datlas 

From my other thread, you may know that the Garmin I bought came preloaded with maps for Asia, not USA.

I am on vacation in Asheville NC. I am trying to download/install the local maps so my GPS will work. I thought I did it right, but it's not working.

Here is what I did:
1. Went to BBBike.org site and selected GarminOSM (latin1) for file type. Made a box and created the map file. It was 75 MB.
2. Downloaded file and extracted files. The map file was called gmasupp.img, about 102Mb. I renamed it gmapsupp-Asheville.img and copied it into the "garmin" folder via my laptop. The file is definitely THERE (not a low memory problem)

However, when I go outside the unit does not reflect any local maps. It has the major interstates which it had before, but no local roads are showing.

Thanks in advance for any help!!

Troul 

img? that doesnt jive. shouldnt it be a gpx?

datlas 

No, I am pretty sure for maps (not routes but maps) it needs to be an .img, but I await confirmation from the gps gurus.

Iride01 

Many of this guys product reviews and help blogs are a little like trying to get a sip of water from a fire hydrant. But you might get some clues from it...

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/08/...rmin-edge.html

datlas 

I followed the recipe. But obviously I did something wrong. That’s why I am asking for help here.

njkayaker

Garmin map files are "img" files. GPX (or FIT or TCX) files don't contain maps at all.

njkayaker

The map should show up in the map list on the device.

For the 1030 (the 530 should be the same):

Home -> Settings -> Profile -> Road/whatever -> Navigation -> Map -> Map Information (select map) -> list of maps -> enable the map you want

I just tried it with a map for my area on a 1030+ and it worked as expected.

datlas 

I checked this. The pre-installed Asia maps are there. The Pennsylvania map I downloaded initially is there. The LA map I downloaded is there. But the Asheville map which is clearly in the device directory is not in the unit. Any advice?

edit: just for fun, I deleted and re-copied this file into the Garmin. Still not working and not showing up as a map. Hmm....grrrr!

njkayaker

Presumably, you got the PA and CA maps from bbbike.

If you don't see it in the list, you won't see the map (picture) on the unit.

The maps have ID numbers and they are supposed to be unique for the maps you have installed.

The sources for maps will tend to use the same ID.

Create a directory under \Garmin and call it "bbmaps" ("\Garmin\bbmaps") and move the other US maps to it. (The idea is to remove those maps as a potential complication.)

Seattle Forrest

Possibly instead of copying the map to \GARMIN try putting it in \NEWFILES and then unplugging it from your computer?

If that doesn't work, delete the img file and create a new one with slightly different boundaries. The file could be corrupted or something.

njkayaker

No, there's no conversion applied to maps. (Even FIT files are tweaked a little.)

(The img file is ignored if it's in \Garmin\NewFiles.)

Copying the img file to \Garmin is the correct thing to do.

It also worked for the other map files.

datlas 

OK I figured out the problem. I had downloaded the OSM maps as OSM files. I have Open Street Maps on the brain and thought that was the right format.

I re-read DCR's instructions and of course he said use openfietsmap lite format, so I retried it and that works.

It's frustrating that there are so many formats of OSM and the OSM format does NOT work, but the openfietsmap lite version does.

At least I got this working.

njkayaker

There are quite a lot of formats provided.

Any of the ones with "Garmin * (latin1)" will work*.

The difference between them is how they look (the page shows you a sample of what the map will look like). The "openfietsmap" versions are designed to highlight things (like cycleways) that are more useful for cycling.

(Even the "opensea" version will work but won't be useful unless you are on a boat (on the water).)

-----------------------------------------------
* I tried the "Garmin OSM (latin1)" version and it works fine.

Seattle Forrest

Glad you got it working, @datlas.

datlas 

I believe you. But for whatever reason the OSM file did not work for me. I am not tech savvy enough to even speculate why, just happy I did get it to work. I still don’t really like the 530 and would love to go back to my simple 130 if only the battery would last (see other thread).

njkayaker

There is a piece missing from the story.

The 530 can be set up to work not too differently from the 130. Having a touch screen makes things easier.

Hopefully, the 530 ends up working for you.

Chuck M 

I understand that you may not want to spend any more money on a device you aren't happy with, but buying the North America map from Garmin may save you future aggravation if you need maps for other parts of the country. It appears to be a $20 download that installs through Garmin Express. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/169655