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General Category => Using The Maps/Garmin Software => Topic started by: nightowl on February 10, 2015, 08:58:26 AM

Title: Mapsource and etrex 30
Post by: nightowl on February 10, 2015, 08:58:26 AM
I purchased a etrex 30 and installed some maps from Topo Canada cd I had onto a sd card using mapsource. I also downloaded some maps from this site and installed using mapsource. What I didn't realize is that every time I installed a new map, it erases a previous one. How do I go about getting multiple maps installed?
I read online about renaming the .img file on the sd card in the gmapsupp folder. I can't open the gmapsupp folder. It says it is a "disk image file" and need to download a program to open it?
I have spent hours of googling and trying to figure this out.
Any help is appreciated.

Thank you
Title: Re: Mapsource and etrex 30
Post by: Boyd on February 10, 2015, 11:01:25 AM
gmapsupp.img is actually a file and not a folder. It will be in the folder named Garmin on either the card or internal memory of your eTrex, depending on where you sent it in mapsource. Just change the name gmapsupp.img to canadatopo.img (or whatever you like). You can then send the next map to the etrex and repeat as needed.

But realize that mapsource has limited compatability with your new eTrex. Mapsource was discontinued a number of years ago and was never updated to recognize the file structure of the new Garmin handhelds. So you can use Mapsource to send maps and SEND routes/tracks/waypoints to the eTrex. But Mapsource will not properly RECEIVE routes/tracks/waypoints from the eTrex because it can't find the correct files.

You might want to use Basecamp instead. It is fully compatible and includes a program called MapInstall that is used to send maps. It will automatically rename map files such that a new one doesn't overwrite existing maps. So there is no need to manually change any filenames this way.

BTW, the message about "disk image file" is bogus. Unfortunately, the extension .img is not unique and is used by several different programs. One of them is a disk image, but that kind of .img file is completely unrelated to Garmin maps.

You could use the Windows control panel to change the file association if you like. I have changed it to open with GPSMapEdit on my computer, but that's because I make my own maps. If you don't make maps, then there wouldn't be much need to "open" an .img file. However if you associated .img with Mapsource or Basecamp, at least Windows wouldn't call them "disk images" anymore. :)
Title: Re: Mapsource and etrex 30
Post by: nightowl on February 10, 2015, 03:44:42 PM
Thanks for the reply. I downloaded Basecamp and am installing with that. Seems to be doing what I needed.