Downloading Birdseye View

Does the BirdsEye Tutorial here help?

Does the BirdsEye Tutorial here help?

Well, First off... thanks for responding. There's a lot of information there. But, it only brings up additional questions.

I went to your link and then selected the option on the right - Garmin Birdseye Maps and then selected Garmin Birdseye Tutorial. As I had previously purchased and activated the Birdseye Satellite, I went through the Setup to Enable this on my Garmin. Birdseye Satellite is not listed. It's not listed anywhere under Devices in BaseCamp but I keep getting a notice that it's supported so I don't yet know what is going on. (First Trail GPS)

If I ignore the enable procedure, all other screens for downloading a map image seem to be the same... except: the documentation shows Free Space as 7.xx GB - I know this is only an example but the Montana 650 comes with 3.0 GB and the 650t has 3.5 GB. I thought adding a memory card would help here and did just that. So far, all I see is that the Garmin recognizes it as an additional drive to which I can copy images and waypoints but only as backup files.

I think I want the Birdseye TOPO for use with ATV trails but if I'm not using this thing properly, I don't want to pour anymore money into it.

When in BaseCamp - Under Library/My Collection there is a folder called - Unlisted Data. What is this for? It's empty so, why is it created?

Documentation so far, is way less than desired.

Well, First off... thanks for responding. There's a lot of information there. But, it only brings up additional questions.

Isn't that how it usually works?

I went to your link and then selected the option on the right - Garmin Birdseye Maps and then selected Garmin Birdseye Tutorial. As I had previously purchased and activated the Birdseye Satellite, I went through the Setup to Enable this on my Garmin. Birdseye Satellite is not listed. It's not listed anywhere under Devices in BaseCamp but I keep getting a notice that it's supported so I don't yet know what is going on. (First Trail GPS)

I am unaware of BirdsEye being listed under devices in BaseCamp. When you download BirdsEye map data in BaeCamp, the software looks for a connected device that A) Supports BirdsEye maps and B) has an active Birdseye subscription.

IF your GPSr has an active subscription, BaseCamp should allow you full BirdsEye download access so long as the device is connected.

If I ignore the enable procedure, all other screens for downloading a map image seem to be the same... except: the documentation shows Free Space as 7.xx GB - I know this is only an example but the Montana 650 comes with 3.0 GB and the 650t has 3.5 GB. I thought adding a memory card would help here and did just that. So far, all I see is that the Garmin recognizes it as an additional drive to which I can copy images and waypoints but only as backup files.

Try creating a Garmin\BirdsEye\ directory on your uSD card, and BaseCamp should allow you to select it.

I think I want the Birdseye TOPO for use with ATV trails but if I'm not using this thing properly, I don't want to pour anymore money into it.

The BirdsEye Topo are USGS scanned maps.

When in BaseCamp - Under Library/My Collection there is a folder called - Unlisted Data. What is this for? It's empty so, why is it created?

Documentation so far, is way less than desired.

Unlisted Data is simply a place for Garmin BaseCamp to list any and all data that is NOT presently listed in any other folder or folder list, but still exists in the database. If you have nothing showing in 'unlisted data', this simply means all data in your database is listed at least once in another folder or list.

For more help with Garmin BaseCamp, check the Garmin BaseCamp Wiki.

Try creating a Garmin\BirdsEye\ directory on your uSD card, and BaseCamp should allow you to select it.

When I open BaseCamp and connect my Garmin, I see a section called Devices (as should be). Under this, I see my Montana 650t. When I open this, I see a folder called Internal Storage, TOPO U.S. 100K and Memory Card (I:) When I open Memory Card, I see a folder called User Data.

Now, when I open Explorer and look at this Memory Card, I see two folders listed - DCIM and Garmin. I open DCIM and see a subfolder called 1000GRMN. Both of these are empty at this time. Not worried about these. When I open the Garmin folder, I see two folders - Birdseye and GPX. Birdseye contains the images I have downloaded and GPX contains waypoint files.

Issue here (for me) is why does Garmin documentation show these listed in the BaseCamp program but my actual BaseCamp software does not? The program created these folders and stored the files there. Only part I had in this was downloading the program, installing the memory card and connecting the Garmin to my computer. So, my thoughts are that I should be seeing pretty much the same as the online documentation indicates and I don't think I am so, I'm not sure things are working as designed.

The BirdsEye Topo are USGS scanned maps.

I realize this but from what I see online, these provide ATV trails which is my main purpose for the Garmin at this time. Which map type is preferred?

The file structure on your GPS and uSD card, as you describe it, is correct.

BaseCamp will not display the same file structure, but rather a modified database file structure. Nothing to be worried about, everything is working as designed.

If the BirdsEye topo maps have the trails you desire, they may be good for you.

Where are you located? Does GPSFileDepot have a trail map that better serves your purpose?

The file structure on your GPS and uSD card, as you describe it, is correct.

BaseCamp will not display the same file structure, but rather a modified database file structure. Nothing to be worried about, everything is working as designed.

If the BirdsEye topo maps have the trails you desire, they may be good for you.

