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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
111 of 113 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
How to Use Garmin BaseCamp; Review of Garmin Topo US 24K,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Garmin MapSource TOPO! US 24k West Topographic Coverage for Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada (DVD) (Electronics)
HOW TO USE GARMIN BASECAMP WITH GPS TOPO MAPS (SOME BASICS); A REVIEW OF GARMIN TOPO U.S. 24K WEST & OTHER GARMIN BASECAMP MAPS
2/26/10 FIRST SOME PROS & CONS ABOUT BASECAMP: PROS: This is a really cool program. You can find any area on the map, blow it up to whatever size you want, print out a paper copy with UTMs and/or transfer the map to a Garmin (at least) mapping GPS, which shows you exactly where you are on the map, etc. It works great in general and is easy to use ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO USE IT. Excellent tech support is available via email (through [...]) or phone. It apparently works well on Mac (OSx 10.4 or later) as well as PC (I have it on Vista). CONS: NO INSTRUCTIONS EXIST (as of Feb. 2010)! It has many, but not all, of the trails that are on USGS or Trails Illustrated topo maps (although you can compensate for this by adding "tracks," perhaps with assistance from a topo map that shows where the trails are). Apparently route lines have to at least partially be on a trail or road; they won't necessarily go exactly how you want them to. YOU CAN SKIP THE REST OF THIS REPORT UNLESS YOU ARE ACTUALLY ORDERING, OR RECENTLY ORDERED, YOUR FIRST GARMIN TOPO MAP THAT USES BASECAMP SOFTWARE. IN SUCH A CASE, WHAT FOLLOWS SHOULD BE VERY USEFUL. IT CAN SAVE YOU HOURS OF FRUSTRATION AND MAKE BASECAMP USEABLE FOR YOU. IT CAN ALLOW YOU TO BE MORE CONFIDENT IN MAKING A GARMIN BASECAMP MAP AN AMAZON PURCHASE. INTRODUCTION In December 2009, after researching mapping GPSs and studying reviews on Amazon for mapping software for a Garmin GPS, I ordered a Garmin etrex Vista HCx mapping GPS, the Garmin TOPO U.S. 24K West DVD, a topo map CD of Utah from Above the Timber ([...]; works with Garmin's MapSource software) and blank microSD Cards. To my dismay, as of this time (Feb. 2010), Garmin maps that rely on BaseCamp software do not come with instructions. Nor are such instructions on the Garmin website yet. (Garmin's website does have a user's manual for their older software, MapSource, which I eventually and inadvertently discovered could be used with BaseCamp maps.) I was also unable to find instructions for BaseCamp from a brief Google web search. I ordered two books from Amazon that discussed GPSs and mapping (the newest with a 2008 copyright) in hopes they would talk about BaseCamp, but BaseCamp (c2009) was too new to be in them. Never having used mapping software before, I felt at a disadvantage without ANY directions. (This is one reason for my giving this software a four instead of a five star rating.) In my opinion, Gamin was irresponsible in not providing purchasers of its new mapping software with at least a set of basic BaseCamp instructions until a more thorough user's manual could be created. While I have a high regard for Garmin quality, this experience diminishes my faith in the Garmin name. Garmin's website does allow you to email tech support and ask questions, which I did, and my experience with their tech support has been extremely positive. I also spent many hours experimenting with my Garmin DVD map and GPS in order to figure a lot of things out on my own. To make it easier for other purchasers of this software, I have written the basic instructions for BaseCamp that follow. (I have also added some instructions for Garmin's MapSource program that are not in that program's user's guide.) Others could write something better and more complete but this is the best I can offer. As I learn more, I might make revisions. I am not aware of any other instructions for BaseCamp at this time (Feb. 2010). Thanks to Garmin Tech Support for providing some of the following information. USING GARMIN'S BASECAMP DVD MAP Opening the program on your computer: After the program was loaded into my PC (which has Vista) I was able to access it by going from the lower left Start button to Programs to Garmin to then being able to select BaseCamp (with the other option available being MapInstall). When the program opens and map appears, to find the geographic area of interest: move the marker for the "+" and "-" scale on the left up or down to select the size of the map you want to see (zooming in or out), while using the "compass" on the left (using your cursor to work with the middle section that has a pointer for each direction), and/or using the cursor's "hand image" on either of the two map images that appear, to move the map up or down, to right or left. If you use the mouse/cursor to "left click" on the "N", "E", "S", or "W", or click/hold/drag on the outer ring of the compass, it will reorient the map, if that is desired for viewing or printing. If you have entered a waypoint on the map and that waypoint is not visible on the area of the map that you are viewing, but it is listed on the left end, you can click on the symbol or name on the left and that area of the map will appear. After you have played with these things for awhile, you will find it easy to locate the map area of interest, and you will get an idea of how really cool this map program is. About creating waypoints: You can create and save waypoints with your GPS and then transfer them to the map on your computer. You can also create waypoints directly on your BaseCamp map on the computer, in the following manner: Once you find an area on the map where you want to create a waypoint or waypoints, you can click on "File" and go from "New" to "Waypoint." (Or where you see an image in the tool bar at the top, of either a waypoint, route, or track, you can use the mouse/cursor to activate the waypoint feature [or the route or track feature]. If the image shown is for a waypoint [a flag], click on it. If the image shown is for route or track, then click on the inverted triangle to the right of the word "New" to select waypoint.) With the waypoint feature activated, when you left click on a spot on the map, a waypoint will be created there and a symbol and number for it will appear on the left end of the screen. You can give the waypoint a name by right clicking (with PC) on the waypoint's number and selecting "rename". After creating the first waypoint you can continue to create more in the same manner. As long as you do not take the step to delete a waypoint, it seems to be automatically saved when you close the program, since it appears on the map when the program is started up again. To delete a waypoint, using the mouse, right click (with PC) on the waypoint name or number on the left end of the display screen and select "delete". If you right click (with PC) on a waypoint's name or number on the left end of