Mapsource use with a Nuvi 660

It depends on who you ask. The 660 does not support routes, and, as far as I'm concerned, that would be the best use for Mapsource. I'm sure you will hear from others about how you can manage your favorites, but I don't have many of those, and they don't change. Others create routes in Mapsource to gain a visual perspective and then use the sequence of the waypoints to create a POI file with the waypoints, but that is way more work than I see as beneficial since the program doesn't have the ability to optimize the points. If I routinely wanted to create optimized routes of large numbers of waypoints, I'd look for a copy of MS Streets and Trips. I will now surrender the stage to those with counterpoints.

bentbiker has some good points. Because MapSource is displayed on a PC screen it's useful to see the bigger picture. You can transfer waypoints and routes (on supported units) in and out which provides a convenient way to backup waypoints and routes from your unit.

I did find an unexpected feature for 7xx routes. I have 25 routes in MapSource that I download to my 750. I can import any 10 and later delete some and import others without a PC connection.

But as a modern PC program MapSource leaves a lot to be desired in the user friendly arena. Disappointing that with Garmin's high cost their software isn't high quality. Just my opinion of course.

High cost of what software???

MapSource is FREEEEEEEEEEEE for the asking from Garmin.

You buy a New Garmin unit and then call Garmin and ask for copy of the installed maps on your Garmin unit (Do this right after you resister your unit) and Garmin will send the maps to you free. Included on the DVD with the maps id a copy of MapSource!!!! FREEEEEE

Thanks for the feedback! I'll give Garmin a call.

H Hannah,

Different ways to interpret my statement but to clarify:

Disappointing that with Garmin's high cost of their GPS units that their software isn't high quality. Just my opinion of course.

I have a Nuvi 260. I use MapSource constantly to plan my travel routes, even though my 260 doesn't support multi point routing. It's not difficult at all to create as many waypoints as you need, number them in the sequence you wish to drive them (so that they will display in that order), then save them as a .gpx file and load them to your Custom POI folder with POI Loader.

You CAN load the waypoints into your Favorites folder directly from MapSource, but find it easier to manage them and keep track if I keep them as POI's instead.

Well, I tried that and had no luck. I was told that what's in the box is all that comes with my nuvi. And that Mapsource is for units that can store routes.

Do you have any of the DVD updates? It may be on there already. This link tells you how to install from the 2008 update.
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/10693

Could this include putting my 200 clients on a passive route and saving it so that I could who is closest when on the road.

I am an insurance agent and wish to know who I am near when in the field.

Sorry for the "passive route" I know that is not likely the proper terminology, as I have not been using a GPS since the Garmin III was new.

Thanks for your patience

I posted in your orginal thread
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/13210

On MapSource you could enter your clients as waypoints with a unique symbol or several unique symbols. Now with the large PC screen you can view MapSource before departing to see where your clients are located. Or better yet take the laptop with you. You could set up and download a route for the days run.

On the unit you could depending upon it's features: Setup and optimize a route.
You could setup and download a custom POI file. Now on the unit using the near feature you'll get the closest 50 clients and you set up a related route.
Finally you could download your clients as alerts with say the maximum possible distance. This would let you know that you are near a client that you might otherwise overlook.

On the nuvi 750 you could use all 3 on a day's run.

But truthfully for your application I would look at laptop GPS programs to see if they better handle what you want to do. I would think seeing your clients on a large screen would be a plus. And if it integrates in the actual GPS and routing then that might be a better approach than the Garmin solution.

MapSource does not have a function to optimize the Waypoints on a trip. You can use Microsoft's Streets & Trips software for this function, however. But then you would need to make a list separate from the GPS unit for the order in which you want to route to the locations.