How to use Google Earth view?

No, as the name implies you can only use it to view routes (or tracks etc)

Thanks for the answer. So essentially Garmin is saying "Go ahead and plan routes using our map$ and Bird$eye view but don't trust that our resources are good enough to get you where you need to go so you may want to validate your plans with a better, and free, map like Google Earth".

Google Earth

Google Earth/Maps doesn't hold a candle to the extensive routing capability in Basecamp or offer an easy means to down load those routes into a GPS for the day's drive... Of course for dumbed down routing and choosing whatever it comes up with, it will work.

No Garmin is saying we have integrated our software with Google Earth so you can visually scan your entire route to see if it is what you expect.. e.g. on planned rural scenic drives... it is really a scenic road or one that has fallen victim to strip development.. I use Google Earth extensively in conjunction with BaseCamp... especially on long cross country road trips involving weeks of travel and 1000's of miles...

Thanks for the answer. So essentially Garmin is saying "Go ahead and plan routes using our map$ and Bird$eye view but don't trust that our resources are good enough to get you where you need to go so you may want to validate your plans with a better, and free, map like Google Earth".

The reason to validate your planned route or track in Google Earth has absolutely NOTHING to do with Garmin software and EVERYTHING to do with the fact that NO map, paper or electronic, anywhere, ever, is 100% reliable. The further off the beaten path you get, the more unreliable maps get.

GARMIN DOES NOT MAKE THESE MAPS!!!!! They come from many different sources and are used by many different companies. Dandeman's protocol makes more sense than trying to start with Google Earth, although it IS POSSIBLE to create routes and tracks in GE, save them as a .KML file and import them. My experience with this is less than satisfactory and I'd rather do it the other way round. The only exception to this is the rare case where the trail simply does not exist on any map I have in BC and I have to draw it in GE as a track and import.

My protocol is similar to his except I vet any route or track that I care about on THREE different maps in BC before checking them on GE, and only then if they are out in the boonies and I have reason to believe that they may not exist as a ride-able or drive-able road anymore. If the three maps agree I rarely bother. But in spite of all this I have STILL been unpleasantly surprised more than once.

As far as Birdseye is concerned I think you are right on the mark and I wouldn't spend a dime on them......but of course they aren't made by Garmin either.

I've never felt compelled to purchase any Birdseye maps because vetting routes with Google Earth has always proven to be sufficient. For off-pavement routes for treks on my BMW F650GS I use Google Earth as ROCKYTFS and dandemandan have described. Eg. first I try routing using the maps I have installed in Mapsource (I only rarely use Basecamp). Then I either vet the route in GE using the View in Google Earth feature, or, if the maps I have in Mapsource cannot find a suitable route I do as ROCKYTFS described; check visually for a suitable path, draw it as a track and import it into Mapsource. If I have to do that, I now come to one of the rare things that I use Basecamp for; I copy the track to Basecamp, convert it to a route, then copy the route back to Mapsource and thence to my device.

My heartfelt thanks to Garmin developers for including the View in Google Earth option in both Mapsource and Basecamp!!! It is a godsend for anyone who wants to plan trips off the beaten path.

...ken...

......... I just expected Garmin to be a plug-n-play, complete solution for the money. ......

HA! You and a few million others around the world! Those of us who have been working with GPS technology for a couple of decades know better. :mad:
I suggest you research other map sources for your area. Not being familiar with SE Asia I don't know if they exist or not. This is why I have three for the US: CNNA, USA TOPO, and individual 24K topos for several states. I actually like it when my USA TOPO, which is from 1998, shows a road or trail where the other two don't, because that trail may still be useable to a dirt bike.

Map Reliability

The thing I've come to realize that map reliability (or not) boils down the the government agency in the area of interest and the technology used in their planning offices..

To make the point (and based on some prior volunteer serving on our county planning board) our county uses state of the art GIS (Geographic Information System) not only for roads, but where every house, fire hydrant, other infrastructure is located.

Companies like NAVTEC and others (map agregators) that Garmin and others buy access to this map data for further distribution to many different users.

BUT if the local agency doesn't keep these type systems current, then any GPS which ultimately obtains their data from these systems is also going to be out of date. And some of the few cities I've gone through with poor mapping data evident also had signs of poor physical road management.

What is GIS....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system

Try this google search in your area.. "County GIS" https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=&as_epq=County+GIS

Example County GIS System
http://server2.co.orange.nc.us/OrangeNCGIS/default.aspx

Example City GIS
http://gis.townofchapelhill.org/