Basecamp tries to load maps on eTrex

No. However it only does it once provided you let it complete. Just let it do so once then all should be well. I have many maps on my Etrex and it shows in Base Camp within seconds.

Thanks. I seem to recall I have tried that in the past and yet it tried it agaqin the enxt time I started it, but I will give it another shot. Why does it try to download the maps in the first place? All the maps on my device have also been installed in Basecamp already.

It's not downloading the maps, just indexing them so they can be used.

Thanks for explaining, but why does it take so long? I just followed your advice, connected my eTrex in USB mode. Basecamp says "Reading maps...". It takes over an hour and finishes normally (despite a few messages that there was a problem communicating with the device). Then when I quit Basecamp and disconnect the eTrex and then re-connect the eTrex followed by starting Basecamp again, the whole thing starts all over again: "Reading maps ..." I am on a fast Macbook Pro with lots of memory and yet reading some 8 maps takes forever. I am not even sure all of these have been enabled on the device. Why does it need to index them every time?

Because that's what it does. Majority of us want BaseCamp to do that so it can read the maps from our devices so we can plan on them.

It shouldn't though index them every time, mine certainly doesn't. Are you sure all maps were indexed?

This is happening for me, too.  Takes FOREVER which also makes basecamp UNUSABLE while its copying maps.

Garmin: PLEASE FIX THIS!

Customer Support sez this fixes the issue:  https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=Kb6npD1I5P18pDpvbCICn6&searchQuery=maps%20not%20read%20by%20basecamp