I have a GPSMAP 62sc that I am still learning how to use. I understand that there are limitations to the number of tracks that you can save to the internal memory before maxing out or uploading the tracks by connecting to your computer. (The manual says almost nothing in this regard.) I will be hiking in Europe for about six weeks with about 30 days of actual hiking in this period. I would like to save my daily tracks to view at a later date and upload them to share with family and friends. I intend to use Garmin maps (SD card). I do not intend to take my laptop on this trip. So, I will be unable to upload my daily tracks using Basecamp during this period. Is there some way that I can still save all of these tracks and be able to access them and upload them when I get home?
Firstly I don't own a 62S. However I do have an Oregon 450 which probably works similarly.
Now my 450 will only save track data to internal memory and not the microSD card. Therefore it is important the make as much space available as possible. That means putting any and all maps on the card along with anything else.
Next you have to configure the track logging settings correctly. In particular set the track "Auto Archive" setting to "When Full". Doing this will cause the unit to automatically save (to a GPX file in internal memory) the Current Log when it reaches a certain size. Thus a continuous (but in multiple files) record will be kept.
The Oregon x50 supports saving 200 tracks so how much data you can keep, in total, depends on your track logging interval.
Stuart is giving you the correct settings. I have a 62st with the same settings. Your 62sc comes with 100k topo base map. you could use a blank sd card and let you tracks auto archive to it. I do not know if it will archive to a Garmin Map card. The unit also has 500 mb of memory and I would think that is where the tracks will be saved to first.
I have a GPSmap62s and have a couple of comments. By itself, the device will only archive tracks (GPX files) to the internal memory. The device itself ("internal memory") has a capacity of about 1.9 Gb. If your maps (and Birdseye, Custom Maps, etc.) are on the micro SD card I don't see a storage problem. In fact, I have several Birdseye images, a custom map, several routes, and custom waypoint symbols on the device and still have over 1 Gb of free space. My maps (City Navigator and Topo US 24K West) are on the micro SD card.
I use the following settings: Recording Method: Auto; Recording Interval: Most Often; Auto Archive: Daily. I like my GPX files one day per file which is more convenient when I geotag my photographs.
Archived GPX files for several recent day-trips have the following specifications: 3150 points, 258 miles and is 328 kb in size. 4196 points, 223 miles, 441 kb in size. 9361 points, 232 miles, 978 kb in size. Even if all your archived GPX (daily) files were 1 mb, that is only 42 mb for your entire 6 week adventure..well within the storage capacity of the 62s.
I see you have a 62sc...if you use the camera, those image files may affect your storage capability. I don't know if you can select a storage location for those.
Also, I don't "save" my tracks as I go. I let the device auto-archive them each day. If you "save" your tracks, you lose the date/time information, that is retained if the tracks are archived. Having the date/time is important to me as that data is necessary to geotag my photographs.
As STUARTMW mentioned above, experiment before your trip.
There is no reason to log at a fixed time setting. Set it to auto log as most often and the GPS will decide when best to record a track point. It is more than accurate enough and you will get months and months of daily use.
