Garmin Oregon gps guys (or people who know garmins)

[Luck e 1]

So I am getting an Oregon 450 for christmas and as far as I can tell I have three options of getting maps...buying the chips, downloading from computer, or buying the cd rom. (i think)

can anyone speak to which option my be best and why?

[Luck e 1]

Also...do you HAVE to buy the garmin chip...or can you use a lakemaster?

[croixflats]

The CD ROM is the best route to go. This way you can view the maps on the computer, handy for creating maps and way points and viewing on a full screen .

_

Garmin has it proprietary rights with Lakemaster so you get Lakemaster maps with Garmin maps, essentially more maps you get. So I guess the answer is you want Garmin/Lakemaster

_

Also with the CD rom you get 2 unlock codes to make two separate chips for separate units. Be aware that chip you create is only good for that unit you unlocked the software for.

If you buy the chip you can interchange between any Garmin unit but you can not view maps on the computer.

[delcecchi]

So I am getting an Oregon 450 for christmas and as far as I can tell I have three options of getting maps...buying the chips, downloading from computer, or buying the cd rom. (i think)

can anyone speak to which option my be best and why?

Downloading maps is the cheapest since there are many free maps available. Whether the free maps will meet your needs is another story. I think most of them started life as USGS maps, which are public domain.

So if you want the most up to date stuff or if you want hydrographic you will have to buy something.

[Luck e 1]

So when I get the Cd I put it on my hard drive, then how do I get it on my memory chip? Can you do that right through the unit? or do you have to have an SD slot on your computer?

Lets say that I went with downloading...would they just be on the sd card thats in my unit?

[Deep]

On my Rhino I use a usb cable to down load maps.

[Luck e 1]

As I was looking at the Garmin Inland Lakes North Central version I noticed that this is only available as a down load. Other types of maps may have the options...but it looks like the lake maps only option is to download it onto the sd chip that is in the unit (probably via usb cable). Does that seem/look right?

I see that if I want the city navigator that I could have my choice.

[croixflats]

Quote:

So when I get the Cd I put it on my hard drive, then how do I get it on my memory chip? Can you do that right through the unit? or do you have to have an SD slot on your computer?

With the CD you would download to the card in the unit via usb cable I am not sure if you can use a card reader but I think you can . Remember the total space of the lakemaster software is something like 310 MB so you would need a Micro sd card that can handle that much, I am not sure how big the card is that comes with the 450. My GPSMap 76 was only 256.

Quote:

Lets say that I went with downloading...would they just be on the sd card thats in my unit?

Downloading from the Garmin site I'm not familiar with.

[delcecchi]

I don't think you can buy a micro SD card smaller than about 1 or 2 GB, so space won't be a problem. And the card only costs a few dollars.

The way it works with my Etrex Legend is the GPS comes with a usb cable to connect to the computer. Plug the microSD card in the unit and plug the whole thing into the computer.

[BobT]

I'll add that when you buy the CD version you'll also get Mapsource, which gives you the ability to expand to other mapping software as well such as USTopo, USRoads&Recreation. I've aslo found third party software with great details for land contours such as Minnesota Topo that are compataible with Mapsource.

I like that I can create/edit routes, tracks, and waypoints on my desktop screen from the comfort of my living room, download them to my GPS, and then use them in the field.

[Luck e 1]

I see from the posts that the CD would be best...but as I was looking at the Garmin HSOforum it looks like the only option I have for the Inland Lakes map- North Central, is the download. I don't see a chip or a CD rom. Am I missing it? Is there a second option for lake maps other than the Garmin Inland lakes maps?

Thanks for everyone's help!

[MN Mike]

I don't know how big of a file the Inland Lakes is but the last time I used the download option from Garmin, I put the Topo Data on a MicroSD card, the download for that was somewhere around 2 GB which is WAY more than what the Oregon can hold.

Depending on how much data you have to download, it could possibly fit in the Oregon, otherwise I would download it to a MicroSD card.

Mike

[Luck e 1]

So I just called the help line and here is what I found out...probably what you guys already knew and were trying to relay to me.

