OpenStreetMap (OSM) is a collaborative project to create a free editable map of the world. Two major driving forces behind the establishment and growth of OSM have been restrictions on use or availability of map information across much of the world and the advent of inexpensive portable Satellite navigation device. The maps are created using data from portable SAT NAV devices, aerial photography, other free sources or simply from local knowledge.

For the adventure traveller, OSM not only provides the best quality digital nav maps for much of the non developed world, the maps are also free. For the financially challenged traveller, OSM maps can just as easily be used in lieu of Garmin maps in Europe and North America. The OSM map database is easy to convert into a format for both Garmin sat nav units and for Garmin basecamp / mapsource / road trip software on personal computers and laptops.

To get an idea of the detail available on OSM, it worth looking at OpenStreetMap and zooming in on areas and cities of interest.

To get maps that are in a format for use on your Garmin sat nav and Garmin software, you first need to go to a site that can compile the maps for you - such as Free worldwide routable Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap

On that site you will find a map of the world broken up into grid squares. To build a map I recommend you do the following:

(1) click the small box near the top of the page that will "enable manual tile selection"

(2) begin clicking on the tiles you want to build up a map. There is a limit to how large you can build your maps in terms of how many grid squares you are allowed to select. I have in the past selected sufficient squares to do all of Africa, South and Central America and Northern Asia all on one map. Use the zoom buttons and arrows on the map to move around and make sure you have chosen all the small squares around more populated areas that you can see when zoomed out too far.

(3) When the tiles you need for your journey or for one section of your RTW trip have been selected, enter your email on the left of the page in the box marked "email address". Further details about your map request will be emailed to you.

(4) Immediately on entering your email you will be sent an email telling you your request has been received and you can expect further emails. A second email will arrive a few minutes later with tracking details of your request, where you are in the map building queue and a rough estimate of how long it will take before the computer moves onto your map request.

(5) Eventually you will get a 3rd email ... this email will tell you that your map has been built according to the squares you selected, and will provide you with 5 links. There are only two likely to be on interest to you, one will be the map itself, and one will be if you use MapSource or RoadTrip software. If you use BaseCamp or dont need the map on your computer, then all you need to download is the map itself.

The map for your garmin sat nav will be the link containing the IMG format file, which will be zipped. Download it. Note where you are downloading it to so you can find it once it is downloaded.

The link for the software file for mapsource or roadtrip are also clearly labelled in the email. Again, download the appropriate file.

Note, you only have 48 hours to download the files related to the map you have built. After that the links are dead and you will need to begin again.

6) Install the software for mapsource by double clicking on it. The next time you open Mapsource the openstreetmap will be selectable on the drop down map selection box at the top of the page.

7) Prepare a SD or micro SD card for your map ... you will load the map onto the memory card, and then insert the memory card in to your sat nav. Firstly on the blank memory card create a directory (folder) and name it "Garmin". Second unzip the file directly into that Garmin directory. The card is then good to go ... place it in your sat nav and select the map to use it.


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For people who know a lot more about this than me (and there are a lot of you out there) please add more info to this thread for those trying to use OSM for the first time

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Thanks that is exactly what I was after. I actually feel a little silly now because it was so simple.

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http://mudandknobblies.co.uk
http://www.justgiving.com/FMFox

Do not use mapsource program to install your maps.
It's prone to failure and pain in the butt. Also very slow.
You will be given several choice of files to download.
Choose gmasupp file,, simply extract one file then make a directory called Garmin/ on your SD card,, simply copy and paste the file under it and boot up.
Your unit will recognise the map.
As for the GPX file, for waypoints ,,I find it must be on the main memory under Garmin/GPX/.
Takes 10 seconds.

excellent info.. thanks

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R90S, R80G/S PD

I do not use GPS, but this is certainly a very useful info. Thanks for sharing it.

Maybe another reason to move one day a step forward to GPSing...

Esteban

Mapsource has worked very well for me for years.

Fantastic for planning and sharing information IMO.

Yes you are a few lucky ones ,, with Garmin's ancient software.

As for the SD card ,, map file ,, try to use under 2GB ,, 4GB at the most is you have MP3 on there as well,,,for most of the map covering say two continents are under 1GB. Anything larger will reallllllly slow down the Garmin ,, loading the map.

Looks like I'm another lucky one. I use it for all sorts of purposes on my Desktop and Netbook PCs. Never had a problem with it in more than 5 years of use.

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TBS.com

Very useful info... Thanks...

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"where the traveller goes, nobody knows ! "

OSM maps will load into both Mapsource and Roadtrip (and Basecamp) just fine. Basecamp is your best bet for a MacBook Air as it will allow you to create tracks also.

You shouldn't have any problems loading it on to your Nuvi as long as you have enough space. I am not sure if the most recent Nuvi firmware allows you to show tracks on the map view, earlier versions did not. If your budget extends to it replace the Nuvi with a Montana.

No current Garmin software allows realtime mapping between a PC and a GPS.

For your Ipad I think is an app that allows you to have offline OSM maps.



Sent from my GT-I9305T using Tapatalk 2

Craig
Just a thought if someone has a windows based pc, ( sorry I now zilch about apples unless they my favourite Braeburn variety!) you can install the old N-Route software and link up your gps via usb lead for real time scrolling map.

Bermudarover
If budget allows, a Montana will serve you well. OSM maps can be installed on a micro sd and under Basecamp.
Easiest way is just to take the image and place one on a a usb stick for Basecamp to read and one on a micro sd for the Montana to use.
You would have to install the map on a tablet running windows if you want to use N-Route and be visible as you drive*
* not recommended due to safety issue aka keep your eyes on the road!

Just wanted to mention that I was amazed by how well OSM worked in Mongolia, it was amazing. It had a route to everywhere I wanted to go, regardless of the lack of paved roads in many places. And no mistakes where it would send me 50km down some track and then change its mind (as my Garmin devices have done several times). OSM Mongolia, for instance, was far better and more reliable than the Garmin maps I bought for Morocco a few years ago.

Since discovering OSM about 6 months ago and realising they'll work on my Garmin I'm always curious which maps to use. For example the new Garmin Europe City Navigator 2014.20 maps or OSM. I often end up taking both, just in case but use the Garmin maps most of the time. However I can certainly see that changing should I go to Mongolia or similar.

I have 2 sites I enjoy looking at. One overlays OSM (or another) data real-time on Google Maps so you can see the differences, just use the slider at the top to increase/decrease the transparency:

transparent map comparison openstreetmap google bing yahoo

The second site I use has any 4 maps in quadrants so you scroll on one and can see the differences between 4 map-sets.

Map Compare | Geofabrik Tools

Maybe someone will find it useful if they're not already widely used and I'm just late to the party

I have mentioned it before but not in this thread, so will add it for the sake of completeness.

A tool I use all the time for comparing maps and sat imagery between Google, Bing, Yahoo, OSM, and about 30 other sources is the great Russian utility called SASPlanet. It also allows you to download and cache maps and images from any and all of those sources at any and all levels of zoom you want. Its a programme so works online or offline. You can also hook up a GPS feed to it. I find the programme needs to be operated as an administrator to work properly.

It also is the best tool I have found for drawing off road tracks based on satellite images as you can switch easily from one source to another while you draw to maintain the greatest level of detail on the map.

http://sasgis.ru/download/ SASGIS - SAS Planet Download

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Sweet. and what GPS were you using? Did you have laptop along as well?

C