Re: Crossovers

Just a little more info on the Garmin maps:

1) You might be able to pick up an old version of Topo on E-bay for much less (maybe $40) than the Topo 2008 (about $90). Most of the woods really haven't changed much ;-)
And, the old Topo has no unlock codes to mess with.

2) Updates for Mapsource are free from the Garmin web site. Mapsource comes on all Garmin CD/DVDs and is a great planning tool for trips/hiking/cycling.

Jack Erbes wrote:
Malcolm Hoar wrote:
In article <YoidnTz6nOVaIJvanZ2dnUVZ_smnnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxx>, "Bob L" <bob_lloyd@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Keep in mind that the 60Cx does not include the detailed street maps, a big enough memory card, or a car mount. These options will add quite a bit to the price. You shouldn't need to buy anything extra for the Quests. Not sure about the Magellan.

Yes, this is a significant issue. I'm currently trying to
get a better handle on total costs including maps and
necessary accessories.

Do folks have any specific recommendations for maps to be used
with the 60CSx/76CSx? More specifically:

* Which particular street series?
* DVD versus microSD card?

For streets MapSource City Navigator 2008, for marine MapSource BlueChart Americas V9.5, for topo, MapSource U.S. Topo 2008. See more info and browse them (except for BlueChart) here:

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/

Buying the supplemental mapping on a CD or DVD is *much* less expensive than is buying the preloaded SD or microSD cards.

The DVD seems like it should offer the most flexibility but
I'm wondering if licensing and copy protection hassles make
that a pain in the ass.

The concept for the handhelds is that they come with a basemap and you buy optional mapping as you need/desire. The optional mapping packages are the ones I mentioned above. They come on CD or DVD depending on the size/amount of the mapping data.

The unlock process is simple enough. It will keep you from giving away working copies of the packages that use it to other people. Of the ones I mentioned, City Navigator and BlueChart will require unlocking, U.S. Topo does not. None of the mapping on CD or DVD is copy protected, some of it is of no use unless unlocked.

When you install your mapping to a PC (and maybe to a Mac) it installs an application named MapSource that hosts the data for that mapping package and any others that you may buy later. You start MapSource and choose the mapping package you want to use (if there is more than one) and it is displayed.

You choose the map segments (from more than one product if you have them) in MapSource that you want to upload to your GPS receiver. MapSource processes and compiles it into a file and sends it to the memory card in your GPS receiver. Then the maps can be seen and used there.

You can also place click on places to build follow road routes, place waypoints for use in either follow road or off road routes, and upload those to your USB connected GPS receiver.

And you can download waypoints, routes, and tracks from the GPS for review, study, analysis, etc. Have you ever noticed that analysis starts with the word "anal"? I wonder if that is a coincidence?

Garmin sure have done a lousy of job of describing what
you get with each of their maps and which maps work with
which devices.

Believe it or not, it could be worse. Everyone here agrees that the Garmin pages leave a lot to be desired but it is a real complex arrangement of models and features that, at least to some extent, goes to satisfying a lot of different wants, needs, and desires.

It will cost you about $100 or so at street prices to add City Navigator 2008 to your 60/76Cx/CSx. And you'll quickly decide that, since it is not available for free, the mapping data was worth the money. You can use that for a year or two or even longer and then upgrade to newer data for $75 or so if the process and prices do not change.

Jack

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Crossovers
    ... Do folks have any specific recommendations for maps to be used ... For streets MapSource City Navigator 2008, for marine MapSource BlueChart Americas V9.5, for topo, MapSource U.S. Topo 2008. ... Buying the supplemental mapping on a CD or DVD is *much* less expensive than is buying the preloaded SD or microSD cards. ... MapSource processes and compiles it into a file and sends it to the memory card in your GPS receiver. ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: Which GPS to show exact location?
    ... What I really really want is OS or similar maps loaded onto the ... loaded onto the Garmin" ... Do you reckon the latest TOPO Great Britain would be any improvement on my ... ordinary Mapsource plus the SMC contours is a nice cheap alternative - ...
    (uk.rec.walking)
  • Questions about maps / software
    ... You buy MapSource from Garmin as well as a CD of maps (topo, highway, ... Are there alternative programs to MapSource that do basically the same ... I'm specifically interested in topo charts and on Garmin's site, ... in the MapSource Viewer box ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: Questions about maps / software
    ... You buy MapSource from Garmin as well as a CD of maps (topo, highway, ... Are there alternative programs to MapSource that do basically the same ... I'm specifically interested in topo charts and on Garmin's site, ... and TrackMaker courses http://trackmaker.lesrandoactifs.org/cours_gps_sommaire.html ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
  • Re: Questions about maps / software
    ... You buy MapSource from Garmin as well as a CD of maps (topo, highway, ... Are there alternative programs to MapSource that do basically the same ... I'm specifically interested in topo charts and on Garmin's site, ... and TrackMaker courses http://trackmaker.lesrandoactifs.org/cours_gps_sommaire.html ...
    (sci.geo.satellite-nav)