Maps in Basecamp

Former Member over 12 years ago

Hi all, my trusty etrex Legend is close to falling to bits from use and needs to be replaced. If I buy a unit complete with (UK) OS 50k maps can I load those maps into Basecamp somehow? If "yes" how many computers am I permitted to do this on? I'd like to use them on two; my main, home pc and on my portable.

Please excuse the dumb question.

Thanks,
John

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

You can't 'load' those maps into Basecamp. You have a couple of options. Basecamp will read the maps off any connected device. It will also read it off a cloned device, so if you copy your GPS folders onto a memory stick or sd card BC will also read the map off that :)

Incidentally you may want to look at the free maps for UK available at www.talkytoaster.co.uk as they can be loaded both to your device and installed onto your PC so BC can use them. I use them on my Etrex 20 and haven't bothered to pay for the OS mapping.

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Thanks Sussamb. I'm using the talkytoaster OSM maps in my etrex. I rather wonder if the OSM maps may be superior to OS maps (heresy!!) in that the detail you get increases / decreases as you zoom in / out. OS maps, I guess, show the same regardless.

I'm trying to decide between an etrex 20, basically the current version of what I have, and something more expensive. I use Mapyx Quo for plotting routes (recommended) but I wondered if Basecamp would show OS maps if I bought one of the gps/map bundles. Sounds like the answer is "no" which makes the more expensive option pointless (for me).

Thanks,
John

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

I wondered if Basecamp would show OS maps if I bought one of the gps/map bundles. Sounds like the answer is "no"

That is not what SUSSAMB said. The answer is "yes", but you need to have the map on some form of removable storage such as a memory card or USB thumb drive. Since I'm in the US, I have never seen the Garmin OS map products, but based on screenshots and what I've read, they contain two layers. The base layer is actually a scan of the paper OS map. There is then a vector layer that contains roads which are routable (can be used to provide turn by turn directions).

I recall seeing some map-specific issues with displaying these in Basecamp however and I'm not sure if they were fixed. If you are contemplating purchase, contact Garmin support, tell them the specific product you are planning to buy and confirm that the maps can be viewed in Basecamp. Then if you have a problem for any reason after purchase you'll have something to "hang your hat on".

-Boyd

0 Former Member over 12 years ago

Thanks for the clarification Boyd and my apologies to Sussamb for mis-understanding. That sounds good then as it presumably means that I can use the maps on my main pc and on my lap top. I'll follow the point up with Garmin as you suggest, especially the "has this issue been fixed" point.

That's an interesting comment on the "two layers" that you mention. I knew that Garmin OS maps were routable and not just an image but I didn't know how they did it. Being routable probably explains the disparity in price between OS maps from Garmin and anyone else, where the maps are just images.

Thanks,
John

0 SUSSAMB over 12 years ago

Just note that the talkytoaster maps, in your 'anyone else' category are routeable, and will even route down footpaths, bridleways etc. And of course they are vector rather than raster maps, so you can zoom in without any of the blurring that you get with raster maps.