Getting GPS
summit data from MountainViews

Notes about getting MountainViews GPS data and using various programs to put it onto various GPS units.

Based on notes by Michael Neary

as a ".GPX" file

For an initial try do as follows:

• on MountainViews.ie GPS page select which mountains you wish to upload
• select WGS84 GPX format in the "Export GPS info" field
• select waypoint ID length "10"
• select GPS map symbol "Waypoint"
• left click on Obtain GPS data,
• this opens a new window, GPS coords from the mountains previously
  identified,
• then right click to download (for a PC anyway)
• then right click on 'save target as...... '
• then a 'save as' window opens - save the file on your computer
• give the file a name, and save as 'all files' in the file type - it should appear ending in .gpx

Using the data with a GPS

GPX is a widely used standard so the data can be read into various programs
such as

OSI Trail Master (works but is a bit clunky for just uploading)

EasyGPS (free, at www.easygps.com - said
by some to be the simplest option)

GPSU (free, at www.gpsu.co.uk - works but
free version only handles a limited number of waypoints)

Gartrip (free, at http://www.gartrip.de/ - only had full support for GPX from June 2006)

Having read the data into one of these programs it can then be transferred to
your GPS unit using a USB or serial connection.

After being transferred the summits then appear on the GPS screen and can be
used as a place to "GoTo" etc.

GPS with Summits

Using OSI Trail Master

• Start Trail Master. Go to menu option Trail | Close Trail file
• Configure Trail Master to accept data from a file by
  set the menu option GPS | Model to "GPX File"
  and Waypoint Length to 10
• Go to GPS | Import | Waypoints and enter the name of the .gpx file you saved from MountainViews earlier
• On the small dialog box that appears click Import
• Configure Trail Master to talk to your GPS. 
  Set the menu option GPS | Model to whatever type your GPS is (e.g. Garmin - USB)
  
  keep Waypoint Length as 10
  
  (If using Serial set Baud rate to appropriate for the model)
• Select Drawing Tools (red pencil) from the toolbar
• Click on "Selection through 2 Points"
• On the map you will see waypoints displayed. 
  
  Click on top left corner of the area containing the waypoints you want, hold
  the button down and release at the bottom right.
• Select menu option GPS | Export
• Click on Export.
• You should hear a beep from your GPS and you should be able to see the
  waypoints listed and on maps.

Using GPSU

• Download and install GPSU if you don't have it
• open the program and from the drop down menu go to
  File/open
• in file name, highlight the .gpx file you saved earlier
• in file type choose all files
• open the file and there should be a database of the relevant grid references
• at the top of the page choose the box on the left side, upload all
• a GPS transfer window should open, click confirm box
• with the GPS connected, it should inform you that transfer is complete

Other uses for MountainViews summit data

It is spectacularly easy to use with Google Earth.  Open Google Earth. 
Put it into a window less than full size.  Drag the .gpx file you
downloaded from MountainViews and drop onto Google Earth.

The waypoints will appear on the map.

It is also possible to add the MountainViews data as Points of Interest (POI)
rather than waypoints on Garmins.  This can be done with Garmin Mapsource
which is on a CD supplied by Garmin with some of their models.

Notes, Limitations and Gotchas.

Be aware that GPS units have typically got a fairly limited capacity for
waypoints such as 500 or 1000.  When using Routes, some GPS units use
waypoint space for the Route.

One way of using MountainViews is to select all of the summits for the whole
island.  This is currently (in 2007) 840 summits which may be more than the
capacity of the GPS.  Subsets of the data can be created such as all of the
summits for Dublin/Wicklow or all of the summits within 100km of Lugnaquillia.

The original information MountainViews has about summits is 6 digit grid
references which can have significant errors from the summit. 
MountainViews operates a service whereby members can suggest amended positions
for summits.  (Amend button on Summits page)   Where positions
have been corrected you will see positions marked as follows T01756
90819 where uncorrected they will appear as
T01700
90800.  Uncorrected summit positions are often out
by 40 to 70m.  Corrected positions are generally within 3 or 4m

GPS with Summits