Another GPS question

[peregrina2000]

I am starting to download tracks from the Camino Torres. All was going well, until I realized that my basecamp program only has a topo map for Spain and not Portugal. I don't mind not being able to see the tracks on basecamp, so I'm not going to go to the trouble of figuring out how to download a topo map of Portugal unless I have to. But I just want to make sure that when I import the files into basecamp and then export them to my GPS, that when I get to Portugal, I will be able to follow the tracks. Does this make sense? In other words, does the fact that basecamp can't show me the details of the tracks impede its ability to import and export them? Thanks, fingers crossed that one of my regular assistance-providers will come through on this one. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[dougfitz]

Maps and tracks are independent, and you will be able to download tracks to your GPS without having mapping for the areas around the track. You will also be able to show the track on your GPS unit but without having any map data in the background. It will be a line on an otherwise empty screen. The tools that work on a track with a map in the background will work on a track without a map, but may not make much sense without that extra information the map gives you.

Do you have the Garmin Global Map in Basecamp? The detail is not great - major towns and roads, no detail for urban areas, etc, but it would give you a better idea than having nothing.

 

[peregrina2000]

Maps and tracks are independent, and you will be able to download tracks to your GPS without having mapping for the areas around the track. You will also be able to show the track on your GPS unit but without having any map data in the background. It will be a line on an otherwise empty screen. The tools that work on a track with a map in the background will work on a track without a map, but may not make much sense without that extra information the map gives you.

Do you have the Garmin Global Map in Basecamp? The detail is not great - major towns and roads, no detail for urban areas, etc, but it would give you a better idea than having nothing.

Thanks, Doug, did you hear me whispering your name? Thanks for reassuring me, but of course you've raised another question in my mind. Are you suggesting that the GPS unit might not have maps of Portugal in it? I see online that the Garmin Dakota has a basic world map, and I think that is probably what I have been using. At least, I have no memory of having downloaded a different map onto the GPS, but I would have to check back with Gunnar who was my go-to guy before he drifted away from the forum.

On basecamp, I do have the global map, so thanks for that tip. And here I thought I was becoming mildly proficient, but it's always something! Thanks again, so much, Laurie

 

[dougfitz]

The Open Street Map project is a good source for country maps that can be downloaded and transferred from Basecamp to your GPS unit. Let me know if you want details.

 

[KinkyOne]

Thanks, Doug, did you hear me whispering your name? Thanks for reassuring me, but of course you've raised another question in my mind. Are you suggesting that the GPS unit might not have maps of Portugal in it? I see online that the Garmin Dakota has a basic world map, and I think that is probably what I have been using. At least, I have no memory of having downloaded a different map onto the GPS, but I would have to check back with Gunnar who was my go-to guy before he drifted away from the forum.

You two definitelly have to meet someday and same goes for Gunnar


PS (I don't know if I would want to be involved in that hi-tech debate really )

 

[linkster]

@peregrina2000, Basecamp displays the installed maps on the GPS when it is plugged into your computer. Click on the Maps menu to display the installed maps. I have attached a screen shot of the installed maps on my GPS.

In addition, once the routes, tracks, etc. are downloaded onto your GPS, you can look at the route etc. on the GPS independently of Basecamp. WSIWIG (what you see is what you get) ... whether you are in Portugal or not.

 

[peregrina2000]

Thanks, linkster, I am not going to be at my computer for about ten days, but I will certainly check this out when I get back there. I had thought that that tab you are showing referred to the maps installed on basecamp! But if they are the maps installed on my GPS that means I do not have Portuguese maps on my GPS. So.... @dougfitz , I may be knocking on your cyber door for help on how to download a Portuguese topo map. I tried myself a couple of times after you posted the suggestion, and it was a disaster. Bet you can't wait. Thanks much, Laurie

 

[linkster]

@peregrina2000, On my Garmin GPS 62 ST: Menu, Setup, Map, Map Information (Select Map) will display the list of installed maps.

Good Luck.

 

[peregrina2000]

I am now way above my pay grade. Here is the recent message I got when I tried to connect my GPS to the computer. Any ideas? I guess I should be used to this by now, being as inept as I am with technology.

 

[linkster]

Sorry, no idea. I did a quick google search and it appears it might be a corrupt gpx file, but I would defer to Garmin support on a resolution.

 

[peregrina2000]

@peregrina2000, On my Garmin GPS 62 ST: Menu, Setup, Map, Map Information (Select Map) will display the list of installed maps.

Good Luck.

I see that I only have a topo map for Spain installed. As well as a worldwide basemap. So, once I get the problem fixed, I will have to figure out how to get a Portugal topo map on there, which Doug seems to know something about.

Sorry, no idea. I did a quick google search and it appears it might be a corrupt gpx file, but I would defer to Garmin support on a resolution.

