bmirak

You're a genius. Works perfect now. Thank you!!

I've created custom, routable, transparent trail maps in the past and imported them into Garmin Mapsource using MapSetToolkit for upload to my Garmin GPSr. My old WinXP machine died recently and I've migrated over to a new PC running Windows 8. I've got Mapsource up and running with City Navigator and Topo 24k mapsets already installed. But now, I keep getting an error when I try to import my custom map to Mapsource. Specifically, here's what happens: I open up the latest version of MapSetTookit v1.77. I open the folder with my .img file and click Add. I specify my mapset directory (an empty folder tucked within c:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin) I enter a mapset name. I pick a family ID (50) different from the other two mapsets. I enter the folder where my routable version of cGPSmapper is located. I check "Install in Mapsource" I click "Start" cGPSmapper then starts running in a command window, and within seconds, I get an error that says "Can't create REG file" Any ideas? If there's a better forum to post this, please let me know! Much appreciated!

Pretty terrible. Next time, CR should consult with some of the experts on this board before conducting the tests. Even if we don't all agree on how to rank the units, the testers would at least have had a better idea of what to evaluate. I don't have the one-page article in front of me, but here is what I recall. Please correct me if I'm wrong. The Garmin Oregon topped the list, followed by the Colorado, then a Magellan Triton, then the 60csx, and then the Venture HC. "Screen Visibility" was evaluated, and both the Colorado and 60csx received the same "Good" rating. Did Garmin fix the Colorado's dimness problem? "Geocaching" was evaluated, though I'm not sure how that is more important for hiking than "Precision," which was not evaluated. "Ergonomics" was not evaluated. "None of the units we tested have turn-by-turn directions." What? I guess they're referring to spoken directions. "The Oregon and Colorado even come with topo maps, which can be helpful." Does CR realize that topo can be installed on any of the Garmin, and probably Magellan, units? Bottom line, this was a review written by GPS laymen for GPS laymen and was basically crap.

For the same reason that Garmin's Colorado and Oregon series don't include all the tools available on the 60csx. Buy both! Maybe Garmin will soon release a "Super 24k Mt. Tam Mapset - Now with accuracy to within 100 feet of the actual trail!" What's another $80?

To troubleshoot whether its a setting on your device, I'd recommend that you see if the trails appear in MapSource - but can you view SD-card maps on the computer? I suppose it could be something with how your zoom details are set. Have tried zooming way in on the trail? If the trail is only appearing at very close zoom, you can calibrate that under map settings. Unfortunately, the most likely problem is that Garmin's new maps just don't include the trails. The reality is that outdoor maps are only a tiny part of Garmin's market. They focus pretty much all their effort on road nav. Thus, Garmin's trail data is incomplete and often highly innacurate. Too bad, because routable trails are very cool! It is possible, using free software, to make your own transparent, routable trail map which you can install on top of a Garmin map. There are some tutorials on the internet about how to do this, but its a bit tricky and none of the tutorials are perfect. Plus, I don't know how this would work if you are using SD maps.

My 60csx was stolen, then recovered. In the meantime, I ordered a new 60csx which I can returned, plus a new InvisibleSHIELD screen protector and a SanDisk 4gb microsd card which I can't. The InvisibleSHIELD is brand new - I haven't even removed the box from the shipping envelope. Selling for $10.00 shipped (continental U.S. only). The SanDisk 4gb microsd card was briefly used in the new 60csx, and it works great. Comes with SD adapter and case. $20.00 shipped. I'll sell them combined for $25.00 shipped. Shoot me an e-mail at b.mirakian@gmail.com.

First the slow firmware upgrades to the CO, and now this? I am so glad I stuck with the 60csx. The Colorado is far from perfect but Garmin is already moving on! It seems like Garmin is tossing reliability under the bus just to stay on the cutting edge. Also, won't the touch screen decrease battery life even more? Will the screen smudge? Will the screen work with a protector? Just seems like a whole new set of complications, to me.

