4-5 to USB Converter for PC. HELP??

[2Labs]

I need some help.

I have a Garmin 2010C and a 182. Both can link to my PC for use with the Garmin Mapsource product.

BUT, the link cord that came with each unit attaches to a PC with a 4-over-5 female connector.

My new HP has no such male connector on it. Just USB ports (except for the monitor connector).

Without that, I can't upload waypoints from my 2010C or 182 to my Garmin Mapsource software. Rats!

Is there a cord/converter plug or some such device which will hook to my Garmin cord and make it talk to a USB port?

[perchjerker]

you mean a serial port adapter?

like this?

http://www.serialgear.com/1-Port-Serial-USB-CHEAP-SERIAL.html

[2Labs]

you mean a serial port adapter?

like this?

http://www.serialgear.com/1-Port-Serial-USB-CHEAP-SERIAL.html


That is EXACTLY what I meant, Brian. Thanks. Now all I have to do is figure out what the paragraph at the bottom of the page means ... it looks it is an upgraded faster version of the product which is shown at the top of the page. Am I right?

[Shellback]

I bought an adapter like that for my Garmin unit. Unfortunately it doesn't work. Don't know if I got a bad adapter or not. I still have a machine with a serial port, so I haven't pursued the issue.

[2Labs]

I bought an adapter like that for my Garmin unit. Unfortunately it doesn't work. Don't know if I got a bad adapter or not. I still have a machine with a serial port, so I haven't pursued the issue.

Thanks for the reply, Shellback.

Did you buy it from Garmin or from another site? Also, what kind of transfers are you attempting? (Apparently that makes a difference.)

I sent an e-mail to Garmin and this kind of adapter is exactly what they recommended. They sell them for $59 -- see the website listed below -- but told me that I could buy them cheaper elsewhere. They did recommend going to a data card instead of the cable because it would be faster. They also said the data card method is the only way to be able to transfer maps. If you are trying to transfer maps instead of just waypoints, that may be why your transfer failed.

I am going to Radio Shack this morning to see if they sell the cables. All I want to transfer is waypoints. My maps are already loaded to the gps.

I will list below this line of "xxxxx" the exact reply I got from Garmin so you can interpret for yourself what I read (hope this helps you figure out why your setup doesn't work) --
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Thank you for contacting Garmin International.

You can purchase the 'USB to RS232 converter cable' to add to the serial cable. You can also purchase a quality adapter from another manufacturer.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=810 (mhtml:{8543F52B-9166-4166-9699-34D085A996C3}mid://00000004/!x-usc:https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=810)

Overall you would be better off performing your data transfers using a blank 64 MB Garmin data card.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=690 (mhtml:{8543F52B-9166-4166-9699-34D085A996C3}mid://00000004/!x-usc:https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=690)

Also you will need to purchase a Garmin data card USB programmer.
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1408 (mhtml:{8543F52B-9166-4166-9699-34D085A996C3}mid://00000004/!x-usc:https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=1408)

Although you can transfer user data using the serial cable and adapter, you can only update unit software using the Garmin Data Card.

[rebs]

I have found that some of these adapters do not work or do not work with my HP runnng Vista

[2Labs]

I have found that some of these adapters do not work or do not work with my HP runnng Vista


Rebs ... that is exactly what I am running ... HP with Vista.

Did you find a model that DID work???? If so, I would appreciate the model name and where you bought it.

[2Labs]

Well, I found one that worked.

It is a "Manhattan" USB to Serial Converter. Model number is 205146. Cost was $29.99.

It has an 18 inch cord ... more than enough to make the connection (lots of cord came with the 2010C and 182 as part of the package when I bought each GPS).

It came with a small disk for installation of the software to make it work. The package specifically stated this was a model that would work with Windows Vista among other Windows packages.

I loaded the points and routes and tracks from my 2010C up to the HP. Then I loaded them down to my 182 so both it and the 2010C are the same.

Worked like a charm.

Radio Shack had one for $39.99. This was a slightly higher end product with gold connectors and a 6 foot cord.

Thanks again for your help!! It is greatly appreciated.