MacGPS Pro works the same way under Mountain Lion that it does on older versions of Mac OS X. But because of Apple's new GateKeeper security software, the first time you start MacGPS Pro on Mountain Lion, you will have to go through a one-time procedure to tell GateKeeper that you will allow MacGPS Pro to run on your computer.

1. In the Macintosh Finder, locate the MacGPS Pro application. Hold down the control key and click the app.
2. Choose Open from the pop-up menu to show this window:

3. Click Open. As long as the window shows that the application was downloaded from macgpspro.com, this is perfectly safe.

James Associates could have digitally signed the MacGPS Pro app to save you from going through this step, but to do so we would have had to remove support for Power PC Macs and for versions of OS X older than Snow Leapard. We chose to continue to support these older systems.  

We are continually adding features to improve MacGPS Pro. We release multiple updates on a regular basis, which are distributed free via email to our registered users. Annually, we release a major upgrade, which is available for a small discounted fee to our current customers.

There is no demo? That's right! A demo either limits the availability of features or the time to try the program. We don't want a crippled version that doesn't give you a full picture of the software, or a demo with a time limit for trying various features that you just can't get to because the clock quits ticking. Through the years, MacGPS Pro has been continuously developed with many features arising from customer suggestions, so it performs a wide variety of tasks today. If we provided a demo, it would be impossible to know which facet of the program that you wanted to explore. And we want you to be able to experience any or all of the many features you desire without the stress of a clock ticking. Take your time and enjoy the benefits! Because we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, you have nothing to lose. Also, compare our cost with those of other software companies that do offer demos. Truth is, demos cost money for development, and that expense is passed on to you, the consumer. James Associates would rather spend time adding new features to MacGPS Pro than develop a demo and charge you more for our program to cover those extra development costs.

There is a comprehensive, illustrative, user-friendly, easy-to-search User's Guide for all MacGPS Pro functions under the Help menu.

MacGPS Pro is for the Mac only, but James Associates has two great apps for the iPhone and iPad, iHikeGPS and iSailGPS.

See a list on our Supported Receivers Page.

Garmin GPS units do not follow normal USB communications standards. MacGPS Pro contains custom code to allow communication over USB with the Garmin receivers. Each Garmin receiver, and even each release of the Garmin internal software for the same receiver, seems to do the USB communication a little differently. MacGPS Pro will work with the eTrex Vista and Legend C, Cx and HCx receivers when connected to a USB port with the Garmin-supplied cable. MacGPS Pro tries to be compatible with as many different Garmin receivers and internal software versions as possible, but there are still receivers that we are not able to be compatible with. MacGPS Pro will NOT work with eTrex Venture C, Cx and HCx receivers or the eTrex H receiver, so purchase an eTrex Vista or an eTrex Legend model instead if you want to use MacGPS Pro with an eTrex GPS.

When using the USB Port with Garmin's cable:
You must be running Mac OS X 10.3.8 or later. When connected to the Garmin USB port, real-time data uses PVT mode only. The following models require a recent version of Garmin's internal firmware to work with a USB connection:

• GPSMap 60C (internal firmware version 4.00 or later)
• GPSMap 60CX (internal software version 2.90 or later)
• GPSMap 60CS (internal software version 4.00 or later)
• GPSMap 60CSX (internal software version 2.90 or later)
• GPSMap 76C (internal software version 4.00 or later)
• GPSMap 76CX (internal software version 2.90 or later)
• GPSMap 76CS (internal software version 4.00 or later)
• GPSMap 76CSX (internal software version 2.90 or later)

When using the serial port:
To use the serial port, you must purchase a Keyspan USB to serial adapter and a PC serial cable for the GPS. Using the serial port, these receivers will run on an earlier version of Garmin's firmware, and provide you the option of using either NMEA or PVT mode for real-time data. PVT mode supplies less information than NMEA mode.

