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Old unit problems

 
Tue, 07/07/2015 - 7:23pm

I have recently tried to get my old Garmin GPSmap76S up and running. It was the first gps unit that I ever bought and used it mainly for fishing with the occasional road trip. I need to add some different area topo maps; the unit has a very small memory so you cannot load the whole of Canada on it.
My problem is that its data transfer cable requires a serial port to connect to a computer and all the latest computers only have USB ports. I have tried two different makes of serial to usb adapter cables but neither of them worked with the 76s. I am loathe to throw the unit out as it still works ok except for the fact that I am stuck with local area maps on it.
Just wondering if anyone had been successful in finding an adapter cable that will work with my unit.
My only other option is to find an old laptop with a serial port and install Mapsource and the topo maps so that I can switch maps on my unit.

‹ SD Card additional map name Garmin 4592LM (poi with sound) ›
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Nuvi2797LMT (2) Nuvi260,Ford Sync3 Navigation. Captain Cook was a Yorkshire man too.
Tue, 07/07/2015 - 7:39pm

Software

I had the same issue with a handheld 2m radio whose programming software needed a serial port. I found that the adapter cable I bought eventually did work, but that I had to find and substitute an older software driver for it rather than the one that came with the adapter to get the programming software to see the "serial" connection. Good luck on your treasure hunt.

Tue, 07/07/2015 - 9:33pm

Try This:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Interface-PC-Cable-for-Garmin-GP...

I bought 2 of these and they work perfectly with my GPSMap 76s, GPS V and GPS III+ on my Win 7 64 bit laptop

The drivers are on a 3" CD so your computer will need to accept the small format disc.

The instructions claim the drivers are also available online.

Thu, 07/09/2015 - 5:03pm

Thanks

Thanks guys, I knew I could get an answer on here. I did some searching on the web and found a site that had drivers for these cables, and on the second try I got some that let me connect up to my laptop. Then I went and had a look at the cable that bdhsfz6 had sugested and this looks a lot neater so I have ordered one. I will let you know how it runs when I get it but at least for now I can swap Topo maps.

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Nuvi2797LMT (2) Nuvi260,Ford Sync3 Navigation. Captain Cook was a Yorkshire man too.
Thu, 07/09/2015 - 5:20pm

Great news!

bpaine wrote:

Thanks guys, I knew I could get an answer on here. I did some searching on the web and found a site that had drivers for these cables, and on the second try I got some that let me connect up to my laptop. Then I went and had a look at the cable that bdhsfz6 had sugested and this looks a lot neater so I have ordered one. I will let you know how it runs when I get it but at least for now I can swap Topo maps.

Well done.