NG Pocket TOPO on the M5

[dbike]

I have recently got my copy of Pocket TOPO
(from National Geographic) up and running
and it seems to work pretty well. I am
currently using the Washington state series
of quads.

I have been keeping my system storage
pretty empty so that there is plenty of room for
maps, but it initially appears that, unlike the
Palm version, you can store maps on the SD
card and use them from there.

There does seem to be a size limitation on an
individual, stitched map (something like
15 megabytes, which covers an area of
approximately 500 square miles). That's a
limitation I think I can live with.

I'm in the process of testing everything out,
and will post to this thread soon with more
details.

DB

[dbike]

The settings:

PT looks for data from the COM2 port at
9600 baud and NMEA ($GPGGA).

As soon as you get a satellite fix, your position
shows on the currently displayed map.
Your current position remains centered as
the map overlay slides beneath you.
The program drops a dot (breadcrumb)
every 100 meters or so.

I was out on a walk in the neighborhood
and I just let the program run and put
the M5 in the pocket of my jacket. It
seemed to get a dependable (enough) signal
to give a continuous track.

There is little flexibility to change many of the settings. For instance, you cannot adjust
the granularity or character of the
breadcrumb dots. They are what they are.

You can draw routes on a map and mark
spots with pushpins, and those features
can be saved and retrieved on copies of
the map. For any route marked on the
map display you can create an elevation
profle.

The breadcrumb dots are only visible
while the program is running, and are
not savable or retrievable.

It is also possible, and perhaps desirable,
to create routes and waypoints on
the computer before downloading the maps
to the M5. There is more flexibility in how
the maps are drawn and many options to
add information.

I think Pocket TOPO is going to be very
handy for hiking, especially for those folks
who already have a NG state series set of
maps. Most (but not all) state series
are compatible with PT (a few of the older
sets apparently do not work).

I think Pocket TOPO is the best available
option for using 7.5 minute quads on the
M5 (at least that I have seen).

DB

[OldFrenchy]

Hi DBike-
I hope you are still around!
I just purchased a Garmin M5 and Pocket Topo but am having trouble making them work together. In 'Options' what model gps did you choose? The handhelds are not listed. Also, where do you set NMEA on the M5?
I get a lot of activity on Com 2, the bars for satellite reception show strong, but the tracking function does not engage with the Topo map.
If you could walk me through it, I would be appreciative!

Thanks-
OldFrenchy

[OldFrenchy]

O.K.- I finally figured it out. The confusion was the setting under 'GPS Receiver' where one has to choose 'NMEA ($GPGGA)' and not 'Garmin'.
Com 2, just like you said, set at 9600 baud.
Works like a charm. Yes!
Thanks-

OldFrenchy

[Ben Wallace]

I set my Garmin M4 to the same NMEA settings and I get no signal. Do I need to change the settings some place else in the system other then in the topo software on the M4?

Ben

[Ben Wallace]

errr, I still can get no live tracking signal on my garmin M4. I set the unit to the NMEA ($GPGGA) on a baud rate of 9600 on Com 2. This setting sends no text when tested. Is there a way to adjust the com ports on the unit? Is there a spot I can change the Garmin interface info beside topo?

Help!
Ben

[Ben Wallace]

Finally, after trying all the settings I could think of for Pocket Topo! and my M4, I just started to pick random settings to get the NMEA live tracking to work. The garmin site for the M4 in the help section says that it communicates NMEA language on com port 2 for the M5. Little help this was beacuse it's not true for my M4. It communicates this language on com port 4 with a baud rate of 9600. Its feels great to figure this crap out when Topo and Garmin have no answer!

[OldFrenchy]

Finally, after trying all the settings I could think of for Pocket Topo! and my M4, I just started to pick random settings to get the NMEA live tracking to work. The garmin site for the M4 in the help section says that it communicates NMEA language on com port 2 for the M5. Little help this was beacuse it's not true for my M4. It communicates this language on com port 4 with a baud rate of 9600. Its feels great to figure this crap out when Topo and Garmin have no answer!

Hey Ben-
I feel your pain!
I was at my wits' end until I figured it out, and finally I got a response from NG Topo with the proper directions, only a week too late:

"Live tracking on the Garmin M5 can be turned on by going to Pocket TOPO!'s 'GPS Options...' menu and choosing 'NMEA' on 'COM Port 2'.
To load maps to the SD card in it, first export them from TOPO! to the M5's main memory and then transfer them to the SD card via the File Explorer on the M5.
I hope that this information assists."

We need to give them feedback to update their software to include these new (1 year old already!) Garmin units.