Bob Morphew

MapEdit will NOT open Garmin img files if they are for "NT" maps i.e. City Navigator NT 2008. It seems to open all the other Garmin img files I've tried. Bob

"Gaga55" seemed to suggest a very easy way to do this - use the TYP Editor on-line and immediately see how it looks on different backgrounds. Download the finished TYP file - no editing in paint programs or manually compiling in GenTYP. Great suggestion - thanks. Bob

The flat 2-pin plug I use is unfused, but as I wire it into the bike's ignition switch it's using the bike fuse (which I think is OK). Here's the plug. Bob

The 60/76 series work with approx 8 - 35V DC so there usually isn't a problem running them from a motorcycle battery, even when the motor isn't running. However, if your battery is in poor shape and your bike has high wattage headlights that are ON when the engine isn't running (Canadian bikes do this, not sure if USA models do also) then the voltage at the 12V outlet may drop too low. If you have a voltmeter, measure the voltage at the 12V outlet - just before I replaced the battery last week, mine was down to 9V. I've had lots of problems with cigarette lighter type outlets on bikes. I modify the Garmin 12V cable to use a 2-pin flat connector like the type used on trailer light connectors. I splice a wire into the "hot" outlet on the ignition switch and run it to the "female" half of the 2 pin plug/socket. Never had connection problems since then. Bob

Red90 - sorry, but the information I provided in that old thread is incorrect. I've since found out I was wrong about the 50 file limit. What was happening was that only 50 files were being displayed on the GPS screen (a bit like the closest 50 waypoints, etc) and there were more files on the card. I haven't yet discovered what the limit is, or if there is a limit, but it definitely is not 50. Bob

It's at c:\ program files\antyong\ezIMG\yyyymmdd.img I tried it and it sort-of-works but it's a simple 2 level map with the trails only displaying at the highest zoom levels. You'd still really need to learn MapEdit, GenTYP and MapsetToolkit to get USEFUL maps, but it definitely produces an mp file, an 8-digit img file, and a gmapsupp.img file. Bob

Another solution is to use your tracklog to make it into a GPS map. If your GPS is a Legend, and not a Legend HCx or similar, then you will only have 8MB of internal memory, and no plug-in memory. These custom "tracklog maps" are tiny and should work well in your Legend. There was a long discussion on the Zumo Forum about doing this, with links to Tutorials - check it out here: Multiple tracklogs. Bob

I realize that but it may give a "newbie" the wrong impression. Your batch file does exactly what MapEdit does and hence still uses cGPSmapper and requires it to be in the stated location, and you've still got to deal with the 8 digit numbering for each compile. Overall, using MapEdit, and a correctly installed cGPSmapper, has to be the simplest. No The griffel "rws" is Richard W Smith and the snowmobile world "rws" is Ross W Spoonland. I like the Spoonland version and the MediaPlayer recording which takes you step by step. Bob (rwm)

MapEdit and cGPSmapper work fine together. Here's the best tutorial for making custom maps from tracklogs: rws Tutorials. Bob

It sort of does. The "Map Points" setting in Map Setup allows you to specify the Zoom level at which Map Points, which includes Custom POI's, are displayed. There isn't a setting which ONLY applies to Custom POI's, but there is one for "User Waypoints". Bob

You can only do that (easily) if it's the same computer. When you install Mapsource, it makes entries in the Windows Registry which specify where the necessary files are. Someone else's PC would NOT have these Registry entries and hence Mapsource would not run from your USB drive. However, if that someone really trusts you, you could edit their registry to make it work. One solution is to buy a Netbook and load Mapsource on it from your USB drive and take the Netbook with you. I did this for a recent 3 week motorcycle trip and it worked really well. Bob

You must have had a different map selected in Mapsource as Topo USA 2008 does NOT do "Follow Road" routing, either in Mapsource or on the GPS. It will only do Direct/straight-line routing.

There wouldn't be much point in converting these to routes as it's unlikely there will be any corresponding routable roads/trails on the GPS maps, so you'd only get direct (straight line) routing. I prefer to convert my off-road tracks to transparent overlay maps and include them with Navigator and Topo in my GPS. That way they never get deleted, are always on my GPS, and can be turned ON/OFF as required. Lots of tutorials available on converting tracks to maps for Garmin GPS (just Google it). Bob

MetroGuide V8 does NOT support autorouting on the GPS, as Garmin disabled this function after V4. However, it's easy to fix. Buy the MetroGold program ($6 from here) and it switches Autorouting back ON. Bob

I made my own trail maps for the single-track in Ganaraska from tracklogs of previous dirt bike rides. They are transparent overlay maps that upload to my 60CSx and show the trails over CN, Topo, etc. If you don't have tracklogs, it's not too difficult to start with a PDF map, convert to a JPG, load into TrackMaker, calibrate, and then trace tracks over the trails. There's lots of documentation out there for making custom GPS maps from tracks. Bob

