+Lothar69 Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Does anyone know where one can obtain the MapSource CDs for the Garmin GPS units as cheap as possible? Just recently got an Etrex-Legend. Took it along on our family vacation to Yellowstone just to try and get familiar with it (hadn't quite figured out how to enter coordinates for caches yet so I couldn't search for any). Discovered the potential of the mapping software when I nearly ran out of gas in Nowhere, Wyoming. The software seems a little cost prohibitive. I've seen it for as little as $99 I think. Seems pretty high. I also have Microsoft Streets and Trips on my home PC. Will the Legend interract with that program at all? Exchange maps or upload and download coordinates? Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 You'll need Mapsource to download maps to your Legend. $99 is about what I've seen it for, but perhaps you can get it for less on E-Bay. I have the MS Topo and find it to be well worth the $99 my wife paid for it (it was an anniversary give...nice wife). "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day" - Dave Barry Quote Link to comment
+Lone Duck Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 That price is about as cheap as it gets, unless you are lucky enough to find someone willing to give it to you, or sell you a used CD. It's one of the most expensive pieces of software that I own, and I think it's well worth it. Having it has helped me out of some jams in the past couple of years. I prefer Streets and Trips for driving, I use it on the laptop. Your GPS will show your location on Streets and Trips, but you can't upload any maps from it. You gotta use a MapSource product for uploading maps. Lone Duck The Quack Cacher http://www.netwalk.com/~jporter/BackPage.htm Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 I was recently informed that a program called GPS Babel can convert your .loc or .gpx files to a format which will be recognized by Streets and Trips. Wal Mart online has Mapsource TOPO for less than 90 dollars. It's an old version, but the update to 5.0 is free on the Garmin site. "Chock full of essential vitamins and waypoints" Quote Link to comment
pipes_up Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Just this week I saw Mapsource Metroguide v5 on Amazon for $76.99. That is a killer price! Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BloenCustoms: Wal Mart online has Mapsource TOPO for less than 90 dollars. It's an old version, but the update to 5.0 is free on the Garmin site. That update is only for the MapSource interface program, not the TOPO map data. "Don't mess with a geocacher. We know all the best places to hide a body." Quote Link to comment
Hawk_Wind Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I am a proud owner of a Garmin eTrex Vista. I will soon be looking into the purchase of one of the MapSource products, but I am not quite sure which to get. My debate is between the Roads & Recreation or the MetroGuide. Any suggestions? Along with being a geocacher (albeit new), I am a hiker and a biker (bicycle). Let me know... Thanks! Quote Link to comment
pdumas Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Get MetroGuide and order it from gpsdiscount.com, take a look at their web site. I have ordered many items from them in the last two years and so far I've been real happy. Quote Link to comment
+BrownMule & Jackrabbit Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Prime Suspect: quote:Originally posted by BloenCustoms: Wal Mart online has Mapsource TOPO for less than 90 dollars. It's an old version, but the update to 5.0 is free on the Garmin site. That update is only for the MapSource interface program, not the TOPO map data. _ As far as I know, there hasn't been any updates to the Map data. At least since 3.0 and there probably won't be for a while. That is according to what I was told by Garmin. _________________________________________________________ On the other hand, you have different fingers. Quote Link to comment
Mushtang Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I also have an eTrex Vista and I use the Roads and Recreation version of MapSource. I've found that it's not very accurate on some pretty established roads, and surprisingly has a few very new roads shown. It's very frustrating that it's not more accurate than it is. My brother caches with the MetroGuide version and seems happy with it. Roads and Recreation shows a LOT of creeks and rivers, which I'm sure it useful for some and therefore one of the major features of that version, but to me they get in the way of the roads. I'm wishing I had chosen MetroGuide instead, but I was counting on Roads and Recreation to include a lot of parks and trails and was disappointed that it lacked in those too. ---------------------------------------------------------------- "A noble spirit embiggins the smallest man." - Jebediah Springfield ---------------------------------------------------------------- Quote Link to comment
+Bloencustoms Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 The biggest difference I noticed with 5.0 is the improved search feature. I think I remember reading that the map data is derived from USGS topo maps, which aren't updated too frequently, particularly ones in remote areas with little development or geology changes. And yes, I know that the update is only for the interface. "Chock full of essential vitamins and waypoints" Quote Link to comment
+antonym Posted July 27, 2003 Share Posted July 27, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrownMule:As far as I know, there hasn't been any updates to the Map data. At least since 3.0 and there probably won't be for a while. That is according to what I was told by Garmin. I'm only familiar with MapSource TOPO but, from all that I can gather, Mapsource TOPO V5.0 (data version 2.00) is the most recent and up to date flavor available. The version 2.00 data dates clear back to 1999 when MapSource TOPO was in the v2.x (software) versions. The data hasn't been updated since then so if you are after MapSource topo, there shouldn't be a problem with nabbing an older version. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.