Garmin gps questions.

[kevfish1]

Just got a new garmin vista gps. It came with a trip and waypoint manager cd. Is there a way to put the rodes that are in my hunting area on to the gps. the gps just has the major highways on it now. Or do I have to buy a micro sd card with roads on it???

[Big-Al]

After checking the Garmin site, it appears like the Vista has 25MB of on board memory so you can download detailed maps from Garmin mapsource, although it does not have a card.

[MN Mike]

Since Kev mentioned the chip option, I beileve he has a Vista HCx which would have the micro sd card option.

MNTrax would be the easiest way to get roads on the Vista, just drop the chip in and go, it's pretty much geared to what your looking for.

I don't believe the Trip and Waypoint manager program will transfer downloaded maps to a chip for use on the GPS unit, you will need Mapsource like Al said, then you could download some maps off of the web and put them on a microsd chip.

You've got some options for sure.

Mike

[kevfish1]

when you say garmin map source are you refering to the trip and waypoint manager that comes on a cd with the unit??? I installed the cd on my computer and opened the program. I dont see anymore detail on it than i do the gps.???

[MN Mike]

Kev,

Here's a quick rundown on the Trips and Waypoint Manager software

Provides basic worldwide maps to help you understand your GPS data in context, including major interstates, boundaries, oceans, principal cities and towns, and other general reference details.

Offers an easy and convenient way to archive your GPS data for future use.

Does not contain detailed maps.

You cannot use this product to load maps to your Garmin device.

Mike

[Ed Carlson]

The MapSource Waypoint Manager is an intermediary data management tool for your data in/out, and coordinates your purchased Garmin, LakeMaster, or Trax mapping unique to your registered product license.

It holds the keys to using outside mapping. It allows you to integrate your data, save your data, and manipulate the data you collect.

It in itself has no mapping, you will need to purchase that separately.

[kevfish1]

ok so what chip would i need to get the road maps. I have a lowrance and the lake master chip got me not only the detailed lakes but also the roads, points of interest etc. all on one chip. So for my garmin what would i need.???? really dont neeed the lake stuff. just want the roads.

[delcecchi]

There are also sites with free maps for garmin units. A search for garmin free maps or something like that should turn them up. You plug the gps into a usb port on the computer. I forget the details, but it was straight forward to do. Topo maps are public domain since they come from usgs.

[Ed Carlson]

Ok, for your hunting purposes, then I advise you look into the NDTRAX, MTTRAX, or MNTRAX CD or chip. I think this is exactly what your looking for, and more.

You will then have all the roads, minor roads, and even landowner info in ND and MT, PLOTS, Public Lands, WMA, Camping areas, ect...ect...ect.. and info on lands open/closed to hunt you need. You also gain topo lake maps for most of the most popular waters, but not all.

This MNTrax GPS Map Card for Lowrance & Garmin GPS Units includes:

* Lake Outlines including Depth Contours: 1100+ Lakes

* Boat Ramps

* Scientific and Natural Areas (SNA)

* Wildlife Management Areas (WMA)

* National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)

* Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

* Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA)

* State Management Program

* State Parks

* National & State Forests

* Big Game Units

* Hiking Trails

* Cities

* Highways

* County Roads

* PLSS Sections

* Township, Range, & Section # (added 8/1/2009)

Updates cost only $20...so you do not need to buy new every year....and that is nice too.

TRAX

For the hunter, this is the best option out there, and very reasonably priced.

FYI: A word of Caution about downloading from the so called Free Mapping sites. I found they are loaded with spy-ware, identity theft software, and good old fashioned viruses and Trojan files. I run a very good virus protection program and it caught 6 bugs in one download alone...that was the last time I tested the free junk...In my opinion...nothings free...and it has proven to me to be not safe.

[kevfish1]

Does anyone know if the mntrax micro sd card would have the roads in camp ripley on it??? I have a lowrance with a lakemaster chip that has the roads in ripley on it. looking for something to put in the garmin that would have the ripley roads on it. The mn trax chip is a little cheaper than a lakemaster

[kevfish1]

TTT

[Kirsch]

Kevin,

The major roads and minor roads for the entire state are on the MNTRAX product. MNTRAX use a combination of Tiger, MN DOT, Forest Service and others to come up with a very thorough road database. Some feedback was received on the early 2009 versions that there were not enough roads, so this was a focus area for the 2010 product. It will not only have roads but will include all the additional elements that Ed mentioned earlier so hunting lands, rivers, lakes, section lines, and more all live on your GPS.

Feel free to post here if you have any additional questions.

[kevfish1]

ordered one this morning. thanks for your quick response to my questions

[Ed Carlson]

kevfish1 good choice.

Let us know what you think of the mapping once you get it installed.

[Tom7227]

I downloaded the North Dakota Game and Fish PLOTs map and it wouldn't show the roads. For some reason it over-wrote the base map I had in place. I thought it would act like a clear overlay and leave things in place but it didn't. Could be I don't know what I'm doing, but it is irritating that it worked the way it did for me. It's hard to rationalize the NDTrax product for one short trip out there. Of course over time who knows...

[kevfish1]

the trax mapping works great- was exactly what i was looking for. Anyone no if there is a way to turn the base map off in a garmin?

[Ed Carlson]

Go into MAP SETUP in your Systems Menu, then look for the Map Information icon in the features tray, should be in the center...look down the list of mapping installed..and deselect the Garmin map you wish to not use.

This will not remove it, just turn it off tell you wish it back on.

You can also look this process up at the Garmin web site, and download the user guide or product manual for your unit if you do not have one.

Grmin Vista user manual.

(See page 60 in the Vista PDF manual for step by step details.)

[kevfish1]

i checked the manual and it does not say how to turn the base map off. I followed your instructions and all that is listed is the maps on the mntraxx card i am ussing. nothing about basemap

[Ed Carlson]

OK...the base map will not be required to turn on or off to run the TRAX fully and properly..just select all the sections in the TRAX you wish displayed. The Base Map it's just there in the Garmin primary software, all else will build from it. It will always be there, should be no conflicts with that and the TRAX...don't worry about it.

Set your detail to MOST, and select/check all various TRAX categories of the maps you wish to read to on.

[kevfish1]

the garmin base map is not as accurate as the trax map. thus i get double roads or rivers ontop of roads in places. if i turn the trax map off i do not get the detail. with the detail garmins base map conflicts. If no way to turn base map off i guess i will just have to live with it thanks

[Ed Carlson]

I asked the expert on such things to chime in, he may be able to help you out better than I'm doing so far.

[Kirsch]

Ed mentioned a handheld Garmin GPS so I am going to assume this is what we are taking about. On a handheld Garmin with buttons like the eTrex or 60CSx, this can be done by going to Setup - Map - and then scroll over to the Map Information option(circle with the i). Here instead of looking at all the map layers, press the Menu key while on this option and a number of options appear and one of them is to hide the Base Map.

On an automotive Nuvi, you can go to Tools - Settings - Map - Map Info and scroll through the layers and usually there is a NT North America map of some type that can be turned off. The basic roads like Interstates, etc will still be there but almost all roads will be gone. For the handhelds I mentioned above, the base map can be turned off.