I'm new to the gps scene.I just bought a Garmin etrex vista hcx and was wondering;when I go to download the maps from this site I assume it will automatically put them onto the micro SD card that I put into the gps unit and not store the info on the internal meory of the computer.Thanks for any info.Also,do I need to install tha Trip and waypoint manager CD that came with my unit or is that just for my home computer?
The mapsets which come as a selfinstaller version will install to MapSource. You then use MapSource to select the tiles/quads you wish to send to your GPSr. Trip and Waypoint manager will install MapSource on your computer. Also see: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/
So once I have the Garmin mapsource CD downloaded to my computer,I go to this site,select what maps I want and it will download them to the mapsource program automatically;then I just plug in my gps unit and it will load it to the miicro SD card...right?
Let's start from the beginning.
1. Do you have a Windows PC or a Macintosh?
2. What map/area are you interested?
I have a windows PC.I'm interested in the northeast map which includes all of CT.
1. OK, your Vista HCx came with a CD Trip and Waypoint Manager. You need to install that onto your computer.
2. Then you should download and install the update:
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209
3. Then you can download the NE TOPO:
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/200/
4. That map has an installer. You will need to double click on the download to run the installer.
5. Then you will have to open the MapSource program.
6. Once it opens, you can follow the steps in the tutorial:
http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/
When I download the update do I hit run or save?
press save; then run it
OK,once I have the map downloaded to my computer can I then plug my gps into the computer and download the maps directly to the gps,or do I have to save the map to a disk first?
I got it.Everything installed correctly.Thanks for the help fellas;I'm sure I'lll be asking more stupid questions down the road.
From what I understand, the only stupid questions are the ones that go unasked. Glad things worked out for you.
Another question:I only downloaded the segment of the Northeast map that I currently needed.Now,if I want to add other segments to the map I already downloaded will it add them to the map I already have,or do I have to download the whole map agian with the newly added segments(areas)?Thanks for your help.
What you loaded to your gps will be erased when you send any other maps to it, so you would have to send both at the same time.
So I would have to add a new map and reload the whole thing again with the new segments and in doing so it would replace the map I already have.....right?
Yep, what you want to do is select the maps you are going to load, and then do a "File->Save" in MapSource to save your list of maps, then send them to your GPS. Then later when you want to add more, open that file and add some more and then save the edited file, and send the new maps to your GPS. This will erase the older set and install the new set to your GPS.
The other option (if you didn't save beforehand) is to download from the GPS the maps (it'll only pull a list not the actual maps) then you can continue selecting more to add.