Multiple maps on Fenix 5x - which ones are used, and when are they used?

I have a Fenix 5x with multiple maps.

TOPO U.S. 100K (preloaded)
Garmin Cycle Map (preloaded)
TOPO US 24K - West (purchased additional map)
BirdsEye Imagery (purchased additional map)

Assuming all of these are shown (not hidden in the configure map settings) does anyone know how the Fenix 5X chooses which map to use?

I notice that the BirdsEye Imagery shows when I'm in an area that I have downloaded to the device.
This week I'm in CA, next week I'm in NY. Will it automatically switch to the highest quality for the area I'm in? Example: use the TOPO 100K in NY and the TOPO 24K in CA?

Thanks for any tips...
Randy

Top Replies

tjcraig over 8 years ago +1

Me too!

I have about 5 maps installed - what happens when they are all enabled?

I have experimented a bit but haven't come to any consistent conclusions.

A simple explanation of the mapping algorithm…

All Replies

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I'm very curious about this as well. It "seemed" to me when I was on a trail, just using topo maps made most of the trails (dashed lines) disappear from the map.

0 tjcraig over 8 years ago

Me too!

I have about 5 maps installed - what happens when they are all enabled?

I have experimented a bit but haven't come to any consistent conclusions.

A simple explanation of the mapping algorithm (ie which maps are applied and when) from Garmin would be much appreciated.

On that note, for a company that sells so many units and presumably at much profit, their manuals suck!

Garmin - please invest in a decent technical writer. I'm sure you can afford it.

0 unbreak4 over 8 years ago

Hi,

From what i have see, map are managed by apps. Bike app doesn't use same map set of run. Same for hiking... at least, that was i have see.
but i'm very interested in what you will say cause yesterday, i was surprise that when i had disabled a map that i had just added, i see more detail on the map than with it...

So it's no clear for me too
Steph

0 magicrandy over 8 years ago

Thanks for the responses.

I thought this may be a dumb question with obvious answers, but I guess that is not the case. I tried going through everything I could find from Garmin, but I can't find anything.

Next week I'll be in NY, so I'll see if that helps in the testing.

Is there a way to see what map is actually being displayed? That would certainly help figure out how it works.

If I figure out anything, I'll post it back here. Any other comments are appreciated.

0 Volker over 8 years ago

If all maps are enabled at the same time, the map with the lowest (1-31 )"draw priority" is shown. For "draw priority" and garmin maps start please a search at Google etc.

0 Volker over 8 years ago

If you have enabled more than one routeable map for the same area, the navigation may crash, if you start a navigation to a destination etc.

0 Heine_De_Villiers over 8 years ago

Hi,

From what i have see, map are managed by apps. Bike app doesn't use same map set of run. Same for hiking... at least, that was i have see.
but i'm very interested in what you will say cause yesterday, i was surprise that when i had disabled a map that i had just added, i see more detail on the map than with it...

So it's no clear for me too
Steph

What I've figure out so far is that you can activate different maps per activity . So for example I have Topo Maps active for hiking etc , and Street Maps for walking etc in town . By trial and error I have more or less worked out which mapset gives better coverage for each activity .

0 magicrandy over 8 years ago

If all maps are enabled at the same time, the map with the lowest (1-31 )"draw priority" is shown. For "draw priority" and garmin maps start please a search at Google etc.

Thanks for the tip. I'll do some study based on this.

What I'm assuming so far is if you have multiple maps enabled, they will all load, and the one with the highest priority will be displayed.

First I'll try to figure out what is the draw priority for each of my maps. I assume I can find that in basecamp.

Thanks again...