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New Map Making - Help Needed

Started by libertybellcdr, September 30, 2015, 08:07:04 AM

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libertybellcdr

Hello Everyone!

New member - First Post - Thanks in advance!

I purchased a Garmin eTrex 20x. I downloaded a topo map of Texas (Where I live) and successfully installed it using HomeBase.  No issues!

So, to kick it up a notch, I began the process of making my own map.  I want a map of the Galveston Bay, Trinity Bay Area with all the new/updated information that is on the USGS map website.  I started following the instructions, but quickly ran into some issues.  The tutorials aren't updated to the newest instruction and the options are no longer the same.  I'm sure for an experienced person this is a simple transition, but for me... I just gave up. 

So,  I need some updated instructions or... someone to help walk me through all the steps involved. 

Thanks,
Chris

Boyd

Can you be a little more specific? What kind of map are you trying to make and what tutorial are you talking about? What software are you using? Do you only want to use free software? What specific problems are you having?

Are you trying to make a marine map with this tutorial perhaps? http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/creating-raster-noaa-charts-for-garmin-gps-units-with-moagu/

If so, that doesn't make sense with a new device like the eTrex 20x. That tutorial is for old devices that don't support raster imagery. New devices can use raster images directly in Garmin's "custom map" .kmz format.

libertybellcdr

I like to fish Galveston Bay in Texas.  I downloaded a Texas topo map last night and it has a medium amount of quality and specifics to it.  It's just "okay". Nothing great.  On the USGS website, the newest maps available show a lot more information and specifics of the bay and the surrounding land. 

This is the tutorial I tried to follow:  gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-create-garmin-topo-maps---part-3---water-data/

Needless to say, it did not work out for me. 

You mentioned that new devices can use the .kmz files directly.  Is there a walk-through on that?

Boyd

#3
This is Garmin's basic tutorial for making .kmz maps. It really only works with small areas, the image cannot be any larger than 1024x1024 pixels. It also assumes you are starting with an image that has not been georeferenced.

http://www.garmin.com/us/products/onthetrail/custommaps

You can make larger maps (up to 100 images at 1024x1024 on your eTrex) using a program like g-raster. The author is a member here:

http://moagu.com/?page_id=155

See this post for some info on using g-raster for marine maps. The data will already be georeferenced, so you won't need to mess around in Google earth like in the Garmin tutorial

http://forums.gpsfiledepot.com/index.php?topic=3556.msg20660#msg20660