I ran the updater, downloaded Expert GPS and signed up for Motion Biased. I'll hike up the local town hill to see if I can get this going...

Thanks for all the help.

Also- I really want to build some elevation relief by distance traveled charts.

s-i-j...
motionbased will do exactly what you need, and it's free.

topo will also work (but it's not free). where do you plan to do most of your activities? that can help me make a recommendation (or maybe have something for you).

also...i wound up with the same issue in the may old laptop had a serial port but the new one does not. i got a USB-serial connector; unfortunately, I found that many don't work as advertised and went through 3 before getting one good one. if it comes to that, let me know and i can send you a link to the one that seems to work best.

[skiing-in-jackson]

for years I've wanted to do a vertical relief (? correct term) on climbimg the grand. Actually I'm an excel junkie, lately open office calc, and I like building charts & graphs.

I climb the King often and want to start there. Also I would like to build vert relief of some MB rides in the JH area.

Just kinda nerdy that's all, hey it's summer, what else do I have to do.

[upallnight]

for years I've wanted to do a vertical relief (? correct term) on climbimg the grand. Actually I'm an excel junkie, lately open office calc, and I like building charts & graphs.

I climb the King often and want to start there. Also I would like to build vert relief of some MB rides in the JH area.

Just kinda nerdy that's all, hey it's summer, what else do I have to do.

do ya have a high-speed internet connection?

if so, i might put something on my server for, oh, say 12-24h and send you a PM to check it out.

[upallnight]

here is some elevation info on a snow king -> wilson canyon ride. super easy to do with motionbased (and you can get *much* more info than presented on his simple dashboard...).



Some advice:
1) get rechargeable batteries for your GPS. they eat batteries;
2) set your GPS to record track points more frequently (if you go to the track menu, there should be a setup option...)
3) DO NOT save a track. you lose much information when you do this -- you lose all the time info, but the points are retained. this information is incredibly valuable if you use something like motionbased.

Check your PMs for one other bit of info that you may find particularly helpful.

[skiing-in-jackson]

1) get rechargeable batteries for your GPS. they eat batteries;
2) set your GPS to record track points more frequently (if you go to the track menu, there should be a setup option...)
3) DO NOT save a track. you lose much information when you do this -- you lose all the time info, but the points are retained. this information is incredibly valuable if you use something like motionbased.

Check your PMs for one other bit of info that you may find particularly helpful.

1. got the rechargable bateries about a year ago...changed my life. Always heard they were no good ao I didn't use them. I'm very pleased.

2. I set a 30 second record frequency.

3. track vs. waypoints??? I want tracks, I think.

This is for the west ridge of Snow King Mtn. (Josie's Ridge???) I'm able to climb it about 4-7 times a week.

Attachment 13848

[upallnight]

1. got the rechargable bateries about a year ago...changed my life. Always heard they were no good ao I didn't use them. I'm very pleased.

One thing I've found is that the size of AA rechargeable batteries varies ever-so slightly. I had an issue where the GPS was cutting out on, say, rough mtb rides. Turned out that the batteries I was using were a tad small and would lost contact for an instant, cutting the device power. I put some foam in the battery cover to reduce the problem, but switching to a different battery also helped. Just keep that in mind if you ever lose power during an event.

2. I set a 30 second record frequency.

I set mine for "Record Method" = Auto (it alternates between time (when moving slow) and distance) and "Interval" = More or Most Often.

If you're uploading the data daily and have plenty of battery power, there is no reason not to collect more data -- the device can handle it and you'll get more accurate results.

3. track vs. waypoints??? I want tracks, I think.

Yes...you want trackpoints. Waypoints can be manually set by you during the ride/activity. Again....just don't "Save" the activity on the device as your trackpoints will be retained but all the time data will be lost (a short-sighted decision Garmin made to save storage space), and the activity will be less useful in services like Motionbased.

This is for the west ridge of Snow King Mtn. (Josie's Ridge???) I'm able to climb it about 4-7 times a week.

