+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 I've been dieing to get this one out. Garmin releases a beta to support custom raster maps on newer Garmin models. Details are here: http://www.gpsfix.net/custom-raster-maps-g...akota-colorado/ Beta links * Oregon 300/400 (can't find this one yet!) * Oregon 550/550t (beta 2.51) http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4671 * Dakota 10/20 (beta 2.2) http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4669 * Colorado 300/400 (beta 3.02) http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4667 Release notes for all are the same: * Added support for Garmin Custom Maps. See our blog post about this new feature at http://garmin.blogs.com/softwareupdates/trail-tech/. * Report problems with this beta to TrailTech@garmin.com Quote Link to comment
+Rockin Roddy Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 But, wasn't someone just railing against raster maps? What was it that user said....?? Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 This is great news!!! Opens up a whole new area for custom maps and appears that Garmin is ok with those of us that want to use our own custom maps. This may even lead to limited support for custom maps, now there's a can of worms I don't think they want to open. Thnaks for the info. Quote Link to comment
Summer Walks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) wasn't someone just railing against raster maps? What was it that user said?What Red90 said--stripped of nastiness and sarcasm--is that raster topo maps are a very poor option if/when higher quality vector topo maps are available. Raster imagery for other purposes (e.g. Aerial photos, or maps/charts that aren't available as vector data), can be a very good thing indeed. Edited October 8, 2009 by Summer Walks Quote Link to comment
+Marky Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Wow, they couldn't have made it easier for me! I already have about 45 park maps in google earth, so I should just be able to save them off to the Colorado. I think I'll wait until after geocoinfest to try this out. If my Colorado got borked while away from home, I don't think I would be a happy camper. --Marky Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) What Red90 said--stripped of nastiness and sarcasm--is that raster topo maps are a very poor option if/when higher quality vector topo maps are available. Raster imagery for other purposes (e.g. Aerial photos, or maps/charts that aren't available as vector data), can be a very good thing indeed. Yes, exactly!!! Looks, like you just calibrate the image in Google Earth and copy it to the unit. Simple. Edited October 8, 2009 by Red90 Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 The application for this is almost limitless. I can see how it will be great for conjested harbor approaches with landmarks, hiking peaks, will save a hugh amount of time in custom map mapping where exisiting paper trail maps are available, or even going to an unfamiliar residence/business where the street level panoramic view is available online and georeference the front view of the building. Anyone else with some good unique uses? Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) * Oregon 300/400 (can't find this one yet!) 400t link: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/downloads...5&pID=14904 Edit: click on Download not Webupdater. Edited October 8, 2009 by eaparks Quote Link to comment
+jeepdelfuego Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) This may be a double post. So, what's the big deal! Does that mean that I can get the Disneyland map on my unit? Edited October 8, 2009 by jeepdelfuego Quote Link to comment
+jeepdelfuego Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Just kidding on my last post. I'd like to see some examples to see how useful this feature would be. Quote Link to comment
+jeepdelfuego Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 I think I just thought of cool thing to do. How about a map of all of the earthquake faults where I live. San Jacinto, CA is sandwiched between 3 or 4 faults, including the San Andreas. Could someone point me in the right direction to get this started. Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 This may be a double post. So, what's the big deal. Does that mean that I can get the Disneyland map on my unit? Yep, with everything on it being georeferenced. Can now do the same with any other paper map you can come up with or any picture (with a known location), Basically, if you can view it, you can now put that image on your GPS georeferenced now. Quote Link to comment
+Redwoods Mtn Biker Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 US Forest Service topo on my Oregon 400t. Will test in field this afternoon: Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Here are a few images: USGS topo: Trail map from PDF: I'm working on a calculator that will tell you at what zoom level you'll start seeing pixelization based on the resolution of the JPEG and the area it covers. These maps above have a width of 2000 pixels and cover a a span of 1-2miles and they look okay down to about the 300' level, 200' is okay and 120' starts to look bad. Next we'll see how they perform! Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Unfortunately you can only enable all custom maps or none - no ability to enable individual custom maps. My first feature enhancement request to Garmin (I'm never happy). Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Will you post your "calculator" to determine when pixelization becomes a significant issue when you get it completed? Sounds like a very handy tool. Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Unfortunately you can only enable all custom maps or none - no ability to enable individual custom maps. My first feature enhancement request to Garmin (I'm never happy). Even if the custom maps are given different .img names? Sounds like it should be a fairly simple change since Garmin has already implemented the same thing not to long ago. Quote Link to comment
