Google Maps to Garmin

[+geoduck.5]

Just found this on the web through the Google Earth Blog. You can use this tool to upload the maps you make through "Google My Maps" and download them directly to your Garmin GPS or convert them to GPX format. TakItWithMe

[+hogrod]

Thanks for posting this.... I just tested it out and it works great!

 

I was able to mark a state park boundry and lake and send them to my vistaCX as tracks. once on the gpsr I selected a blue border for the lake and a green border for the park boundry. whats nice is the tracks page on the GPSr will show the acreage(area) of either track.

 

make sure to watch the demo video for help on the takitwithme site.

http://www.takitwithme.com/mymapshelp.html

 

here's an example of the map I created

Shot at 2007-07-18

[+myotis]

If I want something off of Google Earth, I use GPSbable to convert it to garmin .gbd and then make it into a custom map. I think that is much better than tracks.

[geoprincesss]

If I want something off of Google Earth, I use GPSbable to convert it to garmin .gbd and then make it into a custom map. I think that is much better than tracks.

Example of the difference??

[sbacon]

I saw this yesterday, too. Pretty cool!

[+Redwoods Mtn Biker]

If I want something off of Google Earth, I use GPSbable to convert it to garmin .gbd and then make it into a custom map. I think that is much better than tracks.

 

Are lines shown on the map, but not as tracks?

[+myotis]

If you make a custom map, you can add the stuff as a transparent overlay in the GPS. So instead of having a track file of the edge of the lake, you would have the lake show up as a lake on the map. Boundaries woudl show up as a line with the boundary. You can trace a trail and have it show up as a trail on the map. You can trace anything in GoogleEarth and then add it to your garmin maps.

[rws]

If I want something off of Google Earth, I use GPSbable to convert it to garmin .gbd and then make it into a custom map. I think that is much better than tracks.

Example of the difference??

 

Here's the difference...a custom map instead of tracks...I traced the same park, lake as hogrod did above and added some roads too. You can make the map as detailed as you want it.

You also won't be tieing up limited track storage on your GPS.

 

Screenshot of Custom Map from a Garmin 276c

Edited July 19, 2007 by rws

[Rhialto]

I don't know if I may ask this here in this thread but at work we are using a BlackBerry with GPS capabilities. And what's great with it is a program called HelloWorldGPS that use the internet connection to show the Satellite view of Google Maps and I can scroll in a lot.

 

So as I move the map move also (of course) and this is amazing. It look like the camera from the satellite is straight looking at me all the time! I guess I would be able to confuse someone on this unless he notice there is no car moving. :-)

 

So my question is there a GPS where you can insert real world view like Satellite view of Google Maps?

[rws]

A little more detail traced from Google Earth Plus and added to the custom map...

 

Screenshot from a Garmin 276c

Edited July 20, 2007 by rws

[RenHoek]

@rws-

Can you please give us details of how you're making that custom map?

TIA!

-RenHoek

[+TrailGators]

This looks very cool! I'll have to play around with it. But you could use the hybrid view and mark a bunch a waypoints for an hiking/offroading trip and quickly dump them to your GPS!

[rws]

@rws-

Can you please give us details of how you're making that custom map?

TIA!

-RenHoek

 

search this site for details on making custon maps

[RenHoek]

@rws-

I'm familiar with GPS MapEdit, MapSetToolKit, and all that, but what I'm asking is for info on starting with Google Earth as a source. I've searched the site for that and couldn't come up with anything. I'm not looking for complete, step-by-step directions -- that's too time consuming!

 

thx-

RenHoek

[rws]

@rws-

I'm familiar with GPS MapEdit, MapSetToolKit, and all that, but what I'm asking is for info on starting with Google Earth as a source. I've searched the site for that and couldn't come up with anything. I'm not looking for complete, step-by-step directions -- that's too time consuming!

 

thx-

RenHoek

 

You need Google Earth Plus in order to trace map features...$20 subscription. Trace the features you want to make a map out of with the Path/Polygon tool...save to .kml...convert .kml to .gpx or .gdb with GPSBabel...open/add .gpx or .gdb in GPSMapEdit...you know the rest of the procedure to make the map.

Edited July 20, 2007 by rws

[RenHoek]

BINGO! GE Plus FTW!

Thx-

RenHoek

Edited July 20, 2007 by RenHoek

[vzett]

Google Earth Plus is no longer required for making lines and polygons - these tools are built into the free version now.

 

The main difference between free and plus is the ability to import GPS data directly from devices (it's actually gpsBabel in the background) into Google Earth and to show a very simple real-time position via GPS.

 

The free version of GE will import GPX files if you change the file type setting in the File - Open menu.

 

TakItWithMe has a tool to convert KML to GPX (although not the fancy map overlays) at www.takitwithme.com/ge2gps.html . Copy KML from GE by a simple right-click copy over any placemark (or folder of placemarks, lines, and polygons) and paste it into the takitwithme form.

 

- Virgil

[JoeMugs]

 

You need Google Earth Plus in order to trace map features...$20 subscription. Trace the features you want to make a map out of with the Path/Polygon tool...save to .kml...convert .kml to .gpx or .gdb with GPSBabel...open/add .gpx or .gdb in GPSMapEdit...you know the rest of the procedure to make the map.

 

I am ashamed to admit I am a little lost on this one.

 

I have GE. No problem tracing features, making paths and polygons. Save and a .kml - use GPS Babel to convert to .gpx or .gdb. Fine so far.

 

How do I make this file into a map and get it into a Garmin 60CSx? I am on a Mac (I know - not a good platform for GPS) but can find Windows access if necessary. What exactly do I need and how do I go about getting the polygons/paths created in GE to the Garmin?

[RenHoek]

@JoeMugs-

Not sure about doing this on a Mac...but for Windows:

 

Search this forum for the following and start reading (not a light topic....)

-GPS MapEdit

-cGPSMapper

-MapSetToolkit

 

Here are some good links to get you started:

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...t+MapSetToolKit

http://cypherman1.googlepages.com/

http://cypherman1.googlepages.com/Creating...hMapSetTool.pdf

http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm

http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/

http://vip.hex.net/~dougs/GPSSM/index.html

[+imajeep]

Pretty cool stuff--and all new to me. There seem to be a couple of different applications for creating custom map stuff. What's generally recommended? Thanks.

[JoeMugs]

@JoeMugs-

Not sure about doing this on a Mac...but for Windows:

 

Search this forum for the following and start reading (not a light topic....)

-GPS MapEdit

-cGPSMapper

-MapSetToolkit

 

Here are some good links to get you started:

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...t+MapSetToolKit

http://cypherman1.googlepages.com/

http://cypherman1.googlepages.com/Creating...hMapSetTool.pdf

http://home.cinci.rr.com/creek/garmin.htm

http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/

http://vip.hex.net/~dougs/GPSSM/index.html

 

Thanks very much for the links. You are right - this is not a light topic. !! L(

 

I have actually read through some of those links a while back. I tried some of these programs on a Windows machine (none except the IDL VM are available for Mac). Had some trouble and could really get maps of the detail level I was looking for, so I gave up.

 

From this topic, I understand that trails and features can be traced in Google Earth and then brought into the Garmin as a custom map. I can do the GE tracing part. Apparently, there is still quite a bit of post-processing work that needs to be done to that data before it is ready to be transferred as a custom map. I orignally though that the GE process cut out much of that.

 

Thanks again - looks like I have a bit of reading ahead.

[RenHoek]

In case you guys haven't seen it, RWS posted a nice video tutorial of going from Google to Garmin here:

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=169270

 

Thanks, RWS-

RenHoek