How to use BaseCamp without having to plug in your GPS

Former Member over 11 years ago

If you want to use BaseCamp with all your maps but without having to plug in your GPS (or USB flash drive) every time, follow these steps:

1. Download and install LTR Data’s ImDisk Virtual Disk Driver from here: http://reboot.pro/files/file/284-imdisk-toolkit/
2. Create and format a new virtual disk
3. Copy your maps onto it
4. Save it to your hard drive as a disk image
5. Mount the disk image prior to launching BaseCamp

Now when BaseCamp loads it will access the maps from the disk image without requiring you to plug in your GPS.

Detailed step-by-step instructions are attached to this post.

Hope this helps :D
David.

0 JaVaWa over 11 years ago

You have to set it before connecting the nüvi to your computer.

Edit: nevermind, you've already found it.

0 Lepapehermann over 11 years ago

The maps are on my USB stick but how do you get them recognized by BaseCamp and Mapsource? (I am using both)

0 JaVaWa over 11 years ago

MapSource cannot use a map from a device (or a USB stick), only BaseCamp. The tutorial from the first post in this topic doesn't state it, but AFAIK the files have to be put in a folder named Garmin on the stick. BaseCamp should recognize the map automatically. When it doesn't, it may be necessary to change the visibility of the map to BaseCamp. You can do that with JaVaWa Device Manager.

0 Lepapehermann over 11 years ago

Files copied in Garmin folder but Javawa says '' file not unlocked for the linked divice and may not be used''
The maps are not available in BaseCamp, when I try to use the maps I get an error message but no descriptyion of the error.
Not sure what to do next....Am I missing files? I copied all Gmap... files
Trying to change visibility with Javawa = unknown error has occured in module wImgFiles.ImgMod

0 JaVaWa over 11 years ago

Files copied in Garmin folder but Javawa says '' file not unlocked for the linked divice and may not be used''

That is a warning, not an error. JaVaWa Device Manager (not Javawa; that's me) cannot determine which device the map belongs to. It is just to explain why the map might not work in another device (in the case that you had used an SD card instead of a USB stick). It is not relevant for BaseCamp.

The maps are not available in BaseCamp, when I try to use the maps I get an error message but no descriptyion of the error.

Does BaseCamp show that error? What do you mean by "try to use the maps"? The map is available or not; you can't open or import it in BaseCamp.

Trying to change visibility with Javawa = unknown error has occured in module wImgFiles.ImgMod

That is strange... Do you have a Mac or Windows? (Windows I guess, because you were referring to MapSource). Did you close BaseCamp before trying, and you didn't try to open gmapsupp.img with another program? It might be a file locking issue.

0 Lepapehermann over 11 years ago

This is strange indeed.

OK, I can change visibility now but it still doesn't work. (you were right...BaseCamp need to be closed before changing the visibility in JaVaWa device manager).

BaseCamp can see the file on my USB device (CN North America NT 2014.10), I can also see the file in the list of available maps on the top screen of BaseCamp but when I select the file in the top screen I get an error message '' error while trying to use CNNANT2014.1'' and the file disseapear from that list of available maps. I can still see it on the USB device.

Yes, I use windows.

I did some more tests this morning and noticed that I can select and use the USB maps if my Nuvi is connected, when I disconnect the Nuvi the maps disseapear from the BaseCamp screen and from the list of available maps in BaseCamp(top of screen).
Reconnecting the GPS makes them available and useable again.

!!!!

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

So the maps are showing up in BaseCamp (in the Devices navigation section and, presumably, selectable from the drop-down in Map Products meun toolbar) but when you attempt to use them you receive a cryptic error.

This is probably above my knowledge but I would try:

- Copy the maps again to USB device (data corruption?)
- Use the method in the original post to use a virtual USB drive (I/O access anomaly?)
- Check write protection on the USB device (application bug – shouldn’t need write access)
- Is this map useable in BaseCamp? Google use by others.
- Check Windows event logs for coincident events (access failure, bus resets)
- Use a different USB port (general troubleshooting)
- Use a different computer (general troubleshooting)
- Use Andrzej Popowski’s GMapTool to interrogate the maps (general troubleshooting – Work in MapSource? Visibility to BaseCamp? Duplicate MapIDs?)

Sorry, I’ve not been much help on this.

0 Lepapehermann over 11 years ago

So the maps are showing up in BaseCamp (in the Devices navigation section and, presumably, selectable from the drop-down in Map Products meun toolbar) but when you attempt to use them you receive a cryptic error.

This is probably above my knowledge but I would try:

- Copy the maps again to USB device (data corruption?)
.....done this, same result

- Use the method in the original post to use a virtual USB drive (I/O access anomaly?)
....I may have to do that but it looks very complicated to me, I am not a computer expert

- Check write protection on the USB device (application bug – shouldn’t need write access)
.... No write protection

- Is this map useable in BaseCamp? Google use by others.
.... Yes the map is useable (on the stick) when the gps is plugged in

- Check Windows event logs for coincident events (access failure, bus resets)
.....Don't know how to do that.

- Use a different USB port (general troubleshooting)
.... Done, same result

- Use a different computer (general troubleshooting)
....not possible

- Use Andrzej Popowski’s GMapTool to interrogate the maps (general troubleshooting – Work in MapSource? Visibility to BaseCamp? Duplicate MapIDs?)
...... Don't know Gmaptool, I will do some research on it.

Sorry, I’ve not been much help on this.

.....thanks for your suggestions, I will keep on trying but I am running out of ideas.

0 Former Member over 11 years ago

There's always Garmin Product Support (suggest a call [hours wait] rather than email [weeks wait])...

And the event logs are accessible via Computer Management (right-clickMy Computer > Manage or Run>compmgmt.msc), then Event Viewer, then Windows Logs. The System log will likely be the most informative.

0 Lepapehermann over 11 years ago

Windows logs

There's always Garmin Product Support (suggest a call [hours wait] rather than email [weeks wait])...

And the event logs are accessible via Computer Management (right-clickMy Computer > Manage or Run>compmgmt.msc), then Event Viewer, then Windows Logs. The System log will likely be the most informative.

I didn't see anything special in the Windows log.:(