Nice! Pretty easy with that service, huh? I'm glad you don't have to go through all the pain from 5 years ago in trying to use these devices to get useful info!

The activity I posted was from a ride up the front-side of Snow King (doing the switchbacks), a descent down Wilson Canyon, and a spin on the Pathways back around.

(PS...that file is still uploading)

[skiing-in-jackson]

One thing I've found is that the size of AA rechargeable batteries varies ever-so slightly. I had an issue where the GPS was cutting out on, say, rough mtb rides.

great point...My wife noticed this in the CD player. I always thought they had no power. Our recharagable batteries, Kodak, were purchased at Wal-Mart. I've been pretty nerdy about keeping almost everything I have AA, so I get along prerry well with my AA recharagables. Again, I'm very satisfied with my recharagables. I'm very careful to not let them "cook" on the charger.

I set mine for "Record Method" = Auto (it alternates between time (when moving slow) and distance) and "Interval" = More or Most Often.

??? I'll read about this.

Waypoints can be manually set by you during the ride/activity. Again....just don't "Save" the activity on the device as your trackpoints will be retained but all the time data will be lost (a short-sighted decision Garmin made to save storage space), and the activity will be less useful in services like Motionbased.

I deleted the "activity" (going up the King) this afternoon. So it seems like Waypoints are a pain in the arse? Numerical waypoints must be labeled manually, or I'll forget what they are...

Can Montion Based record waypoints. You see, I didn't trust the tracking feature this morning, so I way pointed the switchpacks on the trail. Is there a way to retrieve the waypoints in motion based?

in trying to use these devices to get useful info!

I've been using this crazy thing for a year now...just recalling trivia and knowing "oh, that's how much the speedo in the car is off"... I'm going to start collecting a pile of info. I like building spreadsheets and graphs, but it looks like motion based is doing it for me.

Thanks for great info!

[upallnight]

I'm very careful to not let them "cook" on the charger.

I found a good charger that cuts out when the batteries are 100% charged (and it can condition the batteries, too -- drain & drip charge)....so if you're ever in the market for a new one I can let you know which one this is.

I deleted the "activity" (going up the King) this afternoon. So it seems like Waypoints are a pain in the arse? Numerical waypoints must be labeled manually, or I'll forget what they are...

Can Montion Based record waypoints. You see, I didn't trust the tracking feature this morning, so I way pointed the switchpacks on the trail. Is there a way to retrieve the waypoints in motion based?

Sorry if my response was confusing. Waypoints are a great thing, but all they do is mark a point in space. Often, as I go through an activity, I'll mark a waypoint -- a trailhead, where my car is parked, a summit, a switchback, etc. Later on, you could navigate back to any of those waypoints.

Here's a common example: I've gone out skiing in the backcountry and wind up skiing a slightly differnt route than where I skinned. I wind up skiing a different drainage, but I want to get back to the car with as little hiking as possible. I find the waypoint for the car/trailhead and the device gives me the direction I need to head.

Waypoints are not a substitute for trackpoints (=location + time data).

You can use the Topo! software to import your trackpoints/waypoints -- or you can draw a freehand route within Topo and upload it to your device. An example of where I've used this was to mark the summit of Mt Shasta. The day I was up there, it was graybird on the summit plateau, and there are many "possible" summits all around. I had uploaded that waypoint and was able to pick the right point for the summit. Funny thing...later that day we met a guy who was up there at around the same time. He couldn't summit due to those conditions/not knowing where to go -- even though he was within 200 vert of the peak.

MotionBased will not currently let you mark waypoints or modify tracks, but you can download them in GPX (an XML-based format) and import to another program (easy) or modify by hand (rough).

I've been using this crazy thing for a year now...just recalling trivia and knowing "oh, that's how much the speedo in the car is off"...

Heh heh...I realized the speedo in my truck is slow cuz I changed the tires. I should actually measure whether the odometer is off -- that could affect the MPG.

[upallnight]

PS Check your PMs (again) for another good piece of info.