I have Garmin's Topo USA 2008 which is an unlocked Mapsource program. I have tried to take the whole continental USA and send it to a 8GB SDHC card. I have a HP Slimline computer with an AMD Phenom II x4 925 processor. A Quad processor running at 2.8GHZ. It is running Windows 7 Professional 64bit and has 6GB system Ram. I selected 5170 maps which Mapsource indicated would require approximately 3.2G. I started the program and 18 hours later at 88% I got an error saying it didnt have enough memory and it aborted the compile with over 4 hours left.

I restarted the compile on a computer running Vista Business and it appeared we were talking over 24 hours to compile. I restarted on the original computer and for laughs I also started it on the laptop with Mobile PC loaded, sending it right to the Mobile PC program. I get up this morning and all three computers are at the sign in window. Microsoft put out some updates and even though the computers were running the program it rebooted them. Sigh............................................

Before I start again I have to ask has anyone compiled the full topo USA (Minus Alaska) and actually had it work?

Why would a computer with a Windows 7.2 processor score and a 7.5 memory score take soooooo long?

Any insight into this would be appreciated. I have a faint recollection that in the past there was a limit on the number of map segments you could use but Mapsource didn't give me an error unless I selected the Alaska maps too. Then it told me in red print the the map would be over 4 Gig so I took that to be the limit. Thanks, Rick

See this:

http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/2588-maps-dont-load-garmin-mobile-pc#post19026

I have not tested to see if this is different with the latest version of Mobile PC (5.00.70) that just came out a couple days ago.

...ken...

Ken, Thank you for clearing up the limit for mobile PC.

This still doesnt address the problem compiling the whole topo USA and sending to a SDHC card.
The hand held Garmins don't have the 2GB limit and I was sending it to the SD card. Once I had it on the card I could look at it in my hand held GPS without the 2GB limit.
I am presently compiling a image of 2022 map segments. It is 28% complete with 30 minutes remaining. The final image is listed at being just over 1GB.
If you interpolate that to 5170 maps you would think that maybe a compile time of 3 hours or so. Especially since there is no routing info involved with Topo. I don't understand the 18 hours to get to the 88% point I experienced.

My ultimate goal is to learn what I can install as additional mapping to work with Mobile PC and what its limitations are, in preparation for a trip to Europe this summer.

I'm approaching this from two ways.

A Garmin dealer in Kansas is selling me a copy of Mobile PC Europe stand alone for about $70 with shipping (got some other stuff on the invoice). I'll be in the UK this summer and wanted european data on my laptop.

I also have another remanufactured Mobile PC w/a 20x receiver on the way. I couldn't find a deal on a remanufactured Mobile PC w/10x receiver so I just bought a remanufactured 10x receiver. My total investment in both was $60 less than a new Mobile PC w/10x package. Plus I get an extra 20x gps.

My thoughts on getting Mobile PC and matching it with the 10X GPS I'll be able to get updates unlike the stand alone version. I can buy the Europe City Navigator and install it matched to the 10X GPS as the supplemental map data.
I'll have both USA and Europe on my laptop that can be updated and also installed on two different laptops since it will be unlocked by the GPS S/N(used one at a time)
If this fails I'll have the software only version in my computer bag as a backup. I better stop here, I'm confusing myself. Rick

The version of Mobile PC that includes a GPS will not work with a standalone GPS, even from Garmin. I assume (being the owner of an older 10x) that the versions including a 10x are within a certain ID range that will not be matched by the separately purchased 10x devices. Good luck!

Yes, the software version will work with the 10x but you will not be able to get different maps or upgrades for it.

Terry

Rick, you've managed to confuse me now. You seem to still think you can compile all of Topo USA into a single GMAPSUPP.IMG file.

Mobile PC has the two limits described in the link in my last post, the number of map segments and the size of the GMAPSUPP.IMG file that gets created.

At the bottom of the Mapsource MAPS tab, Mapsource will display both numbers as you select map segments, as you already know. Go over the numbers for either limit in that post and the map is not going to work in Mobile PC. Period

The map segment limit in that post applies even to the handhelds. Go over it and it's not going to work on anything. That means 5170 map segments is not going to work on anything. Period.

No matter what size your SD card is and no matter what the handheld might theoretically support, Mapsource will not compile anything over 4GB. Period.

Have I missed anything.

...ken...

No, I finally got it. I guess what has me confused is I have Topo Europe in .img form. It is 3,554,128MB, 3.6GB more or less. I don't know how many map segments were used to compile it but it sure exceeds the 2GB limit and my handheld can read it.
I can understand Mobile PC not reading it but I cant understand my computers inability to compile it, regardless if it will work or not.

It seems that Garmin puts roadblocks every where. Another member points out that Mobile PC with GPS expects the Garmin receiver to fall into a particular serial number range. So the Mobile PC with the USB GPS might not be able to be initialized with a 10x GPS because it may not fall into a particular serial number range. Thats what I get for trying to save a few dollars. I just should have bought what I wanted new from the start.

By the way congratulations on your hockey team taking the GOLD. Rick

Mapsource limit is 4G so it would compile that for your handheld if the number of segments does not exceed 2025. So it is impossible to say if your computer could compile that without knowing the number of segments.

