[OSM-newbies] Arghh ... GPS traces not loading

[Craig Wallace]

On 25/12/2012 03:13, Tom Taylor wrote:
> I spent the afternoon driving about nearby neighbourhoods (which are
> mostly terrace housing threaded with little access roads) with my GPS
> (Garmin Etrex Cx). Experimentally, I divided my data into three parts,
> to keep the upload files a reasonable size. After each segment, I saved
> a named file, then cleared the track log. (I've found from experience
> that if I don't clear the log, the tracks accumulate and all I've done
> is save partial snapshots along the way.)
>
> Unfortunately, it seems like clearing the track log deleted something
> vital. My two earlier segments won't upload because they lack
> timestamps. This is true even when I try to upload them as Public rather
> than Identifiable.
>
> Fortunately the final segment was the one that involved the most work,
> but at least an hour of driving was wasted.

This is a common feature on Garmins - when you 'save' a track, the saved 
track won't have timestamps, plus it will be somewhat simplified.

For the Etrex Cx or HCx, the best option is to set it to "log track to 
data card" (on main menu > Tracks > Setup > Data Card Setup). Then you 
never need to worry about running about space for the track. If you have 
a 1GB card, it will have have space for thousands of hours of tracks at 
1 point per second, and all will have timestamps.
No need to clear the tracklog or save the track with this option.

The tracks will be recorded on the memory card as a GPX for each day, ie 
named 20121225.gpx. Note to download these from the Etrex, you can set 
it to USB mass storage mode (on menu > Setup > Interface).

Craig