Can any GPS users give me some advice?

[Alpinestar18]

I purchased the RRG climbing guide book and noticed that most the spots listed has handheld GPS coordinates so I figured a purchasing a GPS wouldn't be a bad investment since I only get weekends off and don't want to spend them lost/confused, cell phone signal drops too often and that I can also use it for kayaking so I did a little research and purchased the garmin etrex 20. I'm sure it's going to be preloaded with maps but what are some other features that I can use?

What software or websites do you use when you plug in your GPS into your computer? how often do you update? how useful has your gps been to you? any extra info greatly appreciated!

[caribe]

I've had good luck with gps software on my cell phone that allows me to download topos. All you need is the gps signal. You don't need the data connection.

[Wolf]

What software Caribe?

[caribe]

OruxMaps for Android

[caribe]

I just wrote this in an email for some friends, I remembered this topic. The email text is so pertinent I am copying and pasting.

Importing KML files into google maps
http://peakmarketingsystems.com/importi ... ogle-maps/
There are also videos that will instruct you.

You can also google instruction to export KML files from google maps.

KML files are useful because they can be used to transfer map waypoints and or trekked paths between mapping programs.

More often than not your cell phone will have the multi-point signals necessary to put you on the map as you move through the gorge. You will likely not have a good data connection to interactively put you on a map that constantly refreshes. Fortunately there are programs that allow you to download free topo maps of the area of interest.

For this purpose I use Orux Maps for Android.
I see that this utility is not available for iphone, but apparently there are alternatives.
http://alternativeto.net/software/oruxm ... orm=iphone