No - just e-mail, PM and Telephone. Have you tried the Tutorial mentioned in Jim's post? That's how I started and I had no idea what the Zoom settings did for a long time. I just used those in the tutorial and then gradually started experimenting with different settings to see what effect they had. Can you explain a bit more what the problem is? Perhaps e-mail me your MapEdit file (.mp) and I'll check the settings and test it in Mapsource? Bob

I've been converting my off-road bike tracks to maps for quite a while now and seem to have figured out how to use MapEdit for this. In simple terms, I use 5 levels set at 23, 21, 19, 17, 16, and 15 bits. I set the tracks to polylines at Level 0 and then Extend them all to either Level 2 or Level 3. This determines when they show up in Mapsource/GPS. With Level 2 and detail set at Most, they are visible from 20Km zoom and down. Set at Level 3 they are visible from 70Km and down. The easiest way to decide on Zoom levels is to make a test map with 3 line types and set each to s different Zoom. Try the map and see which you prefer. Don't try to merge your Topo maps in MapEdit. It's possible but not practical as your tracks can be made with a transparent background and will display whichever is the active map in your GPS. You cannot (or I don't know how) to make the maps appear transparent in Mapsource on the PC, sp I keep the original GDB/GPX file with the master tracks I used for the map and just view this in Mapsource. Bob

I had the same experience - it presented me with a selection of rides in my locality. Is this legal? Can they access personal information on my PC (without my permission) or is there a way of them detecting who my ISP (and access point) is? Doubt if I'd go back to that website without knowing these answers. Bob

We use GPS routes for many of our bike rides - although they are motorcycle rides (and I'm guessing your are for bicycles) the principle is the same. You use GPS map software to layout the route and place a waypoint at every turnoff. Set the GPS to use Direct (or Off Road) Routing and you get and indication of the decreasing distance, and direction, of each upcoming turn. The problems you may encounter is that it's unlikely everyone will have a GPS and those that do will have a multitude of brands and models, each requiring the route in a specific format. Many motorcycle rallies/races (off-road usually) use Road Books which sound very similar to your cue cards, and the system works very well. Why do you want to switch to GPS? Bob

I've been making auto-installers for my motorcycle trails maps for a while now and I've got the process down to just a few minutes work. If you'd like one for your trail maps, give me your e-mail address and I'll make it for you. E-mail me at DualSport AT morphew DOT ca Bob

That's how GPX tracks work on a 60Cx. The tracks are created by the GPS in GPX format and archived on the mSD card for use on a PC. For tracks to be visible on the GPS screen they must be loaded to internal memory by a program that "understands Garmin protocol" There are other programs that will transfer tracks to a GPS (e.g. TrackMaker, a free download) but Mapsource seems to be the most convenient - unless you are not at home .... Bob

I bought one a few of months ago and returned it after 3 frustrating weeks of use (Costco has a great try-before-you buy policy ) Things I liked: * Multi-function - Auto, hiking, cycling, boating, scootering (yes, that what it's called so it's obviously a European development, not a USA product. Further confirmed by routing options referring to Motorways) * Waterproof * Did NOT speak street names (but an Update added that) * Could load routes from a PC * Claimed to handle tracklogs. Things I didn't like: * Multi-function - settings changed automatically and I didn't like some of them * Almost impossible to see the screen in bright daylight and totally impossible in direct sunlight * Almost a total lack of user options * Price - it was $499 MSRP when introduced and then Garmin mysteriously dropped it to $299 a few months later * Topo shading caused some minor roads to be almost invisible * Did not work correctly with my custom-made maps. * Unable to upload tracklogs back to the GPS and no Saved tracks - Active log only. I have a 60CX and a 60CSx so I'm used to many user settings and compatibility with custom maps. For me, the Nuvi was a dissapointing dud. Bob

"Auto" filtering and "Maximum Points" are separate options selected with a "radio button" i.e. you can only choose one. If you select "Automatic", then you can only choose More or Less and it could take multiple operations to get the total to below 500. If you select "Maximum Points", then you don't know how it filters - it might be Auto, or Distance ot Time - that's internal to Mapsource and it doesn't say which method it uses. At least that's how V6.13.7 works. I've taken 6.15.6 off my PC so I don't remember if it worked the same way. Bob

"Auto" filtering in Mapsource (6.13.7) doesn't allow you to quickly get a tracklog of 500 points or less - you only have a "Fewer - More" slider control. If you want "fast" filtering then you should use "Maximum / 500". Bob

I would differentiate between Filtering (an automated process) and "editing". As you pointed out in your previous post post, Filtering will not remove lunch stop meandering or off-route excursions. If you use Filtering for map-making tracks, you'll still have crappy maps. Intelligent manual editing is needed. Bob