Mapsource, do I need it?

 

I have a Nuvi 260, I have learned to add POI files with POI loader. I now have added the Red Light ones. I also have learned to use Google Map to my 260. All thanks to everyone on this site.
I have read a lot about Mapsource,is there a need for me to get Mapsource? I know that I can not do routes on a 260, so is there anything else Mapsource can do that will be a benefit to me?

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Paul..... Nuvi 765T

Mapsource Uses

pcatch135 wrote:

I have a Nuvi 260, I have learned to add POI files with POI loader. I now have added the Red Light ones. I also have learned to use Google Map to my 260. All thanks to everyone on this site.
I have read a lot about Mapsource,is there a need for me to get Mapsource? I know that I can not do routes on a 260, so is there anything else Mapsource can do that will be a benefit to me?

I use it for 2 purposes. I can plot courses on it and see where I might want to go and how far it is. The second reason is the best one. If you put in an address, it will give you the coordinates for making POI's.

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Larry - Nuvi 680, Nuvi 1690, Nuvi 2797LMT

I use regularly

I use it for trip planning, routing, making waypoints, then turning those waypoints directly into .gpx POI files and uploading them with the POI Loader. I can't say that it is essential, but it's nice to have a single tool for everything that is also compatible with my GPSr.

I have a nuvi 260 too, and I use MapSource to set up a route that I want to drive, then I create the waypoints on that route that are needed to make my nuvi follow that route. I save them as a .gpx POI file then upload them with all my other POIs. That way I can easily follow a route, even though my 260 doesn't have that functionality.

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Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC

What About MS Street & Trips?

How does MapSource compare to MS Streets & Trips? Are they the same/different, or am I comparing apples & oranges?

I have MSS&T, but I've never seen MapSource.

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Tampa, FL - Garmin nüvi 660 (Software Ver 4.90), 2021.20 CN NA NT maps | Magellan Meridian Gold

What About MS Street & Trips

MS as you know if for a laptop with a gps attached to it. Mapsourse is more for garmin handheld to manage favorits and waypoint. and routs then download to your gps. I use MS to plan all trips then use 660 to get to a destination. It is up to you as to what you want to de.

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johnm405 660 & MSS&T

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I do not have Mapsource, so I am probably not the one to answer. But I bought the GPS to replace all the computer mapping programs, and as something portable to have when I do not have my computer. It works fine by itself although, without routing, you do have to tell it where you want to go leg by leg. And you do have one waypoint (via point) to force it to go where you want.

It is easy to get coordinates for POI's from free programs. It would be nice if you could get the coordinates from the GPS. In the 1990's I had an aviation Garmin that could do that. I don't know if the 700 series does that.

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nuvi 200 | lifetime maps

Coordinates on the GPS

dminz wrote:

It would be nice if you could get the coordinates from the GPS.

You can (with a bit of work). When on the map simply touch the car icon and it will show you the current coordinates and ask you if you want to save the location as a favorite. If you want to see the coordinates for a specific place, the one work around I know of is to put the GPS in simulation mode, then find the place you want to check, use the menu item to set that location as your current spot, then go intot he map, touch the car icon and see the coordinates.

PT

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Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

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Thanks, PT. I knew about getting coordinates at a current location. But I didn't know you could do it in simulator mode and set a different location. I just tried it and it is not easy, at least on the first try, but it works.

It would be nice if you could , in satellite mode, zoom in on the map, touch a location and get the coordinates. Or at least put in an address or intersection and get the coordinates. Maybe I'll be able to get that on my next GPS.

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nuvi 200 | lifetime maps

what the above has said is

what the above has said is true, but in reality google maps will do the same for as well.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Mapsource

Thanks for all the input. I do think that asianfire has the answer for what I would be doing. Google is so easy to use and transfer to my 260. I think that google and gamin are a match made in Heaven for the new user.

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Paul..... Nuvi 765T

Google or MapSource?

Google is fine for making waypoints of Busineses. I suspect more Businesses PAY to have there Business listed on Google than either on Garmin or Tom Tom or other GPSs. This makes sense if you think about it, GOOGLE is used by more people. And that is fine with me.

But now the big BUT!!!

Mapsource will make 1, 2 or even up to hundreds of POIs at one time. It will also make TourGuides.

Google will not make either POIs or TourGuides.

Also those with Garmin GPSs that can have more than 1 route saved in them, MapSource does make custom routes that can be downloaded into the GPS.

Also MapSourse alowes you to Make, Modify and Backup Waypoints. I have been using MapSource for about 5 years and find it so simple to use for all the above!!

H Hannah
Nuvi750 and IQUE3600

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

I find GeePeeEx Editor to be far more useful

I got Mapsource and played with it for a little while, and I haven't used it since. I find GeePeeEx Editor to be far more useful. I might have a use for Mapsource if my Nuvi 350 supported routes.

There are lots of ways to get coordinates once you have an address but I really like how with GeePeeEx I can get the coordinates, see the map and satellite views and adjust the coordinate pointer as I see fit, enter FORMATTED addresses, phone numbers, descriptive text, alert speed and distance and assign POI icons all in one single program.

