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Do the latest Topo 24K maps work with nRoute? Do they work with Garmin Mobile PC?

dms1

Member

Hello, I have a few questions I was hoping some of you could answer about Garmin nRoute and Garmin Mobile PC. I would like to keep using nRoute, but I can't get the latest Topo 24K maps to work with it.

So here are my questions:

Has anyone been able to get the latest Topo 24K maps to work with nRoute? If yes, how? (This would solve all my problems)
Will nRoute work with any GPS, or only Garmin GPS's? (I ask this because if I buy Garmin Mobil PC I would like to get an aftermarket puck-style GPS and still have the ability to use nRoute)
If nRoute will only work with the a Garmin GPS, will it work with the GPS20x that comes with Garmin Mobile PC?
Will the Garmin GPS20x work with other programs like Nat Geo Topo! ?
Has anyone actually used the new Topo 24K maps with Garmin Mobile PC?
Can you switch Garmin Mobile PC from 3D to 2D mode?

Thanks in advance

Ken in Regina

Senior Member

Quote:

Originally Posted by dms1

So here are my questions:

Has anyone been able to get the latest Topo 24K maps to work with nRoute? If yes, how? (This would solve all my problems)

I'm in Canada so I can't help much there. If the latest American topos are in the same format as Topo Canada v4 and recent versions of City Navigator, you will need to get a program called MapReverseConverter to convert them back to the nRoute format. It's easy to do.

Quote:

2. Will nRoute work with any GPS, or only Garmin GPS's?

It requires a GPS receiver that will output the Garmin protocol (standard receivers output the NMEA protocol). Or you can use GPSGate, which will take the standard NMEA data from a non-Garmin receiver and create a virtual COM port with the Garmin protocol on it for nRoute to use. Many people use nRoute this way.

Quote:

3. If nRoute will only work with the a Garmin GPS, will it work with the GPS20x that comes with Garmin Mobile PC?

I'm not sure if the 20x does Garmin protocol. Perhaps Terry knows this one.

Quote:

4. Will the Garmin GPS20x work with other programs like Nat Geo Topo! ?

Yes.

Quote:

6. Can you switch Garmin Mobile PC from 3D to 2D mode?

Yes.

...ken...

tcassidy

Senior Member

Yes, the GPS20x will work with nRoute and no the 20x will not work with any NMEA program such as NG Topo.

Your best bet is to invest in GPS Gate. That program can find your 20x and output multiple GPS feeds, one of which is in Garmin PVT format that nRoute can see. The others are NMEA format that other navigation programs such as NT Topo can use. And it can do both at the same time.

However, if you bought the 20x as a package with Mobile PC, the 20x can not support any other program at the same time as Mobile PC. That is, you can not use GPS Gate with the version of Mobile PC that comes with a GPS.

Terry

adcockj

Member

I use the 20X with NatGeo Topo often. Just go to Handhelds->change GPS Settings. In Receiver Type Make, choose Garmin and in Model select the GPS12 (the closest thing). Then go to Connection Settings and select USB...works fine.

BTW...make sure you do the 4.5 free upgrade to NatGeo Topo (from the 4.2.6 or 4.2.8 that may have come on your State Series maps). Otherwise, it won't import gpx files properly.

Cheers/Jerry

adcockj

Member

one other note...

I used the MapReverseConverter today on the 24K maps for the 4-corners states, and nRoute likes it just fine (I was NOT able to see the 24K maps before the conversion -- just the Topo 2008 maps).

I also used the converter on the CityNav 2010.x maps, and nRoute now likes them just fine, too!

/Jerry

tcassidy

Senior Member

Good information! I will file away that NG Topo supports Garmin PVT.

Terry

dms1

Member

Thanks for all the replies, I am going to try the map coversion idea first so I can keep running nRoute, if that works my problems will be solved. I am using my Garmin III Plus as a gps for the laptop right now but I want to change to one of the puck gps's, so I guess I will be looking into GPS Gate.

Thank You

dms1

Member

I converted the maps last night and they showd up in nRoute, so I am a happy camper.

Can anyone recomend a good usb puck GPS?

tcassidy

Senior Member

Globalsat GPS BU-353?

Terry

captdale

Member

Hi - just joined the forum and this interests me very much. I have a Nuvi and have ordered the Garmin Mobile PC . I will try to use a Lowrance GPS receiver and if that does not work will go with a garmin. I also ordered a 24K topo map of Texas to use on the Nuvi. My questions are these:

1 - Can I get the PC to work with the Garmin Mobile PC program and somehow cause it to use the 24K topo map ? If so how do I go about making that happen.

2 - Can I somehow connect the Nuvi with the 24K SD map in it to my computer and display what the Nuvi is showing ?

I appreciate any help with this. thanks cd

tcassidy

Senior Member

Garmin Mobile PC will not see the maps on an SD card. However, as the Topo maps are not locked, it might be possible to copy the gmapsupp.img file from the SD card and place it in the GarminMobilePC folder.

Some Nuvis will work as a GPS for Garmin Mobile PC. Many that do will not provide a display on the Nuvi at the same time as they are providing a GPS signal though. A better solution would be to buy a separate GPS receiver for the laptop. If you have already ordered the software-only version of Garmin Mobile PC, the GlobalSat BU-353 is a good choice.

Terry

captdale

Member

Hi Terry - Thank you. I do have a separate GPS for the laptop. Its a Lowrance unit. So with that it should work ? I'm trying to get the Garmin Mobile PC on my computer to work with the 24K topo map which as I understand it only works in the Garmin unit (in this case a Nuvi) but not directly with the mobile PC software. Any suggestions on how to make that happen. dale

tcassidy

Senior Member

I have no idea whether the Lowrance will provide GPS output on its USB connection. You might want to spend some time on a site specifically for stand alone Lowrance units to find that information. My first inclination is to let stand alone GPS units (PNDs) do what it is they do well and get a separate dedicated GPS receiver to use with your laptop.

As I said in the previous post. Garmin Mobile PC will not see maps that are not physically located in its own folder (GarminMobilePC). However you may be able to copy the compiled map file (probably gmapsupp.img) from the SD card and paste it into that folder location provided it is not a locked map. I do not believe US Topo maps are locked.

Terry

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