OS 1:50,000 maps on Zumo 600

If you have a Windows Mobile based smartphone you can get MemoryMap Mobile, for which you can buy 1:50k and 1:25k OS maps.

Topo GB maps aren't bad for the Garmin, but not quite OS quality.

Mup.
 
Topo GB maps aren't bad for the Garmin, but not quite OS quality.
Click to expand...

It may be worth noting that there is a major difference between Garmin Topo and Memory Map.

Memory Maps are simply computer graphics of OS maps which have reference data so that it is possible to read out the grid reference of any point. It is actually possible to take a scan of any map, plan or street atlas, add the reference data, and use it in the Memory Map program. Memory Map does not actually know anything about the contents of the map, it is just coloured lines and blobs. This means that although it is possible to click on points to make straight line routes, the program has no way of navigating other than a straight "join the dots" line.

The Garmin Topo maps are very different. They can be used as Memory Maps to join the dots but they can also be used for navigation along roads in the same way as a car based satnav. The plus of Topo maps is they are more versatile as they show contours and can be used for off road trips as well as road based navigation - and of course they work with Garmin kit. The downside is the complexity of the data means that a lot of the features of OS maps have been left out. Notably the names of most mountains and limited path data (no difference between permissive paths, rights of way, etc.). Conversely Topo maps come with a lot of the sort of POI data we are used to getting with road based satnav maps. Memory Map searches are limited to very basic place name data.

The lack of names and other detail makes the Topo maps a little hard to use for route planning although I find them great for actually navigating. My solution is to use Memory Map on my laptop to plan a route and then either send it direct to my GPS which runs Topo maps or save it as a GPX file and load it into Mapsource, which also runs Topo maps for any further tweaking.

I also have an HP Travel Assistant (PDA with GPS) which will run Memory Map but although OS maps are great on the big laptop screen or on paper maps I have found that on the small PDA screen they are too cluttered and on the hill I prefer the simpler Topo maps - and if I need more local detail I unfold a paper map.

I would hate to have to navigate using Memory Map on a tiny smartphone screen. Even road based navigation on my Blackberry is a poor second to a proper satnav.
 
andyclift said:
The downside is the complexity of the data means that a lot of the features of OS maps have been left out. Notably the names of most mountains and limited path data (no difference between permissive paths, rights of way, etc.)
Click to expand...

Very true! What I would give to be able to swap pylons and drains for footpaths and bridleways, but with the current rate of reclassification in this country I guess Garmin thought pylons and drains were less likely to change on a year-by-year basis. :blast

Good description of vector vs raster though!

Mup.
 
So do the Topo maps work on the 660 then?

I apologise if this is a really stoooopid question but I got a bit lost in this thread - so the first question was

"Are the OS maps compatible with the 660?" and the answer was "No".

then Topo maps were mentioned so my question is:-

"Are the Topo maps compatible with the 660?"

My lovely wife is considering buying me a 660 for Christmas :clap and I want to know if I would be able to use it for green laning in place of my paper maps. I'm quite willing to do the work required to convert / plot the routes from my paper based OS maps.

Can someone also advise if the 660 would give me the opportunity to "record" a route that I ride on so that I could share with other people? I'm a member of Surrey TRF so could work with the run leaders to "capture" green lanes for others to use.

Any info appreciated.

Maxxx
 
Maxxx said:
I apologise if this is a really stoooopid question but I got a bit lost in this thread - so the first question was

"Are the OS maps compatible with the 660?" and the answer was "No".

then Topo maps were mentioned so my question is:-

"Are the Topo maps compatible with the 660?"

My lovely wife is considering buying me a 660 for Christmas :clap and I want to know if I would be able to use it for green laning in place of my paper maps. I'm quite willing to do the work required to convert / plot the routes from my paper based OS maps.

Can someone also advise if the 660 would give me the opportunity to "record" a route that I ride on so that I could share with other people? I'm a member of Surrey TRF so could work with the run leaders to "capture" green lanes for others to use.

Any info appreciated.

Maxxx
Click to expand...

Yes, the Zumo 660 does log where you have been - these are called Track Logs. The unit does this automatically when switched on, and comes with software that works on the Mac and PC that allows you to access the track log and copy it to your computer, save as a file (GPX or GDB) and then upload to sites like bikehike etc to share with others. The older 2610, the Zumo 550, and likely many other Garmin GPS units all work in the same way.

