So, I've been using Forerunners, in the past. Naturally, the way it goes, is, I go on my run, upload/ sync my results over to Garmin Connect, or, via, the website and I get the usual street maps view...even for trails. However, it is said that the Fenix 5x supports more, in-depth topography and 3D maps. When I sync my data to Garmin Connect, I still get the usual street-view map, as I normally would. What am I missing? Do I need to have Glonass/ Galileo GPS enabled to view actual topographic data?
If you want to see the contours in your maps, running Garmin BaseCamp with the watch plugged in to the PC will allow you to use the built-in or downloaded maps on the watch. (BaseCamp is an oldie but a goodie. Google it and you'll find out how to get it. I think it is MUCH better than the cloud-connected stuff.)
If you want to see the contours in your maps, running Garmin BaseCamp with the watch plugged in to the PC will allow you to use the built-in or downloaded maps on the watch. (BaseCamp is an oldie but a goodie. Google it and you'll find out how to get it. I think it is MUCH better than the cloud-connected stuff.)
Glad I could help. BTW, you can download maps to your watch. I did so very successfully when travelling to the UK and there is a great site from which to get good maps for there. https://talkytoaster.me.uk/ Also, the alarmingly named but very good 'ShonkyMaps' from http://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/ are great for Australia. Others are available from other places. Many are free. Be careful of the size, though the F5X has a generously sized 'disk' I think people are running into issues with upgrading maps because of sizes.
To install such '3rd party' maps, unzip the download (or whatever) and put the gmapsupp.img (or whatever the .img file is called) map in the Garmin folder on the watch. (plug it into the PC and it should appear like another drive) You can rename it, keeping the .img extension and you will need to do so if you have more than one. To select which one(s) are 'on', you need to display a map using an activity, then hold 'menu button' then scroll down to 'map settings' ->'configure', -> 'map' and choose the ones you want. Not sure of the value of having more than one selected and not sure which one gets displayed if you do. Note that some are 'routable' and some are not.
Another good trick is to put the maps on a USB stick in a top-level directory called Garmin. BaseCamp detects it and thinks it's a device and allows you to 'use' the map without your watch plugged in. Terry
Glad I could help. BTW, you can download maps to your watch. I did so very successfully when travelling to the UK and there is a great site from which to get good maps for there. https://talkytoaster.me.uk/ Also, the alarmingly named but very good 'ShonkyMaps' from http://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/ are great for Australia. Others are available from other places. Many are free. Be careful of the size, though the F5X has a generously sized 'disk' I think people are running into issues with upgrading maps because of sizes.
To install such '3rd party' maps, unzip the download (or whatever) and put the gmapsupp.img (or whatever the .img file is called) map in the Garmin folder on the watch. (plug it into the PC and it should appear like another drive) You can rename it, keeping the .img extension and you will need to do so if you have more than one. To select which one(s) are 'on', you need to display a map using an activity, then hold 'menu button' then scroll down to 'map settings' ->'configure', -> 'map' and choose the ones you want. Not sure of the value of having more than one selected and not sure which one gets displayed if you do. Note that some are 'routable' and some are not.
Another good trick is to put the maps on a USB stick in a top-level directory called Garmin. BaseCamp detects it and thinks it's a device and allows you to 'use' the map without your watch plugged in. Terry
Thanks for all the tips! I've read of a few great 3rd party map options. It sounds as though Basecamps is an abandoned Garmin app? Is there a successor these days? Also, I'm still just trying to figure out how to import my previous run activities/ maps into Basecamp. I can see how you can send maps to your watch, or even plot a course, but I'm not seeing how you import, say, a run route you recently did. It' s a very cumbersome tool.
I do believe BaseCamp has been abandoned by Garmin but it still works.
I haven't found anything that could replace it, either Garmin or anyone else's software. (I wish I could, it is getting a little creaky) Many of the features that are deprecated, like cloud-based adventures, never really appealed to me so I won't miss them. One of the things I like about BaseCamp is that is pretty much standalone (and this makes me wonder if that might be a clue as to why Garmin dropped it.) Everybody seems to want a cloud solution these days. Though if that's the case, why they don't have a good cloud-based solution to replace it is beyond me. I'd use it if they did and it was as good as or better than BaseCamp.
Garmin Express does some of what BaseCamp does, like the map downloads, but it is useless for route planning. Garmin Connect is 'fitness' oriented not suitable for hiking. You could maybe make a hiking route in it...
I have used other party s/w like OSMAnd or Avenza for routeplanning. Basically anything that can produce a gpx or similar file.
However, BaseCamp's waypoint management interface is better The really big thing (in my opinion) is that BaseCamp can upload and use the maps on my watch or (Garmin) handheld GPS and other apps can't, not as easily anyway. (Maybe you could find a way to do so...) This is important to me. I want to see exactly the same things when route planning as I will see on my device when out in the field.
