multiple maps on a garmin query

[gairym]

i realise that it's late in the day for me to finally be getting round to sorting out the maps for my trip (i've been busy!) but.....my question is this:

is it possible (and if so how) to load multiple maps onto a garmin (extrex legend hcx) for use over a number of countries???

i've got all of the maps downloaded but it seems that when i upload one it overwrites the previously loaded map.

i did read something somewhere about selecting individual map sections from multiple maps and then loading it all as one map but the 'how' of it made no sense to me and so i'm hoping that there's an easier way.

any thoughts....?

[d45yth]

Does the GPS have a memory card slot? On my Garmin Edge 605, I put the maps I wanted for Spain on a different memory card. Maybe you could put all the files on one card? I know mine only takes cards up to 2Gb and the whole of the UK just about fills it.

[Dan_K]

You can combine multiple .img maps into one file using GMapTool

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/garmin- ... 012-a.html

I've not done it for a while but i think it was pretty straightforward with the software.

I downloaded a load of .img files for european countries and then combined them into one big euro map with everywhere I was likely to visit and then put that into my etrex.
I basically run 2 maps now on 2 micro sds - garmin city navigator europe for road use and OSM for off road.

I think the issue with the etrex is that it only reads one .img map file at a time so you can't have more than one on a micro sd at a time. You could carry multiple cards though and switch between countries.

[gairym]

Does the GPS have a memory card slot? On my Garmin Edge 605, I put the maps I wanted for Spain on a different memory card. Maybe you could put all the files on one card? I know mine only takes cards up to 2Gb and the whole of the UK just about fills it.

yeah, it's up to 4gb (if i remember right) and so i can store them all easily enough but, as Dan said:

(

I think the issue with the etrex is that it only reads one .img map file at a time so you can't have more than one on a micro sd at a time. You could carry multiple cards though and switch between countries.

so.....my options would appear to be:

1. carry 4 cards (as i'll be riding through 4 countries) each with the map and .gpx files for that section of the trip.

2. combine the maps using the linked software (seemed a little too techy for me from the quick glance i just had).

or.....
3. is there a way i can store all of the maps on the memory card and just change the one being read (using only the device itself)?

surely that might be possible....?

[Dan_K]

As far as i'm aware, you can't do number 3 as it can only read one img file off the card.

Which countries do you need and where did you get the tiles from?

[gairym]

i need:

- Germany (just the Bayern state/area)
- Austria
- Switzerland
- Italy

and i got the maps from http://openmtbmap.org/.

[Dan_K]

Did you see that he does one for the Alps in one file or are you straying outside of this area?

[gairym]

i hadn't seen that one - i'm downloading it now and will see if it covers enough area to work.

hopefully it will!

thanks, will report back shortly.....

[Dan_K]

Cool. I downloaded the Alpine one from there and combined it with Slovakia, Poland and the UK. That'll cover my European hol this summer!

[gairym]

mine's still downloading (damn slow connection!) - 209mb of 641mb downloaded - 34 mins left and counting.....

[gairym]

brilliant - the alps map worked!!!

nice find fella, was dumb of me to miss it.

all set on the GPS side of things.

i now just need to worry about finishing rebuilding my bike and hope that my Wildcat Gear luggage arrives in time!

so little time.....

[Cheeky Monkey]

so little time.....

Friends of mine did a variant of LEJOG (starting and finishing on the furthest northerly and southerlt islands, rather than just mainland Britain). One turned up with a brand new Marin in a bike box, unassembled, with no tools or know-how. The other had a brand new Thorn which he'd never ridden before. They navigated with various pages of a road atlas.

They both made it. Nobody died. You'll be fine 8-)

[gairym]

yeah, you're right.

everything shouldn't need to be perfectly planned/organised - where'd be the adventure in that?!?!