myotis
-
Posts
1204 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by myotis
-
-
No need to wait for perfection. If you get the map better, you can select edit and then upload the new version. I have done this on several maps. Some maps I have uploaded several improved maps. I was just out riding my bike and found some errors on one map, so I went home fixed it and up loaded the corrected map.
Making your own topo maps is a little time comsuming but if you simply made transparent trails I think it would be quick and easy.
Time consuming doesn't quite fit it.
I started by grouping the 56000+ USGS quadrangles into groups of 4x4 that match the grid shown by MapSource with no map at all, resulting in some 3500 segments. I then download all HY and HP related STDS files from the USGS server. Where the elevation DLG's are missing (the stuff in the hypsography subdirectory), I get the DEM from the ATDI server and convert it manually into a .mp file using 3DEM and DEM2TOPO. After all those downloads and preparations, a few scripts combine it all into one .mp file using sdts2mp and several selfmade Tcl programs, then stuff it all into cGPSmapper. Voila, a 2.4 GHz P4 only needs about 2 hours to compile one segment into a map. Almost enough time to download and prepare the next segment.
I am done with 4 of them so far. Not entirely happy since 3DEM fills in 44m height into the missing pixels at the border, what causes DEM2TOPO to create bogus contour lines where the single quadrangles meet. I probably have to write my own code for generating elevation contours out of the SDTS DEM's ... which I'm not really in the mood for today. Tomorrow doesn't look good either ;-)
Yes, once I am happy with the outcome I will upload the maps to the MapCenter.
Jan
-
If you have the tracks, it is a real simple process. It can be done in about 5 minutes or less. I have some like that posted at:
http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
(It sure would be nice if others shared their maps)
Look under IL and MO. I have maps like that posted there.
All you have to do is save them all in a mapsource file
Open gpsmapedit,
set up the properties for levels, (download one of my trail files (MO Trail or Madison CO trail) to see how to set the levels, check map is transparent.
select add, add your mapsource file
Select them all with the select tool, right click on them and select convert to polyline. Then select walkway/trail as the type and make sure you select to only import them into level 0.
Then go to level one and add a point, save it and then export it. Then post it on http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
I've read several posts about creating one's own maps for a Garmin. To date, I've been reluctant to jump in.
I'm reconsidering as I have a need to view multiple tracks (more than 20) on my unit. My question is this: would creating a simple custom map layer of "tracks only" be as challenging as creating a full blown map layer with topo information, etc?
The best post I've read is this one: http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm
Has anyone created a custom map with just tracks? Would this be a simplified process?
-
I am a bit unclear on what you are asking. I regularly use my 60CSX when I am riding my bike. It is particularly helpful when you are doing a loop that uses multiple bike trails. I do NOT use routes. I use tracks and the follow track option. I will use mapsource and create a track (real simple to do, just select the track tool and click where you want a point). The I load the track in the GPS, select it in the tracks page and use the trace back option. You just select where you want to end up at and then push enter. When you are navigating the track, it will give you accurate distances to the end, eta, etc. It also warns you ahead of a turn and at a turn (just like it does when following a route). You can also click on points on the GPS, click menu and add to a route is an option. So it will also work that way. But personally, I like the track method better.
-
First thing, make sure they are actually on the card. Use the USB interface or a card reader to make sure there is a POI directory with a file called poi.gpi
-
Hey let's all start posting and sharing our maps at:
http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
For the entire US there are only 230 maps and over 40 are mine (Jim Bensman).
I know others are making the maps too. Let us all share what we have. Some people have mentioned they have maps for places I would like.
Also we had some discusion about POI maps and the problem was the USGS data was in a format we could not convert or use. There was talk of having GPSbable modified to do the job, but it looks like this is not going to happen any time soon.
I, however, found most of the points by state in a usable format at:
http://www.topografix.com/data.asp
They look like they have about 95% of the points that the USGS has. I have been making some POI maps and have them posted on map center.
