Hi
Is there any software, similar to Autoroute for example, that I can load onto my laptop and plug the GPS into, that covers North Africa??

Maybe another plugin for autoroute europe to extent coverage data to Africa, etc.

Any suggestions?

Hi Chris

AFAIK the only possibility you have is to use the Gamin World Map. It covers all of the world but it is not very accurate, most of the roads and tracks do either not exist or are completely anywhere else. But it's a good navigation aid to find your position on a (printed) map or to follow a route or tracklog. The World Map can be downloaded to most Garmin GPS units but does not support autorouting.

Another Garmin compatible map for Africa I know of is the South Africa City Navigator which covers South Africa only.

There is a project called Tracks4Africa (http://www.tracks4africa.com/) which is trying to create Garmin compatible maps for Africa. But so far they cover only the southern part of Africa. Check their web site for more informations.

Another option if you have a laptop with you is to use TTQV and raster maps.
Check here: http://www.ttqv.com/

Regards, Kudi

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Ride Your Dreams

[This message has been edited by Kudi (edited 14 October 2004).]

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If I were doing this I would use a topographical map and generate the way points from this, then use the GPS unit as a back up only. Too many people rely on GPS and forget about learning the "real" navigation skills. Map and Compass. Stars, Sun and the old dead reckoning.

Being able to navigate by dead reckoning is helpful in as much that you can also use this method to assess the fuel that you may require to get you from A to B.

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There are Garmin maps of Maroc and other countries in http://www.tracks4africa.com.

And a free (for personal use) Tunisia Map on my site (+ Maroc)

http://gps.4x4travel.org

regards,
Alf

[This message has been edited by Alf (edited 07 May 2005).]

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gps.4x4travel.org

Thank you Alf for posting links.

This link; download free N Africa garmin usable map, seems almost too good to be true. http://www.tracks4africa.com/

Has anybody out there had experience of using it? And, what area does it cover?

I have a garmin 2610 and am just a little reluctant to upload the N Africa map to it just in case it crashes.

If I can upload the map and just drive around N Africa using the gps in the same way I can drive around in Europe I would be very impressed.

Regards Tony

Hi Tony

Here's a pic of the rough coverage:
http://www.ryd.ch/images/TracksForAf...6_Coverage.jpg

You cannot expect to drive around in northern Africa with your GPS just as you're used in the EU. The map is not as accurate as the Garmin products are. It doesn't cover any street level data, only the main roads and some pists are covered. And the map is not auto route capable.

Look at it as a addition to your main navigation system: An old style paper map.

I mean where would be the fun doing this if you miss the experience to stop at a Y-junction anywhere in the Atlas mountains, two arabic signs there and your compass says go straight ;-)

Cheers, Kudi

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Thank you Kudi

I have now loaded the Morroco part of the map to my gps. As far as I can see, so far, the detail is the same as the base map.

Am I missing something?

Are there any other free, or even pay-for downloads that can be used with a garmin that give different base detail?

The 2610 uses CF memory cards so memory is not a problem but finding a map source is.

Regards Tony



[This message has been edited by Tonyabc (edited 28 June 2005).]

Visit www.garmap.com for a good map of Africa

GARMAP - AFRICA ROAD ATLAS

It’s far better than the garmin world map with regards to the South but detail for the North is unfortunately limited.

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Thank you Lucky

I managed to load Morroco maps, or atleast I think I have, using the same install software that comes with the garmin 2610 (Map source software). However, when I move the screen to the area covered by the map, Morroco, I get only the Base map showing up. This is the pre installed Base map that shows up with no detail. Maybe the detail only comes up when the gps is actually being used in Morroco.
I think I must have configured the software wrongly because at the same time I loaded up Morroco the maps of UK I had previously installed were wiped. I had no problems reinstalling the UK maps and the gps is working as before.

Advise apreciated.

Regards Tony

P.S. I am posting this topic to Sahara forum as well because it is mainly N Africa I plan to visit.

Hi Tony

I think you did nothing wrong, the maps aren't as detailed as you're probably used to from the european maps. The trick on these maps is, that you have recent roads and pist informations on the gps, which the world and the base map doesn't give you. Load them in the Mapsource software and explore them there, this will give you a good overview what you can expect.

To your posting in the Sahara Forum: You do not need to be in a certain area to be able to view all map details with your garmin GPS, if you manualy navigate the GPS to an area you should be able to see all details a map contains. A nasty functionality of Garmin units is that if you download one map all maps beeing previousely on the unit will be deleted. This means, when you downloaded the MA-map your UK-maps where deleted. That's simply how the unit works (I realy hate certain software developers!).

A side note: You realy do not need street level, turn-by-turn capable maps in Morocco. There are only a few places where navigation is a problem, eg. big cities like Marrakech (a real horror). In any other city you can use the compass functionality of your GPS, just follow the rough direction you're expecting a road to be and you will find it.

The GPS is mostly helpfull on desert pists where it is not always obvious where the pist is, and for this type of navigation the T4A maps are extremly helpfull. Or if you go desert overland, but that's a diferent story...

Cheers, Kudi

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Ride Your Dreams

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HI Kudi

Thank you again.

I have now zoomed in a bit more on the Morroco map and can see that there are all sorts of useful 4x4 routes plus camp sites.

The problem with wiping maps from the gps when new ones are loaded can be avoided, I think, by pressing save when the map source programme is closed. The next time the programme is opened the previous uploads are still on the map source pragramme and new ones can then be added to the list.

I will still take maps, of course, but I am quite happy to use gps where I can.

Regards Tony

guys seems that I managed to screw up something very simple. I have downloaded the map from tracks4africa copy them in a USB stick and took them home to load into mapsource but then mapsource doesn't work and needs reinstalling!!

could it be something wrong with the downloaded files or is it just a mapsource glitch.

Hi George

I have the MapSource software that comes with the City Navigator supplied with the 2610. I had a few problems installing it in the first place but managed it after a few attempts.

There is a repair option in the MapSource set up wizard and I had to used that.

I had no problem with the T4A map. I just opened it and it was automatically recognised by MapSource and appeared in the picking list of maps, top left of MapSource screen.

I spent an hour or so wondering why the computer did not recognise I had plugged in the USB connector before I realised I had not pushed the plug all the way in at the gps end.

Computers: love em and hate em.