Garmin topo 2008

[hogrod]

I just picked up garmins new topo maps today, and thought I would share a few things I have found with the new maps. Overall I Like the new maps they are definitely an improvement over the previous version. If you want to check out a certain area of the map, Garmin has a map viewer on their website in the upper right of the product page.
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/topous.jsp

The good:
1. All roads are named and more roads are shown.
2. Topo detail seems a bit better than the previous version.
3. POI database includes state natural areas and public lands.
4. When you have more than one mapset loaded at once, it’s much easier to show/hide the entire mapset. unlike the old version of topo that was split into east, west, ect. the new version is loaded just as topo 2008.

The bad:
1. Roads map position is off more than previous topo maps.
2. Road data is still very outdated.
3. The maps don’t have the same level of detail everywhere.(more on this below)

In mapsource notice when the detail on high that my area seems to have better topo data.

As you can see in this image my area has 10ft elevation contours, yet most of the map is 25ft contours so along the edge of my area you all of a sudden loose detail.

[GOJeepers]

I have been considering purchasing this and want to thank you for the review. I have a VistaC so will have to upload from the computer directly to the unit. Is the software easy to use? How long does the download take?

I have been using the Delorme and my wits for the past 3 summers to figure out how to get from cache to cache, but now I want to be able to have more detail in the GPSr than the standard maps. We are taking a trip up to the middle of no where UP next month and I would love to have the topo capability. Any advice you can give for choosing and using the maps?

Thanks!
Sara

[hogrod]

@GOJeepers wrote:

I have a VistaC so will have to upload from the computer directly to the unit. Is the software easy to use? How long does the download take?

I like the topo maps because they are fully unlocked, so if I get a new gps unit in the future I can still use the same maps. Besides the terrain the topo maps show more of the streams and rivers which can be very helpful when caching, though sometimes the map can be off and show the cache on the wrong side of the water. 😉

The VistaC like my old LegendC only has 23.9mb of map storage, so you will only be able to hold about 1/3 of Wisconsin at a time. The new topo maps still use small map segments so you can really only choose what you need to have loaded. Transferring maps to the unit shouldn’t take more than 10mintues, if you had more storage it could take longer.

[GOJeepers]

Thanks, hogrod! I was hoping to get a bit more onto the unit than that….am also considering upgrading to the VistaHCx and just using the pre-loaded chips but that would obviously be more expensive than just buying the topo. Of course I could buy the topo and use it now, then still use it if I decide to upgrade in the future.

What do you think is the life expectancy of the topo information? Would I have to upgrade again in a year or will the information be OK for 5 years?

Thanks again!
Sara

[hogrod]

@GOJeepers wrote:

Of course I could buy the topo and use it now, then still use it if I decide to upgrade in the future.

Thats what I would probably do. The problem with garmins pre-loaded topo chips is they only cover a region and cost almost as much as the whole US on dvd. Thats unlike the pre-programmed street maps “city navigator NT 2008” chips have the whole US on one micro SD card. Topo 2008 is the first update to Garmins topo software in at least 7years, if I’m not mistaken the old topo US 3.02 came out in 1999.

Mapsource is a pretty easy to use program, you can import/export tracks,routes,waypoints and more. If you have mapsource fully updated, it will read GPX/LOC files so you can use it to load your caches to your GPSr if needed(or just see caches on the map). You can have mapsource show you the nearest geocaches and it will open your browser to geocaching.com and show you all near by caches.

My legendC, 60CX, and vistaCX all came with garmin trip and waypoint manager CD, this is a stripped down version of mapsource so if you have used that its pretty much the same as their mapping products.

[GOJeepers]

@hogrod wrote:

Mapsource is a pretty easy to use program, you can import/export tracks,routes,waypoints and more. If you have mapsource fully updated, it will read GPX/LOC files so you can use it to load your caches to your GPSr if needed(of just see caches on the map). You can have mapsource show you the nearest geocaches and it will open your browser to geocaching.com and show you all near by caches.

That is good to know. I was not looking forward to having to learn a new program, but if it is intuitive then I should be OK. I think I tossed out the waypoint manager since I was already using GSAK for paperless.

The biggest reason I want to get me hands on the maps right now is we are planning a northern WI and UP trip next month so I know the pre-loaded data for those areas will be sparse to say the least. I found an online site that has the new Vista HCx for $235 but I think if I pick up the topo info now I could wait until Christmas and ask Santa for the new GPSr. 🙂

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