Garmin GPS - Topo Canada

Author

Topo Canada

kayla

2007-11-29, 12:33 pm

I would like to buy the latest version of Topo Canada but get
different responses on which is the newest version. I want to buy one
for a Christmas present so I want the latest.

Thanks
Lori

rollingrock

2007-11-30, 10:33 pm

There's no new Topo Canada since V.2 came out. Some of the logging
roads aren't shown in V.2 as I have compared the map and the actual
terrain. But still it's a good map.

On Nov 29, 8:52 am, kayla <afwt_hotmail.com@> wrote:
> I would like to buy the latest version of Topo Canada but get
> different responses on which is the newest version. I want to buy one
> for a Christmas present so I want the latest.
>
> Thanks
> Lori

angus cameron

2007-12-01, 12:33 pm

rollingrock wrote:
> There's no new Topo Canada since V.2 came out. Some of the logging
> roads aren't shown in V.2 as I have compared the map and the actual
> terrain. But still it's a good map.
>
> On Nov 29, 8:52 am, kayla <afwt_hotmail.com@> wrote:
>

Concur that V2 is the latest.

But you can download a set of topo maps derived from much newer data
from http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

They have more detail than Topo V2 but lack autorouting and street
names. But of course you can load them on top of MetroGuide Canada and
enjoy the advantages of both.

My 2 cents,
Angus

kayla

2007-12-02, 10:33 pm

I think this way over my head. I have the Garmin Legend and if I were
download this 2nd edition http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/ I would
be able to transfer the map or sections of it into my GPS. I was told
that a Garmin GPS will only accept Garmin Maps.

Lori

>
>But you can download a set of topo maps derived from much newer data
>from http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/
>
>They have more detail than Topo V2 but lack autorouting and street
>names. But of course you can load them on top of MetroGuide Canada and
>enjoy the advantages of both.
>
>My 2 cents,
>Angus

angus cameron

2007-12-02, 10:33 pm

kayla wrote:
> I think this way over my head. I have the Garmin Legend and if I were
> download this 2nd edition http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/ I would
> be able to transfer the map or sections of it into my GPS. I was told
> that a Garmin GPS will only accept Garmin Maps.
>
> Lori

When you download and run TopoMaps 1.2 from the Ibycus site the maps are
installed automatically in the proper place and in the proper format
on your hard drive. Be aware that you're dealing with a 1.2 GB download
so you need a high speed connection and adequate disk space. And the
installation program doesn't seem to do anything for a minute or so
after clicking start so don't panic.

After it finishes the installation open MapSource. You'll find that
Ibycus Topo 1.2 is available as one of your map options.

Of course you can load different map sets for the same region. I like
using Ibycus together with MetroGuide. Best of both worlds!

Cheers,
Angus

kayla

2007-12-03, 10:33 pm

Well, I downloaded the second edition of the dataset (1.13 GB). I
have Mapsource installed on my Garmin Legend and am now stuck.
Mapsource does not recognize img files.
My GPS has 8 MB of memory and i don't know how to proceed. How hard
is this to figure out???

On Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:34:52 GMT, angus cameron
<angus.cameron@shaw.ca> wrote:

>kayla wrote:
>
>When you download and run TopoMaps 1.2 from the Ibycus site the maps are
> installed automatically in the proper place and in the proper format
>on your hard drive. Be aware that you're dealing with a 1.2 GB download
>so you need a high speed connection and adequate disk space. And the
>installation program doesn't seem to do anything for a minute or so
>after clicking start so don't panic.
>
>After it finishes the installation open MapSource. You'll find that
>Ibycus Topo 1.2 is available as one of your map options.
>
>Of course you can load different map sets for the same region. I like
>using Ibycus together with MetroGuide. Best of both worlds!
>
>Cheers,
>Angus

angus cameron

2007-12-05, 12:33 pm

kayla wrote:
> Well, I downloaded the second edition of the dataset (1.13 GB). I
> have Mapsource installed on my Garmin Legend and am now stuck.
> Mapsource does not recognize img files.
> My GPS has 8 MB of memory and i don't know how to proceed. How hard
> is this to figure out???

I'm assuming that it installed properly and you see hundreds of .img
files when you click 'File'->'Open' in MapSource. That won't work, as
you've discovered.