Options:

Chip:

easiest to plug and play.

CD Rom:

Good because you can put the maps on your computer, then look at the maps on a big screen. you can also then download a few maps onto your device so you don't have to change chips out. Also...I think he said you may not have to "activate" the whole maps on your unit so it may not take up as much space and may help it run faster? Can put it on multiple computers...but he told me it will only work with one device, which goes against what some have said...don't know who to believe on that one.

Down fall...have to order and wait for it.

Download:

Instant map that you get immidiately. The guy said that you can only download one map onto a SD card at a time, and that if you do mulitlple map downloads, they jsut write over eachother. For example. Lets say I wanted both the Mn Lakemaster and the WI lakemaster downloads. If I did the MN one first, as soon as I downloaded the WI maps it would in essence erase the MN maps. I really questioned him on this because I didn't think that seemed right...but thats what he said.

So I asked him if...once I have put the CDs on my computer and loaded them onto my SD card if I could run multiple maps at once. He said that you CANNOT have two maps running at the same time.

For example...if I bought the city Navigator maps to see local streets and the Lakemaster chip for the lake that I would have to "engage" the street maps when I am driving to the lake, and when I got to the lake I would then have to "disingage" the street map and then "engage" the lakemaster maps.

So it seemed like best options would be either getting the CD or getting the chip.

Honestly...I may call back to double check with another person. I can't believe that if you downloaded the MN lakemaster maps, then downloaded the WI maps you would lose the MN maps.

[BobT]

Quote:

but he told me it will only work with one device, which goes against what some have said...don't know who to believe on that one.

The software will come with two electronic "unlock codes" that will allow you to download map data to up to two different GPS units. When you use an unlock code you will specify the serial number of the unit you are unlocking and the software will record that information. When you attempt to download to a GPS, the software will connect to the unit and verify to see if the unit's serial number matches what you've unlocked. If not, it will not let you download.

[eyebjim]

Yes you can only have one map being used by the pregon at a time but you can have many loaded onto it and use them as you need to. You can set different profiles and save them. I have one called automotive and the other is called fishing. When in automotive the streets maps are already selected and when I go to the fishing profile the lakemaster map is already selected. This way you don't have to go and enable different maps.

[bigbad401]

This is goofy having the same question, in the same forum but under two different areas.

[gregg52]

I'm old so all this downloading and cd rom talk seems like you are a

taking a fairly simple thing and making it not so user friendly

and more oppernuity for it to fail you on the water

I use the lakemaster chip and it works fine.. as far as lookin at it on a bigger screen not sure how that would really make your fishing better

i use it on a split screen on a 4-5 inch screen whatever 520c are

i think the chip is the best thing to come along since the green box

i'm reading these post because i think i'm going to buy a new garmin

as my 520's are not to relialbe

i guess all you youngin's are wayyyyyyyyy more computer savvvy than me..lol

[Luck e 1]

I know what you mean...I feel like I need to take a class...haha!

Bottom line is doing it on the CD rom seems to allow you more options that will let you get more out of your unit. Otherwise you are not getting the maximum out of a product that costs a lot of money.

[gregg52]

ya i hear that

if they didnt put so many features in all this stuff

that i really dont think puts many more fish in the boat

but are fun to play with \

they could keep the cost down

[Ed Carlson]

If your uncomfortable with the downloads, the SD/Micro-SD converter chips is often best. Same same cards will work in handheld units, and in the Garmin Marine units.

But the download procedure used by Garmin is as easy as it gets, they do very well at keeping things user friendly. Far better than most do.

[osok]

I have the Lakemaster chip in my Oregon 200. I choose that route because: I was able to pick it up locally. It's "set it and forget it", what I mean is it's in my unit and there it stays for ice season. I don't have to take the time downloading maps before I go to the lake (which would be a drag if I changed lakes and the new lake wasn't uploaded. The chip will work in other Garmins.

Changing from city maps to lake maps is a breeze. As far as speed goes .....I don't have an response, I've never ran my 200 w/o the chip in it.