Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Utah
Posts: 19

Etrex to Visor cable?

I just bought the eTrex Summit and want to connect it to my Visor, but Markspace says it will be 3 more weeks until they get their datacords in. Is there another company that sells a similar cord?

Any suggestions?

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 13

DeLorme has one

The DeLorme visor serial adaptor http://delorme.com/earthmate/visor_pac.asp works fine with the eTrex, using the Garmin cable adaptor http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.js...10%2D10206%2D00 or the adapter with ciarrete lighter adapterhttp://shop.garmin.com/accessory.js...10%2D10268%2D00. This is somewhat bulky solution but you could get the bare wire adaptor http://shop.garmin.com/accessory.js...10%2D10205%2D00 and do a splice.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Utah
Posts: 19

Would I just splice it to a hotsync cable? Is there site that shows how to do this?

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 13

It isn't that simple

Unfortunately, you can't use a hotsync cable such as the ATL serial adaptor since these designs draw power from the serial port, not the Visor. This is a problem because the eTrex connections do not include these lines. The details of the problem are discussed at: http://www.pocketaprs.com/visor.html. There is a hack for suppling power from a nine volt battery incorporating a current limiting resistor, but I would strongly avoid this approach having fried a few cables this way (of course I hadn't used the current limiting resistor ).

The DeLorme and MarkSpace designs draw power from the Visor avoiding the problem. The grisly details are at WAC's visor page: http://wac.addr.com/ee/visor/visor.html. This is the proper way to do things.

Last edited by monopole on 07-19-2001 at 06:15 PM

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 76

Alternate source for Visor Data Cables

There is another source for Visor data cables. It's:

www.pcables.com

There is a cable which directly connects from Garmin eTrex to Visor Deluxe, Solo, or Prism called PDCH-GE. It's not able to be ordered via the online shopping cart (yet) but if you send an email to [email protected], you can get one (they are in fact in stock.)

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 260

I'll sell you my DCH-M9 MarkSpace cable, let me know if you are interested, it has a DB9 on the end, which I think is what you are looking for. Since I sold my visor, I don't have a use for it anymore.

$20 takes it. $20 more takes the Samsung 3500 data cable which you can hook to it also and use to surf the net wirelessly. Worked great for me, all in great condition (they're cables! of course they are in great condition).

Email [email protected] if you are interested.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Utah
Posts: 19

Thanks for the info on the cables! I emailed pdcables to see if I can get one from them.

DCH-M9 could work.. but I want a diret connectioncable without having to buy another cable. The DCH-GE does just that.

Thanks anyway.

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 76

Visor to eTrex direct cable

www.pcables.com now has the PDCH-GE up on the website, in stock, and available to be purchased online. That's the cable that directly connects between a Visor Solo, Deluxe, or Prism and a Garmin eTrex or eMap.

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Utah
Posts: 19

Ordered one from PCcables.com... Can't wait for it to arrive.