Review: Garmin Mobile PC

Certainly worth a try but all I see in BaseCamp on this XP computer is Topo Canada v4 and Backroad Mapbook. As this computer has a wide selection of maps available to MapSource, I have no idea how BaseCamp decides which ones it can use.

Terry

Okay, I just went out to the car and brought in my Nuvi 765T. I connected it to the computer. Then I ran Basecamp. Basecamp shows the Nuvi in the "Devices" list in the left pane.

It also lists the preloaded maps on the Nuvi.

It adds a Map Properties pane (lower left) with all the properties of the preloaded maps.

If you right-click on the map name under the Nuvi in the Devices list at the left you will get a selection to "Show Map".

That's as far as I can go because I already have that mapset on the computer and Basecamp sees it, too. So I get an error when I try to Show Map from the Nuvi.

Of course I can't guarantee that every device will work this way but it looks like if you connect a device with preloaded maps Basecamp can display them. I have seen reports from others that if you connect a device with a Garmin SD card map product inserted Basecamp will also allow you to display that map.

...ken...

You're right. My BaseCamp copy was severely out of date. I now get the complete list of installed maps. However the 'Show Map' is greyed out for the Nuvi 5000.

Terry

So it appears there is probably some functionality needed on the device in order to use the maps in Basecamp as opposed to just displaying the map properties.

Or..... ??? I wonder if the problem is that Basecamp won't use the device maps if the same maps are already available on the PC?? That's the case for me.

Yes, if you had a fairly old version of Basecamp there are maps it would not see. Now it will see anything that Mapsource can see.

...ken...

I was wrong about the Show Map feature. I just hadn't waited long enough for it to read the information on the device. It's there now.

Terry

Ah yes. With Basecamp you will learn patience, Grasshopper.

...ken...

I was able to test it by moving the shortcut for CNNANT 2011.1 so BaseCamp could not see it on the computer. I had to reconnect the Nuvi but BaseCamp did show the detailed map from it. You learn something almost useful every day.

Too bad it can't send to Mobile PC as well.

Terry

Thanks Marvin,

Someplace much earlier in this thread there was mention of a free trial, but like I said I couldn't find it on Garmins website. Your reply clears things up.

Terry, so you think I could use Streets & Trips to plan a trip and export it out to a gpx. Then use Mapsource to import it into Mobile PC? If that's correct, I would only need to buy Garmin Mobile PC. I may just try it.

thanks, jerry

I tried it with a route I already had in S&T 2010. I exported to a GPX file and opened that in MapSource with no map. I then sent the route to Mobile PC and checked under Tools-Manage My Data-Routes and there it was. Of course, Mobile PC will recalculate the route so it may not look exactly as the S&T original but that is a common situation.

Terry

Thanks Terry,

That gets me one step closer to making a decision. Jerry

Does anyone know when Garmin Mobile PC will have lane assistance picture?
Thanks

Garmin never lets out any information about future releases of Mobile PC. Not even when, or whether, there will be a new version.

...ken...

Sorry to confirm that GMPc is discontinued.....!!!!!
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=165&pID=13484

It doesn't surprise me at all, especially after the fact that, what, 1 year after the update it still crashes and no one in Garmin tech support can give any answers (or even acknowledge the problem).

I stopped using GMPC the day I put CoPilot 8 on my laptop.