I open them in ExpertGPS (with the GIS pack) then sort by type. Then I select all of one type, cut the waypoints, past them into a new file. Then I right click and export them as a shapefile. Then I hit crtl z to clear the new file. Then I go back and select the next type and repeat the process. Then you can great a POI file by importing the POI shape files you created.
If you do not have the GIS pack ($40) you can still do it, it just takes more steps. When you select the types and past into a new file, you can save the file as a GPX file (like Airport.gpx) and then open that file in gpsmapedit and create a file for that type. Then you can save it (ignore all the warnings and just save it as a mp file). Then you can assemble them all into a POI file.
I have also been looking at state GIS sites to see if they have better data. For example, the USGS data had 500 springs for Missouri. The state GIS site had a shapefile with 4,500 springs. I used the state data instead of the USGS data. So first thing check the state data and use it if it is better. They may even have data the USGS does not. For example, MO had the locations of all sinkholes and I added that to the file.
Also if anyone is interested in creating navigation charts, I think all the data you need is here:
http://www.tec.army.mil/echarts/inlandnav/main.html
You can get shapefiles of all the stuff for navigation charts. I briefly looked at them and did not undertand all the navigation stuff. But it was clear if you know what the stuff is, all the data can be directly imported into gpsmapedit.
-
I think it is probably too big. I use gpsmapedit and when the mp files get around 200 megs, the program usually runs pretty slow and you have to wait while it renders.
Yes, you can load multiple maps. I've made about 30 or 40 so far and I load them all
Thanks for the help. I had another question. How big can you make the maps. I am using gps trackmaker and have been trying to make topo maps for four counties here in PA. When I go to export the product which when saved is about 1GB it say something about not being in order or something like that. I am thinking maybe the file is to big. How big or small do you have to make the maps and if you make say 5 counties seperate can you load all of them on the gps at once? Thanks for the help. I hope to get this down here quickly.
-
Have you tried clicking on it with your mouse to select it?
Have you tried closign mapsource and restarting it?
-
Sorry but he was not correct.
You cannot even download everything to a PDA.
GSAK will let you (with custom POIs) download the caches and most of the hint to your GPS, but you cannot get anything like the description or logs into GPS.
Paperless Caching (which is the way to go) really requires a PDA.
-
It might be possible.
But, I suspect it would be easier and faster to make your own topo map from scratch and they would be better maps. One issue is when you start getting big maps in gpsmapedit, it operates very slowly
Also POIs take up very little room. I've been working on making maps of the USGS POIs for states (i.e., the POIs in the topo maps) and an entire state is about 1 meg.
-
It depends on which topo. TopoUSA will not route. TOPO 24K will
The basemap will always route.
-
No, the maps need to be compiled (by Mapsource or sendmap) into a single file to be used on the GPS.
Unfortunately that is correct and a royal pain. Its why I have not bought a 2 gig card. It woud be nice if Garmin would address this by allowing a second supplimental map set to be uploaded.
Please share your maps at:
-
I (Jim Bensman) have made many transparent Topo Maps. They are posted at http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/ I disagree that they make the map too cluttered. You can turn them off if they get cluttered, but I never have had a need. The only time I have seen any performace impact to my 60CSX is when I was traveling on an interstate with it zoomed in to 300 feet. The redraw was a bit slower than normal. The maps are much better quality than topoUSA and are actually pretty easy to make. One very small issue is when you do something like go over the Mississippi River, the river from the topo maps covers up the highway so it looks like you are driving on the river. On most of the maps, I use a 10 foot contour interval and there is no problem with screen clutter.
I like using the track tool to create a track to navigate in the backcountry by (or for bike trails). I think it works much better than using waypoints. It is more accurate in distances too.
Hey thanks Big Larry I will give that a try. I love this unit and was really hoping Id be able to use both sets of software on it at once.