Move your mouse to a wide rectangular button that's just under the
'File' button. When you hover over the right place it will say 'Select a
Product'. Choose 'Ibycus Topo'.

Alternatively try 'View'->'Switch to Product'->'Ibycus Topo'

Cheers,
Angus

Dale Atkin

2007-12-07, 12:33 pm

"kayla" <afwt_hotmail.com@> wrote in message
news:5c59l39galnj53j
k1nf22j88vqpmpicboq@
4ax.com...
> Well, I downloaded the second edition of the dataset (1.13 GB). I
> have Mapsource installed on my Garmin Legend and am now stuck.
> Mapsource does not recognize img files.
> My GPS has 8 MB of memory and i don't know how to proceed. How hard
> is this to figure out???
>

Angus has it right, with one small caveat. The proceedure I recommend is as
follows:

Step 1: Download the big 1.13GB file.
Step 2: Install it.
Step 3: Open mapsource
Step 4: In the top left hand corner, select the mapset that you want to use
(Should be called "Ibycus Topo 1.2"). You should now be able to see a map
similar to the one shown on http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/coverage.JPG .
Step 5: To actually see the data, you may have to click View --> Show GPS
Map Detail (or Control-G)

It sounds like you've already done steps 1-3, so it should just be a matter
of selecting the mapset, and possibly hitting "Control-G".

From there, everything should work as per any of your other typical products
within mapsource. If you have any comments feedback, I'd love to hear from
you. (I'll do my best to check back with the group, but your best bet to get
a hold of me is via e-mail)

Dale Atkin (aka Ibycus)
d a t k i n a t i b y c u s d o t c o m

Dale Atkin

2007-12-07, 12:33 pm

Just to answer the earlier question about how this is possible.

Garmin has never officially released the specification for their IMG files
(the mapsheets you can load on to your Garmin GPS). Some very determined
people with lots of time on their hands managed to figure out what the
format was, *without* garmin's help.

They thought this was pretty cool so they wrote a program that would allow
anyone to generate maps for a Garmin GPS from another datasource.
(http://www.cgpsmapper.com). Pretty cool stuff.

Enter the Canadian Government. Our government is great at making public the
data needed to build maps. There are many many great data sources out there.
Recently they released the data used to for the paper 1:50,000 topo maps
(this used to cost $300+ / tile).

I thought this was pretty cool, so I wrote a couple of programs that could
take this information, and in bulk convert it to something that could go on
the GPS.

This IS NOT a Garmin approved solution. I have nothing to do with Garmin.
(although I did contact them prior to going too far with this, just to let
them know what I'm doing).

Anyways, that's how all this works, and where the data comes from.

Dale Atkin (aka Ibycus)

Joel

2007-12-07, 3:33 pm

"Dale Atkin" <labrador1@ibycus.com> wrote:

<snip>
> This IS NOT a Garmin approved solution. I have nothing to do with Garmin.
> (although I did contact them prior to going too far with this, just to let
> them know what I'm doing).

I dunno but it sounds like ad AD to me? and if it's an ad for your
commercial product then it's consider SPAM.

James Robinson

2007-12-07, 3:33 pm

Joel <Joel@NoSpam.plz> wrote:

> "Dale Atkin" <labrador1@ibycus.com> wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> I dunno but it sounds like ad AD to me? and if it's an ad for
> your commercial product then it's consider SPAM.

You didn't even look at the web site, did you?

It's not a commercial product, nor do you have to pay anything to get the
data, which he's putting in effort to provide at no cost.

Joel

2007-12-07, 10:33 pm

James Robinson <wascana@212.com> wrote:

> Joel <Joel@NoSpam.plz> wrote:
>
>
> You didn't even look at the web site, did you?
>
> It's not a commercial product, nor do you have to pay anything to get the
> data, which he's putting in effort to provide at no cost.

No, I didn't look at the web so that's why I asked or guessing. Probably
because I have seen too many spam from Google groups lately.

