Updated maps for your obsolete Garmin

[87warrior]

There are some questions floating around about updating the maps on old Garmin GPS devices. Garmin builds a solid GPS with great hardware, but their map updates for older units is silly and expensive. The good news is you can download free, updated topo maps that are rotatable (turn-by-turn directions) and have way more detail than your old Garmin maps did. For some light reading about the Open Street Map (OSM), see https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/OSM_Map_On_Garmin/Download

GMapTool is my "go-to" OSM Topo map source for USA at the moment. Hopefully other users will contribute their favorite OSM map source.
http://www.gmaptool.eu/en/content/usa-osm-topo-routable

The process is somewhat cumbersome, but worth it once you get it figured out. These are the general steps for a Windows PC:

• Download Garmin Basecamp
• Download the OSM Topo map(s) you want
• Go to the folder you downloaded the OSM topo maps to and extract them
• Run the batch file, this automatically links the OSM maps to the Garmin directory in Basecamp

• To view the OSM maps within Basecamp, go to Maps > Check the map you want to view

• Plug your Garmin GPS into the computer
• Go to Basecamp and right click your GPS unit in the left side margin
• Install the maps you want on the GPS

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How To Load Maps On My Garmin GPS Unit - GPSFileDepot

A tutorial detailing how to use Garmin MapSource to load maps to your map capable GPS unit such as the Gpsmap 60x(s)x, Etrex, Legend, Dakota, Oregon, Colorado, Montana, 62 series, and even the Nuvi.

www.gpsfiledepot.com

Download BaseCamp | Garmin

Download BaseCamp™ software to plan your outdoor activities, organize your data and share your adventurers with others.

www.garmin.com

I have updated an old 60CSx, Montana 650 and even a cheap Nuvi. The Nuvi was really limited in the map size (only fit the state of Kansas on it) due to its small internal storage and no SD card.

Please share your experience and sources for OSM maps on an old Garmin!

 

[Simmons1]

Thanks for this thread. It's very informational as I have a bunch of old Garmins.

 

[plumper mike]

Maybe there is hope for my old Lowrance being more than a compass and altimeter.

 

[philipbarrett]

Check this guy's website out - https://www.openmapchest.org/

 

[87warrior]

Check this guy's website out - https://www.openmapchest.org/

Are these topo maps? Regardless, that is a great resource. It's nice the developer has converted the files into a Garmin ready format, cutting out the need for Basecamp if your GPS has a SD card.

Have you tried to use a mobile phone to update your old Garmin? If I understand the link correctly, it you should be able to download the torrent with a torrent app on your phone. Connect the GPS to your phone with an OTG cable/adapter and move the map file to the GPS's SD card.

 

[Firestem4]

I've been using openmapchest maps. I actually forgot about it since I installed it so long ago and just downloaded the latest version so I could have the most recent maps on my 64st. Not Topo, but I use California Trail Maps topo layer a lot and that works for me.