How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

SUSSAMB — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:04:38 GMT

MapInstall is a program that installs maps to your device, not BaseCamp, so this is incorrect advice. The OP has already been advised to find an OSM map that suits his needs and has a Windows installer.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

5611258 — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 15:13:32 GMT

It sounds like BaseCamp isn’t recognizing the .img files directly, you’ll need to install the map with Garmin MapInstall or convert it using MapSetToolKit so BaseCamp can read it properly. Try downloading the OSM “Windows installer” version instead of the raw .img file for an easier setup.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

8625906 — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:48:58 GMT

I thought I might develop this conversation a little more fully.

For me, it looks like, (atm), that I might best be served by a hub and spoke design for my nav needs.

I BELIEVE, ( could easily be proven wrong) that I should use Basecamp as the central hub of the system.

The spokes are my various Garmin devices.

At present, these are:

Alpha 200i

Astro 430

Drive track 710?

INSTINCT watch

They operate as a set, and are the core of my bird hunting/bird dog system.

4 different Nuvi’s

a couple Etrex’s, and a GPS 12xl.

I’ll stay on land for now, as I use 2 of the Nuvi’s and the 200i on the ice, and other Garmin devices on soft water.

So I have a plethora of Garmin devices that will communicate with Basecamp.

It appears that the map that shipped with the 200i has the greatest detail and accuracy for my immediate interest.

I’m going to work at getting that map stored on my PC, and see if I can use it on a Nuvi and the Drive track as well.

If I can get it set up correctly, I should be able to:

Plan a highway route to a departure intersection out in the forest using the Drivetrack in the truck.

Then switch over to a NUVI in my SxS to get to pre-planned hunting waypoints.

Unleash the hounds there, using the Astro 430 or 200i as circumstances require.

On return,

Upload tracks from the dogs and the track data from my Instinct watch.

But 1 step at a time.

I need to get the truck to pre-selected waypoints scheduled for each day, and get the right maps to the right devices.

TIA,

Greg

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

SUSSAMB — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 06:43:54 GMT

Unfortunately map makers will never have all the tracks and roads that will suit everyone. I have four OSM maps in BaseCamp and cycle through them to check for routes, still find some tracks missing that I know exist.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

8625906 — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:57:53 GMT

I'll keep working at it.

I did get a rudimentary map loaded into my computer from a site, but after all the install, I had to download another program to read, and then re-write the gpx file so that Basecamp could read it.

I ran a test on the OSM routable map, and it doesn't have the forest roads (that I know by heart) in the right places.

I'm sure I can work through this if I keep at it.

Having so many devices that all have internal memory, as well as Micro SD slots, is actually complicating things atm.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

BTLAAKE — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 16:45:20 GMT

I do tend to add and remove OSM maps as needed and end up downloading a new map when needed

I place my OSM map folders in the location I gave, no longer have C:/Garmin folder, and all works well.

Edit: As stated, I don't use these maps often. I checked what's currently in my BaseCamp and I believe the maps were downloaded from www.openfietsmap.nl

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

SUSSAMB — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 15:41:52 GMT

That's true of the Garmin CN maps, many, if not all, 3rd party maps will be elsewhere, mine are all in C:/Garmin

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

BTLAAKE — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 11:06:32 GMT

In the current version of BaseCamp (4.7.x) the map folder should be placed in (C:):>Programdata>Garmin>Maps folder. The map folder name should end in gmap if it is for use in BaseCamp.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

SUSSAMB — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:31:31 GMT

8625906

I wouldn't call them 'special maps' but you do, if you want maps installed on your PC for BaseCamp to use, need them correctly installed on your PC. Openstreetmaps certainly provide the correct files to allow you to do this, and provide a link explaining how to do it correctly that leads to https://alternativaslibres.org/en/use.php

You can also as dpawlyk explains use either a virtual or physical USB drive as BaseCamp can read .img files from that. Openstreetmap also provides .img files.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

dpawlyk — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:24:10 GMT

What Garmin device are you using? Basecamp can often just read the map from the plugged-in device.

Another approach is to use a USB emulator. This is easy/simple.

http://www.ltr-data.se/opencode.html/

Make sure it’s read-only.

Put the *.img file in \Garmin on the fake USB drive. (Note that you can rename tge *.img files.)

You could also use a real USB drive.

==============

Garmin uses “Basemap” to refer to maps that have very little detail. They don’t have routing information and not enough detail anyway.

You don’t want another “Basemap”.

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

8625906 — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 21:20:09 GMT

Well, that’s certainly something I never heard before.

I have watched at least a dozen videos on YouTube that show the host installing different maps to Basecamp via the maps folder, and no one ever mentioned Base camp requires special maps.

As far as sources, I typically use GPS file depot to find maps, or, use MI-Hunt for small, finely detailed maps of the forests.

But none of the Mi-hunt maps are routable. They can be downloaded as overlays, and you can drop waypoints on them within Basecamp, but I can’t route to them.

To get from my home to the rendezvous point requires highway routing all the way to the Federal forest roads.

The OSM’s I hoped to use came from “Garmin.openstreetmap.nl” and ,”Open map chest.org”, and “bbb something”

I guess I don’t care where the new, more detailed base map comes from, as long as it is routable.

Since I like to learn, perhaps you can direct me to where this special downloading requirement is explained?

TIA,

Greg

RE: How to change base map in Basecamp to routable OSM street map?

SUSSAMB — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 06:20:46 GMT

We need more information to help. OSM maps often have 2 ways to download them, either a .img file that is meant to be downloaded to a device or an installation file(s) that install the map to your PC for BaseCamp to use. Ideally for your use you need a map provider that offers the latter. Which maps have you been trying and I can have a look at them, or if you say which area you want I might be able to recommend one.