Download LOC2WPT – Waypoint File Converter

The process of transferring the waypoints you downloaded from geocaching.com to Garmin Mapsource on the PC seems to be very simple – transfer the waypoints to the GPS (using EasyGPS or ExpertGPS) and then transfer them from the GPS to the PC.

But, the disadvantage of this is that some waypoint data (description & URL) gets lost in the process.

LOC2WPT allows you to convert the waypoint file (either .loc or .gpx) directly to a Mapsource file (.gdb for Mapsource v6.1+ or .mps for older versions of Mapsource).

You can also convert the Speed Camera Database (CSV format found at PocketGPSWorld.co.uk).
You can create your own data using CSV file. (See below for format)

Version 3.6+ allows you to convert NetStumbler data to Mapsource. (In NetStumbler, go to ‘File’, ‘Export’, and choose ‘Text…’. It will save as a .txt file.)

How to use

1. Download the waypoint file from www.geocaching.com (you need to register before you can download from there) or the Speed Camera Database from www.PocketGPSWorld.co.uk or export a text file from NetStumbler.
2. Run loc2wpt.
3. Click the button to ‘Select file(s)’ (hold CTRL or SHIFT when you click, to select multiple files).
4. If it cannot read a .gpx or .loc file, open it in EasyGPS and save it as a .gpx file (using File>’Save as’), then try again.
5. A list will appear displaying all the waypoints in the file.
6. You may add other waypoints to the list by clicking ‘Add File(s)’.
7. Choose the output file format (.gdb, .mps, .wpt or .kml).
8. Click the button to ‘Create a New Waypoint file’. This will create the file.
9. If you want to add the list of waypoints to an existing gdb/mps/wpt file, click the button ‘Add to Existing Waypoint file’. If there are any duplicate waypoint names, they will not be added.
10. Open your newly created .gdb or .mps file in Garmin Mapsource.

Thats it! All the waypoints (and descriptions) are there.

Waypoint names beginning with ‘GC’ (GeoCache) will have a symbol.
Waypoint names beginning with ‘GATSO’,'MOBILE’,'MONITRON’,'TRUVELO’,'SPECS’ or ‘TEMP’ will have a symbol.
Waypoint names beginning with ‘REDLIGHT’ will have a symbol.
Unsecured wireless networks will have a symbol.   Secured wireless networks will have a symbol.

Note: If your GPS does not display these symbols, you may need to update the GPS software from the Garmin website.

Here is the format of the CSV file. Line 1 (header) is ignored therefore it must be included.

Longitude,Latitude,Name,Description
-0.1081995,51.5550334,Emirates Stadium,Home of Arsenal FC
131.0348273,-25.3441905,Ayers Rock,Large lump of rock in Australia

Download this Free GPS Program: loc2wpt.exe – v3.71 (Installer) – Filesize: 471 kb

If you already have it installed, or you already have the two OCX files (MSFLXGRD.OCX & COMDLG32.OCX) in your system folder, here you can download just the executable: loc2wpt.exe (v3.71) (244 kb)

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