(It's just a simple batch file that temporarily renames the BirdsEye imagery directory so that Basecamp doesn't see it.)
Much to explain, but simple to implement & use:
This cuts my initial loading times (1.3gb of imagery) from ~10 minutes down to around 2 minutes. (On my Montana650, the BirdsEye imagery is stored and loaded from the microSDchip.)
I have a lot of photos stored on the microSD, so that probably also slows things down considerably too. I did try disabling/renaming other things, but they did not make much difference...
I already have the BirdsEye imagery in Basecamp. ~ So there's no need (or reason) to re-cache it off the unit ever time the unit is tethered and Basecamp is run.
FYI: The only downside (I have noticed) is that when using Basecamp: The Birdseye imagery doesn't initially display with the new waypoints/tracks/routes until they are received into Basecamp.
(Since Basecamp doesn't see it, neither will you when viewing the GPS's "internal storage" directly.)
Notes:
USE AT YOUR OWN RISK with GPS units connected via "Mass storage mode."!!!!! (My unit is a Montana, but I suspect this will work with most similar units too.)
GPS needs to ALREADY be connected (in "Mass storage mode" with drives assigned in Windows) before running this batch file.
I suspect this works because Basecamp doesn't see the Birdseye imagery on the unit, and thus doesn't spend time loading/caching it!
To create this batch file on your computer: Highlight, copy and paste this code into notepad and save the file with a .BAT extension.
To run this batch file: Simply double click on the file to execute it. (You'll run this batch file instead of Basecamp. (This batch file loads basecamp with the START command.)
The batch file waits (stays running/open/pauses) until Basecamp is closed so that it can also restore the name of the BirdsEye folder on your GPS.
After closing Basecamp, click on the open batchfile window, and press a key.
SPEEDLOADER.BAT (red text is what you edit)
To use this batch file, you will need to edit the drive location assigned to your drive by Windows where the BirdsEye imagery is stored. (in red)
You may also need to edit the location of your Basecamp install. (also in red) ~ depending on where it is installed and which version of windows you are running, 32 or 64bit
The default (listed here) is for 64bit Windows. (my system)
There are only a few lines of code that really do anything (the blue commands). Everything else is for documentation and for the user to see while the batch file "runs."
(In the code example below, Windows has assigned drive "H" to the GPS device (in Mass storage mode.)
REN (Rename Birdseye folder, used a second time to restore original name needed for proper operation of GPS)
START (Run Basecamp)
PAUSE (Wait for user to press key. ~ In one instance it is needed so that the batch program pauses (until Basecamp is closed) for GPS BirdsEye folder to be restored.)
EXIT (Close batch file window)
(Pretty simple stuff, but this makes connecting GPS units with BirdsEye imagery to Basecamp "bearable!")
Using Notepad, select, copy, paste & edit (red) the following code and save with a .bat extension. (not .txt)
ECHO OFF
rem no error checking + hardcode drive
ECHO WARNING:
ECHO GPS (in mass storage mode) MUST ALREADY BE CONNECTED
ECHO WITH CORRECT DRIVES ASSIGNED BEFORE CONTINUING!!
ECHO NOTE:
ECHO DO NOT CLOSE THIS COMMAND PROMPT UNTIL YOU CLOSE/EXIT FROM BASECAMP!
ECHO REMINDER:
ECHO KEEP GPS CONNECTED AFTER CLOSING BASECAMP SO THIS BATCH FILE RESTORE GPS!
ECHO (So you can return here and allow this batch file to finish/restore your unit.)
PAUSE
ECHO HIDING BirdsEye.....
REN H:\garmin\BirdsEye HidingBirdsEye
ECHO LAUNCHING BASECAMP.....
START "BASECAMP" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\BaseCamp\basecamp.exe" /MAX
REM Above line is for 64bit Windows-7.
REM 32bit Windows-7 should look like this: START "BASECAMP" "C:\Program Files\Garmin\BaseCamp\basecamp.exe" /MAX
rem batch file remains open during Basecamp operation.
PAUSE
ECHO RESTORING BirdsEye
REN H:\garmin\HidingBirdsEye BirdsEye
ECHO DONE! (You may now disconnect your GPS)
PAUSE
EXITNOTE:
You may need to be run this batch file as "Administrator" (or with elevated admin rights) for this to work. (Haven't checked, but I will sometime.)
Always leave this batch file open (when Basecamp is running) so you can return to it after you close Basecamp. (to restore the name of the BirdsEye folder on your GPS)
Because of the way Basecamp "caches" the data off the GPS unit, it is probably a good idea to exit Disconnect the GPSr after you exit Basecamp and the batch file has restored the name of the BirdsEye directory.
(If you wish to reconnect during the same Windows sessions.) ~ Especially if you want to run Basecamp directly (without this batch file) in the event you wish Basecamp to load the imagery.
~I sure wish I'd figured this all out years ago. Wasted a lot of time "waiting!" (There should be settings in Basecamp to "do this the right way.") :)
PS:
For a quick-fix I've suggested to Garmin Basecamp developers that they add support for command line parameters so that when Basecamp loads you could specify exactly what is ignored.
ie: shortcut that runs Basecamp looks something like this: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Garmin\BaseCamp\BaseCamp.exe -skipBirdsEye -skipPhotos" (Setting this in the options would be better, but more work involved.)