MacGPS Pro is designed for off-road use, not for highway navigation. Nevertheless it will transfer waypoints, routes and tracks, and collect real-time data for some Street Pilot Receivers such as the Street Pilot III. It will also work for waypoint, route and track transfer (no real-time data) with some Nuvi receivers which have a USB interface identical to the Garmin Oregon series of receivers. There are a huge number of different Nuvi models that we do not have access to for testing, so we cannot provide a list of which Nuvi receivers work and which do not. In any case, MacGPS Pro will not load maps into a Street Pilot or a Nuvi receiver. We suggest that for highway use, Mac owners purchase one of the Nuvi receivers which has maps for the entire country pre-installed.

These receivers have two different modes in which they operate when connected to a Mac.

• One mode is Real-Time  "Garmin Serial mode", which operates when the receiver is actively receiving signals from the GPS satellite. One these receivers, this mode is used only for items under the MacGPS Pro Real-Time menu. To use the Real-Time functions you must use a Keyspan USB to Serial Adapter and a Garmin 010-11131-00 power-data cable with a DB9 connector attached, or, for the GPSMap 78, a Garmin 010-10141-00 PC Serial cable. The Garmin "Spanner" mode does not work with MacGPS Pro.
• The other mode is "USB Mass Storage mode", where the Garmin receiver looks to the Mac like an external USB mass storage drive. In this mode the receiver is not actively tracking the GPS satellites. To confirm this mode, you will see a picture on the GPS receiver screen showing  a USB symbol, or showing the receiver connected to a computer with a USB cable. This mode is used for items under the MacGPS Pro Transfer menu for Waypoints, Routes, and Tracks.

No. GPS receivers use vector-based maps for display on their screens. USGS DRG (Digital Raster Graphics) maps have too much detailed information for the memory and display capabilities of most hand-held GPS receivers. The best use of DRG maps, and the use which MacGPS Pro provides, is to use the map on your Macintosh screen. You can plan a trip by generating waypoints and routes to transfer to your receiver. You can use the map on your Mac screen in real time as you travel with the GPS receiver connected. After your trip, you can transfer tracks from the GPS to view on the DRG map where you went.

Users of Magellan receivers that have a serial port can transfer waypoints, routes and tracks as well as show the current position and velocity on the map on the Mac screen. MacGPS Pro will not transfer maps into a Magellan mapping GPS receiver. To transfer maps, you must use Magellan's software, which is Windows-only. MacGPS Pro also supports Magellan eXplorist receivers, which have a USB port. MacGPS Pro does not support the Magellan Triton receivers.

MacGPS Pro will work with most Garmin and USGlobalSat receivers that connect directly to a USB port. MacGPS Pro may work with receivers from other manufacturers if they supply Mac OS X USB driver software for their receivers. Or you can try the PL2303 USB to Serial Driver included with MacGPS Pro.

Yes! To use a Bluetooth receiver with MacGPS Pro, you must first set up the Mac OS X operating system to pair with the Bluetooth receiver. Step by step instructions to do so are provided under the MacGPS Pro Help menu.

Sorry, no. The iPhone does not provide any way to send the output of its internal GPS chip to an external device such as your Mac.

For those with USB-capable Macs, transfers to and from the GPS receiver data port work well through a Keyspan USB to serial adapter. The Keyspan adapter requires a Mac OS X driver. We recommend downloading the latest driver from the Keyspan website (click "Help and Resources") rather than using a potentially obsolete driver which came on the CD-ROM with the device. If you have another brand of USB-to-serial adapter you would like to use if possible, try using this Apple Driver which may work, depending on the specific adapter device. James Associates Inc. sells interconnect cables for connecting a Macintosh to some Garmin GPS receivers.

For optimum resolution and seamless map stitching, we recommend our MacTopos Maps series. MacGPS Pro is also an excellent viewer for USGS Digital Raster Graphic topo maps, NOS/GEO and BSB versions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 charts, FAA flight sectionals, and many other digital maps.

Digital maps come in two different types. Raster maps are a scanned or photographed image of a paper map. This is the type of map that MacGPS Pro uses. Vector map files contain a mathematical description of the lines and areas that make up the map. MacGPS Pro does not support maps in vector format. Garmin "*.IMG" files are vector maps.

Maps in raster-image formats such as TIF, PNG, JPG, GIF, PDF, BSB, and ECW can be imported into MacGPS Pro. These images will be automatically georeferenced if they are in GeoTIFF format, in ECW format, in BSB format, or if they are accompanied by a "world" file, a "*.IMP" file (a CompeGPS calibration file), a "*.JPR" file (a Fugawi calibration format) or a "*.MAP" file (an OziExplorer calibration file). OziExplorer OZF2 image files are not supported.