Oh, another thing. You can only see one map set at once on the GPSr, for any Garmin product. (There's some custom map making that do transperent overlays, but I think it'd be too cluttered.) So I use the road map (City Navigaator v8) when driving to find a trail head. Then for biking/walking on a trail I flip to Garmin's Topo and can navigate remote areas by comparing lakes, peaks, ridges, etc. For best navigation, before biking I find a good contour map of the park off the web. On the computer screen at home, I compare the maps and put waypoints at all the trail intersections, almost always within 100' if you're carefull at comparing all the topo features and altitude, etc. I then make a route between the points. It helps greatly from getting lost in remote areas. These days, places like MotionBased.com have tracks of lots of places made by others if you look in their TrailNetwork Digest from which you can make waypoints.
To switch between Topo and Road on the 60CSx, the easiest way from the Map screen:
Hit Menu - Setup Map - OK
Hit Menu - then "Show US Topo" and "Hide City Navigator" for showing Topo
or
Hit Menu - then "Show City Navigator" and "Hide US Topo" for City Navigator.
Actualy, if both Topo and City Navigator are active, City Navigator takes preference. So you could just leave Topo active and only toggle City Navigator on and off.
Also note the menu is confusing as to the current state of maps being active. "Show US Topo" means it's hidden or deactivated now. "Hide US Topo" means it's currently being shown or active. The command describes an action to reverse the current state.
-
I have my maps posted at http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
I hope others will start sharing thier maps too.
I keep mine installed in MapSource under a "Custom Topo" map set name. It currently has two maps in it.
It would be cool if someone could collect all of the custom maps people make and unite them into an easily installable mapset in MapSource. I like to keep City Nav loaded also which complicates using Sendmap.
After looking at MapCenter, I am embarrased that there are no maps from Texas, I'll post mine when I get home.
Once you get it set up, it is pretty easy to add a map. All you have to do is edit test_pv.txt
to add a line img= the newmap then you just run cgpsmapper pv test_pv.txt
That is all there is too it.
The hard part seems to be setting it up the first time. It would be nice if there was some program that would ask you a few questions and then set it up for you. I bet many more people would use the custom maps that way. I can certianly understand people being weiry on editing the registry.
-
It took a while to figure out how to do it, but once you get it figured out, it is pretty simple and you get extremly hih quality maps. I have been amazed at how accurate they are. They also look great on my 60CSX. I really like how they are transparent. I have generally been using a 10 foot contour interval, but thing are not that tall in the midwest. You can chose the contour interval if you want less clutter, but 10 feet has worked well for me.
I have my maps posted at http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
I hope others will start sharing thier maps too.
-
I ordered mine the first day they were available, but I haven't seen it yet.
I was wondering if anyone else had gotten theirs?
I ordered mine a month before they were aailable. They put me on a wairting list. I got it Wensday but they said it shipped on the 27th.
I am very disappointed with how little they have fixed.
Can someone post the site to report data errors again? Maybe they will fix stuff next time. They gave me this upgrade free because I complained about them not fixing stuff I reported.
-
does anyone know what is the current version # of garmin us topo? can't seem to find it on the garmin site..
(I'm sure the maps haven't changed in a while)
I think the box says V3. According to the "About" menu, Alaska and Hawaii are V3, the East and West are V2.
Mine says 2.01 and 3.01
-
I have the same problem with my 60CSX
When I stop in the middle of a route to find a cache, I have to delete the waypoiints I have aleready passed.
-
I was going to look into that, but forgot about it. But I will now. The Forest Service has GPSed most of the trails or many of them in Shawnee. They have them in Archview Files. They had sent me a file a year ir so ago. Now that I know how to make Garmin maps, I tried making a map out of it. It took about 5 minutes to make a transparent trail map (but I may have used the wrong datum. I need to check on that). The way they work is they will overlay on the other maps. So you can use the 24K topo and they will show up. In mapsource, all you see is the trail. I will check with the forest service Monday and see what kind of data they have. Once I get the most up to date data, I will create a garmin map of the trails in Shawnee and upload it at http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
-
Has anyone created custom maps of this type that they can share with others? This is one thing I haven't found but would expect... like .gpx files of waypoints of interest for different areas or user-created maps that can be shared... any source for stuff like this?
http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/
I've posted 33 maps there in the last few days. If you use the process from:
http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm
it is pretty easy to make high quality TOPO maps. I've got my area mapped and hope others will do the same for their area.
