Custom maps for Nüvi 250?

 

I'm fairly new to GPS but am having a lot of fun with my Nüvi 250. Does anyone know if it is possible to download free or custom maps or overlays to the Nüvi unit? I ask with the intention of downloading maps of trails and the like. Thanks a lot!

Additional Maps are sold on

Additional Maps are sold on Garmins web site. They can be imported and read on a SD Card.

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nüvi 3590LMT "always backup your files"

free maps

JONNINATOR wrote:

(snip) Does anyone know if it is possible to download free or custom maps or overlays to the Nüvi unit? (snip)

Just did a google search with: download, free, nuvi, map (in the upper box) and had over 103,000 hits..

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Nuvi 260 Nuvi 295W

Custom Maps for Nüvi 250

This site « http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/ » offers free topo maps. Can we use these with the Nüvi 250 ? if yes, HOW ?

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Nüvi 250

Your right, thank you. I'm

Your right, thank you. I'm always learning something new. smile

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nüvi 3590LMT "always backup your files"

.

What kind of maps are you looking for?

Maps are proprietary to the manufacturer. (ie you can't load Magellan or TomTom maps to a Garmin nor can you load Google or National Geographic maps).

Many people have created their own custom maps. Check out MapCenter.

http://mapcenter.cgpsmapper.com/

Note that the maps won't be able to be overlaided over your CN maps unless they have been made to be transparent.

Custom Maps for Nüvi 250

jmonast wrote:

This site « http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/ » offers free topo maps. Can we use these with the Nüvi 250 ? if yes, HOW ?

Picked up this thread off of google.

They should work. But I've personally never tried it. Do you have some kind of mapsource application already? There are ways and means of getting one off Garmin's website, but I'm not sure if it conforms with their license agreement.

You can definitely use Sendmap (available at http://www.cgpsmapper.com ) to load the maps to an SD card, and then insert the SD card to your unit.

HTH.

Dale

Custom Maps for Nüvi 250

Thanks. I do have Mapsource but it doesn't seem to work. I'll try Sendmap. Thank you !

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Nüvi 250

using poi and maps on an SD card

ibycus wrote:

You can definitely use Sendmap (available at http://www.cgpsmapper.com ) to load the maps to an SD card, and then insert the SD card to your unit.

HTH.

Dale

Once a map or poi is loaded onto an SD card, how do you use that file with the GPS once the card is inserted into the unit(Nuvi250)?
Thanks

Custom Maps for Nüvi 250

jmonast wrote:

Thanks. I do have Mapsource but it doesn't seem to work. I'll try Sendmap. Thank you !

What error does it give? Can you see the maps in mapsource, but not send them? Or can you not see them at all?

Note: You don't access the maps by going File->Open (this is a common mistake). You have to use the drop down list in the top left hand corner of mapsource to Select "Ibycus Topo 1.22"

using poi and maps on an SD card

outlook2007 wrote:

Once a map or poi is loaded onto an SD card, how do you use that file with the GPS once the card is inserted into the unit(Nuvi250)?
Thanks

The GPS *should* recognize that the map is there by itself (the gmapsupp.img file should be in the \Garmin directory of the SD card). If it doesn't there is an option in the setup to turn various detail maps off and on. (not having a Nuvi250, I can't help you much more, other than to be on the lookout for a button labeled "Mapsource").

Dale

Mapsource

ibycus wrote:
jmonast wrote:

Thanks. I do have Mapsource but it doesn't seem to work. I'll try Sendmap. Thank you !

What error does it give? Can you see the maps in mapsource, but not send them? Or can you not see them at all?

Note: You don't access the maps by going File->Open (this is a common mistake). You have to use the drop down list in the top left hand corner of mapsource to Select "Ibycus Topo 1.22"

I can't access the maps ! The drop down list is not present. By right clicking the toolbar, I can bring different tools but not the dropdown list. Should the .img file be in a specific file on my computer ?

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Nüvi 250

.

Did you RUN the exe program that you download in order to install the maps in your MapSource?

Once they are installed in MapSource, you should get the dropdown list on your toolbar. You can also view the maps by going to View > Change Map Products (I think. I'm going on memory, but the menus are something like that.)

Mapsource

The downloaded map file is a .img file not an .exe file.

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Nüvi 250

.

I was referring to the file on the linked map location.

http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/

This file.

http://www.ibycus.com/ibycustopo/TopoMaps122.exe

EXE vs IMG

jmonast wrote:

The downloaded map file is a .img file not an .exe file.

Sounds like you've done something a little unusual.

Indeed the file contained within the TopoMaps122.exe file are IMGs, but you should never have to do anything with the IMGs (other than have them on your computer).

The steps are basically:

1. Download and run TopoMaps122.exe
2. Open Mapsource
3. Look in the drop down list on the top left corner (will only appear if you have more than one map product installed).

It sounds to me like you've either (a) gotten the IMG files directly from somewhere (perhaps mapcenter) or you've somehow extracted the installer without running it.

During the install process, certain settings are added to the system registry, which allow Mapsource to find the maps on your hard drive. If you skip this step somehow, you need to either go back and reinstall, or manually at the settings.

Dale

EXE vs IMG

Thanks. I'll try this and will let you know how it goes.

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Nüvi 250

For .img maps

Please, have a look at this thread:
arrow http://www.poi-factory.com/node/10375
Might help. Good Luck.

EXE vs IMG

ibycus wrote:
jmonast wrote:

The downloaded map file is a .img file not an .exe file.

Sounds like you've done something a little unusual.

Indeed the file contained within the TopoMaps122.exe file are IMGs, but you should never have to do anything with the IMGs (other than have them on your computer).

The steps are basically:

1. Download and run TopoMaps122.exe
2. Open Mapsource
3. Look in the drop down list on the top left corner (will only appear if you have more than one map product installed).

It sounds to me like you've either (a) gotten the IMG files directly from somewhere (perhaps mapcenter) or you've somehow extracted the installer without running it.

During the install process, certain settings are added to the system registry, which allow Mapsource to find the maps on your hard drive. If you skip this step somehow, you need to either go back and reinstall, or manually at the settings.

Dale

Long download, but worth it ! It works just fine. Thank you for your help. Much appreciated !

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Nüvi 250