OSM maps for Garmin GPS

[marcelus]

Thanks for your quick reply and the detail, Andrew.

And Icefest, for chipping in re the Watches.

Even though I'll probably start at the eTrex level just for screen and button size, do you mind if I ask how you got the .img map files
across into the watch?

Given the watch probably doesn't have SD card slots, did you have to involve the Garmin Explorer app on phone or PC, or any other proprietary software to do it?

[bernieq]

You can also use the maps in Garmin Basecamp on a computer.

It is possible to connect the eTrex to a computer and use it's maps in Basecamp but I have found it to be very slow. Better is to have the maps in a folder named 'garmin' and on a removable drive eg a USB drive. Mount the drive before you start Basecamp (or Basecamp won't see the maps).

I use Basecamp to make waypoints & draw tracks on the maps and then export them, as a .gpx file, to the computer. Then I close Basecamp, connect the eTrex and copy the gpx to the garmin/gpx folder on the eTrex SD-card (can also save into the garmin/gpx folder on the internal memory).

Yes, the maps are a terrific resource, better than any of the commercial offerings imo. Thanks, Andrew!

[marcelus]

Good stuff, thanks for the detail on Gpx tracks Bernieq.
I have a collection of .gpx track files accummulated over the years, and good to know that you simply copy these files into the right folder on the SD card and you're done.

[icefest]

And Icefest, for chipping in re the Watches.
Even though I'll probably start at the eTrex level just for screen and button size, do you mind if I ask how you got the .img map files
across into the watch?

Just copy them across vis USB. It's the same formal and file system as the handheld GPS's.

Wanna buy my etrex 30?

[marcelus]

Thanks Icefest, file copy over Usb cable sounds nice and simple.
(Will send offline PM re your etrex.)