Garmin 800 maps

[Simon_m]

Hi there, not sure if this is the best section to go in to get the most feedback or not. Anyway, I've had my Garmin since last year, I went for the cheap option and just got the computer and all the bike bits and not the maps. So, I've downloaded some open source maps which are fine for seeing where you are, but I want to be able to plan my routes on my PC at home before heading out on my bike, one can also see the elevation of the hills too. Apparently you can do this planning at home, load it in and the Garmin tells you to turn left etc. So, I have looked at the "Garmin GB Discoverer (All of Great Britain,1:50K)" and am having a few problems with the reviews people have written. So, has anyone got the Garmin 800 with this mapset?

The confusion is, can I plan my routes at home, using these maps loaded into BaseCamp? or whatever the software is, then put them into my Garmin? Will the software let me see elevations etc?? When I check he Garmin site, I find BirdsEye select too, which seems to be something simular with raster-based maps?????? Help it makes no sense at all, even Basecamp seems to offer up a different map system where you can update it a few times a year. All so confusing.

Ps, yes I have tried downloading them for free, but after 4-5hours of trying, even with a very good detailed website saying how to do it, I gave up. Thanks

 

[musa]

Download the maps and when you put them on your 800 system the file name should be gmapsupp.img(?)

Where you download the file you may need to unzip it to get the particular file ive mentioned above

 

[Trickedem]

Your best bet is to use a site like www.bikehike.co.uk to plot a route. You can then load the route into the 800 directly. I tried basecamp once and that was enough. Very slow and clunky I thought.
I assume you have got the maps working on the 800.

 

[Simon_m]

The hacked maps, i didn't have a big enough SD card as they were huge maps. I couldn't even get them to appearin one of the other garmin software pacakges, I forget which as I'm at work now. I will have a look at bikehike. but I guess I will still need the nice maps no?

 

[Simon_m]

ps, yep i have the maps working and have uploaded on to it free ones from opensource with no problems. It was the hacked ones I was having issues with. So i have given up on that route now, so to speak. so needed some advice on the paid for gamin maps

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Have a look at these - https://sites.google.com/site/openstreetmapgarmincycleuk/home we have been playing with them on the Edge 705 we recently acquired and so far so good. We just put them on a micro SD card in the Garmin folder and turned off the other maps on the Edge 705. we plot our routes (currently) either with bikehike or with garmin connect directly and sync onto the Edge 705.

 

[HLaB]

I use RidewithGPS to plot a route, save it and download the tcx (to the garmin 'new files' folder. You need to turn on the way indicators (or whatever they are called) on the Garmin for each individual route. Route guidance was automatic on the older 305, as was the autosnyc (800 doesn't), upgrade

 

[citybabe]

Garmin Connect has a map creator - that's what I use

 

[ufkacbln]

Garmin's BaseCamp is a free planning system that can read he map from a plugged in Garmin unit

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

These are great and routable...

http://www.openfietsmap.nl/

 

[berty bassett]

when you download of opensource - i dont think all the maps do all the things you want - make sure they say routeable - when you download they will come with own instructions and if you do one step at a time and take your time i am sure you will do it - i did , i can only just spel

 

[Simon_m]

ok thanks guys, I will take a good look later

 

[Sillyoldman]

just installed GB opensource map from talkytoaster. works great and has much more detail than the Garmin citymaps I had bought. installation is easy. I use ridewithGPS to plot my route then upload to Garmin connect when I have done the ride. Here is a useful (I hope) link that explains how easy it is to download and install the maps, and I can vouch that it is that simple. just make sure you download the correct map that supports turn by turn navigation.
http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/01/tutorial-how-to-install-free-osm-maps-to-your-garmin-edge-800/
Oh just one thing, when I tried to copy the image file to my Garmin it had the same name as the citymap already installed so I just added TT to the end of the file name or it would have overwritten the paid for map file (I have it backed up anyway so it wouldn't have been a disaster - but just something to watch. Otherwise it is a breeze).

 

[Simon_m]

great thanks. so much to take in and sort out!

 

[HLaB]

just installed GB opensource map from talkytoaster. works great and has much more detail than the Garmin citymaps I had bought. installation is easy. I use ridewithGPS to plot my route then upload to Garmin connect when I have done the ride. Here is a useful (I hope) link that explains how easy it is to download and install the maps, and I can vouch that it is that simple. just make sure you download the correct map that supports turn by turn navigation.
http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/2012/01/tutorial-how-to-install-free-osm-maps-to-your-garmin-edge-800/
Oh just one thing, when I tried to copy the image file to my Garmin it had the same name as the citymap already installed so I just added TT to the end of the file name or it would have overwritten the paid for map file (I have it backed up anyway so it wouldn't have been a disaster - but just something to watch. Otherwise it is a breeze).

Thats good to know, I got the 800 as a Christmas/Birthday gift but didn't want to ask for maps (to keep their costs down) so downloaded the talky toaster ones.