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.
Actual screenshot |
See Real USGS Topo Maps, Aerial Photos And Scanned Maps On Your Garmin GPS WithMoagu:
|
Actual screenshot |
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
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.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I lost my CD and thought I was screwed!
Thank You. Your method works.
I did work for me in Windows Vista, thank you so much!!!!!
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!
Worked like a charm. Many thanks.
thanks