As mentioned on PodCacher show 232.0
http://www.podcacher.com/?p=633

 

Introduction

If you want maps for your Garmin GPSr and don't want to use Topo GB then you could use the FREE ones from OpenStreetMap [http://www.openstreetmap.org/]. The map files offered here are compiled from the mapping data at OpenStreetMap. The license for these maps are FREE, here is some data from the OpenStreetMap site:

"OpenStreetMap creates and provides free geographic data such as street maps to anyone who wants them. The project was started because most maps you think of as free actually have legal or technical restrictions on their use, holding back people from using them in creative, productive, or unexpected ways."

All of map files offered here are based on data from OpenStreetMap and are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 2.0 license. If you use these files please make sure you attribute the OpenStreetMap community by including a link to www.openstreetmap.org [http://www.openstreetmap.org]. If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one. You can find out more about Creative Commons licenses here [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/].

Have more question about the maps and data?
Here is a link to the Frequently Asked Questions [FAQ] page on the OpenStreetMap site: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/FAQ

If you have any problems installing the map file or are unsure of how to do some of the steps then take a look at the FAQ here.

I compile and use these maps on my Garmin Oregon 200 and have the whole of the UK/Ireland with contour data. The only downside it that they are a work in progress and missing some footpaths/bridleways but for most of the UK/Ireland the road data is complete and many paths/tracks are included. If you like them then you can help by mapping where you travel and upload your track logs for use by the community to help improve the maps.

CAVEAT: No mapping solution is perfect.

From OpenStreetMap:-
"By the very nature of the wiki-style process there is no guarantee of accuracy of any kind. Then again, few proprietary maps carry a guarantee of accuracy, either. In fact, some have artificially-introduced errors."

Furthermore, I and others have already confirmed this with even GB OS maps; deliberate errors and moved paths (some from 10 years or more after the change was documented by the local council/county are not reflected on the latest OS maps). Not everything is accurately mapped, even on 1:25K. All maps should be considered a guide, not a factual statement.

To participate and help improve the maps you just need to go to http://www.openstreetmap.org; create an account, upload your tracks from your GPSr and then edit the maps. Help on how to do this can be found on the OpenStreetMap site. The same goes for any routing issues you identify, fix them on the OpenStreetMap site and they will  be included in the next mapset I compile.

The contour data is from The Scottish Mountaineering Club, more details about them can be found here: [http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php]

Compatibility

Known Compatibility[*] (Please let me know if they work on other models) Contact details can be found here.

GPS Model	UK Contours Only Map	UK or IE Map with or without Contours (Routable)	Pre-Loaded SD Card or MicroSD Card Available [2]
Garmin BaseCamp/RoadTrip Mac	No	Yes[+]	N/A
Garmin MapSource/BaseCamp PC	No	Yes[+]	N/A
Garmin GPSmap60C	No	N/A	N/A
Garmin GPSmap60Cx & Csx	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin GPSmap62	Yes	Yes	N/A
Garmin GPSmap62s and st	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin GPSmap76Cx & Csx	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Etrex Legend Cx & Hcx	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Etrex Venture Cx & Hcx	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Etrex Vista Cx & Hcx	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Colorado 300 & 400	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Dakota 10 & 20	Yes	Yes	Yes[3]
Garmin Oregon 200, 300, 400, 500 & 550	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Edge 605 & 705	Yes	Yes	Yes
Garmin Nuvi 200, 205W, 255W, 265W, 310, 350, 360T & 660 Garmin Nuvi Live Traffic 1690 Garmin StreetPilot C510T	Possibly	Yes[1]	Yes[1]

 

[+] Only available with contours for MapSource/BaseCamp/RoadTrip
[*] Most of the reports are from owners of the mentioned models who have downloaded & installed the mapsets themselves.

[1] I have had a report that this works fine on a Nuvi 200 complete with voice guidance, so other listed Nuvi models may also work. I have also supplied pre-loaded cards for some Nuvi models and they seem to work fine. However, contour data might not show on all models.
[2] See point 5 in the FAQ for full details.
[3] Only the Dakota 20 has a MicroSD slot, cards cannot be used on a Dakota 10 model.

 

Area Coverage

GB Prefixed Mapsets: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands	UK Prefixed Mapsets: England Wales Scotland Isle of Man Channel Islands Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland	Ireland Prefixed Mapsets: Northern Ireland Republic of Ireland

Actual Examples

Examples of the Maps on a Garmin Legend Hcx	Examples of the Maps on a Garmin Oregon 200	Examples of the Routable Maps in Action on a Garmin Colorado 300 - Thanks to Tony Walton

Instructions

Download the file you are interested in, unzip it, and save the unzipped file as GMAPSUPP.IMG and then upload it to your Garmin [make sure you have sufficient storage space first] and backup any mapsets you have already installed.  If you don't have a program to handle/unzip ZIP files I would recommend 7Zip which is available FREE from here: http://www.7-zip.org/.

To upload/install one of the map files to your Garmin GPSr, you can either used Sendmap [available from here http://www.cgpsmapper.com/download/sendmap20.zip ] or if you have a later model which uses MicroSD cards you can either load them directly on the card, or by using the direct USB Mass Storage mode found in any of the HCX or equivalent models. In this case just place the GMAPSUPP.IMG in the folder named GARMIN.

Please note: Uploading the GMAPSUPP.IMG to your Garmin GPSr [or MicroSD card] will overwrite any existing mapset on the device using the same name. This should not effect the basemap that came preinstalled on the GPSr.

If you have any problems installing the map file or are unsure of how to do some of the steps then take a look at the FAQ here. I also offer a service to do this for you on a MicroSD or SD card that you supply, or if you prefer, I can supply a pre-loaded 2GB MicroSD or SD card, see point 5 in the FAQ for full details.

I try and compile new versions of these maps between every 1 to 2 weeks, however, I can only do this if I have some spare time as they require a lot of work to download the tiles, sort them out [and split them, in some cases], compile them into the relevant GMAPSUPP.IMG files and then test them to ensure that they are complete and functional on both a computer and my GPSr.

Files

Yes, the UK mapset is back! 

I have not only managed to sort out a full UK mapset (which appears to be fully functional), but I've also managed to convert the MapSource versions to use on RoadTrip/BaseCamp on the Mac. 

They work fine on a Mac (BaseCamp/RoadTrip) and also in BaseCamp on a PC (Windows).

Latest Version

Full GB/UK/Ireland Mapsets

These mapsets are the most thoroughly tested and used. These routable maps can be used without routing and therefore can be used for hiking, cycling and geocaching, etc.

These will hopefully be updated weekly from now on (probably over the weekend in future):

Full UK Contours Only

If you just want the contours file only to use with other maps, such as the basemap, then use the one below:

Previous Version

Full GB/UK/Ireland Mapsets

I have tested these maps on a Garmin Oregon 200 [the full UK & Ireland versions with contour data] and also on a computer using GPSMapEdit and in MapSource/BaseCamp [PC only] for those versions designed for use with it to ensure that they load and render as expected. I do not test all the map data or functions as this is not possible in a reasonable time-frame.

Regards,
Martin

Disclaimer

The author accept no responsibility for errors or omissions, or for any ill effects resulting from the use of any information, files or links contained in this document or any part of this site.