Basecamp

I'm sorry if I don't understand something. If you have Basecamp installed, it is very simple (and free) to download Mapsource from Garmin's web site and install it and use it.

Is the problem that Mapsource will not work at all with the 550?

...ken...

Download and install Mapsource here: http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209

It should access the same maps that are installed in Basecamp, although Basecamp will be able to read the preinstalled 100k topo directly from your 550t and Mapsource cannot.

I have an Oregon 400t, which is an older model, and I use Mapsource with no problem. However, from what I understand, the 450 and 550 series now store waypoints differently and you must use Basecamp to fully access them (evidently they are spread out between a number of files and Mapsource doesn't know where to find them all).

This was discussed awhile back in another thread, and the developers acknowledged the Mapsource limitation with these models. They said they would like to update Masource to make it fully compatible, but realistically they might never get around to it.

Basecamp

I have both installed. I have all my waypoints and tracks in my 550t, but when i transfer from mapsource, it shows they were transferred but the list is empty. They show up in basecamp of course.

I was keeping a running list of waypoints and tracks from an area I have been hunting, but upgraded to the 550t during the process. All the info is there in basecamp, but I cant print as well.

The preloaded topo maps should be available in mapsource..

I can't believe this is acceptable to everyone. Garming needs to get on it.

I plot everything out based on my topos for hunting in mapsource and then send to my device. I usually also print a map to carry with me. Once you download birdseye data, you can't turn it off in basecamp so printing is useless in basecamp. IMO, basecamp is a horrible fairly useless product. I dont fully understand the my collection.
If i delete something from "my collection" apparently it's not gone.. Same with renaming waypoints. If they are renamed in the all data, they still exist under My collection with the old name.

You can transfer waypoints and routes back and forth between Basecamp and Mapsource a couple of different ways. You should be able to just copy/paste between them. You can definitely Save As a GPX file from one and open it in the other.

That would allow you to copy a route to Mapsource and print a map of it.

...ken...

basecamp

Seems silly to REQUIRE use of 2 different programs to accomplish what I used to accomplish with one. Again, Garmin NEEDS to resolve this before they start losing out. The 550T was supposed to be an improvement not a set back. At this point I feel I should have stayed with my 60CSX. I have installed topo 2008 along with CN for mapsource. I wouldn't mind using basecamp for just birdseye but NOT being able to use mapsource to transfer data (waypoints, track, etc) is INSANITY. The duplication of tracks and waypoints has also been an issue. Again, Mapsource states the selected device has no waypoints or tracks on it but there are several waypoints and tracks. :(

It looks like the switch from using MapSource to using BaseCamp has been pretty hard for you. If you ask specific questions on what you are trying to accomplish, I'm sure the rest of us here in the forum will be able to help you.

Once you download birdseye data, you can't turn it off in basecamp so printing is useless in basecamp.

BaseCamp uses a new concept called Lists to organize what data is displayed on the map. Only items within the selected list are displayed. If you've downloaded a BirdsEye, but don't want it shown, select a list that doesn't contain the BirdsEye.

I dont fully understand the my collection.If i delete something from "my collection" apparently it's not gone..
If you delete something from My Collection, it is gone.

Same with renaming waypoints. If they are renamed in the all data, they still exist under My collection with the old name.
I'm assuming you are talking about All Data under your device; If so, yes, renaming something on the device has no impact on data on your computer.

Please ask more specific questions if you are having trouble using BaseCamp. Also, if you search this forum, there is already a wealth of knowledge here on how to organize data in BaseCamp and how to work with devices.