Hi Tom, yes, that is basically what is happening. If the unit has internal memory, it will save what it can on the memory until its full, then it will continue on the SD card. Some units have fixed maps in a fixed memory, additionally installed maps like OSM or other Garmin maps will have to be stored on the SD. Maps are indeed separate from the hand made routes, tracks and waypoints! On the other hand, if you select a number of map sections (mapset) in Mapsourse /Basecamp to be uploaded into your GPS, you can add manual routes, tracks and waypoints to that same mapset. When it is uploaded to your GPS it will all be there. The OSM maps and Garmin maps will have many embedded waypoints and POI which are part of the displayed map but the manual routes, tracks, POI and waypoints (manually added in Basecamp or Mapsourse) will be in a separate folder location in the GPS and can be selected manually on the unit. When you exit Mapsourse/Basecamp on your PC you have to save the mapset with all POI/routes/tracks that you have created (file type will be gmapsupp) or you will loose it on the PC. You can later reopen it in the relevant selected map and everthing will be there. I hope that helps a bit....

Cheers,
Noel

My experience is that the best way to do it is to load them as POIs on the Zumo. That way they are saved in the POI menu in stead of the Favourites menu or as waypoints for routes. They are also persistent, even when you clear all routes, favourites, tracks, current.gpx or update or delete maps.

You can load them with the Garmin POILoader tool, but that gets a bit complicated if you want to load different sets of points.

A more manageable way to do it is to use GPSBabel. Select the source file, choose how the category needs to be called on the device, save the set as a .gpi file and copy it to the POI folder on your zumo. The main pitfalls are that you should avoid using a category name that is already in use and that you should not use a file name that is already in use as that overwrites the previous POIs.

I think I finally have my head round this now, at the risk of sounding stupid what sort of a GPS do I want to get now?

AS in what's the difference between a Zumo 600 and also from Garmin a 62S? I like the idea of the handheld type as I also like to hike:blushing:, but I don't want to buy something that can't then be used properly for the purpose of this thread.

I've used satellite imagery on the laptop and combined that with paper maps the last couple of years, but I'm ready to take the next step now..

Umm start anther thread? There must be some (lots) around on this subject! this tread is about getting OSM onto a Garin GPS. Maybe you want to use the Garmin GPS in a 4WD? - As I said another thread.

I've a 60Cx. The 64 is coming out. The 62 and 64 have a less than robust power connection for use on the bike. The 7x series may be better? Not giving up my 60Cx.

Sorry, I thought my question was clearer than it read when I looked at it again.

What I'm trying to ask is do the smaller GPS like the 62 say allow you to use this or do the memory limitations limit it to only being practical on the bigger type ones?
I would like to be able to use the smaller portable one if possible.

That's why I didn't start a new thread, I'm not really concerned which the 'best' one is, rather is there some kind of limitation on the types you can use to do this?

I'm quite happy using paper maps etc, but I like the ease with which waypoints can be listed on the internet and then (simply?) added.

I am quite new to this GPS thing. I bought a bike last year with had a Garmin Zumo 660 mounted. The 660 had a Europe map with free map-upgrading. Although it took me a long time to figure out how to activate this free upgrading stuff, but finally I think I have managed.

So the next step is that I would like to have maps that covers China and southeast-Asia installed on the device. Or I probably need a memory stick I guess...
Garmin offers a map of China at around 130 € and another for southeast-Asia similarely expensive - I think that seems too expensive.

So does OSM have a decent coverage of China and southeast-Asia?
Is it easy to download this and install in a memory stick and is it functionable?

Any experiences anyone?

Are there other sources for free maps that can work on a Garmin 660?

Read the first post?
 

Read all of it. Put Garmin basecamp / mapsource / road trip on your PC and download one OSM map of interest and look at it .. see if it is 'good enough' for your use.

----------------- The choice between paying for Garmins map or using OSM gets down to personal opinion ... for the money I'd go with the OSM .. as that gives you more money to spend on your trip.

-------------------------
For Androd phone users there is an ap - OSMAnd that installs OSM maps (limited to 10 maps on the free version) on your phone ... that will also give you an idea of the level of detail available on where your going. Oh .. iphone + OSM ... http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/IPhone

Thanks so farWarin

I have comed to step 5 in the opening post instructions - so then the question is which of there files should I download?

Index of /garmin/generic/31-05-2014/c4d06ba61f0a805dc3497c184e52cd8e

If you want it on a micro sd card to place in your gps and which can also go in a micro card reader so that Basecamp can also see it, you want to download:

osm_generic_gmapsupp.zip 11-Jun-2014 12:22 203M Compressed file that contains a single image that can be placed directly onto the SD-card of the GPS.

Just extract the gmapsupp file.
No installation needed and, of course, place this file in a folder called Garmin on the root of the memory card.

There are tons of tutorials out there to help you- google it/Youtube etc and even in this very thread!!- it does save us having to repeat the same basic stuff over and over again- (pretty please?!)

Well thanks so far. Things like these might be obvious and simple to you guys who know and understand how these things work. But for me that is as good as an analphabet on this stuff this is extremely complicated.

I have downloaded the version gmapsupp that you mention - I think I have at least - and I even think that I have put in a SD card. But when I put the card in the GPS I cant seem to find those maps I downloaded. What I am possibly doing wrong?

Just a quick thank you to Colebatch for kicking this thread off and to all the other contributors.

It's a long story but I had problems with a brand new GPS unit just a few days before setting off on a trip - but managed to source the maps I needed through the info here so am all sorted now and ready to go !

Has anyone used the OSM for Laos? I have just down loaded them but i am waiting got my Montana to come (just ordered it). I was just wondering how detailed they were

Thanks
Wayne

People without a GPS make use of OSM by printing it out as a paper map ...
OSM on Paper - OpenStreetMap Wiki
I used the first suggestion and came up with
Make - fieldpapers.org within 40 seconds .. you can do better by spending more time..

I have got the Reizen map of Laos, which I think is quite good/detailed, will have a look at your suggestion

thanks
Wayne

No need to wait for your Montana Wayne
 

to see your map
Copy the .img file to a micro sd card
Leave the card reader in your computer
start basecamp
it will find it- wait for it to load - then select from drop down
job done
Taster below
Vientiane at 1.5Km
and at 300M
click in image to enlarge