Garmin Maps-How to?

[ramblingrose]

I am going to be heading down to ride northern Georgia and Tennessee in a few weeks. I have found lots of suggested riding sites. My question is:

How do I use my computer to to enter routes and edit way points that can then be downloaded to my Garmin 2630. Do I need to purchase Mapsource for my computer? Learn how to use it and then down load via the Garmin USB connection? Sorry if this is a completely dumb question. I know I can do this mapping right on the Garmin itself but the computor screen would be a lot more convenient. The FJR can cover a lot of ground and I would like to end up not getting lost along the way. Thanks to all the members who have posted on the dragon and devil's triangle.

Scott

 

[Ignacio]

You probably mean Garmin 2730. I don't believe there's a 2630.

And yes, you could install MapSource that presumably came with the GPS, build a route, and download it to the GPS.

You can also build a route in the GPS itself and is probably less complicated as you don't have to make sure your computer and GPS can talk to each other and learn how to upload. That's what reading the manual would be for.....either entering a destination and having it figure out a route...or adding points along the way and building a route with key points.

Or, one can go evern more methods that are more complicated for the novice and would require purchase of additional sofware...like Microsoft Streets and Trips and GPSU to build routes.

 

[Jazzzzz]

I've been playing around with Garmin Mobile XT lately, creating routes on my computer, etc.

Mapsource is easily one of the most mickey mouse, piece of crap mapping and routing applications I've used. It takes twice as long or more to create a route through Mapsource than it does through MS Streets and Trips. Ignacio is right in saying that it would be far easier to build the route on your GPS.

There are utilities that let you export routes you've created using Google Maps directly to your Garmin GPS - build a map on Google Maps under the My Maps tab, and then copy the URL (the address) for that map. Go to TakItWithMe and paste the URL, click LoadMyMap, and follow the directions. I've had a couple of routes not come out 100% right (there were gaps in the route between some waypoints) but for the most part it works, and you can fix the "broken" parts on your GPS easily enough.

 

[Heronboy]

You mean they haven't made Mapsource any better since the late 90's? It came with my eMap from that period and I always found harder to use than Microsoft S&T's. Pretty kludgy.

 

[ramblingrose]

Thanks for the help trying to clear up how to do computer to Garmin transfers. I will have to get more experience just doing simple route input on the Garmin. I guess the simple method just isn't available yet. I will try tho Google maps method you mentioned.

Scott

 

[TILAM]

My first experience with Mapsource and my 2610 resulted in a corrupted route that seizes the GPS when ever I accidentally choose from the list. Can't even delete it.

On my tour last year I found it easier to just build the route in the GPS each night at the motel. On the fly planning is better but still requires some paper maps to spot the best roads.