Open source Mapping.

[Cubist]

Thursday's stack at Cannock left me with a cracked screen on the Garmin Edge 305, and it won't communicate with the PC via the USB. A bit of research suggests it will cost a few bob to repair, and so I've snaffled a used 705 off ebay for what it would have cost, give or take.

So, I've read that I can download Opensource Maps onto a micro SD card. Any one out there tell me whether its easy to do, and more importantly are there any sites with offroad mapping that works the same way?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Not too "up" on older garmins so can't help there. http://openmtbmap.org/

 

[berty bassett]

yep . either on a card or there might be enough room on device

 

[Asa Post]

Thursday's stack at Cannock left me with a cracked screen on the Garmin Edge 305, and it won't communicate with the PC via the USB. A bit of research suggests it will cost a few bob to repair, and so I've snaffled a used 705 off ebay for what it would have cost, give or take.

So, I've read that I can download Opensource Maps onto a micro SD card. Any one out there tell me whether its easy to do

It seems easy enough in theory, but as I would have had to buy an SD card and then download the maps onto it I decided it was even easier to buy a card with the maps already loaded. I got it from http://shop.opencyclemap.org/

and more importantly are there any sites with offroad mapping that works the same way?

You might find that the "road" maps have enough detail for you to use off road as well. You can look at your local area at http://opencyclemap.org/ to see the level of information. I'd try them first and see how you go.
If you want separate off-road mapping, I downloaded maps from here, just to see if they were an improvement, but I must admit I haven't used them yet.

 

[fossyant]

Stick it on a card then you can have road maps and the MTB ones.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Two more alternatives

I've used http://www.velomap.org/ to get OSM maps into my Garmin (which is quite an old one 60CSx). I've done this for France and Finland/Norway. I can't remember the details, but it wasn't at all difficult: Run some downloads, which result in a file called garmin.img and stick it onto the micro SD card. (Which are very small and hard to write anything on, so when you have several you will get them muddled).

The UK maps I got from here http://talkytoaster.co.uk/ukmaps.htm Again, do some download steps ending up with an img file to copy to the SD card. This latter site does sell pre-loaded SD cards of the UK. I've never used that service so can't comment on it.

Edit: Didn't read the OP properly, and missed the bit about off-road. I use the UK maps as above when out walking and they have good coverage of footpaths. However I only ride on roads so can't comment on using it for cycling off-road.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Two more alternatives

I've used http://www.velomap.org/ to get OSM maps into my Garmin (which is quite an old one 60CSx). I've done this for France and Finland/Norway. I can't remember the details, but it wasn't at all difficult: Run some downloads, which result in a file called garmin.img and stick it onto the micro SD card. (Which are very small and hard to write anything on, so when you have several you will get them muddled).

The UK maps I got from here http://talkytoaster.co.uk/ukmaps.htm Again, do some download steps ending up with an img file to copy to the SD card. This latter site does sell pre-loaded SD cards of the UK. I've never used that service so can't comment on it.

Change the filenames leaving the .img and put multiple maps on the same card. I did

 

[Cubist]

I've just found a 32g microsd card in a drawer, so capacity won't be an issue!

 

[berty bassett]

32g might send the unit a bit wonky - dont think it will like it but its worth a try

 

[PatrickPending]

I just got a Garmin - used the map from talkytoaster mentioned earlier. Works great and none of that Garmin unlocking rubbish!