+kevenh Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 * Oregon 300/400 (can't find this one yet!) 400t link: https://buy.garmin.com/shop/store/downloads...5&pID=14904 Your posted link ended up at the webupdater for me. http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4525 is a link for the 200 Historically, one release has worked for all Oregon x00's:? Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Even if the custom maps are given different .img names? Sounds like it should be a fairly simple change since Garmin has already implemented the same thing not to long ago. They are not IMG files.... Please read the instructions. Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Will you post your "calculator" to determine when pixelization becomes a significant issue when you get it completed? Sounds like a very handy tool. Yes. It is just an excel spreadsheet. Even if the custom maps are given different .img names? Sounds like it should be a fairly simple change since Garmin has already implemented the same thing not to long ago. They are KMZ files not .img files. No idea how hard it is to separate these but it seems doable. Historically, one release has worked for all Oregon x00's:? Yes. All x00's use the same image. Quote Link to comment
eaparks Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) Even if the custom maps are given different .img names? Sounds like it should be a fairly simple change since Garmin has already implemented the same thing not to long ago. They are not IMG files.... Please read the instructions. Thanks Red for reminding me of that. I had read the instructions a couple of times and got in a hurry hoping for a simple remedy, forgetting that they are .kmz files Edited October 8, 2009 by eaparks Quote Link to comment
freeday Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) Using an .ecw files would be great. Just trying to convert .ecw files (or .tiff georeferenced) into an .jpg + .kmz-file with globalmapper Edited October 8, 2009 by freeday Quote Link to comment
+Tui Chub Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 How's performance, screen refresh? Any differences between color depth (24 bit vs 8 bit)? This looks really interesting. I already have a few projects in mind. Quote Link to comment
freeday Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 PLEASE tell me, that there might be a mistake in understanding this technical info. There is a limit of 100 pictures (each with max. 1024x1024) https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?t=2646 Quote Link to comment
robertlipe Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) Depending on how much KML they _really_ support and how ambitious you are with the creation, it's possible that you'll see no pixelation at all at high zooms and not make the GPS parse multi-GB pixmaps at low zooms. http://code.google.com/apis/kml/documentat...l#superoverlays If your head hurt from reading that, there are tools that'll do it for you. It'd be interesting to see if regionated images are supported. Edit: I guess the post referenced above answered that. No superoverlays, but multiple GroundOverlays are OK. Edited October 8, 2009 by robertlipe Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) First thing I notice with the new firmware (on a CO300) is the tracklog is a thick purple line instead of the old thin black one.... There does not seem to be any way to "fix" it. Kind of cluttery this way. Edited October 8, 2009 by Red90 Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) PLEASE tell me, that there might be a mistake in understanding this technical info. There is a limit of 100 pictures (each with max. 1024x1024) https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?t=2646 I tested a larger file ~2850x5607 pixels and it seems to work. Bathymetric chart. Great help for a colleague that sails this lake as no vector data is available anywhere. Note that Topo Canada is turned on as well and is visible through the raster map. Edited October 8, 2009 by Red90 Quote Link to comment
+Timpat Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 I first noticed that thick purple line for the last track I generated when last using my CO 300. I cleared the track data and it went away, and haven't had the chance to get outside to see what happens when it lays down a new one. I successfully loaded two of my scanned State Park trail maps with no troubles! The resolution down to a zoom of 800 ft is still Ok and it looks pretty cool I must say. I also took one of our GIS Clearinghouse aerial orthophotos (12 in res, true color) and loaded it. Zoomed down to 80 ft and can see parking space paint striping. Wow, this IS cool! I can see lots of nice applications for this. Thanks Garmin! Quote Link to comment
+Timpat Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Had a chance to get outdoors and my CO 300 still draws a thick purple track after upgrading to 3.02 beta. I hope this can be corrected to draw the narrow black line for tracks. Quote Link to comment
yogazoo Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 (edited) This is the sweetest feature!! Super fast redraw times!! The Oregons are now officially perfect (to me). Unlimited rasters and totally FREE! Edited October 8, 2009 by yogazoo Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 So which of the keen coders out there is going to make an app to turn aerial imagery (Google...) directly into KMZs for us?? Quote Link to comment
yogazoo Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 It can already be done. All you have to do is save the screen as a JPG and add it back into GE as an image overlay. Although you might want to crop out the text along the botton with any photo editor. That's how I got the images above! Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 No, I meant automatically, not manually. The images used in Google Maps are already georeferenced by the file name. Someone just needs to write some code to yank them into a KMZ.... A little program, you specify the area and it yanks all the GE images into a single KMZ. Should be a very easy thing to code.... Maybe I'll bug Mr. GPSTurbo... I know there are many around here who could whip this up in an evening. Quote Link to comment
+Map Monkey Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Is there a filesize limit to the KMZ file? A 12mb file didn't work however a compressed jpg down to 2mb works......same pixel count. mm Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 So which of the keen coders out there is going to make an app to turn aerial imagery (Google...) directly into KMZs for us?? Yeah, there doesn't seem to be any easy way to do this that I've found. However this overlay tool works very well for USGS Topos and the B/W orthos (I know this probably doesn't help our friends in Canada!). http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/kml_overlay You need to save the file locally first but it is a pretty easy way to get topo tiles on the unit. I'll post instructions on how I'm using it tonight/tomorrow. In the meantime I've posted some more on gpsfix.net here with some guidelines around file sizes based on Garmin's recommendations. http://www.gpsfix.net/garmin-custom-maps-getting-started/ The 100 jpeg limit worries me -- is that per KMZ or total limit across all KMZ's? I'll ask. Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Yes, I've found posting question on the new Garmin forums actually seems to get responses and they feed it back into the developers.... Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/kml_overlay This does work with Canadian Topos... I know, not that useful, but some may like it. Quote Link to comment
