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Nuvi custom maps

Started by skoville, November 17, 2013, 05:55:38 PM

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skoville

I read the other post on the subject but it was pretty old. I just got a Nuvi 2595 and have been trying everything. Doing the voices over is a riot.
  Also been trying to do custom maps until I was informed at the Garmin forum, that Nuvi's could not use Custom Maps. Garmin has a list of GP's that can and the Nuvi isn't on it. The reason I bring it up is when I go way up it sure looks like a topo map. I'm just not sure if it was always there. LOL  Just thought I'd save someone else a headache. Or did you guys get it tricked out?

Boyd

#1
The response you got on Garmin's forum is correct; the Nuvi cannot use "custom maps" as Garmin defines them. But that term is ambiguous. When Garmin says Custom Map they are talking about .kmz files containing raster imagery, such as a scan of a paper map or satellite photos.

Before Garmin introduced this feature, others used the term "custom map" to describe any map that you make yourself (as opposed to a Garmin map that you purchase). This site contributes to that confusion because it still uses "custom maps" in that context, for example: http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/

You can certainly use maps you make yourself on the Nuvi, but some features may not display correctly. But these maps are more difficult to make than the Garmin "custom map" .kmz files.

When you zoom way out on the Nuvi, you will see shaded terrain and I think that's what you are describing. This is not really a "topo map", it is just shaded terrain that comes from the very low resolution basemap on the Nuvi. You only see it when zoomed way out because it would look terrible (all pixellated and blocky) if you looked more closely. But this shading is different from the raster imagery in a custom map. It is digital data that defines the height of the terrain (known as DEM data). The nuvi interprets that data and displays it as colored/shaded terrain. That is not the same as actually showing an image.

This feature came to the Nuvi series a number of years ago. Here's an old thread with screenshots I posted back in 2008: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=113310


sar506

I also just ordered a Nuvi 2595 to put in my Jeep 4 wheeling.  I made sure that what I ordered had a micro sd slot so I could put in topo maps.  I guess being new to this site I didn't quite understand.  Can I make maps on this site that will work in the Nuvi 2595? And are there instructions on how to do that?
Thanks in advance.

Boyd

I think you want to download maps, not "make" maps, right?  :) Making maps is a complex and time consuming process.

Go to the maps page and choose your state from the dropdown menu. http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/

Now look at which columns have a check mark. If the "Garmin Custom Map" column is checked, that map WILL NOT work on the Nuvi. I suggest you choose one of the maps that has a check in the "EZ Install" column. This makes it very simple to get up and running.

First, install Basecamp:

http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=4435

Then choose the maps and download them. After you download, follow these tutorials in this order:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-open-maps-in-garmin-basecamp/

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-change-which-map-is-displayed-on-a-garmin-gps/#nuvi

These tutorials are a bit out of date, but I think you will get the idea.

sar506

Thanks Boyd I will give it a try.