Garmin MapSource 2008 Topographical U.S. Map DVD-Rom
by Garmin
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin MapSource 2008 Topographical U.S. Map DVD-Rom
Customer Review: Alternative to buying MapSource Topo 2008
Summary: 4 Stars
First, I'm not knocking the TOPO US too much. It is expensive and does not have high resolution but it fills a niche. If you need a TOPO map in a hurry, I suppose it is the best alternative.
I've had my Garmin Legend HCx for several months now. During this time, I've hunted for a reliable alternative to TOPO US, rendering 24K resolution and not limited to a few National Parks.
Looking really paid off. The best solution that I've found is the following:
* Free Maps from USGS Seamless Server (24K TOPOs as GeoTiff files) $0
* Any graphics editor program that can handle .tif format $0
* Mapwell (Basic) Google to find (includes raster/vector conversion) $45
* TrackMaker (free version) Google to find $0
Total: $45
Process:
1. Search, select, download GeoTiff map from USGS Seamless Server (15 minutes)
NOTE ADDED 4/2010: Mapwell Basic can now read coordinates on GeoTiff files, making steps 2,3, and part of 4 obsolete.
2. Review the .xml data, downloaded with the map to determine the extent of the map: Northwest and Southeast boundary. (5 minutes)
3. Open GeoTiff file in graphics editor. Save as new .tif file, stripping out the embedded geo data. (5 minutes)
4. Open the new .tif file in Mapwell. Add extent information from Step 2. Add graphics features and waypoints(optional). Run vectorization option, creating a new set of Garmin IMG files (10 minutes - more if you want to add your own art)
5. Upload new map set into Garmin. Mapwell has a great Garmin upload/download manager. No need to use Mapsource although you can use it to add Mapsource maps. (1 minute)
Time burned: 36 minutes
TrackMaker (free version or licensed) is also a great product for creating tracks, waypoints, many more features. It also has a fine Garmin upload/download manager. So you can either load waypoints and features directly into the Garmin or embed them in the map itself while using Mapwell.
The only disadvantage that I've discovered in the process is that Mapwell works too well. That is, the vectorization of 24K maps produces superb quality maps that take 10-20 seconds to render in the Garmin (at 1 mile). The closer in you go, the faster the rendering.
Customer Review: Works great, a few minor quibbles
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a wonderful addition to my Garmin Venture HC, and really completes the package, since the basemap is not all that useful.
The software took a while to install, and I do have some minor quibbles about the installation. Users are "strongly" recommended to install MapSource into C:\Garmin (come on, people, the Program Files folder has been around since Windows 95). My translation is that if you decide to change the default folder, some things may not work correctly. Also, there was no option to leave the map data on the DVD instead of loading the *entire* 3.5GB database onto your hard disk. But if you've got the available space, it's more convenient to have it all there.
As has been noted before, there are some minor inaccuracies with the map data (from what I've noticed, mostly related to roads showing a hundred feet next to where I'm driving), and for being a 2008 map, it doesn't show the latest freeway construction in my area. But then again, I didn't get this map to show me how to get around town; nonetheless, street data is remarkably detailed for a topo map. Mountains, canals and other features were accurately displayed as I drove past them, including elevation data.
MapSource's archaic and sometimes oddly behaving user interface notwithstanding, it is quite intuitive when it comes to downloading maps. Without reading the manual, it took me all of a minute to figure out how to select map regions and send them to my GPS. Downloading roughly 20MB also didn't take as long as I'd feared, perhaps another minute or two. The area I can fit in my Venture's limited memory also exceeded my expectations: I live in Arizona, which is quite large, and yet I was able to easily download a large swath that includes Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Show Low.
All in all, a good product and in my opinion an essential add-on to any Garmin mapping GPS. Subtracted 1 star for less-than-stellar user interface and installation procedure.
Customer Review: Meets expectations
Summary: 4 Stars
Overall, I am very pleased with this product. Having never used topo maps before, I did a lot of research to determine whether this product would satisfy my desire for more detail of my surroundings. The 1:100,000 scale is great for average canoing, hiking, mountain biking, etc. It doesn't provide detail of every valley and ridge, but neither do the USGS maps of the same scale. Most of the time (~95%) the map is right on; however, on occasion roads aren't exactly where the map says. The only time I've experience this so far, a road I was looking for was off by 300 ft. This is the only reason I did not give this product 5 stars. I was pleased to find that Garmn had updated the roads and streams since my previous software, Inland lakes. The maps don't show as many trails as I would like, but they do have more points-of-interest than I expected. I have been able to find every geographical point I've searched for so far. I have a 2GB microSD card, and can only fit 1/3 to 1/2 of the US on it. My only suggestion: use the GPS software to supplement, not replace, an understanding of topo maps, and I think you'll enjoy the software more. I own a Legend HCx and live in SW Missouri. I kayak and canoe frequently, am getting into hiking, and occasionally mountain bike, and this product is exactly what I expected. I considered waiting for Garmin's 1:24,000 scale to come out; I called and Garmin didn't have a release date, and couldn't tell me whether MO would be paired with Arkansas, so I decided to get the Topo US. I'll get the other later, maybe (who knows when it will come out).Customer Review: Pretty much what I was looking for
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought my etrex over Thanksgiving and while I was really pleased with it, I discovered that I needed both the memory card and the maps to make it worthwhile. The documentation on the etrex is abysmal, IMO, so I only found out after trying to download waypoints into my computer to find out that I needed the card. Another story. So, I wasn't too surprised when the documentation on the Garmin software wasn't much better.
That being said, after having some problems with uploading the maps, I eventually retried it all and got the maps to work. I was pretty impressed with the maps. It gives me a nice topographical map of the area. Even so, I have thoughts on how the maps could be better:
1. Private property lines. I really need to know where state versus Plum Creek Timber versus other ownership is. It would be really helpful to have that.
2. GMU lines -- would be very nice.
3. Roads and trails need to have a better contrast on the moving map. It's almost impossible to see them.
4. You have to turn off the main map to get the topo -- what's up with that?
Even with all these downsides, I still really think it's a good mapping software. Downloading it is a breeze and you can plot your course on the computer and move it to your map. If they fix the problems I see with this, I'd give it a 5 star rating.
Customer Review: Topo 2008
Summary: 4 Stars
Overall a good product. It adds fantastic capability to my new Vista HCx for hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking. The ability to correlate location to a topo map quickly via the topo info on the GPS screen is really nice. Getting profile information from your trails is great too for those of us that are data geeks. This mapset makes the GPS far more usable in the backcountry.
The one negative I have for Topo 2008 is the lack of trails on it. It is missing major trails that I'm amazed Garmin could have missed. The Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail are the major trails through Colorado, yet Garmin missed these and most other common trails. It has a few trails, but not what I'd expect from this software. That was very dissappointing.
All visual content in these maps is simply a static visual representation. None of it is an active element so you can't just tell the PC software or GPS to follow a trail. If you want a trail routing, you need to trace a track over it on the PC and download that as a Track or Route.