talkytoaster

For all those interested: Another week and another set of updates....which I managed to do even though I was away on business, got back a bit earlier than expected on Friday. Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 111111 [the old ones are prefixed with 111104] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 11th November 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want and updated the compatibility table with new models reported to work. Regards, Martin

For all those interested: Another week and another set of updates.... Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 111104 [the old ones are prefixed with 111028] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 4th November 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want and updated the compatibility table with new models reported to work. Please Note: There will probably be no new maps next weekend as I'm away on business again. Regards, Martin

Hi, 1, Yes, using a team name is fine, doesn't need to be one with an account, I usually do this when caching with others and we use a topical name for the team for the outing. 2, blogger.com or blogsome.com are both fine and free. Regards, Martin

Hi, Which mapset is it? Is it the British-Isles or GB one? The unzipped and ideally renamed file (renamed to GMAPSUPP.IMG, just remove the prefix that I add to it) and copy it to the GARMIN directory on the internal memory or the MicroSD card. If you use Windows then the IMG extension may be hidden, don't add it, or you'll end up with GMAPSUPP.IMG.IMG and that probably won't be recognised by the GPSR. Either way they should work fine. I also suggest that you ensure you have the latest firmware as I seem to remember that an early 650 user reported problems until they updated the firmware. Hope this helps? Regards, Martin

Hi, Thanks for the feedback. Quoted from the FAQ: 2f. How Do I Update The Mapset for BaseCamp/Mapsource The simplest way to update the mapset to the latest version for use in BaseCamp or MapSource is to go to the directory where you installed the mapset, e.g. C:\Garmin\British-Isles+Contours Once in there delete all the files in there. Then unzip the new mapset to the now empty directory. When you next load BaseCamp or MapSource it will automatically use the updated map tiles. This assumes that you have correctly installed the mapset in the past; have previously installed MapTK and run the install.bat (at some point in the past for that mapset). It also assumes that you have successfully tested that the mapset installed correctly the first time and checked that it showed up in BaseCamp or MapSource. Regards, Martin

For all those interested: Another week and another set of updates.... Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 111028 [the old ones are prefixed with 111021] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 28th October 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want and updated the compatibility table with new models reported to work. Regards, Martin

Hi, You could look at the Dakota models; the Dakota 10 can be had for around 150 quid from Amazon right now and it does paperless caching as well as it has the ability to use OSM maps (not OS ones due to limited memory). Don't expect the same functionality as your phone as none of the dedicated GPS receivers have any useful form of wireless or GSM (phone) connectivity. You will have to pre-load a GPX file (that contains cache data) onto it for the area you plan to cache in, before you go there. If you want a bit more flexability (at a cost) look at the Dakota 20, Oregon 450 or later models. Hope this helps? Regards, Martin

My understanding is that Trail is a footpath (or marked that way) and Unpaved Road is a Bridleway (or marked that way). That certainly appears to be the case in my neck of the woods anyway. Regards, Martin

Hi, Still don't understand why you are having a problem as others have confirmed that like myself, they are not seeing any issues with the latest mapset for MapSource/Basecamp. Mine is working fine under MapSource 6.16.3 and BaseCamp 3.1.2 Regards, Martin

Hi Geoff, That's great, thanks, and I've also had a couple of Etrex 20/30 owners tell me that the tweaked British-Isles+Contours (Routbale) mapset works fine on their devices. So it seems that I did fix the problems with that mapset after all. Regards, Martin

I'm at a loss as to why you are seeing this problem, as I've already said I have tested that mapset again in both MapSource and BaseCamp without any issues or errors reported. I also only have 132 files in the directory when the file is unzipped. The change from last week (and earlier versions) is due to some duplicated map tiles that shouldn't have been there. These have now been removed and that is why the mapset appears to be smaller rather than larger (as is the usual case). No one else has reported any problems yet. Is anyone successfully using the latest Mapsource/BaseCamp version of the British-Isles+Contours (routable) mapset in either MapSource or BaseCamp (other than me)? Regards, Martin

Geoff, That's not the issue (last time was a change from UK to British-Isles), as the file is correctly named as: 111021-British-Isles+Contours-Routable-MapSource.zip on the site. As I said in my earlier reply I've just re-checked the British-Isles+Contours (Routable) mapset for MapSource/BaseCamp in both products, works fine for me, no errors and looks complete. I had duplicated some map tiles in earlier versions, which I've now removed, hence the smaller file than last week. I've also checked the install.bat file, that is also correct. Regards, Martin

Hi, Just answered your question via email as you sent me an email too. Quoted below for the benefits of others: I have tweaked the files a bit, hence the smaller size, but it works fine on my version of Mapsource and BaseCamp, just re-checked it now. Did you delete the old files first before unzipping the new ones? If not I'd suggest you try that. If that fails try using the uninstall.bat and then run the install.bat again. Hope this helps? Regards, Martin

Hi, The GB mapset was not affected, only the British Isles one. Hopefully I've sorted it now, if not I'm not sure if it will ever work on the new Etrex models. If you are willing to try the latest British_isles+Contours mapset and report back to me I would be most grateful. Regards, Martin

For all those interested: Another week and another set of updates.... Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 111021 [the old ones are prefixed with 111014] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 21st October 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). I have also tweaked the British Isles mapsets to try and address an issue reported on the new Etrex 20 and 30 models; all other Garmin models were not affected. More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want. Regards, Martin

Hi Alan, Sounds good to me and spookily I'm planning a similar series that follows the Sussex/Surrey Border Path, with the idea that local cachers to a particular section place some. They'd all be numbered (like the Church Micros). I will be discussing it at the Sussex Mid-Monthly meet tonight in Horsham. Link to the meet: Sussex Meet Regards, Martin

