Most current Garmin GPS units come with a free version of MapSource, their software for uploading data/maps and downloading waypoints. tracks, routes, etc to and from Garmin GPS units. But if you’ve lost or misplaced your install disk, you’re out of luck; while Garmin has a downloadable updated version of MapSource on their website, it requires that you have the earlier version installed on your disk. Try and install it directly, and it will abort after telling you it can’t find a previous version.There’s a way around that “earlier version” limitation that lets those with a legitimate reason install MapSource on their computer. First, download and install a copy of Garmin’s free Training Center software, designed mainly for use with their fitness GPS units (ForeRunner and Edge). Once this software is installed, you can download and install the MapSource update file, and the full version of MapSource will be up and running on your computer (confirmed this on a system of my own).
Note: this will only have the MapSource base road data. If you have any additional map data you’ve purchased (like Topo, City Navigator, MetroGuide), you’ll need to re-install that from the original data disks. But since that process installs an original copy of MapSource on your computer, that makes the above irrelevant for you.
An alternate method is described here, but I haven’t tried it out myself.
What’s it good for? Well …
- If you have a Garmin GPS, it’s good for uploading and download data, including maps if your Garmin unit supports them and you have the data
- Open files in gdb, mps, gpx and loc formats
- Create waypoints, routes and tracks; the track editor in particular is easy to use.
- It comes with a world road basemap, and you can add maps from free sources like SmellyBiker, MetroWizzz or the Garmin Maps site, or even make your own
- Save point, route or track data in gdb, mps, gpx, tab-delimited text and DXF formats
- Export waypoint, route and track data directly to Google Earth
If you poke around this site, you’ll find other useful free GPS software that does some of what MapSource does, plus many things that MapSource doesn’t. Take a look in particular at postings in the categories for Garmin, GPS and GPX.
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See Real USGS Topo Maps, Aerial Photos And Scanned Maps On Your Garmin GPS WithMoagu:
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Other posts in the Garmin GPS series
- Garmin microSD Card Tricks
- Exporting Data From Garmin’s MapSource Program To Google Earth
- Free Garmin GPS Unit Auto-Routing With MetroGuide Maps + Free European Basemap
- Cheap Worldwide Road And Contour Maps For Garmin GPS Units
- Converting A Garmin USB GPS Connection To Multiple Serial NMEA Connections
- Converting OpenStreetMap Data Into GPX Or Garmin .img Format
- Adding Garmin .img Map Files To MapSource
- Sources For Free Garmin .img GPS Map Files
- Beta Version Of DNRGarmin
- Google Maps Search Interface For Garmin .img Maps
- High-Res Garmin Topo Maps For CO, WY, and UT (also Argentina, Uruguay and Chile)
- Creating Custom Waypoint Icons For Garmin GPS Units I
- Creating Custom Waypoint Icons For Garmin GPS Units II
- Creating Custom Waypoint Icons For Garmin GPS Units III – Custom Waypoint Icons In MapSource
- Garmin Handheld GPS Units That Support Custom Waypoints
- Garmin MapSource For Free
- Garmin GPS Unit Waypoint Icons Table
- A Look At OpenStreetMap’s TIGER Data Exported To A Garmin GPS
- Beating The Garmin 2025-Map Limit With US Topo Maps
- High-Res Garmin Topo Maps Now Out For Utah
- Introduction To Garmin GPS Custom POI (Points Of Interest) Data
- Garmin Topo Maps For Montana And California
- Creating A Garmin Custom POI Datafile
- Managing Custom POI Data On A Garmin Handheld GPS
- Creating Custom Icons For Garmin Points Of Interest (POI)
- Creating A Garmin GPS Points Of Interest (POI) File From A Point Shapefile
- Entering Multiple Datasets For A Single Set Of Garmin Custom POIs
- AZ Garmin Topo Maps And More From The GPS File Depot
- Updates For Two Garmin-Related Programs
- Put USGS Topographic Maps, Aerial Imagery, And Other Raster Imagery On Your Garmin Handheld GPS
- New Garmin Map Links At The GPS File Depot
- Sets Of Custom Garmin Waypoint Icons
- Converting Raster Maps To Garmin Vector Format With BMap2MP
how can i download top maps to my gps?enhanced maps i mean, like google earth maps with update feature?
For topo maps in a Garmin unit, Garmin sells the Topo 2008 product, roughly the equivalent of a USGS 100K topo map; there are also 24K maps for selected National Parks as well. The new Garmin Colorado 400t GPSr comes with the 100K topos built in. But if you’re talking about the equivalent of paper USGS topos, or satellite photos like those from Google Earth, you can’t currently display them on any Garmin unit.
Useful thanks, but I have another issue with Garmin. The MapSource software is apparently set up so that it installs in the language that the computer is using, EVEN THOUGH all the language files are included in the disk/update. There is no option to select install language. This grieves me and other English speaking geocachers here in Portugal, where we are forced to buy Portuguese version Windows XP computers or pay 110 Euros extra to change to English version. Cam anyone advise how to get all mapsource and city navigator installs to run in a selected language despite the computer XP version being in a different language. Of course, even when you achieve it running in English, every time you do an online update, you are told “Incorrect language .dll file. Please reinstall Mapsource”
Garmin (Europe) have told me there is no workround for this, although I don’t believe that!
Hi,
I’ve got a nuvi 200W and I did like said but neither Training Center nor MapSource can detect my GPS device. What did I or didn’t do?
free
Sorry, but without a nuvi 200W in hand, I can’t tell why you’re having problems getting MapSource to recognize it.
please help me how can I convert shape files (.shp)to garmin .img file.
metod and softwares?
the alternative method did not work for me. tried that first before I found this page.
I am from India and purchased Garmin Nuvi 200W. The base (world) map in the device is terribly sketchy and covers only major roads in India, compared to the PCbasemap in the mapsource program. I downloaded an OSM based img map of India and loaded on to the SD card. When I click ‘where to”, it always uses the device basemap to simulate the route, though it shows the detailed map on the SD card the device routing does not follow its roads. Is there a work around to make the device follow the detailed map while making a route. I tried menu such as “shorter distance”. Whatever I do it is of no use. I got frustrated to the point to throw it out of the car window.
The routing information for Garmin maps needs to be created and embedded in the .img file in order for the GPS unit to be able to do routing. The OSM maps do not have this information intrinsically, and you can’t add it to a .img file based on them after the fact. It is possible to add that data, but it requires the original data and special software.
MapCenter has at least one Garmin road map of India that supposedly contains routing information:
http://mapcenter2.cgpsmapper.com/maplist.php?country=205
thanks e lot
hi! i have got a RINO GPS 130. Please tell me a mapsource software (Free Version) which i can install.My basic requirement is to track the other GPS in same channel and squelch in my computer moniter.I would be grateful ti you.
Regards!
Thank you so much for this. We bought a refurbished Garmin Nuvi 255 and it did not come with Mapsource.