the screen, the "properties" field appears, which (among other things) gives you the possibility of changing the waypoint's symbol to a different one by clicking on the inverted triangle to the right of the flag icon that is next to the word "symbol". You can turn off the waypoint mode by clicking on another toolbar symbol, like the "hand" for moving the map around. When you make waypoints on the computer map and transfer them to the GPS, they do not affect the allotted number of waypoints your GPS gives you, which only relates to waypoints you create with the GPS. Sending waypoints to the GPS: The MapInstall program will only send maps to the GPS, so other data (waypoints, etc.) is transferred through the BaseCamp program. With BaseCamp open, and the map with your selected waypoints on the screen, connect the GPS to the computer and turn the GPS on. On the left end of the screen, between "Library" and the list of your routes, should appear a "Devices" field with the name of, and an icon for, your GPS. Click/hold on a waypoint icon/name and drag it up to the GPS icon and "drop" it in. You will briefly see a little status bar showing the degree of transfer until it is complete. You can have a microSD with a map of any area in the GPS, or not have a microSD in the GPS at all, when you do this. About creating routes: You can create and save routes with your GPS and then transfer them to the map on your computer. You can also create routes directly on your BaseCamp map on the computer, in the following manner: First activate the route feature in the same way as described for waypoints. This allows you to draw routes between various points, with the cursor appearing as a pencil. Whenever you left click on the map screen it creates a "flagged" point which is one connection in the route. The lines you draw, however, appear as straight lines while you are drawing between each pair of points. It took me quite awhile to figure out how to end the process of route drawing without moving the pencil/cursor off the map page and actually closing the program. When you right click on the mouse (on PC) the process of making a route ends until you left click on a point on the map at which time the process resumes. One weird thing relates to when you are not creating a route on an actual trail or road. With some exceptions perhaps, as you create the second point the line is connected to, the straight line re-forms to go up or down to the nearest trail or road before going back up to the second point. You really just wanted a route going across country, but you end up with a route that takes you all over the place in order to utilize a trail or road. In other words, the route feature only seems to consistently work well or accurately when you are doing a route that follows a trail or road that is shown on the map. Perhaps there are some tricks to this part of the program of which I am not aware. Created routes are listed on the left side of the screen and you can right click (on a PC) on any of them and select "delete" to delete the route itself, or select "rename" to rename the route. About sending routes to the GPS: Use the same procedure described for waypoints... Read more ›
95 of 98 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great new product!,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Garmin MapSource TOPO! US 24k West Topographic Coverage for Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada (DVD) (Electronics)
I'll cut to the bottom line: As far as I can see, this is the best topographic mapping product available.
It's better than computer maps from DeLorme, National Geographic or other vendors, and much better than Garmin's earlier "MapSource" product. Maps displayed on one's PC or Mac (I've tried it on a Mac) are visually compelling, with very high resolution and near-perfect accuracy. There is also an excellent user interface -- you can browse, zoom, rotate or tilt to your heart's content. Even better, these high-resolution maps (unlike anything from other vendors) can be downloaded directly into your Garmin handheld. Most recent Garmin models are supported. Today while out hiking I was astonished at the detail and resolution on my handheld -- 40 ft topo lines make a enormous difference when deciding whether the hill in front of you is a mountain or a molehill. The only downside I have noticed is that there aren't very many hiking trails indicated on the maps. But it's always a good idea to obtain a local trail map if one is available. Drivable roads near where I live are all there, and as far as I can see there are no errors of labeling or placement. This is a big relief, because some other products I have seen are loaded with errors. P.S. (7 Aug 2010). With some recent software fixes (both to my Garmin 60 Csx firmware, and also updates to the "BaseCamp" and "MapInstall" software, I have been able to download almost the entire mapset (California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington), except for a few panes in eastern Nevada, onto a single 4 Gbyte microSD HD card in my Garmin 60 Csx handheld. It works wonderfully. How did I ever live without it?
63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, Not Great,
By 21st Century Hermit (Colorado) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Garmin MapSource TOPO! US 24k Southwest Topographic Coverage of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico (DVD) (Electronics)
Pros:
Route-able Roads and Trails 24K Topo Detail Cons: Dark Colors and Poor Contrast Missing Trails Trails aren't named No BLM or State Lands My comments are limited to Colorado and I'm comparing the Garmin maps to another 24K topo set by Above the Timber. On a recent 3-day backpack I used the Above the Timber maps 95% of the time, Garmin 5%, readability was the key. The good news, both map sets reside inside my Garmin GPS and switching is a breeze. In my opinion a 24K Topo is a back country map used for foot, horse or other slow travel. This map set combines the excellent route-able Navteq highways and also route-able trails, that's slick. However due to an overly dark set of color choices, it's very difficult to see the trails to make an intelligent trip and/or route selection. Having the routing engine choose your route based on time or distance misses the human dynamic of most scenic. Not seen a routing engine that knows my scenic values . . . it'll happen someday. The Garmin maps do not show BLM or state lands, a very big deal in Colorado. Also the trails lack either names and/or numbers, kind of like having a highway map w/o names or numbers, huh? Names and/or numbers give you valuable clues as to where you're going, which you verify with occasional sign posts. To understand my colors and contrast comment, you'll have to view the attached Nuvi screenshots. They're fuzzy, the Amazon import did that and I'm not sure why. 2115|R2S225LX1M1QA8;2115|RG8XXBFMW6ZSL;2115|R20TTN5FBBY4P0;
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