Anybody waste money on the Garmin Topo Map Software

[BOSSTOM]

After reviewing Garmin's website and looking at their topos, I was wondering if anyone has purchased their topo east option for $120. I spent some time looking a couple of different areas and they are not as detailed as the regular quadrangle maps you can buy from the USGS. I think the Garmin are 1;100,000 scale and the USGSs are 1:14,000. Also, I found outright errors on the Garmin products.

[Labrat]

I'm glad you made this post when you did. I was going to go buy the topo software this weekend.

Do you know if the street map software is flawed also?

I guess I'll buy another reel, line and more fly tying stuff.

[northern_outdoorsman]

Well on the other side of the Spectrem...I have a Garmin Gps and the Mapsource Topo CD and I LOVE both...

[Labrat]

I've read many of northern_outdoorsman's post's and I have to take his opinion into consideration. I don't know him and it will just be a possibility that I ever meet him, but he adds some good info to this site.

I now want more input from users.

I'm still thinking the reel, line and fly tying material is a good idea right now. I really want a sinking line on a seperate reel and having more fly tying material is always good.

A joke from this site: Two guys walk into a bar, the third guy ducks.

[northern_outdoorsman]

Originally posted by Labrat
A joke from this site: Two guys walk into a bar, the third guy ducks.


ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!

I use the Garmin Mapsource Topo for River, Lakes and Streams...it has major roads on it, along with alot of the two tracks...For rivers and lakes it's awesome. When I float a river, I know what bend I am on and how many more bends I have to the end of the float...On lakes, such as the great lakes and LSC, it has all the buoy's and shipwrecks and such...As far as Topo features, when there is a hill I see a hill countour on my gps...it may not be great detail but it's pretty good from what I can tell...

What baffles me is it was mentioned Topo East for $125....I bought the whole US Mapsource Topo for around $100 a few years ago. I will have to go on Garmins site to see if we are talking about the same CD....stayed tuned!

[northern_outdoorsman]

ok I have the Garmin Mapsource Topo US and it lists for $116...

They have a Website that you can download updates to both your GPS and Mapsource products to fix errors discovered in the software/GPS's.

Here is the link to the Topo US that I have and you can access their download updates from this site also:

http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/topo.jsp

ON this link you can use their 'Mapsource Viewer' and see exactly what you would see for all of Michigan on your GPS

[BOSSTOM]

NO

Thanks for listing the address of the website. As you mentioned, you can go in and review the actual software you will download onto yur unit - something I did with two spots yesterday. One was in MI and the other was in PA, and both of the areas are predominately wooded locations. In both instances, the Garmin software omitted creeks that I've crossed in the past. For one of these, my father actually pulled 5 trout out of one morning this past spring. I rely heavily on topo/compass to navigate new areas (especially in PA). If there is an inaccuracy (or worse yet omission) you may think your'e actually someplace you're not. For this reason, I will probably shy away from the Garmin software - opting for more detail except that I haven't found that option yet. I do know that National Geographic (among others) offer software for these units that is 4X more detailed. Sounds good except for the memory problem. My unit only has 24 MB of memory and you need almost 90 MB to load the whole state of MI on at the 1:100,000 scale. You would need almost 360 MB for the 1:24,000 scale topos (similar to the most common USGS maps). Of course, I wouldn't need the whole state. Another drawback is the price. Each state is $100 for the NG as compared to about $100 for the Garmin Eastern US software. I keep you guys posted.

By the way the $125 included S/H :D

[northern_outdoorsman]

did ya zoom all the way in as far as you can on the areas with the small creeks? Some small creeks you have to zoom in as far as you can to see them...I find this odd cause I have found small creeks that I didn't know exsisted by using my GPS...

[northern_outdoorsman]

COuld you post links or at least names of the other companies that offer Topo Software for Garmin GPS's...I'd like to check them out if you say they are better....THANKS...

[BOSSTOM]

N_O

I did zoom in all the way. I tried to get high tech yesterday and show you the areas (by providing internet addreses) as viewed by both the USGS map and Garmins but was unsuccessful. It is worth mentioning that both of these creeks are very small ( a few feet), but still they appear on the USGS maps.

With regards to the other product choices, I thought that I might have been on to something with the Nation. Geog. but I have since learned that, although you can use their software on your PC (create routes, mark waypts, etc), you can't load the maps themselves onto the Garmin - which make sense from a marketing standpoint. I just sent Grarmin a note to their Cust Service site inquiring about topo software options that are compatible with their units and go to 1:24,000. We'll see if they respond.

[plugger]

Northern Outdoorsman what system would you recomend I need to find something to use in the boat and in the car also. My current system relies too heaviely on bar napkins and empty match books.

[northern_outdoorsman]

Plugger...I have the Garmin emap...I have a mount for in in my boat and in my truck...While in the boat I use the Topo CD Downloads, and most of the time I use just the topo cd downloads in my truck. If I am going to a different state in the city then I download my Metroquide CD into the GPS...the only disadvantage I have seen on my Emap is it isn't waterproof...Garmin does make waterproof ones and they might be worth checking out...

P.S. Any tips for lower river Salmon/Steel/LR Browns? I got a Hyde now and will be up for the Salmon River Slam in Baldwin...you stopping by?

[plugger]

I will stop by if possible I am getting over some sinus surgery. From the # of boats at most of the launches I think you will have go early and stop and fish if you find an open hole. The other option is to pick a long float, learn the boat and laugh at the people trying to fish. To fish now you must be very dedicated or have agreat sense of humor.

[northern_outdoorsman]

Thanks Plugger....if ya swing by Sat evening we'll all be under the Pavillion at Ivan's Chowing down...I'll show ya my GPS too..

[BOSSTOM]

Knowing the seamless compatibility, I've opted to kick the tires the last couple of days with the Garmin Topo Software. The bottom line is that it is nice. The thing I need to get through my thick head is that I'm no longer solely responsible for figuring out where I am with a map/compass - the GPS does that for me. However, the 1:24,000 USGS topos will still be needed/used. I was amazed at how little memory is needed to download the Garmin software - the primary advantage to using a larger scale. I have all of MI zone 3, half of zone 2, and 20% of PA loaded and it only consumed 17 MB. I plan on stress testing this thing for about 16 hours in the woods this weekend. If I don't respond back on Mon, you'll know I didn't make it back. :D

[Banditto]

Walmart has it for $83. Not sure if it is worth it or not.

[Deadbuck]

You must not know how to use it if you think you have wasted you money. I can't do without it.