DougPaul
Well-known member
I see what I can answer;
Motabobo (post 1)
* Only Garmin Mapsource maps can be loaded into Garmin GPSes.
* Road maps: Metroguide (routes on computer, only V4 on GPS)
City Select/City Navigator (routes on computer and GPS)
* Trail/bush maps: Topo USA and Topo 24K
- Topo USA is 100K scale
* Mapsource does maps, transfers waypoints, routes, and tracks from/to GPS
* Mapsource maps are DLGs
NG TOPO!, Navtech Terrain Navigator:
look at maps, print maps, (DRG images of paper maps)
transfer waypoints, routes, and tracks from/to GPS
(Delorme same, but reports suggest that the map quality is poor.)
DLG=Digital Line Graphic (line representations of the data)
DRG=Digital Raster Graphic (images)
NOTE: all US topos use US government topo data which may be old.
Rick (post 3):
Mapsource DLG topos are just a different representation of the same data. While the DRG maps are nicer to look at, the DLG maps are IMO also perfectly usable topo maps. The DLG maps are required so the computer/GPS can display them at a variety of scales. (DRGs do not scale well.)
Neil (post 4):
Mapsource maps are essentially as accurate as the USGS topos they are base on. There appear to have been some problems in translation in some areas.
Motabobo (post 5):
I have US TOPO 24K East and like it. More detail for selected areas.
Rick (post 7):
* Only Metroguide V4 routes on the GPS. No longer available.
* Other versions of Metroguide route only on the computer.
* City Select and City Navigator route on the GPS and computer.
* There are errors on ALL road maps. One occasionally gets crazy routes.
Motabobo (post 10):
* Yes many of the USGS topos are generally old. Various regions get updated now and then. Topography doesn't change much or very often.
* The basemap is permanently installed in the hardware. Loaded maps "cover" the basemap.
* You can load maps from multiple Garmin mapping products simultaneously. (It must be done in a single loading operation. Each time you load a set a maps, it clears the old ones.)
Rick (post 14):
* yes you can load maps from multiple Mapsource products simultaneously.
Imarchant (post 16):
Correct.
JOD (post 19):
Navteq supplies road maps to Garmin. Don't know off hand where Garmin gets their points of interest.
Motabobo (post 20):
* 24K (24K scale) is more accurate than topo USA (100K scale), but limited regions
* Info on the maps is at www.garmin.com including viewers.
Apologies to anyone if I have attibuted issues incorrectly.
Comments from me:
I have:
* Garmin Mapsource Topo USA
* Garmin Mapsource Topo 24K East
* Garmin Mapsource Metroguide V4 (no longer available)
* National Geographic TOPO! Northeast
* I use them all at one time or another, on my computer and/or in my GPS. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
* I navigate manually from paper or electronic maps and use the GPS to help me execute my plan. I rarely use autorouting for actual navigation--my preferences frequently disagree with it--but it can be a very helpful planning tool. (It can also be amusing to use when driving a known route.)
* A GPS is a complex device and batteries die. Always carry a paper map and compass (and be able to use them) in the woods. When driving, I always have paper road maps.
(Sorry for the delay--I was out Tele skiing today rather than sitting by my computer...
)
Doug
Motabobo (post 1)
* Only Garmin Mapsource maps can be loaded into Garmin GPSes.
* Road maps: Metroguide (routes on computer, only V4 on GPS)
City Select/City Navigator (routes on computer and GPS)
* Trail/bush maps: Topo USA and Topo 24K
- Topo USA is 100K scale
* Mapsource does maps, transfers waypoints, routes, and tracks from/to GPS
* Mapsource maps are DLGs
NG TOPO!, Navtech Terrain Navigator:
look at maps, print maps, (DRG images of paper maps)
transfer waypoints, routes, and tracks from/to GPS
(Delorme same, but reports suggest that the map quality is poor.)
DLG=Digital Line Graphic (line representations of the data)
DRG=Digital Raster Graphic (images)
NOTE: all US topos use US government topo data which may be old.
Rick (post 3):
Mapsource DLG topos are just a different representation of the same data. While the DRG maps are nicer to look at, the DLG maps are IMO also perfectly usable topo maps. The DLG maps are required so the computer/GPS can display them at a variety of scales. (DRGs do not scale well.)
Neil (post 4):
Mapsource maps are essentially as accurate as the USGS topos they are base on. There appear to have been some problems in translation in some areas.
Motabobo (post 5):
I have US TOPO 24K East and like it. More detail for selected areas.
Rick (post 7):
* Only Metroguide V4 routes on the GPS. No longer available.
* Other versions of Metroguide route only on the computer.
* City Select and City Navigator route on the GPS and computer.
* There are errors on ALL road maps. One occasionally gets crazy routes.
Motabobo (post 10):
* Yes many of the USGS topos are generally old. Various regions get updated now and then. Topography doesn't change much or very often.
* The basemap is permanently installed in the hardware. Loaded maps "cover" the basemap.
* You can load maps from multiple Garmin mapping products simultaneously. (It must be done in a single loading operation. Each time you load a set a maps, it clears the old ones.)
Rick (post 14):
* yes you can load maps from multiple Mapsource products simultaneously.
Imarchant (post 16):
Correct.
JOD (post 19):
Navteq supplies road maps to Garmin. Don't know off hand where Garmin gets their points of interest.
Motabobo (post 20):
* 24K (24K scale) is more accurate than topo USA (100K scale), but limited regions
* Info on the maps is at www.garmin.com including viewers.
Apologies to anyone if I have attibuted issues incorrectly.
Comments from me:
I have:
* Garmin Mapsource Topo USA
* Garmin Mapsource Topo 24K East
* Garmin Mapsource Metroguide V4 (no longer available)
* National Geographic TOPO! Northeast
* I use them all at one time or another, on my computer and/or in my GPS. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
* I navigate manually from paper or electronic maps and use the GPS to help me execute my plan. I rarely use autorouting for actual navigation--my preferences frequently disagree with it--but it can be a very helpful planning tool. (It can also be amusing to use when driving a known route.)
* A GPS is a complex device and batteries die. Always carry a paper map and compass (and be able to use them) in the woods. When driving, I always have paper road maps.
(Sorry for the delay--I was out Tele skiing today rather than sitting by my computer...
)Doug
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