I'm not sure how to answer the previous post because I'm using GPSMapEdit to create .mp (polish) files which I then compile using mapcenter2. But, I do have my own questions about how to use mapcenter2: I think I've figured out my problem with routing. The routing works great when I test in GPSMapEdit, but doesn't work after I compile and import to MapSource. The problem (I hope) is that I've been using MapSetToolKit to install my compiled .img file to MapSoure. To do this, MapSetToolKit is first converting my map to a mapset using the free non-routing version of cGPSMapper. Thus, when I convert my compiled map into a mapset, the routing is destroyed. So, apparently, I need to use mapcenter2 to create a mapset (using "Add new mapset"), not just a map. Question 1: Do I need to compile the map before creating a mapset, or do I just create the mapset from my .mp file, the same as if I were compiling a map? Question 2: How do I fill out the fields in the "Add new mapset" form? (a) "Mapset name:" will be the same name I specified in the properties of my .mp file. ( "Description:" is a description of the mapset. © "Family ID:" can be anything as long as it doesn't conflict with the family id of an existing mapset I have installed, such as City Navigator? (d) What do I use for "Map ID:"? The ID of the map I already uploaded to mapcenter2 and compiled? (e) Does the archive matter? Should I create a new archive, or use the same archive I previously used to compile the map that I am now trying to make into a mapset? If I select the existing archive, do I need to upload a new source file? (f) Is "Source filename:" my .mp file? (g) "File to upload:" is just the .mp file zipped up? Do I have to upload anything if I select an existing archive? Question 3: Once mapcenter2 compiles the mapset, how do I install it to MapSource?

These instructions should get you started: Making Custom Garmin Maps A basic map is not too difficult to assemble, but routing is harded (I still don't have it figured out). I would think routing would be very important to you. Even if you're in a very rural county, making a custom routable county road map could be quite difficult.

The CO is perfect. You don't need the backlight to read the screen during the day. Did that help? If not, get yourself a 60csx. The difference in brightness b/w the 60csx and the CO is night and day.

If you're just wanting to retrace your steps, you can always just follow your track on the GPS - don't need any maps for that. The problem comes when you leave one trail to hike cross-country to another trail, but it's not where it's supposed to be. Sometimes the trails are very accurate, but sometimes they are off by hundreds of feet, drawn on the wrong sides of streams, etc. Just very unreliable. Even though RMNP's trail network is well marked, routable trails are nice because they provide a more accurate hiking distance to destinations (without routing, distance is measured in straight line only). But, like I said, the routing just doesn't help much when the underlying trail data is unreliable.

I own NP West v2, and I do a lot of hiking in RMNP. The mapset is generally very good. Good detail, very readable, and very accurate contour lines and geographic features. The only downside is the trail data. The trails are routable, but they are very innacurate. Tough to follow a route when the trail is in the wrong place. I think the trail data in v3 is exactly the same. Most trails in RMNP are very well marked, so you don't really need the GPS for navigation if you stick to the regular trails. If you plan to go off-trail (where you'll find some of the best sites) then the GPS is really helpful. Also, it's nice to be able to monitor your progress.

You have to have the routable version of cGPSMapper, which costs ~$2800. Or, you could use MapCenter for free, if you don't mind sharing your maps. (Yeah, I didn't think you'd mind...) I know that I have to use the MapCenter online compiler for routing. That's what I'm doing. Why would I mind sharing my topo map? The only problem with MapCenter is that you have to wait 24 hours to get your compiled map, which is kind of annoying when troubleshooting. Also, I'm cluttering up MapCenter with a bunch of junk test maps because you can't delete anything from the server. You'll have to find a way to translate that text file into Polish Map (.mp) format That's the question I'm asking. I need an application that will convert the POI txt file to something I can import to MapEdit (such as a shapefile). If there'a an application that does that conversion, and I import the POIs, will the POIs be searchable, or will they simply be visible on the map?

Routable trails are awesome for hiking, but the trails provided in the Topo 24k NP maps are very inaccurate. Makes it difficult to follow a route when the trail is in the wrong place! I doubt that the trails will be any better in the new U.S. Topo 24k. I'm also kind of surprised by the card-only release.

Uing GPSMapEdit, I added a few test trails to my custom topo, assigned them to Levels 0, 1, and 2, and then generated the routing nodes. I tested the routing in MapEdit and it worked great. No luck after compiling, though. I get an error in MapSource, and all the device does is draw straight lines between my two waypoints (from a trailhead to a lake, both waypoints are directly on the routable trail). I'm going to try recompiling just the trails, just on one level, and troubleshoot from there. Here's another question. I want to add POI (peaks, ranger stations, lakes, whatever) to my topo map. I've downloaded a .txt file containing 1000s of geographic POI. How do I get those added to the map using MapEdit? I want them to display on the map and be searchable.

