Maps for Using GPSMAP 60CSx in France

[+scubadiver]

Hello,

 

Can someone please suggest good geocaching maps compatible for the GPSMAP 60CSx that are suitable for both street navigation and off-road geocaching in France. I'll mainly be in the south of France and Paris.

 

I use the MapSource MetroGuide maps where I live in Canada but the Europe version does not list my GPSr as one of the supported units.

 

Thanks

[+rpminmn]

I have MetroGuide Europe V8 V9 installed on my Garmin 60Cx. I used it to navigate the streets of Paris during my trip to France last summer and it worked well.

 

-bob

Edited February 27, 2008 by rpminmn

[Stive Gonzales]

http://www.ign.fr/rubrique.asp?rbr_id=2179&lng_id=EN

 

These are another option and pretty good for the most part with a few annoyances - primarily the poor colour scheme. I use Alps (1), Pyrenees (2) & Provence (3) for hiking, mountain biking, 4x4 etc. and haven't got horribly lost yet.

 

They aren't great in cities due to the amount of detail (buildings) affecting the redraw speed - I generally use City Navigator Europe for driving.

 

Many users use a custom TYP file to change the colour scheme and symbols to either look more like the IGN paper maps or just be more legible in general.

 

See http://gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=86043 (in french) for what's possible in terms of changing the look.

 

There is however the question of whether these maps will ever be updated in the future. The status of the company that created them is somewhat unclear to me. Having said that, the cost does compare very favourably to the pile of 1:25000 maps you'd need to buy to cover the same area.

[Parsa]

http://www.ign.fr/rubrique.asp?rbr_id=2179&lng_id=EN

 

These are another option and pretty good for the most part with a few annoyances - primarily the poor colour scheme. I use Alps (1), Pyrenees (2) & Provence (3) for hiking, mountain biking, 4x4 etc. and haven't got horribly lost yet.

 

They aren't great in cities due to the amount of detail (buildings) affecting the redraw speed - I generally use City Navigator Europe for driving.

 

Many users use a custom TYP file to change the colour scheme and symbols to either look more like the IGN paper maps or just be more legible in general.

 

See http://gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=86043 (in french) for what's possible in terms of changing the look.

 

There is however the question of whether these maps will ever be updated in the future. The status of the company that created them is somewhat unclear to me. Having said that, the cost does compare very favourably to the pile of 1:25000 maps you'd need to buy to cover the same area.

 

Ouch, 100 euros is steep when it's converted. By the way, if you were looking for Paris on these, you would need No. 5 Ile-de-France.

 

I think if it's only a vacation that I would second finding a copy of MetroGuide for Europe. City Navigator is twice the price for European maps than North America.

[Barrikady]

http://www.ign.fr/rubrique.asp?rbr_id=2179&lng_id=EN

 

These are another option and pretty good for the most part with a few annoyances - primarily the poor colour scheme. I use Alps (1), Pyrenees (2) & Provence (3) for hiking, mountain biking, 4x4 etc. and haven't got horribly lost yet.

 

They aren't great in cities due to the amount of detail (buildings) affecting the redraw speed - I generally use City Navigator Europe for driving.

 

Many users use a custom TYP file to change the colour scheme and symbols to either look more like the IGN paper maps or just be more legible in general.

 

See http://gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=86043 (in french) for what's possible in terms of changing the look.

 

There is however the question of whether these maps will ever be updated in the future. The status of the company that created them is somewhat unclear to me. Having said that, the cost does compare very favourably to the pile of 1:25000 maps you'd need to buy to cover the same area.

 

I think if it's only a vacation that I would second finding a copy of MetroGuide for Europe. City Navigator is twice the price for European maps than North America.

 

I agree. I did an 11 day trek in the French Alps this past September. I brought my 60Cx and had it loaded with Metroguide Europe 9. Surprisingly, the MetroGuide map had the GR54 trail, the trail we hiked, on the map.

 

I also used MetroGuide Europe 9 while we were in Paris.

 

It all worked out very well. I am delighted that I brought the 60Cx and MetroGuide Europe with me to France.

 

 

.

Edited February 27, 2008 by Barrikady

[Suscrofa]

At least have EU Metroguide or NT 2008 on your Garmin. If you don't want to buy the TOPO for the GPS, buy locally just the topo paper maps. These maps have UTM and WGS84 datum. You can alos prepare a few papers maps with Google.