-
I always have my PDA with me. I use just my GPS unless I need to look at the cache page. I have the hint in a custom POI so I do not need my PDA for the hint.
I have a laptop which I use Street Atlas USA 2006 plus. It is great because the map will show where the caches are and you can click on them and they bring up the cache page. But dealing with a laptop is a pain and you have to secure it so it does not get stoeln when you leave the car. When I am caching locally I normally will not take it. When I am only getting a few in an area, I will not take it.
When I am going to an area to get lots of caches, I will always bring it. While my GPS will provide a street rounte to the nearest cache, it is hard to tell if you are going to the cache you should be going to. It is real easy to figure out which cache to go to with the Laptop. It is far superior to a PDA and GPS.
My recomendation is get a laptop and Street Atlas USA Plus (GSAK will create the file you need to import into street atlas)
-
Look at http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm
Near the bottom it tells you how to add maps to Mapsource with GPSmapper (freeware). I use it for all the maps I have created and it works like a charm. Then you have both maps in Mapsource so you can upload them all to the GPS
-
Might it have something to do with the ProductCode? I'm not sure exactly how that works.
I have that different for each set.
I just got done uploading all 33 of my maps to http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com
I hope others start sharing too!
-
Someone emailed me and told me they will modify gpsbabel if Robert does not do it in the next few days.
So I would suggest we wait for that.
Another question is here what my file says:
[Map]
FileName=My Trails
MapVersion=102
ProductCode=111
Color=32
Levels=2
Level0=20 ' this should be the least detailed (but not empty) layer on your map
Level1=17 ' anything
Zoom0=5
Zoom1=6
MapsourceName=My Trails
MapSetName=My Trails
CDSetName=My Trails
Copy1=Garmin
Copy2=Stan
[End-Map]
[Files]
img=00000118.img
img=00000187.img
[END-Files]
I have three sets (also My Topos and My POIs). They all show up seperately in MapSource but when you go to turn off or on a set in my 60CSX, they are all lumped together under my topos. There is no option for My Trails or MY POIs. The My Topos turns them off and on. Any idea of what is wrong?
Thanks!
It works fine except when you identify it
-
Here is the answer I got. Can anyone figure out where to go from here:
Jim Bensman wrote:
> Is that correct? If so do we need anything else in the style file besides
> this statement? What format do we select in gpsbabelGUI and what
> is the
The field delimiter is only the start of your problems. We have improved the doc on building style sheets since 1.3.0. See:
http://www.gpsbabel.org/htmldoc-development/Styles.html
I don't know of any GUI that lets you build these things.
So if there are four fields in your files that you hope to map to something useful, your style definition might look something like:
DESCRIPTION Jim Bensmans thingy
FIELD_DELIMITER |
RECORD_DELIMITER NEWINE
IFIELD DESCRIPTION, "", "%s" # Feature Name
IFIELD SHORTNAME, "", "%s" # ID
IFIELD IGNORE, "", "%s"
IFIELD IGNORE, "", "%s"
IFIELD IGNORE, "", "%s"
IFIELD LAT_SOMETHING, "", "%d"
IFIELD LON_SOMETHING, "", "%d"
The bigger stumbling block for you is the weird lat/lon format in that data. Poking at one of the numbers, it looks like it's in degrees/minutes/seconds with the fields all glommed together. We don't have a format that'll express such a thing. It wouldn't be terribly hard to add to the GPSBabel core, but if you want something NOW (I'm deducing that modifying GPSBabel yourself isn't your gig) you can preprocess these files with your favorite programming language and convert those fields to something more recognizable. I'd recommend decimal degrees since they're easy to manipulate.
I'll put adding these formats to the xcsv modules on my todo list.
RJL
importing ESRI .shp files
in GPS technology and devices
Posted
So what settings did you use? I have never been able to figure out how to get stuff projected on the state plane imported into gpsmapedit.
Also lets all post our maps at:
http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/