[GeoStL] Re: Free high quality transparent Garmin Mapsource Topo and trail maps
- From: "Jim Bensman" <junkmailno@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 22:46:44 -0500
-
Here is one way to do it:
http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=155835
This way has some limitations and problems. But it works. If you are only
going to load a few maps, it is great. I only use this method for loading
my trail maps as it allows you to make the trails show up as a thin red line
which is real easy to see in the GPS.
For all my other maps, I use a batch file.
If you only want to load the maps for MOGA, that is probably a good way.
But if you want all the maps I have made for the St. Louis area, your best
bet is to let me give you a CD and show you how to set it up. I have about
80 maps so if you do it by yourself you have to download all the maps,
separate them by types, create files, etc. It is very time consuming and
complicated. If I give you a CD with all the map files and the files you
need to install them it is real easy.
If you get the CD from me you will need to:
1) Copy the map files to your computer and make sure you use the correct
directory.
2) Double click on 3 files to add some entries to the registry.
To get the trails to show up as red lines instead of a dashed line, you also
need to load two freeware programs and run one.
Once it is set up, updates are simple
If you download a newer version of the map (the ST Louis Area Trail map is
updated regularly) all you do is download the new one and replace the old
file on your computer.
If you want to add a new map, you have to edit a text file and add the name
of the file and then run a batch file.
Like I said, I am willing to make CDs and show you how to use them. Anyone
interested, let me know ASAP. These are really nice and free maps. With a
CD from me, it will be real easy to set up and use.
Jim Bensman
"Nature Bats Last"
> -----Original Message-----
> From: geocaching-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:geocaching-
> bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sara Gomer
> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 8:10 PM
> To: geocaching@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [GeoStL] Re: Free high quality transparent Garmin Mapsource Topo
> and trail maps
>
> -
> Jim,
>
> Can you provide a link to one of the forum threads you
> mentioned on the MOGA cache page for the "how to" on
> installing these maps? I'd like to check them out.
>
> Sara
>
>
> --- Jim Bensman <junkmailno@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > -
> > I have previously pointed out I make high quality
> > transparent Garmin
> > Mapsource Topo and trail maps. They are posted at:
> >
> >
> http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/maplist.php?author=4216
> >
> >
> > They are a bit complicated to set up the first time.
> > But after that they
> > are extremely easy to use. These are extremely high
> > quality maps that I
> > have spent hundreds of hours making and they are far
> > superior to what you
> > can buy from Garmin. And they are free.
> >
> > Some have indicated they want to take me up on my
> > offer to bring my laptop
> > and CDs with everything needed to install and use
> > the maps and show people
> > how to do it. (You can bring your laptop and set it
> > up then.) Once I get
> > you set up, it will be extremely easy after that.
> >
> > Since I have topo maps for the MOGA area, I am going
> > to try to set up a
> > lunch/dinner before MOGA. So if anyone else wants
> > the free maps and lesson,
> > let me know ASAP (and when you are free) so I can
> > set a time.
> >
> > They only work on Garmin and will show in MapSource.
> > You send the maps to
> > your GPS just like other maps. You can also turn
> > them on and off in your GPS
> > like any other map set.
> >
> > If you want to see how they look in mapsource and on
> > the 60csx compared to
> > Garmin's Topo USA, here is a pdf of the comparision.
> >
> > http://webpages.charter.net/jbensman1/Temp/Maps.pdf
> >
> > I have three types of maps:
> >
> > Topo: These are transparent maps that show up on
> > top of City Navigator
> > which you still use for route calculation. They
> > have topo lines and
> > hydrology (streams, rivers, lakes, etc). The topo
> > lines are from the USGS
> > and they are more accurate than what is on the 24K
> > USGS maps. I generally
> > use a 10 foot contour interval. Most of the
> > hydrology is high resolution
> > (equal to or better than the 24K USGS). Some places
> > do not have the high
> > resolution data). I have also done lots of
> > corrections to the hydrology by
> > looking at ExpertGPS, Google Earth, and field
> > checks. What it looks like in
> > the GPS is City Navigator with topolines and much
> > better hydrology. This is
> > great for caching as many times it helps you figure
> > out how to get to a
> > cache as you can see the terrain and where the water
> > is. That makes it
> > easier to figure out how to get to a cache as a
> > straight line is not always
> > the best way.
> >
> > Trails: These are transparent trails and points
> > maps. They are meant to
> > show things City Navigator does not have. My St.
> > Louis Area Trail map has
> > over 1000 points and over 1100 trail/road segments.
> > They are trails,
> > parking areas, roads not shown on City Navigator
> > (for example, I have all
> > the roads in Bush Wildlife Area), scenic areas,
> > buildings, shelters, and
> > various other things not shown in City Navigator.
> > They are transparent so
> > they show up over City Navigator like the topo
> > lines. One problem I had
> > with them was trails were sometimes hard to see when
> > there were lots of
> > close topo lines. Someone taught me how to use a
> > new program that allows
> > you to make Garmin display the trails as a thin red
> > line. Now the trails
> > show up extremely well. I will bring the freeware
> > program and show people
> > how to use it. Most of the things in these maps, I
> > have GPSed. Some come
> > from Google Earth, ExpertGPS, maps of areas scanned
> > into ExpertGPS, and the
> > STL County Parks Department gave me some trail shape
> > files. Hopefully
> > others can contribute more trails.
> >
> > POIs: These are maps that contain points that are
> > displayed on the 24K USGS
> > maps. They are also transparent. I have also added
> > other things. I found
> > a file with the locations of 54,000 springs in MO
> > and about 50,000 sink
> > holes. I have included them.
> >
> > Jim Bensman
> > 1802 Main Street
> > Alton, IL 62002-4724
> > (618) 463-0714
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ****************************************
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> > list, click ----->
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> > Missouri Caches Scheduled to be Archived
> > http://tinyurl.com/87cqw
> >
>
>
>
>
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****************************************
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list, click -----> //www.freelists.org/list/geocaching
Missouri Caches Scheduled to be Archived http://tinyurl.com/87cqw
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