I've used routes downloaded from bikehike, loaded to the Zumo 660 and navigated the route off road successfully using the 660 - you don't need the topo maps at all when doing this as the gps shows where you are, where you should be and therefore you can see if you have missed a turning etc. Works a treat.

I'm also in the Surrey TRF; happy to give you a demo on a ride. PM me.

Mike.
 
Yes TOPO maps are compatible with the 660. I use them on mine but still use the original NT Europe maps for normal road routing.

The TOPO maps are good at what they do but are very limited. They show contours and most paths as well as roads but do not show most hill names or any of the other useful information that an OS gives you. You can use them for calculating routes on the 660 but bear in mind they are not updated so often as the NT maps.

Another problem can be memory available. As the TOPO maps hold all the contour data they are much bigger files than the NT maps. TOPO UK is about the same size as NT Europe. I just use Mapsource to load the 660 with the TOPO maps for the area I am visiting - another reason they are no good for long distance driving routes.

Really its horses for courses and although the 660 will work with TOPO it is not really the right tool.

I mainly use the TOPO maps on my Garmin GPSMAP 60csx when backpacking. They give all the info you need for route finding in the hills but the limited data makes them useless for trip planning, for that I use Memory Map which can download the routes to the GPSMAP.

If off-road biking is the requirement the GPSMAP is probably the better tool. It can use both NT and TOPO maps and when it calculates a route it asks whether to use roads or direct lines between waypoints. It has a magnetic compass built in so, unlike a normal satnav, it can indicate direction when stationary. I have a RAM mount for mine and a bike power lead so can interchange with my 660 but the GPSMAP does the on road bit OK although there are no voice prompts and the screen is a bit small.

If considering the GPSMAP remember that the price does not include ANY maps but on the web its a lot cheaper than a 660 anyway
 
Maxxx said:
Thanks for that - do you use them then??

Certainly looks like a good starting point.
Click to expand...

I don't. I came across the site this week while reading reviews on Amazon of the Garmin Oregon 200.

Worth a closer look though methinks. :thumb
 
Might as well resurrect this.
I have the O.S. 1:50,000 map on my Garmin 660 but for the life of me I can't view it. I also have the Open Street map.
The O.S. map shows up in BaseCamp & I can view it.
In Map under settings on the 660 I can only tick the O.S. map when the OSM map is ticked. If the OSM map is unticked & I tick the Garmin map I cannot tick the O.S. map.
With the OSM & the O.S. map ticked I see the OSM in the navigation map view and the alternate view when I press on the map screen. Any help appreciated on how to view the O.S. map
 
Garmin Topo maps and OS maps are very different. Garmin Topo maps are based on vectors and the OS maps are bitmaps. I.e. they are a graphic images. I don't think the 600 series can show the graphic images so will only work with vectors, i.e.Garmin road and topo maps. In contrast my Garmin Montana works with OS bitmaps, topo maps, Garmin road maps and even screen grabs from Google Earth and any map I can scan. With the exception of road maps and topo these are all pictures and suffer from loss of quality when zoomed in in the same way as zooming a picture on a computer.

Basecamp is the same as the Montana. It will show any map. Garmin road and too, OS bitmap, aerial photo and scan (with coordinates embedded)

Incidentally. On my Montana I use 1:25000 OS maps. I just scan the areas of my paper 1:25000 maps and then using Google earth I can overlay them on the satellite image in the correct location and then save them in a special format (in Google earth) which also saves the corner coordinates so they will load in Montana.
 
Thanks for the replies. I did, after a lot of buggering about, get the map to show, but looking nothing like the OS map. I had to rename the OSM file so it didn't show then untick the Garmin maps. I'd have unticked the OSM map but it wouldn't let me.
Anyway the result was poor to say the least. I still have my trusty Rupse running IGO8 , TomTom & Memory map.
The OS map shows perfectly on it. The BT directions work faultlessly, unlike the Garmin where the 1st 2 words are missing.
I'm using both the Garmin for directions and the Rupse for the OS map.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Bikerbrady
Installing 2009 maps on zumo??
Replies
14
Views
4,121
muppix
muppix


Back
Top Bottom