What map is best? Garmin generic maps versus OSM versus the world

[The Grey One]

Lifted from another thread... So edited a bit to hopefully make sense in context....

Richard

I almost never create a complex route on the device so my experience of this is limited to simply asking to go to a specific point. I guess the route calculation doing this might be slightly slower than with Garmin maps... as there is far more detail on the OSM maps to process. For me a few seconds wait is more than repaid by the fact that the OSM maps are more accurate. I have used OSM maps in Austria and one two trips east from there. In 2014 we rode down the Adriatic coast as far as Montenegro coming back through Bosnia. Last summer we rode through Hungary to Romania and ended up on the Black Sea. Now, back in the UK I use the OSM map all the time.

Almost everywhere I have been the OSM maps are both more detailed and, importantly, more accurate.

I have never found that there was any delay in re calculating whilst on the move which to me is the critical one. I don't mind a few seconds wait before I set off but such a delay would be totally unacceptable out on the road.

John

 

[Wapping]

Re the relative qualities of map detail between Garmin and OSM maps or indeed any other proprietary routeable (and non-routeable) mapping; for what it's worth, you won't find the road up to my parents' house in Provence in OSM maps but you'll find it on Garmin's maps, in Google maps and (naturally enough) on sufficiently detailed paper maps from IGN and Michelin.

 

[The Grey One]

There is no such thing a perfect maps. I keep both OSM and Garmin on my 390 and my PC. One of our two village pubs is in the wrong place on the Garmin version as is the village school. Our next nearest pub is also shown in the wrong place on the Garmin map. Last night we went on a boat trip with a local group at a place called Sankey Marine on the B4624 going into Evesham. This is not shown on the Garmin maps but clearly and accurately marked on OSM. There may be occasions where the Garmin is better but so far I have found very few.

Of the last two places weekend trips one cafe and one of the destinations was shown incorrectly on the Garmin version. On a planned but sadly aborted 10 day tour of Scotland there were two misplaced hotels on the Garmin map and one which I was unable to locate at all on that map. All were correctly marked on the OSM maps. I tend to use the OSM maps but a friend who had planned to join us only has Garmin maps so I checked each location before sending him the list of hotels as waypoints. In those cases I use the OSM mapping on the PC to create the waypoint and then revert to the Garmin map to make a .gpx file to send out.


John

PS OSM maps are updated every two weeks, send them details of your missing road and I am sure they will add it

 

[Wapping]

Nah, my parents have moved. I'll leave it to the new owners.

 

[The Grey One]

Nah, my parents have moved. I'll leave it to the new owners.

.

Very public spirited of you!

 

[Wapping]

That's life and I don't use OSM maps very often, though I did send the bod EUR 25 via his website to contribute towards his costs and for answering a question I had.

Others maybe just sponge the maps as they are free.

 

[The Grey One]

That's life and I don't use OSM maps very often, though I did send the bod EUR 25 via his website to contribute towards his costs and for answering a question I had.

Others maybe just sponge the maps as they are free.

Not sure how something can be called free and yet people "spong" it. I'd be interested in which bod got your 25 Euros and answered questions. I have never needed to ask a question but I can't see any contact details on the website.

John

 

[Wapping]

About five or six years ago, I think, via the Open Steet Maps Foundation.

PayPal as I recall.

It was quite easy.

 

[The Grey One]

About five or six years ago, I think, via the Open Steet Maps Foundation.

PayPal as I recall.

It was quite easy.

It's changed a bit since then!, take a look at the "new Style" OSM maps they even look nicer than the Garmin ones.

 

[leedude03]

Only played with osm maps a couple of times and this was a while ago, i found them to be ok, my major gripe was you could not download a whole continent in one go, you had to do it piece by piece or tile by tile, is there any way of downloading say the whole of europe in one hit, or do you still have to do it the long way.

 

[Kritou]

One of the virtues of OSM is the ability to use up to date mapping on legacy devices. I use the evergreen Quest, and along with all day internal battery power and a terrific form factor comes simple and uncomplicated navigation. The one downside is that OSM is so data rich that one has to choose one's tiles with care to avoid maxing out it's memory. One way round this of course is to take along two, or more, Quests on a long trip! Indeed, at about £30 a pop on eBay it is no financial strain

In fact it is an excellent combination if you are hiring a bike abroad - New Zealand or Cyprus, for example, easily fit on one device

 

[The Grey One]

Only played with osm maps a couple of times and this was a while ago, i found them to be ok, my major gripe was you could not download a whole continent in one go, you had to do it piece by piece or tile by tile, is there any way of downloading say the whole of europe in one hit, or do you still have to do it the long way.

Just had a look, I'm off in September helping run an organised tour covering France, Switzerland, Austria, Northern Italy, Slovenia, Germany & Belgium. Whist you can't just pick the whole of Europe you can drag the selection box to include those areas you need. It is possible to select all of these counties (plus Croatia!) to make up one map set. I will load this a a separate set onto my SD card. I already have the UK as one map set so all I need do is switch maps when I turn the device on ready to leave the ferry. It's my experience that you have plenty of time at this point!

John