Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS
Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS How to find your way - traditional map, compass and road signs, or GPS and more
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 6 Apr 2010
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Qatar
Posts: 72
Garmin and Open Street Map

A review of what I've found out about GPS and Garmin may prove to be useful for others considering routes which are not covered by Garmin's detailed maps;

Garmin World Map is not 'routable', i.e. it dosent follow roads to get from A to B, just draws a straight line! 50 USD wasted!

Garmin Word Map is highly inaccurate. I ploted a route by placing waypoints at each bend in the road, then viewed it in Google Earth, massive differences, many roads not shown at all, those that are in World Map in the wrong place! Also World Map dosent show you the smaller and more interesting roads until you zoom into 2km range, hopeless for route planning.

I then stumbled across Open Street Map. If you start at the raw begining it can be quite frightening, but some kind chap has made it easy. Go to Worldwide routable Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap and follow the instructions, you get an email a few hours latter, open the URL down load the file osm_routable_mapsource.exe (Windows users only I think)
Open MapSource and there you have your new maps! Much better detail than Garmin, OK I've had an issue with the routing, it seems to think all routes north of Aqaba must pass through Al Karak, but I can live with that.
So far, so good.

I think I'll stick to Garmin City Select for the route from Turkey north, but for all other places Open Street Map is good, and free!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 6 Apr 2010
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Devon, U.K.
Posts: 14
+1

I have TOPO GB maps and have found them fine for route planning in Mapsource but for a trip to Europe I baulked at the price of Euro maps. Downloaded a set of OSM and now have full route planning in Mapsource with easy transfer to the device, for free!. I too had routing hitches but it did it with the Garmin mapping sometimes too!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 6 Apr 2010
Capo Sakke's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Creator of Joroinen Community Finland / All Oceans
Posts: 219
Garmin just informed me that they don't gone supply update DVD's any more.
So all those good, expensive and reliable gadgets will be problem waste on the future.
__________________
...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 7 Apr 2010
beddhist's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Whangarei, NZ
Posts: 2,214
Thumbs up

Yes, guys and girls, collaboration does it. Remember, these free routable maps have to be created and maintained by somebody: you and me and every GPS user. So, do the right thing and if you ride a road that isn't in the OSM map head to OSM.org and put it in. You can also fix those routing errors yourself. If you don't, who else will?
__________________
Cheers,
Peter.

Europe to NZ 2006-10
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 178
i must be stupid instruction 5 states

Enter your email address and click 'Build my maps' or download each tile separately by clicking it's link


where do you enter your email address???????
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
Quote:
Originally Posted by QatarRider View Post
A review of what I've found out about GPS and Garmin may prove to be useful for others considering routes which are not covered by Garmin's detailed maps;

Garmin World Map is not 'routable', i.e. it dosent follow roads to get from A to B, just draws a straight line! 50 USD wasted!

Garmin Word Map is highly inaccurate. I ploted a route by placing waypoints at each bend in the road, then viewed it in Google Earth, massive differences, many roads not shown at all, those that are in World Map in the wrong place! Also World Map dosent show you the smaller and more interesting roads until you zoom into 2km range, hopeless for route planning.

I then stumbled across Open Street Map. If you start at the raw begining it can be quite frightening, but some kind chap has made it easy. Go to Worldwide routable Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap and follow the instructions, you get an email a few hours latter, open the URL down load the file osm_routable_mapsource.exe (Windows users only I think)
Open MapSource and there you have your new maps! Much better detail than Garmin, OK I've had an issue with the routing, it seems to think all routes north of Aqaba must pass through Al Karak, but I can live with that.
So far, so good.

I think I'll stick to Garmin City Select for the route from Turkey north, but for all other places Open Street Map is good, and free!
I recently bought a Garmin, was useless, so had a refund, now back to using printed maps. Today I get an email from them telling me my free update period is about to expire. So they dont talk to one another, couldn't get the update to unlock. One of the many reasons for its return.
I could only get it to navigate to somewhere where I had already been as unless I could input the waypoint co-ordinates it never seemed to know where anywhere was, unless it was a big city.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 178
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
I recently bought a Garmin, was useless, so had a refund, now back to using printed maps. Today I get an email from them telling me my free update period is about to expire. So they dont talk to one another, couldn't get the update to unlock. One of the many reasons for its return.
I could only get it to navigate to somewhere where I had already been as unless I could input the waypoint co-ordinates it never seemed to know where anywhere was, unless it was a big city.
I use a 550 zumo with map source and its superb i did have to take a while to learn hpw to use it, but thats me, and now although I still use normal maps i would not be with out it.
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 178
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trix View Post
i must be stupid instruction 5 states

Enter your email address and click 'Build my maps' or download each tile separately by clicking it's link


where do you enter your email address???????

there should be a box on the left but its not there having read this page ive managed to download it run it install it and use it without the email how is that it oh i love computers...


nwcaching.co.uk • View topic - How To : Get routable Garmin maps from OSM for free!
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 178
thought id be greedy and get another map email address now wanted oh joy
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trix View Post
I use a 550 zumo with map source and its superb i did have to take a while to learn hpw to use it, but thats me, and now although I still use normal maps i would not be with out it.
Apparently all I needed to do to get it working was to move house, get a new computer and not to use it in France.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 7 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 178
Weird use mine mostly in france and its perfect not moved house yet but would if its out of uk and can take the garmin lol
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 8 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trix View Post
Weird use mine mostly in france and its perfect not moved house yet but would if its out of uk and can take the garmin lol
Ok try this.

All in France

Plan a route from Le Gros Chataignier to Pussy

When you have done that add in Le Frene, 79200 Viennay as a Via point.
I have given you the post code to help as it is an address, the rest are villages.
note Le Gros Chataignier is in Department Deux sevres near L'Absie.
Pussy is in the east of France in Savoie near Albertville
If you need help go onto Viamichelin.com or google maps or tomtom home.

Let me know how long it took.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 8 Apr 2010
Redboots's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: On the border - NE FR
Posts: 865
Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
Plan a route from Le Gros Chataignier to Pussy add in Le Frene, 79200 Viennay as a Via point.

Let me know how long it took.
3-4 mins... Its 701km (by my prefs). The bit to Viennay is a there and back bit from Parthenay.

Routed using the France Topo maps... I'm sure you would prefer this set of maps the the CN-EU series

John
__________________
Nostradamus Ate My Hamster
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 8 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Essex
Posts: 178
I did have to use google maps for a little help including that took me about 10 minutes, I must say it did take me a while to get my head around how it works
__________________
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 8 Apr 2010
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
I simply could not do it on the nuivi 765 with the 3.54Gb 2010 euro maps.

It would not find ANY of those destinations.

Le Frene I did locate by accident. Garmin had it misspelled as Le Fresne I don't know about the others as I could never get it to locate them at all.

A friend of mine has a Tom Tom and all of those destinations work as I expected...
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
MX or street helmet ? pbekkerh Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 17 8 Oct 2008 07:57
Garmin Street Pilot 2 Simon Harby Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS 8 17 Mar 2008 17:29
Garmin V versus Garmin 60Csx - thoughts? Matt Roach Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS 3 15 Aug 2007 14:22
Tyres for street use Huan Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 0 30 May 2001 16:45

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:27.