Where are you located? Does GPSFileDepot have a trail map that better serves your purpose?

Thanks for you help and input. I guess I'm asking too much of my Garmin / Documentation at this time. After all, only paid $500+ for the thing, why should the doc be up to date with the actual software!!

I will check out the BirdsEye TOPO maps.

I live in the Hayward, WI area and will check out the GPSFileDepot you mention.

Again... Thanks!

You said you purchased the Birdseye satellite imagery product (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=70144). Are you aware that is not the same thing as the Birdseye topo product (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=98816) which must be purchased separately?

As BABJ mentioned, the topo product is just scans of USGS paper maps. The NE DVD that you mentioned is completely different, it is a vector based proprietary Garmin map and it costs $100, not $200 (FWIW).

You can view the USGS maps online for free to see if they have the detail that you want, they should be the same thing as the Garmin Birdseye Topo. Go to the National Map Viewer here: http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/

Drag the map as needed and zoom in on the area you are interested in. Now click the checkbox in left pane for "Scanned Topo Maps". It will take a few seconds to draw the map. Note that you need to zoom in pretty far to see the 24k maps.

You said you purchased the Birdseye satellite imagery product (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=70144). Are you aware that is not the same thing as the Birdseye topo product (https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=98816) which must be purchased separately?

Yes, I am aware that the two are sold seperately. My question there was whether people more in the know than me considered one better than the other.

My original issue was (and still is) - I wondered out loud about the size of image downloads via Birdseye Satellite Imagery. I have yet to see where the user is informed as to the max size allowed. It is a tedious process to download multiple images for the surrounding area.

From there things just got worse as I started seeing conflicting differences with the tutorials and documentation from what I see in my own setup and use to date. So, it became a need to ask questions rather than continue on the path of confusion.

I have not used the software nor the GPS enough to be calling it a bad product... that is not and never was my intention here.

As a new user of this software, and after being pointed to a tutorial, the differences I found clearly conflict with my BaseCamp and GPS settings. For instance - the Birdseye tutorial displays steps on how to enable/disable Birdseye - My Garmin does not display this option pair. Also, further down where it describes how to download imagery, the tutorial displays a Free Space amount of over 7.41 GB when downloading via BirdsEye Imagery (just before displaying file size). From what I see, this Free Space is Internal Memory on the Garmin. This is confusing as the Garmin used in the tutorial is a Montana 650 and it comes with only 3 gb. So, I originally thought maybe it was displaying memory which includes the memory card and I had done something wrong as my Montana 650t showed just over 3 gb and I have a 16 gb microSD card installed.

After that, I noticed (same tutorial) that under Library/My Collection - there is a Birdseye folder listed. This is another conflict with what I actually see. Using BaseCamp, I can't see ANY Birdseye folders BUT, I can see it using Windows to Explore my drives/folders/files and that Garmin\Birdseye folder is on my memory card.

During and after the download and installation of both BaseCamp and Birdseye, I did not make any custom changes. All settings are the defaults of the install process.

One would think, at least I do, that if the tutorial/documentation "implies" or indicates that you should see "This", then that is what you should look for. If not, it implies the possibility of something not being correct.

For instance - the Birdseye tutorial displays steps on how to enable/disable Birdseye - My Garmin does not display this option pair.

That tutorial is from the Garmin Montana wiki, so those are screens that would be present on a Montana GPSr. Your Garmin GPSr will have very similar screens.

Also, further down where it describes how to download imagery, the tutorial displays a Free Space amount of over 7.41 GB when downloading via BirdsEye Imagery (just before displaying file size). From what I see, this Free Space is Internal Memory on the Garmin. This is confusing as the Garmin used in the tutorial is a Montana 650 and it comes with only 3 gb. So, I originally thought maybe it was displaying memory which includes the memory card and I had done something wrong as my Montana 650t showed just over 3 gb and I have a 16 gb microSD card installed.

Took me a few minutes to determine what happened there, and I realized I was using a GPS Clone at the time. File transfers are much faster if you send data to the uSD card directly rather than through the GPS itself.

After that, I noticed (same tutorial) that under Library/My Collection - there is a Birdseye folder listed. This is another conflict with what I actually see. Using BaseCamp, I can't see ANY Birdseye folders BUT, I can see it using Windows to Explore my drives/folders/files and that Garmin\Birdseye folder is on my memory card.

I created that folder in 'My Collection' to store my BirdsEye maps. You do not see the same in your BaseCamp because you have yet to create it.

My question there was whether people more in the know than me considered one better than the other.

How could anyone but you answer that question? the two products are completely different things. Its like asking whether a painting is better than a book. :) Use the USGS link I posted to look at the 24k topo maps for your area. Then compare that to the satellite imagery at Google Maps and you will get some idea. Birdseye satellite imagery does not show any road names, water body names, cities, etc. It's just a picture. It will be from a different source than google uses, but it's still just a photograph. If you enable another map at the same time (for example, the topo on your 650t), it will display on top of the imagery however.

As for the rest, it can be frustrating when you start out but give it time and you will learn. Garmin's documentation is not very good, but there are people here and at other forums who can help.