Garmin MapSource

[brazos parker]

In my experience using MapSource, it "sucks" for 2 reasons...1. Mapsource is less than intuitive and 2. MapSource is tedious to use. I would think that today's software engineers could do better. Makes me wonder if Garmin ever beta-tested their software w/ a "typical" user group...

But, until an improvement comes along, I'm stuck using it.

YMMV.

 

[David Morrow]

In my experience using MapSource, it "sucks" for 2 reasons...1. Mapsource is less than intuitive and 2. MapSource is tedious to use. I would think that today's software engineers could do better. Makes me wonder if Garmin ever beta-tested their software w/ a "typical" user group...
But, until an improvement comes along, I'm stuck using it.

YMMV.

Just to show how varied our respective experiences can be, I found just the opposite. After several years of using S&T, Mapsource was just a natural. Certainly some differences, but a very flat learning curve and easy to use. I still find S&T faster when I'm planning a trip though. Once I have the plan, I go to Mapsource to set up my waypoints.

 

[Bounce]

i guess it's perspective. i've been using the mapsource engine since the Roads & Recreation dataset was still active and current. i used Metroguide as my dataset early on. back then you had to manually enter all turns since it didn't auto-route at all. the improvement of the current one is massive over a simple, as-the-crow-flys route.

but back then i was also using 2 de lorme's products to suppliment the garmin product. Street Atlas gave detailed, address level searching but would stack multiple waypoints on top of major intersections, so a Street Pilot (1) would run out of waypoints far too early. Map-N-Go was excellent for longer trips and the lack of finer detail was an advantage when all you wanted was a direction change in your route and not the turn+gas station+3 POIs+the kitchen sink stacked on top of the turn.

With the last of the Metroguides the mapsource engine started to become useful as more than just a way to upload extra detail into the gps (something that S&T still can't do with any kind of upload, map detail or routes). Since then it's gotten better with each update. The thing that's still missing is a way to toss in a lot of markers and have it figure out an optimized route that gets you to them all in the best possible sequense.

 

[S76]

I too have a hard time with MapSource. My biggest issue is that I like to create routes on the minor roads and in order to have them display you have to zoom in so close you can't tell where you are going.

I always end up with a paper map to see where I'm going while I map the route in MapSource. That's dumb. MapQuest has a much better road display it seems.

 

[rayban]

The reasons I switched to Google maps for any printed or routing information need past the GPS is...

1. The "hybrid" view is awesome, blending standard street maps over a satellite image, which can often make picking out landmarks or noticeable areas very very handy.

2. The routing on Google is top notch. I've had many a goose-chase with both Streets & Trips and Mapquest both. I've only found one time when the maps.google.com site didn't send me as well as my GPS would have (and often better when I've run comparisons). The website will even show real-time traffic conditions along the route and nearby if you're in a metro area that reports. San Diego is and I love it because it adjusts travel time estimates and shows bad segments by color. Very handy.

3. Google has intelligence built in for finding nearby businesses by keyword. Enough said.

4. A bit of a brag, but the iPhone is already oriented for Google maps, as well as driving instructions on Google. I tell it where I'm at, it finds it on the map, then I hit "driving directions" button and give it the destination. It acts just like the website, except that it gives directions one step at a time in case I'm driving them real-time, highlighting the segment being described in a closer zoom for clarity. Obviously more useful in a car than a bike and I've used it a few times when the GPS got left on the bike.

4b. Something a GPS can't do is use the #4 functionality above to talk someone TO your location FROM where they're at. I had a friend get lost and call me. I had them tell me the crossroads, punched it in, got directions, called them back and talked them to me one step at a time.

Unless they've improved in the last year, be cautious when using mapquest in a city.

 

[twowheelnut]

I can use MapSource sorta, kinda like. It is tedious and I suppose it really would bother me if I didn't mostly use my GPS for finding home, restaurants, gas stations and motels. If I actually had to plan routes on a weekly basis, I'd prolly toss the **** in the trash.

 

[dgfella]

Chiming in...

My experience with Garmin has been mixed. I first purchased a 2610, with Mapsource 7. Since it was my first GPS, I came to love it. It never let me down, though I find its software and Mapsource less than intuitive.

My real trouble began when I upgraded to a 2730. I did this to get the relatively latest and greatest + XM + MP3 capabilities. I pushed routes & waypoints from Mapsource created for the 2610 to the 2730.

Since then, I've gotten unlock messages, route mismatch messages, etc... It all came to a head last week, when a 4 hour drive turned into a 6 hour drive because the GPS kept giving me misinformation. Example: "Merge left onto Dekalb Pike" (Central PA). It turns out Dekalb Pike is actually US202, which is what the freeway signs said. I drove past it, realized my mistake, then tried to 'turn around'. Long story short, I was circling this turn for 40 minutes. When I finally got it right, the next turn yielded more misinformation.

Punchline: I spent 40 minutes on hold waiting for tech support. When I finally got someone, they informed me that I've corrupted my unit, and they can fix it for $100. They also said this was the discounted price, which is normally $300. As an alternate solution, they pointed me to 3rd party unsupported software called IMG2GPS at this URL. I tried to use it to rectify my issues but it didn't work. The software works, but it didn't help me.

Now I'm an officially unsatisfied customer. I may even go back to my 2610. I'm not paying $100 to fix the 'unlock' problem. Any suggestions?

 

[shuttle1988]

Another opinion.

I may be in the minority here, but I like MapSource. I just completed a 2,500 mile ride from Arizona, through Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and back. I planned the entire route on MapSource including places to stay. The trip was almost entirely on back roads and it wasn't that big of a deal to get MapSource to use those roads. Once I had my route, I loaded it into the Zumo and I was good to go.

And, the Zumo is FANTASTIC! Routes, tunes, closest gas stations, etc.

 

[Bounce]

one test of on-line mapping/routing is to have it figure out a best route between Winnemucca, NV and Gerlach, NV. If the end result is about 100 miles, then look for a different program for your routing purposes.

https://www.fjr-tips.org/rides/jungo.txt

 

[drew231506]

In my frustrations with Mapsource I just did a search and found this thread. This software blows. Ive been trying to set up a decent route for a 240 mile trip this weekend for the past hour. I did it in 5 mins on google maps and streets and trips. There must be an easier way...maybe I'm doing it the hard way???

Question: To use all of my waypoints, I have to save the same worksheet and run all of my routes through it??