Terry

The old version (5.0.60) of Garmin Mobile PC like many Nuvi's was able to utilize the following files:

1. GMAPSUPP.IMG (A supplementary mapset created by Mapsource)
2. GMAPBMAP.IMG (this is a basemap)
3. GMAPSUP2.IMG (Another supplementary mapset)
4. GMAPPROM.IMG(The main mapset that came with the unit)

In testing the new version (5.0.70) of Garmin Mobile PC it appears that
GMAPSUP2.IMG does not work anymore.

Yes, I found the same thing.

Terry

I would be very surprised if CN Europe has more segments than the limit. CN North America is only a total of 135 maps. CN Europe is a little over double the filesize so even if it's got ten times the maps it is still way below the limit.

It's pretty hard to exceed the limit for the number of maps before you exceed the filesize limit. Even with Topo Canada v4 with loads of small maps, you can't get to the segment limit before Mapsource gives you the 4GB warning.

...ken...

Rick, don't think about it as a limit of your computer. It's a limit of the way Mapsource has been programmed. It has been programmed to help you avoid creating things your device won't be able to use.

But Mapsource has been around for many years. Garmin's devices have really evolved over those years. So sometimes the newest devices get ahead of Mapsource. Segment limits and filesize limits that applied to old devices don't apply to newer devices.

So we get into an uncomfortable situation where Mapsource is now able to compile mapsets much larger than will work on many older devices so you can make the maximum use of the newer devices. But it still might be lagging behind the theoretical maximum of the very latest device just released.

I hope that makes sense.

...ken...

Garmin seems to do their best to throttle things back. I wonder the logic of this?

Has anyone checked to see if GMAPSUP1.IMG still works?

...ken...

Not so sure GMAPSUP1.IMG worked in the old version. Just tried it, it does not work in the new version.

Thanks for checking.

...ken...

The image mentioned was Europe Topo Ken. I am unfamiliar with it but it probably has a lot more segments than CN Europe if Topo Canada is anything to go by.

Terry

SUP1 did not work with the old version. However, I thought SUP2 didn't work with Nuvis either. To have a second supplementary map file on a Nuvi, you would have to place it on the SD card (named gmapsupp.img).

Terry

I've just tested 5.00.70 and it still only supports a maximum filesize of 2GB.

...ken...

Are you sure about this? Under xx.60 I had the entire continent of Europe from the CN Europe disc compiled into one file. It was about 1750 megs in size. I renamed the file GMAPSUP2.IMG and copied it into the directory in Garmin Mobile PC, and it has worked fine ever since. When I installed the xx.70 update, the file remained and still works! Right down to 30 meter altitude resolution, which seems to be the max, as far as I can see.

I intend to put it to good use on my upcoming trip to Europe...

That is strange. I have tried it on 3 different computers and SUP2 files do not even show up. I wonder if it is because the Europe map is a different area. All my maps are North America.

Terry

Same on two computers here. Only GMAPPROM.IMG and GMAPSUPP.IMG continue to work for me in .70 (using Canada and North America).

...ken...

You guys have me afraid to experiment with it lest it all go wrong on me...

So, from what you are saying, are the rest of the various map designations still the same as those listed above?

1. (still working...? GMAPSUPP.IMG) can be used for a compiled map from MapSource
2. GMAPBMAP.IMG (this is a basemap)
3. (gone...? GMAPSUP2.IMG ) even though mine still works?
4. GMAPPROM.IMG(The main mapset that came with the software package unit)

What I DID try was to compile another small set of European map sections that I hadn't used before and rename it GMAPSUPP.IMG and copy it into the GMPC directory. It show fine and now I have the basemap, North America, Europe (full), and Europe (partial) all showing as four separate and distinct maps. They show up fine and GMPC recognizes them in Tools/Manage My Data/ Map Sets.

When you updated to xx.70, did you too, have a GMAPSUP2.IMG map installed under xx.60?

I used the updated GMPC extensively last week in and around Seattle and it performed without any crashes or dissappearances. The only time it did was on the plane back from Seattle at 800 km/h, and even then, it started right back up again when clicked. No intervention from Task Manager required...

No, I did not.

I suppose the right way to test this would be for me to revert to .60, create a GMAPSUP2 file and make sure it works, then upgrade back to .70.

Perhaps later today I'll try that.

...ken...

Okay, I reverted to .60. I set up GMAPPROM, GMAPSUPP and GMAPSUP2. All of them showed up for selection on the Mapsource page in Mobile PC.

Then I upgraded to to .70 and there were only two maps available for selection. The map from the GMAPSUP2 file wasn't listed. Perhaps I should track down a free map for some other part of the world to see if that makes a difference.

...ken...

My thoughts exactly. I used to have one...I'll see if I can find it.

Terry

Very strange indeed! I double-checked all my nomenclature, and there they are, all correct.

But I'll tell you what, I'm definitely NOT deleting it so see if that makes a difference upon re-install. I think Garmin is going in the wrong direction, if they are limiting the number of maps you can install in GMPC. If I want to travel to some other part of the world, I want the ability to add maps as I travel. And I'm willing to buy the necessary maps. But it seems that Garmin is not satisfied that I should buy their maps, they seem to want me to have to buy a new program and unlock code as well...

This is the kind of dog-in-the-manger that doesn't sit well with me! But, then again, when does Garmin listen to it's customers...?

I found a gmapsupp.img file of Greece and dropped it in. I tested it as GMAPSUPP.IMG to make sure it works and it works fine.

Renamed it to GMAPSUP2.IMG and it goes away. Doesn't show up on the map and doesn't appear on the Mapsource page for selection.

...ken...