Using GPS Devices with Google Earth

If you have a GPS (Global Position System) device, you can connect it to your computer and import your waypoint and track data into Google Earth.  

Supported Devices

Google Earth current supports most GPS devices from the following manufacturers:

• Garmin

• Magellan

 The GPSBabel web site lists the devices officially supported by the Google Earth GPS import module.  You can try other devices, but they might not work correctly.

Required Connectors

You will need either a serial or USB cable to connect the device to your computer.  Typically, your device is sold with one type of cable. If your GPS device did not come with a cable, you can visit the manufacturer's web site to purchase the correct one for your model.

GPS Point Translation

When your GPS data is imported into Google Earth, it is categorized into three possible folders, depending upon the type of point.  These folders are:

• Trackpoints
  
  Trackpoints are the points automatically recorded by the GPS device periodically along the recorded route. They can be imported into the Google Earth application as paths.

• Waypoints
  
  Waypoints are points entered manually by the user and typically marked with a name, such as "home" or "turnaround point."

• Routes
  
  Route points are those points that the GPS device uses to creating the routing, such as when you instruct the device to "go to" a recorded point from another recorded point. Route points can contain multiple connected "go to" instructions. They can be imported into the Google Earth application as paths.