Maps may be purchased, obtained by downloading them from the Internet, or by scanning them yourself. Maps can be calibrated and used on your Macintosh screen with or without a GPS receiver connected. USGS, TVA and Teale (California) DRG maps, DOQQs, and many other maps from diverse sources are automatically calibrated. Maps that do not contain calibration information can be manually calibrated with ease by clicking on a few known points. Check our Digital Map Library to help find maps for your area.

Please note that MacGPS Pro does not upload maps to any GPS receiver; the maps are used on the Macintosh screen. For raster maps on a handheld device, see our iHikeGPS and iSailGPS apps for the iPhone and iPad.

Follow these instructions for importing your own scanned maps:

1. Scan in any paper map.
2. Save the scanned image as a JPG or TIF file.
3. From the File menu, choose "Import" and select your file.
4. The software prompts you to enter map data, including projection and datum. (This is typically found along most outer margins of a printed map.)
5. The scanned image is then displayed in the map window.
6. Click on a known point and enter its latitude and longitude. (Refer to the MacGPS Pro Help menu).
   
7. Repeat with at least one other known point (four points is ideal).
8. Click "Done".
   
9. Your map is now georeferenced and ready to use.

For high-quality resolution, seamless map stitching and guaranteed georeference accuracy, we recommend our MacTopos and MacBSB Marine Charts. However MacGPS Pro also works with an extensive list of map resources found in our Digital Map Library.

When the window comes up which lets you pick the Map Projection, it comes up with Transverse Mercator selected as the default when there is no automatic calibration information available, because that is correct for USGS topo maps for most of the USA. However for California maps, you need to select the Albers Conic projection before clicking "OK."

MacGPS Pro saves waypoint, route and track files in a tab-delimited text format, which you can open in any spreadsheet such as Excel or Numbers. It can also save files in GPX format which can be opened by almost all other GPS programs, including Windows programs. You may edit the list and save it again as a text file or a GPX file which you can then read back into MacGPS Pro.

MacGPS Pro can show position coordinates in the following user-selectable formats:

Formats that cover the whole Earth	National Grids
decimal degrees	British Grid
degrees/decimal minutes	Dutch Grid
degrees/minutes/seconds	German Grid
UTM Grid	Greek Grid
Maidenhead Grid Squares	Irish Grid
MGRS	Irish TM Grid
	Italian Grid
	Luxembourg Grid
	New Zealand Grid
	New Zealand TM 2000 Grid
	Swedish Grid
	Swedish SWEREF 99 Grid
	Swiss Grid
	Taiwan Grid

MacGPS Pro can calibrate maps in the following user-selectable map projections:

Map Projections used Worldwide	National Grids
Albers Equal-Area Conic	British Grid
Azimuthal Equidistant	Dutch Grid
Equidistant Conic	German Grid
Equidistant Cylindrical	Greek Grid
Lambert Conformal Conic	Irish Grid
MGRS	Irish TM Grid
Mercator	Italian Grid Zone 1
Oblique Orthographic	Italian Grid Zone 2
Polyconic	Luxembourg LUREF Grid
Sinusoidal	New Zealand Grid
Stereographic	New Zealand TM 2000 Grid
Transverse Mercator	Swedish Grid
	Swedish SWEREF 99 Grid
	Swiss Grid
	Taiwan Grid

MacGPS Pro provides coordinate conversions to-and-from the following 123 user-selectable datums:

