Basic Questions

Former Member over 13 years ago

Would it make sense to start a "tutorial" type thread? As a newcomer to the device (1450) I feel someplace between overwhelmed and confused by the various topics discussed. Just a point of clarification, I own and use GPS's for over 15 years - but this my the first Gamin.

So, to start with - several open questions:

I. What is the difference between the "normal" USA & Canada maps to "City Navigator" Are they one and the same - or is there a different level of detail? Obviously the same would apply to European etc. maps.

II. I travel extensively throughout the world and need to carry many regions with me. So;
A. Is there a max capacity SD card that the unit would recognize?
B. Is there a limit to the number of maps one can fit into a SD card?
C. Is there a "naming convention" one needs to keep - or can I rename the maps to "Europe.img, NA.img" etc?
D. Is there a need to use program such as "basecamp, gmap" and whatever else? When? Why?

III. Do I need Mapsource/Mapinstall to add maps - or can I simply copy the appropriate img files ?

This is probably a good start...

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

I. What is the difference between the "normal" USA & Canada maps to "City Navigator".

No idea what you mean by "normal". City Navigator [North America/Europe/etc] are the maps for a 1450.

A. Is there a max capacity SD card that the unit would recognize?

32GB microSDHC is the largest you can use. I keep a 16GB in my 1490T.

B. Is there a limit to the number of maps one can fit into a SD card?

Apart from card space, yes. There's a tile/segment/chunk limit of about 4,000.

C. Is there a "naming convention" one needs to keep - or can I rename the maps to "Europe.img, NA.img" etc?

I think any name is ok. I use gmapsupX.img where X is 1..9.

D. Is there a need to use program such as "basecamp, gmap" and whatever else? When? Why?

Your 1450 stores waypoint/track data in the /GPX/current.gpx file. Use any software you like that can read GPX files (and almost everything does).

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

III. Do I need Mapsource/Mapinstall to add maps.

Depends.
Garmin sells pre-programmed cards which you just plug in. They also sell maps in downloadable form that go straight on your unit or card. If you buy supplement maps, on DVD/CD, then yes you use MapSource/MapInstall to write then to your unit/card.

0 SUSSAMB over 13 years ago

I think you'll find that if you want to use any names the maps need to go in a folder named Map. Also note that the nuvi first looks for gmapprom.img, which is your City Navigator map that came pre-installed, that should NOT be renamed.

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

I think you'll find that if you want to use any names the maps need to go in a folder named Map.

FYI MapSource/MapInstall will parse the GarminDevice.xml file on a particular device to determine the actual location (which may NOT be \Map on some units).

<Name>SupplementalMaps</Name>

            <File>

                <Specification>

                    <Identifier>IMG</Identifier>

                </Specification>

                <Location>

                    <Path>Map</Path>

                    <BaseName>gmapsupp</BaseName>

                    <FileExtension>img</FileExtension>

                </Location>

                <TransferDirection>InputOutput</TransferDirection>

            </File>

0 SUSSAMB over 13 years ago

Thanks for that info.

I was assuming that the OP might also want to copy a .img file across. As he has a 14xx nuvi that does require them to be in the Map folder, at least it does on my 1490 ;)

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

...at least it does on my 1490 ;)

Mine too--which is where I got the XML data from :) I just wanted to make the point that other models may be different.

0 SUSSAMB over 13 years ago

..... :)

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Mine too--which is where I got the XML data from :) I just wanted to make the point that other models may be different.

And it's an excellent point. My 765T requires them to be in the GARMIN directory on either the device or the SD card or it just ignores them. A look in the GarminDevice.xml file makes it clear why (thanks for that info).

<Name>SupplementalMaps</Name>

- <File>

    - <Specification>

         <Identifier>IMG</Identifier>

      </Specification>

    - <Location>

         <Path>Garmin</Path>

 ...etc...

Of course I could probably edit the XML file and change that but I would rather not mess with it. :eek:

By the way, if you use the BBcode "code" instead of "quote" you can retain the spacing for examples like this. A tip for a tip. :)

...ken...

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

Of course I could probably edit the XML file and change that but I would rather not mess with it.

No you can't ;)

The GarminDevice.xml file is recreated every time you enter mass storage mode making it effectively read only. In fact if you delete it it'll come back again.

By the way, if you use the BBcode "code" instead of "quote" you can retain the spacing for examples like this.

Thanks :) I didn't know that!