I've been reading quite jealously about all the other map options Garmin users seem to have - i wonder if anyone here has any experience of using maps other than those supplied by Tom Tom with their Rider?

In theory I just need to drop the map into the maps folder and select it... but anyone actually got any experience doing that? Anywhere in particular I should look for maps?

I'm doing London -> Moscow see here

Route » Journey To Russia

So got Tom Tom maps for pretty much everywhere 'cept Russia, Ukraine and Slovakia.....

m

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Whilst I have NOT tried these 'utilities' yet - I intend to this weekend is I have time - Trackmaster and Off-Road would appear to do what you want.

Le Web Bazar !!! GPS Tomtom !!! Applications !!!

Either way, its a starting point.

I'll keep you posted on my 'experiments'.

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Not sure how Tom Tom works, never having posessed one, but you could check out my thread http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...erywhere-25843

It deals with how you can get hold of and use GPSTrackmaster which is a FREE programme you can plot your routes on and then download to a GPS. Also supports Google Earth so you can follow routes you make in 3d, and afterwards see your actual track and insert on the map the pictures you took along the way exactly where you took them.

It's good fun and better than any video game.

Downside is that it is a overlander not city map, so you won't find city streets, but you can overlay maps from other progs, or use Google Earth as your base map.

If you decide to give it a go, let us know how you get on as I believe it is a useful addition to our planning armoury.

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Hey Stag - yeah I've been looking at your thread - must give that a go, but I have a worry that it wont translate to the maps that I have on the actual Tom Tom - I guess there's only one way to find out!

Trackmaster - yes I use that already - it's very good can't recommend it enough - I use it to generate these

Wales Training Run GPS Trace on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

I also use it to generate .itn files for each journey which then get uploaded to my server and create a google map as I'm travelling - I've got a version of that working right now but it got some bugs which are driving me mad, but I'll get sorted...! But please do keep me up to date!

Thanks guys

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I just read an article in a magazine where they say that it is almost impossible to use maps of GPS manufacturers other than your brand. TomTom uses Teleatlas maps. However, TomTom manipulates the maps to size them down so the device can handle the maps. This process every GPS manufacturer does, however, they all do it differently so that the final file is compatible only with this one's devices. As I understand it, if TomTom hasn't got the maps you need, you will probably not find them. Can anybody varify this please?

Regards

Dirk

Yes it appears that may in fact be the case - I've not managed to get any other maps actually working on the device - I've used a couple of the suggestions about to plan routes on the PC and then convert them out as .itn files, which is handy, but that's as far as I've been able to go.

m

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Remember the TomTom Rider is a SatNav system and not a GPS - its target market place is different.

Having said that...

Whilst I have not tried it, the web address and software below should give you the ability to add what ever map you desire and plot your position on it using co-ordinates. These utility applications effectively make the TomTom act like a 'real' GPS rather than a SatNav system - there is a difference.

Le Web Bazar !!! GPS Tomtom Rider !!! Applications !!! Offroad Navigator !!!

Also, if you haven't done it already, check out Tyre at the following the address below, its great for showing people where you actually went or helping to plan your route using Google Earth. Which is an excellent way of creating an itinerary (itn) file, especially when you want to go somewhere which isn't in TomTom database.

Tyre

When I have everything working correctly, I’ll do a write up on how to set all the third party applications up and how to use them. Also considering setting up a 'road book' database of interesting routes in itn file formats for TomTom users. But that won't be soon (sorry) to many other things to do, like riding.

One last point, perhaps we TomTom Rider users should club together and help the Web Bazar and Tyre guys move there applications to the next level.

And TomTom (the company that is) maybe you need to talk to these guys as well.

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Thanks guys - to bring you up to date with where I'm at...

I'm running the Web Bazar aps now and use them to track routes - so I come back from a trip and use ITN converter (just like Tyre but 1/2 the size) to produce a file that Google Earth can understand... look here



I've also written a conversation program that will take the ITN file generated by the tracker program, convert it to a data.xml file that google maps can understand - that runs on the server every time it notices a change in the live ITN file - the only downside of that at the moment is that I'm having to run a cron job every 4 hours to see if the file data has changed and report that - it's not nice code but it is working.

I also have to manually upload the latest ITN file using my PDA and phone as a modem - I'm working on getting that working with the Tom Tom built in BT and modem stuff - but that's proving problematic.

Go look at the Long Way Down map to see the kind of thing I mean (I'm a BBC Development Producer)

Whilst La Web stuff is very handy and does work well I've still not managed to get it running a different set of maps - I think I'm just going to have to swallow the bill and buy what I need from them.

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