Joel

2007-12-07, 10:33 pm

"Dale Atkin" <labrador1@ibycus.com> wrote:

> "Joel" <Joel@NoSpam.plz> wrote in message
> news:a6cjl3dvae674am
6j78d14hptfqjf69ski@
4ax.com...
>
> Sorry if it sounded like Spam. The thread was already discussing my product,
> and there had been some confusion as far as how these maps work (the
> specific message has already scrolled off my newsreader). I wanted to make
> it clear that these aren't Garmin maps, they are maps created using a
> compiler and programs developed by enthusiasts.
>
> Hope that clears up any confusion.
>
> Dale

Thanks for the confirmation, and as long as it's free for personal use
then I guess it's ok.

kayla

2007-12-07, 10:33 pm

To Angus and Dale--
When I try to open from "File" then Mapsource will not recognize img
files. In my next choice, the large rectangle box with the drop down
arrow to choose my map I then select Ibycus Topo 1.2 and I get an
alert message:

There is a problem with Mapsource
Please provide the info to Garmin Tech support
DSK_FIRSTBOOTRECORD.CPP-257-3.05

When I click OK then Mapsource shuts down. I've tried several times
with the same results.
Mapsource is installed in my Program Files and ibycus 1.2 was saved in
My Documents when I downloaded the files. Is that a problem.

Bear with me please...
Lori

On Fri, 7 Dec 2007 10:35:28 -0700, "Dale Atkin" <labrador1@ibycus.com>
wrote:

>
>"kayla" <afwt_hotmail.com@> wrote in message
> news:5c59l39galnj53j
k1nf22j88vqpmpicboq@
4ax.com...
>
>Angus has it right, with one small caveat. The proceedure I recommend is as
>follows:
>
>Step 1: Download the big 1.13GB file.
>Step 2: Install it.
>Step 3: Open mapsource
>Step 4: In the top left hand corner, select the mapset that you want to use
>(Should be called "Ibycus Topo 1.2"). You should now be able to see a map
>similar to the one shown on http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/coverage.JPG .
>Step 5: To actually see the data, you may have to click View --> Show GPS
>Map Detail (or Control-G)
>
>It sounds like you've already done steps 1-3, so it should just be a matter
>of selecting the mapset, and possibly hitting "Control-G".
>
>From there, everything should work as per any of your other typical products
>within mapsource. If you have any comments feedback, I'd love to hear from
>you. (I'll do my best to check back with the group, but your best bet to get
>a hold of me is via e-mail)
>
>Dale Atkin (aka Ibycus)
>d a t k i n a t i b y c u s d o t c o m
>

Dale Atkin

2007-12-08, 2:53 pm

Just out of curiosity, did you get the start of this thread? Or are you just
picking it up in the middle.

Just re-read my post, and you're right, it does look a wee bit like spam if
you're picking it up mid-thread.

Regardless though, the whole topic was started by someone other than myself,
and got on to the discussion of my mapset. To be perfectly honest, at that
point, even if my mapset was commercial I'd feel no hesitation about coming
in and talking about it. Would you have any objection to someone from Garmin
answering questions re. Garmin GPSrs in this group (provided they weren't
making a sales pitch?). I wouldn't.

Dale
"Joel" <Joel@NoSpam.plz> wrote in message
news:bqqjl3tlrafk27v
2coeijs67rqa1c4pj9u@
4ax.com...
> James Robinson <wascana@212.com> wrote:
>
>
> No, I didn't look at the web so that's why I asked or guessing. Probably
> because I have seen too many spam from Google groups lately.

Dale Atkin

2007-12-08, 2:54 pm

"kayla" <afwt_hotmail.com@> wrote in message
news:pj3kl3lgl9guimu
2676ngdu46rod3uj1r0@
4ax.com...
> To Angus and Dale--
> When I try to open from "File" then Mapsource will not recognize img
> files.
This is expected. You don't want to open the IMGs as files. You want to open
them as a mapset, so don't go to the file menu.

> In my next choice, the large rectangle box with the drop down
> arrow to choose my map I then select Ibycus Topo 1.2 and I get an
> alert message:
>
> There is a problem with Mapsource
> Please provide the info to Garmin Tech support
> DSK_FIRSTBOOTRECORD.CPP-257-3.05

Hmmmm... I've heard some reports of this happening with some people, (very
rare though). As yet I've been unable to reproduce this exact error on my
computer. What version of Mapsource are you running? (go to Help-->about
from within mapsource). I'm on 6.13.4. I'd suggest you upgrade (for free) to
the latest version off of Garmin's website (lots of cool new features even
if this doesn't help the problem at hand).

