Topo maps on a GPS device.

[johnnya]

Any of you guys used this??
I just got the Garmin 60CS and was wondering if its worth shelling out $150
for the uploadable Topo maps.

[Jonathan S.]

Well, I don't know what other uses you have for your $$, so I won't pass judgement on whether it's worth the $$, but I previously had an old Garmin eTrex (original yellow version) with no basemap or uploading map capacity. I switched to a Legend C for this season. The basemap is not very useful. But I find that the national topo cd assists my navigation, although it's nowhere near as detailed as a real 24k topo map. By contrast, the new "national parks" series does come pretty close to the detail of a real 24k map (as advertised), although coverage is very limited -- fortunately the garmin website is very good for allowing you to zoom in on a map to see which areas are covered before you buy. (I happened to get lucky with all the places I ski out east being covered, and most of the areas out west, but many skiers could get shut out entirely.) Even the 24k version is still no substitute for a real paper map in hand (especially printed out from real topo software and annotated with all your waypoints, etc.), but still a useful complement.

[upallnight]

I'm not familiar with that particular unit, but I've been using a Garmin eTrex Vista for the last 6 years. I think it is great in many regards (limited in others), but with respect to maps I am only able to upload vector-based maps (Garmin MapSource) to the device. While I do have full topo maps (Nat'l Geographic Topo! software), they are essentially images (=much more detailed + much more memory), and the GPS is not equipped to handle them.

The Topo! software is useful for trip planning, printing maps, and overlaying your track (post-trip) on the detail.

The uploadable Garmin MapSource maps are decent enough resolution to get a general idea of where you are, but don't expect to see the detail you get on a 7.5' topo map on your device.

Along the same lines as Jonathan S.'s comment, it's a useful tool but not a substitute for a full topo map & routefinding skills (esp if the batteries run out -- the unit I have drains batteries pretty quick). I'm happy with the GPS only because I know what to expect from it and don't ask any more. Depending on where you'll be, you can get some maddening results.

Oh...You purchase TOPO! software by state (I think they do have some "National Parks" versions) @ about $99 per state [sucks if you live near state line]. The MapSource license is for the entire US; not sure of current pricing.

[johnnya]

Thanks for the help guys. These things definetly eat up the batteries so like you said, not a substitute. I am up in the Albertan Rockies and the TOPO they have on the Garmin website seems pretty good. When i get some extra cash, perhaps.

[Jonathan S.]

three battery tips:
- If in the market for a new GPS, the latest color screens have longer battery lives than monochrome (at least for Garmin).
- If your GPS has WAAS, compass, and/or barometic altimeter, turn them off when not needed.
- Use the battery saver mode (refreshes position less frequently, at least for Garmin).

[iskibc]

Go with TOPO! National Geographic. Great software. You can find it for around $90.

[Snow Dog]

Any of you guys used this??
I just got the Garmin 60CS and was wondering if its worth shelling out $150
for the uploadable Topo maps.

I have a Garmin Legend and TopoCanada (1:50,000 except where it's not). Much better than no map at all and I use it on the PC all the time to check out places.

[upallnight]

Go with TOPO! National Geographic. Great software. You can find it for around $90.

Sounds like he wants to use this in Canada...does Nat'l Geo have the maps for Canada?

Also, the Topo! (US) maps are not uploadable to the eTrex series of Garmin devices...not 100% sure about the device this guy is considering, but my bet is that it will only take maps from Garmin's software (vector-based/lower detail).

Topo software is good for use at home, though.

[skiHOG]

i've had the 60cs since the month it was released. i have used it lots, but i know i'm not using it to its potential. i also think that garmin puts up map updates for it as well, which i have never done. i'm still trying to figure out how i can take the data off of it and manipulate(ie. create a chart in Excel showing vertical, miles, maz/min altitude, avg. speed, etc.)

[upallnight]

i've had the 60cs since the month it was released. i have used it lots, but i know i'm not using it to its potential. i also think that garmin puts up map updates for it as well, which i have never done. i'm still trying to figure out how i can take the data off of it and manipulate(ie. create a chart in Excel showing vertical, miles, maz/min altitude, avg. speed, etc.)

Doing the manipulation yourself is a huge PITA. I tried this for years.

My recommendation is to give MotionBased a try.

Caveat: Some friends of mine created the site and I gave them a few years of data to help them out...but I don't get any $$ from it. It's just an amazing service (you can use it for free, but you can only access your 10 most recent events) that extracts all the data from your GPS and turns it into useful information (including Topo maps, average speed on the ascent/descent, min/max altitude, etc.).

Yes, Garmin updates their firmware, and they do release updates to MapSource.

There are other threads about these topics. Maybe search on Garmin or "MotionBased" (or "Motion Based").

Not sure if they support that model, but it is worth a try. (They got bought by Garmin within the past year.)

[skiHOG]

Doing the manipulation yourself is a huge PITA. I tried this for years.

My recommendation is to give MotionBased a try.

Caveat: Some friends of mine created the site and I gave them a few years of data to help them out...but I don't get any $$ from it. It's just an amazing service (you can use it for free, but you can only access your 10 most recent events) that extracts all the data from your GPS and turns it into useful information (including Topo maps, average speed on the ascent/descent, min/max altitude, etc.).

Yes, Garmin updates their firmware, and they do release updates to MapSource.

There are other threads about these topics. Maybe search on Garmin or "MotionBased" (or "Motion Based").

Not sure if they support that model, but it is worth a try. (They got bought by Garmin within the past year.)

hey, thanks. do you use this? i'll have to try this out on a hike next weekend.

[Snow Dog]

i've had the 60cs since the month it was released. i have used it lots, but i know i'm not using it to its potential. i also think that garmin puts up map updates for it as well, which i have never done. i'm still trying to figure out how i can take the data off of it and manipulate(ie. create a chart in Excel showing vertical, miles, maz/min altitude, avg. speed, etc.)

The latest version of MapSource lets you edit your track data (add points, delete points, join/break tracks) so you can clean the data. From there you can view elevation profiles and other stuff. You can also export the data.

Also, the Topo! (US) maps are not uploadable to the eTrex series of Garmin devices...not 100% sure about the device this guy is considering, but my bet is that it will only take maps from Garmin's software (vector-based/lower detail).

Garmin GPS's only support Garmin maps. That's standard for all brands. Garmin's eTrex Legend and Vista support downloaded (Garmin) maps.

[Jonathan S.]

I've been using National Geographic "Topo!" for all my paper map printing, waypoint management, and tracks evaluation/assessment/stats/etc. So far I've just reserved Garmin Mapsource for sending maps to my GPS - the new 24k version sure is helpful when it covers an area you're skiing, although I have to settle for 100k for other areas...

[upallnight]

hey, thanks. do you use this? i'll have to try this out on a hike next weekend.

yes... as i said above, it turns the data in your gps into information you can use. it would be very time consuming (and convoluted) to get the same level of information out of the gps. you'd have to use mapsource, topo and do plenty of manual calculations.

my buddy knew how much i liked the gps on my trips but also how i struggled -- always saying, "i wish i could just do ..." the thing i wanted to do always seemed simple but never was. when he first showed me the service (~3 years ago), i was blown away. it's come a long way since then. give it a shot -- it's free.