Running Topo Maps on your Kenwood DNX7100 (Garmin)
Fri, 10/17/2008 - 3:27pm
Edventure
15 years
I hope I put this in the right forum. I like to hit the dirt as often as possible so the street maps don't always work. I discovered this trick for running topo on my Kenwood and thought I'd pass it along. I would imagine that this will work on most Garmin devices but can't give a list on what does and doesn't work.
Also, I did this with a normal 2gb SD card, I tried a 4gb SDHC card and it wouldn't load.
6. After locating the device and clicking next, you'll come to the screen with the City Navigator map. You can zoom in and out, but basically what you want to do is select whatever parts of the country you want updated in your garmin.
8. Topo maps take up a lot more space than the city maps, so I'd suggest just selecting the locations where you will actually be using the topo maps rather than selecting the entire country.
9. When you're finished click next and the next screen will tell you to "Press finish to build your map set and install your maps"...so click finish. This process will take around an hour, give or take a little depending on how much data you're working with. Grab a beer, watch some tv, read the forums, dance, spend time with your loved ones, poop, etc.
10. If you're using a portable garmin unit, I'm guessing you're probably done now. If you're using an SD card, you're almost there.
11. Start your vehicle, press the eject button for a second or two to access the sd card slot in your kenwood. Slide the card in and return the screen to its normal position.
12. Turn your vehicle off. I tried just shutting off the kenwood, it didn't work. When you turn your vehicle back on, the kenwood should load the maps from the card.
...and thats about it. This was tested with a Kenwood DNX7100. Like I said, I'm only guessing it'll work on other Garmins.
I've also discovered, that you need to keep the sd card in the Kenwood to access the updated maps and the topo maps. If you take it out, it defaults back to normal. I'd imagine there's a way to fix this, but I haven't figured that out yet. Still with SD cards costing next to nothing, its not that big of a deal.
I hope I put this in the right forum. I like to hit the dirt as often as possible so the street maps don't always work. I discovered this trick for running topo on my Kenwood and thought I'd pass it along. I would imagine that this will work on most Garmin devices but can't give a list on what does and doesn't work.
Also, I did this with a normal 2gb SD card, I tried a 4gb SDHC card and it wouldn't load.
1. Install http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-MapSource-Topo-U-S-2008/dp/B000... Garmin Mapsource Topo USA 2008 onto your computer.
2. Install http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Navigator-America-010-10989-00-... Garmin City Navigator North America NT 2008 (or 2009, both work) onto your computer.
3. Unlock maps. I didn't have to unlock the topo dvd, but did have to unlock the city navigator dvd.
4. Run the program MapInstall.exe
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329260958_UdJJT-L.jpg
5. The next screen should ask you to find device. This is where you put in your sd card or connect your garmin device to the computer.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329260969_xPe7T-L.jpg
6. After locating the device and clicking next, you'll come to the screen with the City Navigator map. You can zoom in and out, but basically what you want to do is select whatever parts of the country you want updated in your garmin.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329260972_b6wCc-L.jpg
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329260982_QTmiN-L.jpg
I'm guessing you could probably skip this step if you already have updated map information in your garmin, I was doing a map update as well.
7. In the drop down menu at the bottom choose TOPO US 2008
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329260985_Rhixj-L.jpg
8. Topo maps take up a lot more space than the city maps, so I'd suggest just selecting the locations where you will actually be using the topo maps rather than selecting the entire country.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329260991_MCLNH-L.jpg
9. When you're finished click next and the next screen will tell you to "Press finish to build your map set and install your maps"...so click finish. This process will take around an hour, give or take a little depending on how much data you're working with. Grab a beer, watch some tv, read the forums, dance, spend time with your loved ones, poop, etc.
10. If you're using a portable garmin unit, I'm guessing you're probably done now. If you're using an SD card, you're almost there.
11. Start your vehicle, press the eject button for a second or two to access the sd card slot in your kenwood. Slide the card in and return the screen to its normal position.
12. Turn your vehicle off. I tried just shutting off the kenwood, it didn't work. When you turn your vehicle back on, the kenwood should load the maps from the card.
(sorry for the bad photos)
13. To use the topo maps, go into settings.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329268397_8osCS-L.jpg
14. Click Map
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329268617_7a7dL-L.jpg
15. Scroll all the way down to Detail Maps, its the second to last one.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329268855_cjPFA-L.jpg
16. Inside you'll find both Topo U.S. 2008 and City Navigator enabled.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329269165_bqCmD-L.jpg
The city navigator map seems to cover the topo maps, so you need to disable it, by clicking on it and choosing disabled, click ok.
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329269456_7Wm6e-L.jpg
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329269729_KN66s-L.jpg
17. With City Navigator disabled you can now see the topo maps. Click back a bunch of times to get to the main screen, click view map
http://speshuled.smugmug.com/photos/329269975_N4QWm-L.jpg
...and thats about it. This was tested with a Kenwood DNX7100. Like I said, I'm only guessing it'll work on other Garmins.
I've also discovered, that you need to keep the sd card in the Kenwood to access the updated maps and the topo maps. If you take it out, it defaults back to normal. I'd imagine there's a way to fix this, but I haven't figured that out yet. Still with SD cards costing next to nothing, its not that big of a deal.