If that's doesn't fix the problem, I've been told by some people that
uninstalling and reinstalling has helped them (the only way this should be
the case, is if they moved the Ibycus Topo maps after they installed them,
but if you're stuck, this is something you can try)

Let me know how you make out.

Dale

Mr Physics

2007-12-08, 10:33 pm

Dale Atkin wrote:
> "kayla" <afwt_hotmail.com@> wrote in message
> news:pj3kl3lgl9guimu
2676ngdu46rod3uj1r0@
4ax.com...
> This is expected. You don't want to open the IMGs as files. You want to open
> them as a mapset, so don't go to the file menu.
>
>
No problem here. Fabulous maps! Thanks. Mail bounced from the contact
address on your web page. If you have a PayPal account I would be more
than happy to make a contribution.
Greg in Ottawa

Bob

2007-12-09, 10:33 am

> Enter the Canadian Government. Our government is great at making public the
> data needed to build maps. There are many many great data sources out there.
> Recently they released the data used to for the paper 1:50,000 topo maps
> (this used to cost $300+ / tile).
>
> I thought this was pretty cool, so I wrote a couple of programs that could
> take this information, and in bulk convert it to something that could go on
> the GPS.
>
> This IS NOT a Garmin approved solution. I have nothing to do with Garmin.
> (although I did contact them prior to going too far with this, just to let
> them know what I'm doing).
>
> Anyways, that's how all this works, and where the data comes from.
>
> Dale Atkin (aka Ibycus)

Dale,

Thanks for making the maps available. They installed into Mapsource
with no problem.

I do have one minor criticism though. How about changing the name that
appears on the Mapset dropdown menu in Mapsource to include the word
"Canada"?

Bob

Dale Atkin

2007-12-09, 10:33 pm

> I do have one minor criticism though. How about changing the name that
> appears on the Mapset dropdown menu in Mapsource to include the word
> "Canada"?

There are two reasons I haven't included "Canada" in the name. The big one
is I'm not sure about the legality of calling it "Ibycus Topo Canada" or
some variant (a little too close to the Garmin name). The other reason, is
if I manage to find a reasonable dataset to work with for other countries,
I'm more than willing to extend the dataset.

Dale

Dale Atkin

2007-12-09, 10:33 pm

Shoot you're right, I haven't re set up the contact@ address since I changed
hosting providers.

Thanks for pointing that out. I haven't set up a paypal donate thingy yet,
as I want to read right through all the agreements carefully, and right now
I'm in the middle of finals, so I haven't had time.

Best address to contact me at, is the one at the bottom of the ibycustopo
page (d a t k i n a t i b y c u s d o t c o m)

Dale

"Mr Physics" < mrDOTphysicsATrogers
DOTcom> wrote in message
news:NaqdnUyYXIzCi8b
anZ2dnUVZ_gSdnZ2d@gi
ganews.com...
> Dale Atkin wrote:
> No problem here. Fabulous maps! Thanks. Mail bounced from the contact
> address on your web page. If you have a PayPal account I would be more
> than happy to make a contribution.
> Greg in Ottawa

RobV

2007-12-28, 10:33 am

"Dale Atkin" <labrador1@ibycus.com> wrote in message
news:fjc0ns$qq5$1@ne
ws.ucalgary.ca...
> Just to answer the earlier question about how this is possible.
>
> Garmin has never officially released the specification for their IMG files
> (the mapsheets you can load on to your Garmin GPS). Some very determined
> people with lots of time on their hands managed to figure out what the
> format was, *without* garmin's help.
>
> They thought this was pretty cool so they wrote a program that would allow
> anyone to generate maps for a Garmin GPS from another datasource.
> (http://www.cgpsmapper.com). Pretty cool stuff.
>
> Enter the Canadian Government. Our government is great at making public
> the data needed to build maps. There are many many great data sources out
> there. Recently they released the data used to for the paper 1:50,000 topo
> maps (this used to cost $300+ / tile).
>
> I thought this was pretty cool, so I wrote a couple of programs that could
> take this information, and in bulk convert it to something that could go
> on the GPS.
>
> This IS NOT a Garmin approved solution. I have nothing to do with Garmin.
> (although I did contact them prior to going too far with this, just to let
> them know what I'm doing).
>
> Anyways, that's how all this works, and where the data comes from.
>
> Dale Atkin (aka Ibycus)
>

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