Mapsource allows you to load

Mapsource allows you to load alternate maps onto a NUVI. For example, you can
purchase a key for a BlueChart region and have nautical charts on your GPS, great if you are on a cruise or off sailing. Though Mapsource does give you the ability to geocode points of interest, There are websites that do the same thing and are much faster.

pcatch135 wrote:

I have a Nuvi 260, I have learned to add POI files with POI loader. I now have added the Red Light ones. I also have learned to use Google Map to my 260. All thanks to everyone on this site.
I have read a lot about Mapsource,is there a need for me to get Mapsource? I know that I can not do routes on a 260, so is there anything else Mapsource can do that will be a benefit to me?

--
Garminfone (Android) Colorado 300 NUVI 550 NUVIFone M20

Very good points

H Hannah wrote:

Google is fine for making waypoints of Busineses. I suspect more Businesses PAY to have there Business listed on Google than either on Garmin or Tom Tom or other GPSs. This makes sense if you think about it, GOOGLE is used by more people. And that is fine with me.

But now the big BUT!!!

Mapsource will make 1, 2 or even up to hundreds of POIs at one time. It will also make TourGuides.

Google will not make either POIs or TourGuides.

Also those with Garmin GPSs that can have more than 1 route saved in them, MapSource does make custom routes that can be downloaded into the GPS.

Also MapSourse alowes you to Make, Modify and Backup Waypoints. I have been using MapSource for about 5 years and find it so simple to use for all the above!!

H Hannah
Nuvi750 and IQUE3600

Great points. Google maps may not allow you to create csv files for custom pois. But it will allow gpx files to be created which will go into your favorites.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

But...

If I want them in my POI folder, then I still have to do the same stuff, and with MapSource, I still have the program whether I'm connected to the internet or not...

Just a matter of preferences. Why learn to do the same things with Google that I already know how to do with MapSource?

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Rick - Nüvi 260 - eTrex Summit HC

GPX files can go into "Extras" if you want...

asianfire wrote:

Google maps may not allow you to create csv files for custom pois. But it will allow gpx files to be created which will go into your favorites.

You can use POI Loader to put GPX files into your Custom POI section of your Garmin if you don't want them in your favorites. You don't HAVE to put them in favorites.

PT

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Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

Great Point

rapriebe

However, I will play the devil's avocate...

Why get MapSource, when you already know how to use Google Maps and the transfer of way points is no more difficult (or better) then in mapsource. I am NEVER without internet. Have highspeed here at the house and if they ever goes down (which it hasn't yet) then I just jump on some unsecured network for a short time.

Of course, this is coming from a person that never used Mapsource or even seen it...lol. Perhaps Mapsource can do "more" then google maps.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Still a need for MapSource

To asianfire:

If I am not mistaken Google "POINTS" can only be downloaded directly into your Garmin unit as Favorits. Not POIs!! So if you want them as POIs you you would then have to extract them back out of your Garmin unit with MapSource and rework them into POIs then reload them back into the Garmin unit with PoiLoader. A lot of extra steps!!

So I do see a need for MapSource or another program such as MapSourse to do this

H Hannah
Nuvi 750

--
"Those that stop and smell the roses, must realize that once in awhile you may get a whiff of fertilizer."..copyright:HDHannah1986 -Mercedes GPS - UCONNECT 430N Chrysler T&C - Nuvi 2598- Nuni2555 - Nuvi855 - Nuvi295W - Nuvi 750 - Ique 3600

I didn't realize that Map

I didn't realize that Map Source can create and transfer custom poi files. So yes, I see the advantage...thanks.

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Charley - Nuvi 350 - Bel STI Driver - Cobra 29 w/ wilson 1000 - AIM: asianfire -

Pilsner rules

asianfire wrote:

However, I will play the devil's avocate...

Of course, this is coming from a person that never used Mapsource or even seen it...lol. Perhaps Mapsource can do "more" then google maps.

Have you bee drinking again?

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Garmin 38 - Magellan Gold - Garmin Yellow eTrex - Nuvi 260 - Nuvi 2460LMT - Google Nexus 7 - Toyota Entune NAV

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asianfire wrote:

I didn't realize that Map Source can create and transfer custom poi files. So yes, I see the advantage...thanks.

You can save MapSource files in GPX format. So then you can use these as Custom POIs if you want.

And as other threads have discussed, you can use MapSource to manage and back up your Favorites.

TakItWithMe.com allows you to put google maps in Custom...

You can save Google Maps to custom POIs as well in a round about way. Using TakItWithMe.com you can load in your custom Google maps and you have two choices. One is to load them directly into the Garmin which puts them in favorites. The other is to generate a GPX file from the map which can then be loaded into Custom POIs with the POI loader.

PT

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Garmin nüvi 200 (my first GPS), 780, & 3700 Series. And a Mac user.

http://www.gpsies.com/coordin

http://www.gpsies.com/coordinate.do

This site will do the same thing and also show it on a google map.