Re: Garmin maps for China?

"Robert Elsinga =8-)" <use_robert_at_elsinga.org_as_reply_address@xxxxxxx> wrote:

I mailed with Garmin China and they sell Garmins with an official China map,
but they wouldn't sell a map to me in Europe.

Is it a sort of basemap or more like a detailed map?

I did more research on this. It seems Garmins have partnered with some
company in China to sell a localized version of some of their units,
such as the 2610, 60cs, etc. (but currently no 60csx yet).

The localized garmin units can read chinese maps, and my impression is
the maps are substaintially more detailed than worldmap, but might not
be as complete as City Navigator series. Take a look at the
screenshots here (From the garmin dealer in China). It is a routable
map and it has to be significatly better than worldmap. Supposely they
have detailed coverages for a lot of the major cities, but in rural
areas it may not be as good.

http://www.unistrong.com/product/navi/detail.asp?id=MAP60CS

Now I am unable to find information about firmware updates for those
localized units. (My chinese google foo is weak ;) So I don't know if
I can flash my English unit to the localized version.

English versions of those units will NOT be able to use those
localized maps, which is not surprising, consider Garmin is still a
7-bit company. ;) But, there are versions of those maps in "PinYing",
which is basically how worldmap is. But again my google foo is weak
and I can't find any more information about these maps.

I do not know if these routable china maps are locked or not, but
ideally I want to get a Chinese version of these maps, and just use it
on my computer to view my tracklogs, etc. If I can find the pinying
map, I should be able to upload it to my 60csx and use it in China.

The reason maps are not sold by itself is China's law does not allow
export of maps, heck, I even heard it's supposely illegal to use GPS
there. I am sure that'll change in due course. I've been using GPS in
China since 2000, even marked a waypoint right in TianNanMen square,
and never been bothered.

I am hoping I will be able to just buy those maps when I am in China
from a garmin dealer. Whatever it is, it'll be hell a lot better than
the stinking worldmap I've been using. ;)

Raymond
.

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