Post by Bartman on Sept 15, 2014 21:17:24 GMT
Believe it or not, contrary to what you might read on the internet, you CAN use MapSource to create routes and load them to your Zumo instead of using BaseCamp. I just got a new Zumo 660 LM (Lifetime Maps) and the thought of using Garmin BaseCamp was depressing. After a call to Garmin and talking to Nick in their technical support group, he walked me through a few steps which I will share with you.
First, with the new Zumo's, the maps are pre loaded to the unit (in my case, the 2013 maps). The trick is how to get those maps onto my PC (Windows 7) without paying for a disc which will be outdated in a few months. If you have Lifetime Maps, this process is fairly painless if you follow a few simple steps.
First, you have to download Garmin Map Updater (it's an .exe file) from Garmin: download.garmin.com/lmu/GarminMapUpdater.exe
After you download the file and run it, you will see the following screen:
NOTE: Microsoft .Net framework is required before this will work. If you don't have it installed on your XP/Win7/8 machine, it will prompt you to install it. Wait for that to complete (a restart may be required) before continuing on.
Following the directions and connect your device. After a short time, you should see this screen:
Note: DO NOT disconnect your GPS until everything is done. Depending on your internet connection, this could take several hours.
Click Continue. The following screen will appear:
Click the first check box to agree to the EULA and if you want, click the second box and select Continue. The following screen will appear:
Select Yes and then select continue. The following screen will appear:
Click View Options! DO NOT CLICK "Continue" yet! The following screen will appear:
Click the Radio Button beside "Install to Computer Only" and place a check mark in the "Leave installation files on my computer." Your screen should look like this:
IMPORTANT: It is imperative that the detail maps on your GPS match the detail maps on your computer. I cannot stress this enough. If the maps on your GPS don;t match the maps on your computer, MapSource won't work.
If you have a GPS that doesn't need to be updated, but you have a computer that doesn't have the detail maps on it, then you only need to install the maps on your computer. If however your GPS needs the latest maps AND your computer needs them as well, select "Install to Device and Computer."
If you want to change the location where the files are saved, you can do that. In my case, I left it as is. Then click OK and let the files download. It will take a while so be patient. You really need broadband service to download these files. They're big! Once they have finished, if you do not have a copy of MapSource, you can get it by CLICKING HERE.
Click the "Download" button beside where is says (57.08MB). Save the file to your Desktop (or wherever you prefer) and install MapSource.
Once the maps have finished downloading and you have installed MapSource, launch MapSource. MapSource will find your new maps you just downloaded automatically. After you open MapSource, it needs to be updated. At the top of the application, click on Help and select "Check for software updates" and let MapSource update itself.
After you create a route in MapSource and you save it to your computer, the default setting is for .gdb files. While the Zumo 660/665 (not sure about the other model Zumo's) will read a .gdb file, you can only have one in your GPS at a time. To get around this, use a microSD card. On the card, create a "Garmin" folder (it might already be there) and in that folder, create a folder called GPX. When you save your route(s) in MapSource, save them as .gpx files and save them to (or copy them to) that GPX folder on the microSD card. Then when you turn on your GPS, you can Import Data from the card, in this case your routes and PRESTO! It works perfectly.
For those of you who don't know how to create a custom route in MapSource or have never used it, give it a try. I made this tutorial a while back.
If you have questions, post them here and I'll try to help if I can.
Enjoy!
First, with the new Zumo's, the maps are pre loaded to the unit (in my case, the 2013 maps). The trick is how to get those maps onto my PC (Windows 7) without paying for a disc which will be outdated in a few months. If you have Lifetime Maps, this process is fairly painless if you follow a few simple steps.
First, you have to download Garmin Map Updater (it's an .exe file) from Garmin: download.garmin.com/lmu/GarminMapUpdater.exe
After you download the file and run it, you will see the following screen:
NOTE: Microsoft .Net framework is required before this will work. If you don't have it installed on your XP/Win7/8 machine, it will prompt you to install it. Wait for that to complete (a restart may be required) before continuing on.
Following the directions and connect your device. After a short time, you should see this screen:
Note: DO NOT disconnect your GPS until everything is done. Depending on your internet connection, this could take several hours.
Click Continue. The following screen will appear:
Click the first check box to agree to the EULA and if you want, click the second box and select Continue. The following screen will appear:
Select Yes and then select continue. The following screen will appear:
Click View Options! DO NOT CLICK "Continue" yet! The following screen will appear:
Click the Radio Button beside "Install to Computer Only" and place a check mark in the "Leave installation files on my computer." Your screen should look like this:
IMPORTANT: It is imperative that the detail maps on your GPS match the detail maps on your computer. I cannot stress this enough. If the maps on your GPS don;t match the maps on your computer, MapSource won't work.
If you have a GPS that doesn't need to be updated, but you have a computer that doesn't have the detail maps on it, then you only need to install the maps on your computer. If however your GPS needs the latest maps AND your computer needs them as well, select "Install to Device and Computer."
If you want to change the location where the files are saved, you can do that. In my case, I left it as is. Then click OK and let the files download. It will take a while so be patient. You really need broadband service to download these files. They're big! Once they have finished, if you do not have a copy of MapSource, you can get it by CLICKING HERE.
Click the "Download" button beside where is says (57.08MB). Save the file to your Desktop (or wherever you prefer) and install MapSource.
Once the maps have finished downloading and you have installed MapSource, launch MapSource. MapSource will find your new maps you just downloaded automatically. After you open MapSource, it needs to be updated. At the top of the application, click on Help and select "Check for software updates" and let MapSource update itself.
After you create a route in MapSource and you save it to your computer, the default setting is for .gdb files. While the Zumo 660/665 (not sure about the other model Zumo's) will read a .gdb file, you can only have one in your GPS at a time. To get around this, use a microSD card. On the card, create a "Garmin" folder (it might already be there) and in that folder, create a folder called GPX. When you save your route(s) in MapSource, save them as .gpx files and save them to (or copy them to) that GPX folder on the microSD card. Then when you turn on your GPS, you can Import Data from the card, in this case your routes and PRESTO! It works perfectly.
For those of you who don't know how to create a custom route in MapSource or have never used it, give it a try. I made this tutorial a while back.
If you have questions, post them here and I'll try to help if I can.
Enjoy!