And I had never heard of Garmin support, but a quick google showed me there is a phone number I can call for technical help. Wow, I had no idea, I thought my only option was to abuse kind forum members. I will try it when I'm back in early September. Bet you can't wait to hear what happens. . Thanks, linkster. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[dougfitz]

I see that I only have a topo map for Spain installed. As well as a worldwide basemap. So, once I get the problem fixed, I will have to figure out how to get a Portugal topo map on there, which Doug seems to know something about.



And I had never heard of Garmin support, but a quick google showed me there is a phone number I can call for technical help. Wow, I had no idea, I thought my only option was to abuse kind forum members. I will try it when I'm back in early September. Bet you can't wait to hear what happens. . Thanks, linkster. Buen camino, Laurie

If you have registered your device with Garmin there is an email support service. I have found it a bit patchy.

OpenStreetMap products have good info on the road network, towns etc, a reasonable amount of geographical information like mountains, watercourses, forest areas etc, but they do not have any elevation information so far as I can tell from the Australian maps I am using that were sourced from OSM. My view is that still makes them a very useful alternative to the Garmin sources topo products.

 

[peregrina2000]

I felt like Joos in The Way -- You mean I can CALL Garmin? Why the hell am I bothering you?!

Anyway, I got back on my computer this morning and my GPS connected fine to Basecamp, so maybe it just needed a rest. I will have to leave my Garmin call to the next issue.

I am hoping to start in Granada next year, walk the Mozárabe to Mérida, Vdlp to Salamanca, then Camino Torres. Since the first and last sections are untraveled, I think I'm better off with GPS tracks. I don't need them for the Vdlp.

I am loading tracks Granada-Caceres, so things are looking good. Now I need to get a Portugal topo map on my device. I have the tracks on my device, and (again, as I understand it), that will be enough to get me where I'm going even without a topo map, but the topo map would be a much better way to read the tracks when I'm in a pinch. I have seen websites like this http://garmin.opentopomap.org/ but don't really know how to proceed. Not only am I a tech idiot, I do not speak German. This one is in English but I don't understand it any better. http://garmin.opentopomap.org/

Thanks, tech pals. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[dougfitz]

Laurie, I haven't used that site. I will check it out and let you know what I can about how it works.

 

[dougfitz]

Laurie,

When you open the page, there are three downloadable files for each country. I tried the files for Spain.

1. the 'Garmin' file is a zip with two large files, one the detailed street mapping and the other a contours file. They are both .img files, and can be moved into the Garmin folder on your GPS. You will need about 700 Mb of space available for this. Once on your GPS, they can be accessed by Basemap, but it was an incredibly slow process if you are moving a large amount of data over a relatively slow USB connection.
2. the 'Win' file is an executable file, and will install the detailed street mapping file (typically in the /Garmin/Maps folder on the C drive) where it is available to Basecamp or other Garmin desktop products. It does not appear to install the contours file and has no elevation data in it so far as I can tell. The maps could then be moved to the GPS using Basemap.
3. the 'PC' file is a zip with individual map tiles in .img format as well as the contours .img files. I suspect they could be moved straight to your GPS unit, or moved into a folder (under the /Garmin/Maps folder) on your C: drive. There were over 160 individual files in this set, and no way of telling what part of Spain the individual files covered. In Basemap this mightn't be a problem, but it means that it is difficult to select just those files you might want to load just using the filing system.

I will do a couple more checks on how one might use the 'PC' file contents. If I find anything new, I will let you know.

 

[peregrina2000]

Laurie,

When you open the page, there are three downloadable files for each country. I tried the files for Spain.

1. the 'Garmin' file is a zip with two large files, one the detailed street mapping and the other a contours file. They are both .img files, and can be moved into the Garmin folder on your GPS. You will need about 700 Mb of space available for this. Once on your GPS, they can be accessed by Basemap, but it was an incredibly slow process if you are moving a large amount of data over a relatively slow USB connection.
2. the 'Win' file is an executable file, and will install the detailed street mapping file (typically in the /Garmin/Maps folder on the C drive) where it is available to Basecamp or other Garmin desktop products. It does not appear to install the contours file and has no elevation data in it so far as I can tell. The maps could then be moved to the GPS using Basemap.
3. the 'PC' file is a zip with individual map tiles in .img format as well as the contours .img files. I suspect they could be moved straight to your GPS unit, or moved into a folder (under the /Garmin/Maps folder) on your C: drive. There were over 160 individual files in this set, and no way of telling what part of Spain the individual files covered. In Basemap this mightn't be a problem, but it means that it is difficult to select just those files you might want to load just using the filing system.

I will do a couple more checks on how one might use the 'PC' file contents. If I find anything new, I will let you know.

Wow, Thanks, Doug. One of the most important things I've learned on the camino is to be realistic about my abilities. This post leaves no doubt about where my GPS abilities rank, I will get help. And I'll let you know how it goes. Muchas gracias.