Help with installing custom maps in Basecamp.

[MultNen]

I have an .img file I want to use with Basecamp, but I can't figure out how to add it to the program. What are the steps to install custom maps?

[Boyd]

"Custom maps" has different meanings. On this site, the owner likes to use it to describe any map that doesn't come from Garmin. Garmin has a different definition though, it's a special kind of map you can make yourself from aerial imagery or scanned paper maps. These are .kmz files, not .img files however.

What is the source of your .img file? Is it a file from a GPS unit? .img files are "containers" and Garmin puts different things into them which require different treatment.

If it's a file from a GPS, then you can't "install" it in Basecamp, but Basecamp will recognize it on a GPS that is connected to your computer. Likewise, you could create a Garmin folder at the root level of a USB flash drive or SD card and copy the .img file there. Basecamp will treat that the same as if it were a GPS. See this for another way to do this without a flash drive.

https://www.javawa.nl/virtualdevice.html

Now, some people distributed their Garmin maps as individual .img files many years ago on this site. These are completely different, this tutorial explains how to use them

https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-.img-files-into-mapsource-with-mapsettoolkit/

[CLewis]

I'm using a PC Windows 11. I was unable to download the Mac version of a custom Topo map (nothing happened when I clicked on the mac download link). So I downloaded the .img file and used MapsetToolkit v1.77beta and cGPSfilemapper to get the .img file into Mapsource according to the tutorial. I got to "Convert termined", but when I tried to open Basecamp, a popup indicated there was a problem with the Greenland map and I should uninstall. I was unable to uninstall with the uninstall button on MapsetToolkit. I tried uninstalling Basecamp and re-installing, but it still won't start, with the same error message about the problem map. Basecamp is unusable now - how do I fix the Greenland topo download issue and get Basecamp working again?!?

[sockmonkey]

I presume that you are trying to down load my GL-Greenland Topo map and you are using chrome!  I'm not certain it is Chrome thing or this site, but there is a work around which has been covered before.

First, forget cgpsmapper and mapset tool kit, they won't help on this. Look at the this previous thread:

chrome work around

Click on the Greenland mac version, the next screen when nothing happens will have a screen with the underline here, right click and copy link, open new tab/window and paste and hit enter, the zip file should now download to your designated location.

Once you have downloaded, extract until the folder is .gmap (not gpapi), copy that folder to ProgramData/Garmin/Maps (you may need to unhide) now open BaseCamp or even MapSource and map should be visible unless something else borked.

This issue doesn't seem to happen to Firefox users FWIW.

GPS maps for Garmin is to be kind, "niche" and a lot of info is depreciated and to get things working isn't always as easy as "swipe right".  Follow what I've written and you should get the map viewable in basecamp.  I would advise to get rid of any maps and programs you have tried to use that may get in the way.

Let us know when you've succeeded!

[CLewis]

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I'll try that now. But my other problem is that I can't seem to uninstall the Greenland map, so I can't start Basecamp at all. How do I go about uninstalling the Greenland map I installed with MapsetToolkit, when the "uninstall" button on that screen does nothing?

[CLewis]

I was able to successfully download the Mac version using Firefox. I had to go back in and delete all the files I had downloaded previously, and now Basecamp opens and I can read the map! Hopefully the transfer of this map to my GPS, which I'll do in several weeks, goes just as easily. Thank you SO MUCH for the map, which looks great, AND your quick response to help me out. I use Basecamp a lot so I got nervous. I will look for a donate button for you - thank you sockmonkey!

[sockmonkey]

Great news!  I was going to send and I still can this link:

https://www.javawa.nl/gmtk_en.html

It is called map manager and if there is anymore cruft, it should find it.

You are welcome to use Basecamps tools to send maps to your gps unit, an alternative, my "windows" version of maps is actually just the mapname.img file, intended to copy directly to your device.

I don't solicit donations, if you are feeling generous this site has a donate button on the home screen or pay it forward to something important to you Glad I was able to help and happy you like the map

SM