For all those interested: I have been away on business for the last 3 weeks, so there have been no new maps. However, I'm back now and so are the map updates. Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 111014 [the old ones are prefixed with 110916] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 14th October 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want. I am also thinking about stopping doing the GB and IE mapsets and just offering the British Isles mapsets in four flavours (GPSR routable+contours, GPSR NON-routable+contours, Basecamp and MapSource versions). The British Isles mapsets include all of the UK and Ireland. If this is going to cause anyone an issue please let me know via email, not this forum. Regards, Martin

Hi, Now that I hadn't realised. Indeed, you don't need to load the maps onto a card if you have sufficient space on the internal memory of the Garmin GPSr. I am currently compiling new mapsets and these should be available some time on Sunday. The lack of mapsets from me recently is due to the amount of travelling (on business) I have been doing. Regards, Martin

For all those interested: Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 110916 [the old ones are prefixed with 110909] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 16th September 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want. I am also thinking about stopping doing the GB and IE mapsets and just offering the British Isles mapsets in four flavours (GPSR routable+contours, GPSR NON-routable+contours, Basecamp and MapSource versions). The British Isles mapsets include all of the UK and Ireland. If this is going to cause anyone an issue please let me know via email, not this forum. Please Note: I am away on business for the next 3 weeks, so there probably won't be any further map updates from me until the weekend of the 22nd/23rd of October. I will still be checking my email when I can. Regards, Martin

For all those interested: Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 110909 [the old ones are prefixed with 110826] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 9th September 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want. I am also thinking about stopping doing the GB and IE mapsets and just offering the British Isles mapsets in four flavours (GPSR routable+contours, GPSR NON-routable+contours, Basecamp and MapSource versions). The British Isles mapsets include all of the UK and Ireland. If this is going to cause anyone an issue please let me know via email, not this forum. Regards, Martin

Hi, Nope those are beech nuts, pigs love them! These are sweet chestnuts: Regards, Martin

H, I use the following: 1. GDAK (for accessing my GSAK databases on my Android Phone). FREE 2. LocusPro (for online/offline maps and handling GPX files for caching, navigating to cache, reading logs, etc). Around £4 to purchase the Pro version, the non-Pro version is FREE but limited. It can do Field Notes. 3. Geocaching App from GC.COM. I use this least, but it can be handy if all else fails. I find it very buggy. It can do Field Notes. 4. CacheMate. I have used this in the past, but now tend to use GDAK as I find it more useful and I don't have to convert the database files at all. CacheMate is around £4 to buy. I've also used GeoBeagle and GeoHunter (a GeoBeagle fork), both were FREE and pretty good. I also use WhereYouGo for Where-I-Go cartridges as a backup to my Oregon 200. I still use my Oregon 200 as my main caching tool, however my Android Phone is a Motorola Defy and it is pretty rugged and about as water-resistant as my Oregon and I have 3 batteries for it. Regards, Martin

For all those interested: Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 110826 [the old ones are prefixed with 110819] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 26th August 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/British Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. I have reorganised the map page on the site to hopefully make it easier to find which mapset you want. I am also thinking about stopping doing the GB and IE mapsets and just offering the British Isles mapsets in four flavours (GPSR routable+contours, GPSR NON-routable+contours, Basecamp and MapSource versions). The British Isles mapsets include all of the UK and Ireland. If this is going to cause anyone an issue please let me know via email, not this forum. Regards, Martin

Hi, I live in Horsham and quite a few caches in the area are mine. Happy to get together for a pint or to do some caching. PM me if you are interested, sorry I don't drive, I walk, cycle or use public transport. Regards, Martin

Apologies for the lack of map updates recently but I've been away on business rather a lot over the last fortnight. For all those interested: Over the weekend I have compiled the latest GB/British Isles/Ireland map tiles with contours into new maps for Garmin GPSrs. The British Isles mapsets I compile include the following areas (this has now replaced the UK mapset): England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The GB mapset I compile includes the following areas: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands The Ireland mapset I compile include the following areas: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland The full GB/British Isles/Ireland mapsets come with contour data [contour data is from the Scottish Mountaineering Club] and are now routable. The updated ones are prefixed with 110819 [the old ones are prefixed with 110805] and should be available on the following link as of now. These new ones include all changes made to the OSM mapping data up to the 19th August 2011. If you want to grab them then you can find them here: http://talkytoaster.info As these are new, please report any problems directly to me, via my profile on Geocaching.com or via my Gmail account [talkytoasteruk@gmail.com]. This update not only includes newer routable versions with contours for GB/Britsh Isles/Ireland, but also routable versions without contour data. The UK mapset has now been replaced by a British Isles one (it covers the same area). More details about the routing features can be found in the FAQ on my site. I have versions of the GB/British Isles & Ireland mapsets which are compatible with MapSource/BaseCamp (PC), and have also been tested in MapSource/BaseCamp before release. Versions for Mac OSX (RoadTrip/BaseCamp) are also available. Details and the maps can be found here: http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm This should allow those that have Garmin GPSrs with limited memory to select small areas to upload to these devices complete with contour data. If anyone wants similar maps (with or without contours) for other parts of Europe or elsewhere, then please feel free to contact me to discuss your needs. CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect. From OpenStreetMap:- "By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors." Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide and not a factual statement. To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full British Isles & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer in MapSource/BaseCamp for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame. Hope this helps? All feedback and comments are most welcome. Also, I am now hosting the UK Geocaching Records that were originally hosted/maintained by Mongoose39uk (these can be found on the same site as the maps I offer). Unfortunately as my 'spare' time is very limited so far this year I haven't managed to update the records page. Anyone submitting records should ensure that they supply a bookmark of the caches in their record. Regards, Martin