Garmin MapSource 2008 Topographical U.S. Map DVD-Rom by Garmin
|
List Price: Our Price: $84.25 You Save: $31.70 (27%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
Digital camera reviews of Garmin MapSource 2008 Topographical U.S. Map DVD-Rom
Digital camera Review: A must for backpackers
Summary: 5 Stars
If you get a Garmin (recommend the 60 CSX) GPS, you have to get this software in order to go backpacking. It is very detailed, very accurate (READ THE INSTRUCTIONS), and simple to use. I will never be caught outside in the wilderness again without this. It is as vital to me as my water purification, and fire starting flint. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!Digital camera Review: Accurate? I don't think so.
Summary: 2 Stars
I love Amazon reviews. If a product works, I can praise it. If it doesn't, I can dis it. I am dissin' Topo US 2008 by Garmin.
It is not accurate.
I know it is 1:100,000 (o.k.a. One over the World scale) but still, it would be nice if it had some passing resemblance to the stuff on the ground.
I survey rail-trails (bike) for fun, so I get a lot of GPS time on the trail. My Garmin 60CSx GPS is a superb machine. Five stars, no question. The Topo US 2008 that came with it sucks.
Case in point ... Irvine, CA. In the Woodbridge Community there are two lakes, North and South. Only North Lake is shown on Topo 2008. One lake missing.
Case in point ... Irvine, CA. The street grid overlays Sand Canyon Reservoir. No, they have not developed a tract down in the water. The street grid overlay seems to be displaced.
Case in point ... Irvine, CA. I am surveying the Freeway Trail, which runs close along the north side of the San Diego Freeway. The map is showing me well south of the freeway. Duh!
The waypoints from the CSx, when uploaded to Google Earth are spot-on. No issues with the data; big issues with the maps.
Garmin would love to sell me a suite of electronic marine charts. Not buying. If the accuracy of those is anywhere near that of Topo US 2008, I would be on the rocks in a flash.
Digital camera Review: Alternative to buying MapSource Topo 2008
Summary: 4 Stars
First, I'm not knocking the TOPO US too much. It is expensive and does not have high resolution but it fills a niche. If you need a TOPO map in a hurry, I suppose it is the best alternative.
I've had my Garmin Legend HCx for several months now. During this time, I've hunted for a reliable alternative to TOPO US, rendering 24K resolution and not limited to a few National Parks.
Looking really paid off. The best solution that I've found is the following:
* Free Maps from USGS Seamless Server (24K TOPOs as GeoTiff files) $0
* Any graphics editor program that can handle .tif format $0
* Mapwell (Basic) Google to find (includes raster/vector conversion) $45
* TrackMaker (free version) Google to find $0
Total: $45
Process:
1. Search, select, download GeoTiff map from USGS Seamless Server (15 minutes)
NOTE ADDED 4/2010: Mapwell Basic can now read coordinates on GeoTiff files, making steps 2,3, and part of 4 obsolete.
2. Review the .xml data, downloaded with the map to determine the extent of the map: Northwest and Southeast boundary. (5 minutes)
3. Open GeoTiff file in graphics editor. Save as new .tif file, stripping out the embedded geo data. (5 minutes)
4. Open the new .tif file in Mapwell. Add extent information from Step 2. Add graphics features and waypoints(optional). Run vectorization option, creating a new set of Garmin IMG files (10 minutes - more if you want to add your own art)
5. Upload new map set into Garmin. Mapwell has a great Garmin upload/download manager. No need to use Mapsource although you can use it to add Mapsource maps. (1 minute)
Time burned: 36 minutes
TrackMaker (free version or licensed) is also a great product for creating tracks, waypoints, many more features. It also has a fine Garmin upload/download manager. So you can either load waypoints and features directly into the Garmin or embed them in the map itself while using Mapwell.
The only disadvantage that I've discovered in the process is that Mapwell works too well. That is, the vectorization of 24K maps produces superb quality maps that take 10-20 seconds to render in the Garmin (at 1 mile). The closer in you go, the faster the rendering.
Digital camera Review: As advertised
Summary: 5 Stars
Everything I expected. Now, I have the topos I need loaded on my GPS and I no longer need to carry topo maps. Be advised, you can only load a portion of the US at one time. Given the file size of the topo software, the GPS doesn't have adequate memory capactity to load the entire US topo. However, you can select to load and delete the topos as needed. One last item, Amazon had the best price!!
Digital camera Review: Astoundingly Inaccurate in places
Summary: 2 Stars
I wanted something other than the base map that is built into my GPSMap 76CSx. I admit that I have not spent much time with this so far, but my initial impression is pretty bad. Until I ordered this product, I had been driving around San Diego, recording my tracks. When I loaded this product, I was startled to see how far off my tracks are in some places from the roads indicated on the map. For example, the east end of Sorrento Valley Blvd is pretty good. The west end of this road appears in this map a full 1000 feet (Yes. One thousand!) to the south of the actual road! It's not like there is an overall shift of coordinates or anything like that. The roads are right in some places, and then just wander off.