Installing maps to PC and Nuvi

Former Member
Former Member
Is it good practice to download to both unit and to the PC. I use Basecamp and it shows (when Nuvi is connected) two of the same maps.

What I am asking is, do I need to download to both Device and Unit thereby saving download time?
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    . . .do I need to download to both Device and Unit thereby saving download time?
    By all means, you should download to both the computer and device. In my opinion it's worth the extra time and/or money to get the DVD version so as to allow this option, as opposed to just doing the download, as I did recently when I needed the European map set it a hurry. When the map resides on the computer, you can plan trips and review past activity using that map. Otherwise you need to: 1) plug your Nuvi into the computer so it can access the map on the device, which is S...L...O...W, or 2) make do with the base map, which has no detail.

    And yes, with your Nuvi plugged in, you'll see both maps, and you should select the one that's in the computer to get the speed advantage.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Thanks for reply. In the list of maps installed (Basecamp) there is no indication of which is loaded on the PC and which on the Unit. How do you choose?
  • Use JaVaWa Device Manager to make the maps on your nuvi hidden in BaseCamp.

    Usually, when multiple copies of the same map are available in the drop down menu, the first map listed is on the computer, the next on the connected device.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    Or don't connect your nuvi :)


    I hope that remark was 'tongue in cheek'. That's the main reason for using Basecamp, to design routes and send to the Unit!
  • Not really. If you have the map on your PC you only need to connect the nuvi when actually sending routes to it :)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    I came here today to find out how to store, in BaseCamp, the Topo maps that are on my 62st. From what I can gather from this thread alone, it can't be done. Is that correct? I've spent over an hour looking for a thread that holds the answer to my question so that I didn't start a new one for a question that had already been answered. This thread here comes closer than any others I've found thus far.
    I used to use MapSource with my 60CS and I was pretty efficient with it but I had the maps installed on my PC and would transfer them over to my GPS in sections that would take up the internal memory of my GPS as close as possible. I had purchased City Select software and installed it on my PC though.
    I have never purchased a handheld GPS that was "pre-loaded", the 62st is my first.
    I'm bummed out that when I want to play around in BaseCamp to familiarize myself and/or see where geocaches are, I don't have anything but a white background at a zoom level of a mile. It's hard to plan any sort of trip wiith only a blank screen. So, in order to lay maps underneath the caches, I have to connect my 62st and wait for a long time for the maps to load into BaseCamp and all the while, I'm burning up the AA batteries? Am I understanding correctly? Is there or is there not a way to just save them into BaseCamp?
    Then to make matters worse, I just bought a micro SD card with 24k topo of my area when what I should have did was purchase the software for the PC instead so that I could have used it the way I used to use MapSource, City Select, and my 60CS?? Now I'm really bummed out :'(
    If anybody could help me out with confirmation that I'm right or wrong, your time will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
  • First, when your GPS is connected it's not running on your batteries, so that's one consolation :)

    Second, it shouldn't take a long time for the maps to show when you plug in your 62 although it will the first time as Basecamp indexes the maps. You'll see a green bar slowly moving underneath your 62 in the upper left hand pane. Just wait for it to complete. After that BC should see the maps pretty quickly.

    You can of course copy the map files to a usb stick or sd card and use that on your PC instead, saves having to connect your 62 all the time.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    You can of course copy the map files to a usb stick or sd card and use that on your PC instead, saves having to connect your 62 all the time.


    Ohhh... well that would be handy too I guess. At least I wouldn't have to track down my GPS and have it plugged in to 'work' inside BaseCamp every time.

    On the battery usage issue, I didn't realize that. I could have swore that I consumed a 1/4 of my battery life while just playing around. Maybe I actually didn't have it connected via USB the whole time I was playing. I'll take notes next time :-P

    Thanks for your help!
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member
    SUSSAMB,

    I am having one small problem with the maps transferring from my GPS to BaseCamp.
    This wasn't a brand new GPS, I bought it used but I promise the thing is in brand spanking new condition!
    On the SD card there are a couple other topo maps. They are 24k versions and cover California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.
    What can you tell me about these? They load into BaseCamp much like the 100k does except what I notice is that the progress bars are red colored instead of green.
    I swear the other day they all loaded just fine because I took a little trip to AZ via BaseCamp to 'see' the difference in the 100k vs the 24k.
    I can see on the SD card that there are the maps and separate files with the unlock codes.
    I haven't tried 'copying' anything as of yet. I don't have a need today, I have my GPS right here beside me.