Thousands of businesses and GPS users depend on ExpertGPS mapping software to upload and download MLR FX312 waypoints, routes, and tracks, make maps of their GPS data over seamless USGS topo maps and aerial photos, and convert and transfer MLR FX312 data to and from Excel, Google Earth, ArcGIS, and AutoCAD. We've collected dozens of tips and tricks designed to save you time and money when mapping with your MLR FX312.

Browse MLR FX312 tips by category:
MLR Data Upload and Download, Map Making, Adding Waypoints and POIs, Coordinate Conversion, Google Earth and KML, ArcGIS and Shapefiles, AutoCAD DXF, Creating a Custom MLR Basemap, Downloading updates for your MLR FX312

Download a 30-day, fully-featured trial of ExpertGPS, or buy your copy today. We're so confident ExpertGPS will save you time (as a GPS data downloader, coordinate converter, map viewer and editor, and GIS, CAD, and GPS data converter) that we make this guarantee: if ExpertGPS doesn't pay for itself in 14 days, we'll refund your money - and you can keep the software!

Uploading and Downloading MLR FX312 Data

Download your MLR FX312 waypoints and routes to your computer

ExpertGPS can transfer MLR FX312 waypoints and routes through your computer's serial (COM) port.

Connect your MLR FX312 Serial Cable to a USB Port

Need help connecting your MLR FX312's serial cable to your laptop or computer's USB port? ExpertGPS has a complete tutorial on connecting your older serial-based MLR FX312 to your new computer's USB port.

Upload new waypoints and routes to your MLR GPS

Transfer data back to your MLR FX312 with a single click. Upload waypoints and routes to your GPS and print a matching map out to take with you into the field. ExpertGPS even lets you upload Excel, Google Earth, CAD, and GIS data to your MLR FX312!

Maximize your GPS Memory

Your MLR FX312 has limited storage space for waypoints and routes. Once you reach that limit, your GPS can't hold any more data. Smart ExpertGPS users have figured out how to eke out every last bit of memory space on their MLR GPS receivers. Before each outdoor adventure or visit to a project site, they use ExpertGPS to back up the contents of their GPS, and then clear the GPS data memory. They can then download as much data as possible onto their GPS (leaving some room for GPS data collection out in the field). When they get back, they use ExpertGPS to upload all of their MLR waypoints and routes onto their computer and save it. Once they've backed up the new data from their GPS, they can clear the memory again, keeping their GPS ready for their next trip.

Backup your MLR FX312 waypoints and routes

Backup your FX312 waypoints and routes by using ExpertGPS to transfer them to your laptop or desktop computer. Now you've got a safe back-up of all of the important data on your FX312, and use ExpertGPS to find and create new waypoints and routes to download to your MLR GPS. Before you update your MLR FX312 firmware or install a custom basemap, MLR recommends that you backup all of your GPS data. ExpertGPS gives you the peace-of-mind that your MLR FX312 data is always safe.

Making Maps from your MLR FX312 Data

Real 1:24000 USGS Topo Maps

View your MLR FX312 waypoints and routes over USGS topo maps and aerial photos. These are actual 1:24000 scale topographic maps from the US Geological Survey, giving you much more terrain detail than the maps that came with your MLR.

Toggle between Topo, Aerial, and Color Orthophotos

Instantly switch between topo maps, aerial photos, and color urban imagery using the T, A, and U keys in ExpertGPS. This ability to toggle back-and-forth between several views of your GPS data is unique to ExpertGPS, and is one of its most popular features.

Give your maps a professional look

ExpertGPS comes preloaded with all the line patterns and cartographic styles you need to draw highways, railroad tracks, transmission lines, streams, and more. And the waypoint and track style editors let you create your own map symbols, change track colors, and customize exactly how your GPS and map data is drawn.

Boost your MLR GPS data entry speed 500%!

Why waste time entering new waypoints on the tiny screen of your MLR FX312? ExpertGPS can do it 5x faster! Use the New Waypoint dialog in ExpertGPS to create new waypoints and POI listings for your MLR GPS. As you type, ExpertGPS automatically suggests the best possible name for this waypoint on your GPS. (Your GPS limits the length of waypoint names to 6, but ExpertGPS will let you give your waypoints user-friendly names and descriptions that can be as long as you want.)

Calculating Area with your MLR FX312

MLR FX312 Waypoints and POIs

Maximize your MLR waypoints

ExpertGPS lets you get the most out of the waypoints on your MLR FX312 by making it easy to assign the best symbol and to give each waypoint a long, meaningful name (using a real keyboard, not the little controls on your GPS). Think about it:

Your MLR FX312 can hold 500 waypoints. Waypoints on the MLR FX312 can contain up to 6 characters. Waypoint comments (notes) can contain up to 22 characters. How long would it take you to enter all of those waypoints by hand into your GPS? ExpertGPS will save you hours on this one task alone!

Add Photos and Notes to your waypoints

ExpertGPS lets you link a photo to any waypoint or POI and includes a built-in photo viewer. And you can add your own detailed description to any waypoint - store as much information as you need.

Prevent Data Entry Errors with ExpertGPS

GPS coordinates are easy to mis-type. Using the Waypoint Tool in ExpertGPS to create new waypoints reduces the chances of making a mistake when manually entering coordinates on your GPS. ExpertGPS takes care of all of the coordinate conversion and datum shifts when communicating with your MLR FX312, further reducing errors.

Create routes the easy way!

The MLR FX312 can hold 20 routes, each containing up to 20 turns or stops. ExpertGPS lets you build up long routes quickly - just click waypoints one-by-one on the map to connect them into a route for your MLR FX312.

MLR FX312 Coordinate Conversion

Convert between any coordinate format or datum

Need to convert NAD27 lat/lon to WGS84 UTM? ExpertGPS does it automatically. Enter coordinates in any format, in any datum. To convert MLR FX312 coordinates to any other format, just select that format in ExpertGPS. All of your data is automatically reprojected to the new format and datum.

Convert to and from US State Plane Coordinates

ExpertGPS Pro lets you work with data in any US State Plane Coordinate System (SPCS). Even though your MLR FX312 doesn't natively support SPCS, you can use ExpertGPS Pro to convert data back and forth between state plane coordinates, lat/lon, and UTM.

Convert any address to latitude and longitude for your MLR FX312

ExpertGPS converts addresses to GPS coordinates with its built-in address geocoder. Enter any address in the US (or in several dozen other countries) and ExpertGPS will bring up a map of that location and create a GPS waypoint you can send to your MLR FX312.

Locate property using PLSS (Township, Range, Section) coordinates

The Go to TRS command in ExpertGPS Pro will take you directly to any township and range in 17 western US states, allowing you to locate land in the US Public Land Survey System quickly. As you move over the map, the current township, range, and section is displayed. ExpertGPS Pro can even overlay a PLSS grid from BLM or your state GIS department.

Download a 30-day, fully-featured trial of ExpertGPS, or buy your copy today. We're so confident ExpertGPS will save you time (as a GPS data downloader, coordinate converter, map viewer and editor, and GIS, CAD, and GPS data converter) that we make this guarantee: if ExpertGPS doesn't pay for itself in 14 days, we'll refund your money - and you can keep the software!