Maps for Garmin 800 (inc Velomaps problem!!)

bungle73
bungle73 Posts: 758
edited July 2016 in Road general
I'm trying to find the best maps for my Garmin. I've come across the Velomaps, but trying to install them on the device is ridiculously hard! First you have to use an installer to put about a hundred files on your PC, then you have to run a batch file, but then you end up with map file which is over 750 MBs!! That is far too big to go on the device. Does anyone know how you're supposed to install these things??

Every other map system I've tried, all you have to do is download ONE file and then move it onto your device! I'm on ther verge of giving up with the Velomaps.

Or does anyone have any alternatives the best bike-friendly maps for a Garmin? I've also looked at Talkitoaster, which were again one file, but to get his full ones you need to pay.

Comments

  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    And I've tried using Garmin Basecamp to select a portion of the maps to install and it sends up being way bigger than the capacity of the device!!

    None of the other maps are this big!
  • prhymeate
    prhymeate Posts: 795
    There is a good guide to using OpenStreet maps here: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/05/down ... 00810.html

    You will need a micro SD card though.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    Aren't the likes of Velomaps/Talkietoaster better though? They're based on OSM, but with tweaks.
  • wongataa
    wongataa Posts: 1,001
    Bungle73 wrote:
    but then you end up with map file which is over 750 MBs!! That is far too big to go on the device.
    No it isn't. You need to put a micro SD card in the unit and then you will have gigabytes of space for maps.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    Yeah, thanks. I had a bit of brain fade. I realised that they're around the same as the other maps.

    I still can't work out which is best though.

    I managed to get a 2nd hand copy of the OS maps, but they start falling apart once you zoom in, and they seem a bit more sluggish too.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    Talkytoaster far better than the OS maps. The OS maps are just a picture that goes fuzzy when you zoom in. The Talkytoaster ones repaint at the different scale, showing more detail as you zoom in and always looking sharp. Never use my OS maps anymore. Havent tried any other maps.
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    apreading wrote:
    Talkytoaster far better than the OS maps. The OS maps are just a picture that goes fuzzy when you zoom in. The Talkytoaster ones repaint at the different scale, showing more detail as you zoom in and always looking sharp. Never use my OS maps anymore. Havent tried any other maps.
    The Velomaps are more optimised for use while cycling though aren't they though? I've only tried the free version of the Talkietoaster maps.
  • apreading
    apreading Posts: 4,535
    I have the Talkytoaster maps from before they started charging for them - not quite sure what they do now - do they have a dumbed down version free and pay for the premium ones or something? I think the guy got peeved when people were selling the maps on ebay that they had downloaded from him...
  • bungle73
    bungle73 Posts: 758
    apreading wrote:
    I have the Talkytoaster maps from before they started charging for them - not quite sure what they do now - do they have a dumbed down version free and pay for the premium ones or something? I think the guy got peeved when people were selling the maps on ebay that they had downloaded from him...
    Yeah, he offers a more limited free version, as well as the more full featured "Look and Feel" versions, which you have to pay for. He's got a video on YT which shows the difference between his maps, the OS maps, and the Garmin maps.

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