Adindan	Corrego Alegre	Israeli	NAD27 Greenland	Qornoq
Afgooye	Croatia	ISTS 073 Astro '69	NAD27 Mexico	Reunion
AIN EL ABD 1970	Djakarta (Batavia)	Johnston Island	NAD27 San Salvador	Rome 1940
Anna 1 Astro 1965	Dos 1968	Kandawala	NAD83	RT 90
ARC 1950	Dutch	Kerguelan Island	Nahrwn Masirah Ilnd	Santo (Dos)
ARC 1960	Easter Island 1967	Kertau 1948	Nahrwn Saudi Arabia	Sao Braz
Ascension Island '58	European 1950	L.C. 5 Astro	Nahrwn United Arab	Sapper Hill 1943
Astro B4 Sorol Atoll	European 1950 France	Liberia 1964	Naparima BWI	Schwarzeck
Astro Beacon "E"	Europn 1950 Spain & Portugal	LUREF	None, GRS80	Sierra Leone 1960
Astro Dos 71/4	European 1979	Luzon Mindanao	North Sahara 1959	South American '69
Astronomic Stn '52	Finland Hayford	Luzon Philippines	NTF France	South Asia
Australian Geod '66	Gandajika Base	Mahe 1971	NZGD2000	Southeast Base
Australian Geod '84	GDA94	Marco Astro	Observatorio 1966	Southwest Base
Austria	Geodetic Datum '49	Massawa	Old Egyptian	SWREF 99
Bellevue (IGN)	GGRS87	Merchich	Old Hawaiian	Taiwan
Bermuda 1957	Guam 1963	Midway Astro 1961	Oman	Timbalai 1948
Bogota Obsrvatry	Gux 1 Astro	Minna	Ord Srvy Grt Britn	Tokyo
Campo Inchauspe	HD-72	NAD27 Alaska	Pico De Las Nieves	Tristan Astro '68
Canton Astro 1966	Hjorsey 1955	NAD27 Bahamas	Potsdam	Viti Levu 1916
Cape	Hong Kong 1963	NAD27 Canada	Pitcairn Astro 1967	Wake-Eniwetok '60
Cape Canaveral	Hu-Tzu-Shan	NAD27 Canal Zone	Prov So Amricn 1956	WGS 72
Carthage	Indian Bangladesh	NAD27 Caribbean	Prov So Chilean '63	WGS 84
CH-1903	Indian Thailand	NAD27 Central	Puerto Rico	Zanderij
Chatham 1971	Indonesia 74	NAD27 CONUS	Pulklovo 1942 Russia
Chua Astro	Ireland 1965	NAD27 Cuba	Qatar National

Yes they will. The waypoints, routes and tracks are accurate specifications of specific sets of points on the earths surface. These points can be shown on any map of the area regardless of who made the map or what device it is on. There is no conflict or incompatibility between Garmin's maps and our MacTopos maps. In fact using Garmin's maps on your GPS receiver, and the much more detailed MacTopos maps on your Mac is a great way to have the best of both worlds.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) topo maps cover the entire country at two or three different scales. United States Forest Service (USFS) topo maps are only available in the 1:24K scale, and only for those quadrangles which contain Forest Service land.

Some USGS topo maps have not been updated since the 1970's. While the topography normally does not change much, man's contribution to the landscape in terms of additional trails and roads has changed considerably for areas covered by some of these maps. The USFS had an internal need for more up-to-date maps, so they started a joint program with the USGS to update maps for the national forest areas. The USFS and the USGS signed an interagency agreement in August, 1993, that calls for the cooperative updated mapping of all Forest Service lands. These updated maps have proved so useful that they have been released to the public. MacTopos 3.0 makes them available to you for use with MacGPS Pro.

Garmin uses a proprietary map transfer protocol. No third-party Macintosh software uses it. MacGPS Pro cannot transfer Garmin's MapSource maps into Garmin receivers. Garmin provides Mac software which will do this. On the other hand, MacGPS Pro provides two-way transfer of waypoints, routes, and tracks. It is complimentary to Garmin's software. While Garmin's software limits the customer to Garmin's maps only, MacGPS Pro allows you to use most other maps on your Macintosh screen,including Digital Raster Graphics topo maps.

GPS receivers use vector-based maps for display on their screens. USGS DRG (Digital Raster Graphics) maps have too much detailed information for the memory and display capabilities of most hand-held GPS receivers. The best use of DRG maps, and the use which MacGPS Pro provides, is to use the map on your Macintosh screen. You can plan a trip by generating waypoints and routes to transfer to your receiver. You can use the map on your Mac screen in real time as you travel with the GPS receiver connected. After your trip, you can transfer tracks from the GPS to view where you went on the DRG map.