As of October 1, 2023 we no longer support the Contour Elite product.
The contents featured in the article below may still be of use to you however, and so will continue to be available.
Contour Elite is able to export several formats that are compatible with Magellan units. The proper format depends on the unit and the type of connection. Some units have removable SD cards that files can be saved on. Some units communicate via serial or USB protocol. Other units can be plugged directly into the computer and the computer will recognize it as an external drive under "My Computer".
Here are some possible formats to consider:
-Magellan Serial Protocol (for those units that connect to the
computer via a serial or USB connection and use the serial protocol
for communication)
-Magellan SD card (for Explorist models that use SD cards to transfer
GPS data)
-GPX (a universal format compatible with many newer GPS units)
-Magellan MapSend (can be loaded into MapSend and
manipulated/exported to Magellan units)
1. If using a serial or USB connection, connect your unit to the computer using the cable that came with your unit and turn your unit on.
2. Open Contour Elite's Export to GPS interface by clicking on the "Export Targets to GPS" button on the Target Tool panel or the "Export Entries to GPS" on the Fishing Log panel.
3. Select the desired GPS format.
4. Select the appropriate port if you chose the serial protocol, or the file location if you chose any of the other formats.
5. Select the target(s)or fishing log waypoints to export by clicking on them.
6. Click "Export". Your file should now be saved on your computer, the unit itself, or the SD card depending on the location you specified.
Troubleshooting:
1. If connecting via cable, make sure all connections are secure and the unit is turned on.
2. If using the serial protocol, make sure the correct port is selected. If you connected to a nine pin serial port on the back of your computer, it is probably Com1 or Com2. If you had to use a serial to USB converter, make sure you have installed the driver that came with the converter. You may be able to open the driver software to select which Com port to use. If you don't know which Com port your GPS is using, you can open the device manager by going to: Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager. Then, click on the plus sign (+) next to "Ports." This will list all of the ports currently assigned on the computer.
3. Some units may be able to read GPX formatted files. Try this format if the others do not work.
4. Export in MapSend format, open it in MapSend, and load the GPS data into your unit through MapSend, if necessary.