+Low Bat Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Well this is definately an interesting development. When making a jpeg image of a .pdf map am I supposed to copy the most zoomed in level, zoomed out level, or somewhere in between? Here's a map of what I want to put in my Oregon 300 (when suppored). http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs%2FParks%20a...verGuideMap.pdf Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 The 100 jpeg limit worries me -- is that per KMZ or total limit across all KMZ's? I'll ask. This appears to be a system wide limit. If I do the math using the 1 megapixel limit and assume you want good quality rendering down to the 200'-300' zoom level you can only map about 10 square miles. Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 Well this is definately an interesting development. When making a jpeg image of a .pdf map am I supposed to copy the most zoomed in level, zoomed out level, or somewhere in between? Here's a map of what I want to put in my Oregon 300 (when suppored). http://www.sccgov.org/SCC/docs%2FParks%20a...verGuideMap.pdf I would extract the image at the highest resolution possible and then use a photo editor to get it down to the 1 megapixel resolution Garmin recommends for a single image. If you want better resolution you'll need to look at splitting the image up. Quote Link to comment
+fegan Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 How's performance, screen refresh? Any differences between color depth (24 bit vs 8 bit)? This looks really interesting. I already have a few projects in mind. IMO, it's horrible. I loaded a small area (less than 1 sq mile) and regardless if I had the raster map enabled or disabled, or if it was even being displayed on my screen, the refresh of my vector maps was affected...nothing I had ever seen before on my Colorado. Of course, it was really cool to see actual terrain (trees, roads, trails) for the area I had mapped! I'm downgrading from 3.02 back to 3.00 tonight...let's see what the next beta looks like. Just my $0.02, YMMV. Quote Link to comment
+Red90 Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Screen refresh was fine for me. Normal outside of the raster and a little slower in the raster. As expected. Quote Link to comment
robertlipe Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 (edited) I won't look up the legalese that you agreed to by using Maps or Earth (or pretty much any such program) but using the imagery outside the program and removing the copyright/attribution information is prohibited. If you screen grab a local park and tweak it for your own GPS, would I expect to get my knees capped for it? No. Would I expect the publisher of a program that made it easy to do this in bulk or that was redistributing that imagery to arouse attention? Definitely. There are freely usable sources of referenced maps out there. Imagery is rather more rare to find free to reuse. Edited October 9, 2009 by robertlipe Quote Link to comment
+Tui Chub Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 I won't look up the legalese that you agreed to by using Maps or Earth (or pretty much any such program) but using the imagery outside the program and removing the copyright/attribution information is prohibited. If you screen grab a local park and tweak it for your own GPS, would I expect to get my knees capped for it? No. Would I expect the publisher of a program that made it easy to do this in bulk or that was redistributing that imagery to arouse attention? Definitely. There are freely usable sources of referenced maps out there. Imagery is rather more rare to find free to reuse. Imagery maybe easier than you think (at least in the US). The NAIP program by the Dept of Agriculture has 1:12,000 Color Imagery for most of the US. You just need to find it. Here's for Nevada. Nevada NAIP Here's California. California NAIP These are very large files. Quote Link to comment
+Maingray Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Amazing update. Aerial images for this area, here I come! This turns a top notch paperless unit into an even better top notch paperless unit. Dang, custom maps / imagery as well now. Quote Link to comment
robertlipe Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 There are freely usable sources of referenced maps out there. Imagery is rather more rare to find free to reuse. Imagery maybe easier than you think (at least in the US). The NAIP program by the Dept of Agriculture has 1:12,000 Color Imagery for most of the US. You just need to find it. You may be wise to not want to challenge what I think. There's imagery out there. There's even free images and maps out there. My point is that copy/pasting/screen-capturing it from Google's products (largely licensed from third parties with arm-length legalese) isn't really available. Quote Link to comment
Ken in Regina Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 If it has to be georeferenced in Google Earth I will be interested in how accurate it is as people actually make tracks on them in the wild. Any experiences in reality yet? ...ken... Quote Link to comment
+Tui Chub Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 You may be wise to not want to challenge what I think. Quote Link to comment
+g-o-cashers Posted October 9, 2009 Author Share Posted October 9, 2009 If it has to be georeferenced in Google Earth I will be interested in how accurate it is as people actually make tracks on them in the wild. Any experiences in reality yet? ...ken... The two or three small maps that I've made and tested against have been very good. Quote Link to comment
seldom_sn Posted October 9, 2009 Share Posted October 9, 2009 Here's for Nevada. Nevada NAIP Here's California. California NAIP These are very large files. They certainly are. 6 hours and 13G for a single county in Nevada. Quote Link to comment
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