I want to make a topo map of a national park with routable trails based on gpx tracklogs I've recorded. Using this guide, I've downloaded and converted contour and water data to .mp format and it all shows up great in GPSMapEdit. Now it's just a matter of putting it all together with my tracklog data. I'm dealing with a 400 square mile, mountainous national park. At 40' increments, that's a LOT of contour data. Before I get too far into this, I'm trying to figure out how to set my levels. Ideally, I'd like to set up my map similar (but a bit more simplified) to what Garmin does with its 24k mapset: Trails, 200 foot contours, lakes and streams showing up at one zoom (maybe 3 miles), and 40' contours showing up at narrower zoom in the 800' range. The trouble is, I've read that routing works for lines assigned to the 24-bit level only. (See this guide on making routable maps) This causes some problems: First, in GPSMapEdit, I can't get anything assigned to level 24 to show up until I'm zoomed in to about 500'. The program does not allow me to change the GPS zoom ranges associated with the levels (ex. Level 24's "GPS Zoom" value is frozen at 120 meters). If I can't assign a wider zoom to level 24, my routable trails won't show on my GPS until I'm zoomed way in. Is there a way around? Second, even if I could get my level 24 trails to show at a wider zoom (say, 3 miles), because level 24 is the most detailed level, I can't make things like minor contour lines show up at a closer zoom (say, 800 feet). Is there a work around? It would be a lot easier if I could just assign routable trails to level 20, but the guide above says it can't be done. Anybody disagree? I'd really appreciate any help the mapping gurus can offer.

I have a 60csx running 3.60/3.00. I do not recall ever seeing an Americas Marine Point Basemap. I can't absolutely confirm this without checking my device - maybe I've just never noticed it. You should have a "Hide City Navigator" or "Hide Topo" option listed in the submenu (I think you know the menu I'm talking about, but just to be sure - from the map page, press "menu", select "setup", toggle over to the little "i" symbol, press "menu" again). Are these options listed but don't work, or are the options not listed at all? Either way, this is a strange occurance.

I am running 3.60/3.00 with 5 states of City Nav and 10 segments of Topo 24k. I have no problem hiding map families. I have never seen that Americas Marine Point Basemap. If this problem started happening after upgrading firmware, then there's a good chance the problem is related to the upgrade. Did you have a microsd card installed when updating? I've read in other posts that this can cause problems. Maybe try giving your device a hard reset and then reinstalling the firmware? The very first thing I would do is call Garmin.

As you noted, the three devices you've listed have very similar funtionality. I replaced my old eTrex with a 60csx, and I like the 60csx's screen and button layout better. Even though the Vista Hcx's patch antenna is supposedly just as accurate as the 60csx, I like the quad-helix antenna on the 60csx. If anything, it just looks cooler. The eTrex line gets better battery life, but 14 hours continuous use on the 60 is good enough for me. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of these choices. It really comes down to what you find easiest to use. Go to a store and hold both the 60csx and the Vista Hcx in your hand.

I have a 60csx running firmware version 3.60. I've got a SanDisk 4gb microsdhc card installed and working perfectly. No formatting required. I've got about 500mb of City Navigator and Topo 24k maps installed and working, and I'm recording and downloading .gpx track data from the card with no problems. According to other posts, even though a 4gb card "works," it is not fully functional. The 60csx won't display maps (not even partially) if you install more than 2gb or 2025 segment of map data on the card. But, the remaining 2gb can still be used in other ways. It can store additional .gpx data if you are logging tracks to the card, and you can always upload any type of files you want (pictures, music, whatever) to the card in mass storage mode (of course, the device can't read them). I cannot confirm the map storage limitation because I have not tried to exceed the limits, but it has been confirmed by other posters. I wonder why these limitations would exist?

Based on the above two posts, it looks like all you need is the City Navigator (or other mapset) installation disk, which will install both the mapset and MapSource. Thank you for the correction.

First, load both mapsets to the device using MapSource (you have to select all your segments from both mapsets and upload at once.) When both mapsets are on the device, CN automatically overlaps the topos, so you you need to hide CN if you want to see the topos. To hide CN, go to the map page, press MENU, select SETUP MAP, toggle over to INFORMATION, select MENU, then hide City Navigator. Repeat steps to show CN again.

The Legend isn't garbage - its just an entry level model. You get what you pay for. Spend more money and get a 60csx or a Colorado + City Navigator.

There is nothing wrong with your device. The preloaded basemap is limited to highways. If you want detailed street navigation, you need to purchase and install the City Navigator mapset. You can install this to the Legend.

Correct. Mapsets such as U.S. Topo and Topo 24k National Parks do not have unlock codes, so you've got nothing to worry about there. City Navigator is the tough one. The preloaded basemap on the eTrex is autorouting, but limited to major roads and highways. City Navigator is pretty much essential for street navigation. If your Legend doesn't have that, I'd recommend buying it.