topo maps

Yes.

Once they are loaded, you will need to deselect the City Navigator maps on your GPS unit in order for the TOPO maps to show up on the map screen.

i wanted to hear that,thanks mm

I actually did a few screen shots on a nuvi 660 (pretty similar to your 255w). Check out the 6th message in:

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/6867

Would there be any problem with adding the topo maps to my nuvi 200...I did not want any problems with erasing the city maps? I would like to be able to switch back and forth. I do alot of offroad travel.
Or is there a better unit suited for my needs??

David

[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n25/dmartin151/100_3266.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n25/dmartin151/100_3739.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n25/dmartin151/100_3277.jpg[/IMG]

that looks good ,i have been trying for a while to download free topo and havent had any luck getting it to the gps,any ideas or should i just get the sd card topo,it will download to the pc but i cant open it to get it to the gps,,thanks

from what i understand you can go back and forth between maps and not delete anything

I have a free 1:24k topo of Arizona on a SD card and when inserted into my nuvi, the map is loaded automatically into nuvi's memory. To see the map, I have to uncheck the City Navigator. But when I want the City map back, I just recheck the City map and uncheck the topo.

I also have Garmin's latest Topo maps (1:100k) loaded onto SD cards (divided into four geographic locations, each on their own SD card, since Mapsource has a limit to the number of segments that can be used at one time) and when inserted into my nuvi, the same map swap is possible.

Even though I was pleasantly suprised to see a large number of National Forest roads appear on City Navigator's map, it is nice when in the forest to have topo maps loaded.

Just a heads up as to my preferences: when using City Nav on streets, I like the 3D display; when driving in the forest with topo maps, I choose track up 2D; when hiking, I prefer 2D north up.

I might try to download the free topos to my micro SD card and see what happens.
Thanks
David

Supplemental maps that you load will not erase the preloaded maps unless you have done something weird on your unit.

The preloaded maps are in a file named GMAPPROM.IMG and the supplemental maps will be compiled into to a file named GMAPSUPP.IMG.

The supplemental maps will be read by the GPS unit on either the unit itself, on the SD card, or both.

I need to take notes...LOL
I hope I can find all the info later. Right now I need Mapsource first?
David

Check here:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-install-mapsour...

i cannot figure out how to get the maps on the unit that i got from online i have been trying for hours and cant do it,it seems as though they are a wierd format,i do have mapsource installed and that does not seem to help,anyone have good advice please ,i am not to computer friendly

Connect your GPS to the computer via its USB cable.

In Mapsource, select the base map you want. Then use the MapTool to select the regions of the map you wish to transfer. Do not exceed 2025 segments! With your chosen segments highlighted, click the Send To Device and make sure that Maps are checked. These maps can easily be 1GB in size so don't expect to move them to your GPS' internal memory--put them on a SD card. The GPS will read maps from the card.

Good luck. Large maps can take a long time to transfer, so be patient and don't disconnect the GPS while a transfer is being done. Also, more detailed instructions can be found in Mapsource's Help file.

Placing Multiple Topo maps on Nuvi SD Card Using MapSource.

Step 1. Open MapSource.

Step 2. Select a Topo map from the drop down map
menu.

Step 3. Select "Map Tool"

Step 4. Highlight (Yellow Border) sections of topo
map you want to install to Nuvi, and Click
(Selection Turns Pink).

Step 5. Repeat Step 4 until all areas you want are
Pink.

Step 6. At this point if you only want the one topo
map installed select Send To Device an then
select the Nuvi SD Card. Make sure MAPS is
check marked and then click on SEND. If you
would like to add multiple Maps to the SD
card, whether it is topo maps or other maps
or a combination of topo and other maps, do
the following:

After you have completed Steps 1 to 5 keep repeating the process from Step 2 to 5 until you have completed all the maps you wish to combine. Then do Step 6.

As noted before this can take a long time compiling and loading them onto your SD Card. So just be patient.

This will build a gmapsupp.img file on your SD Card in the NUVI.

BTW you can have a GMAPSUPP.IMG file both on your NUVI internal drive and on the SD Card at the same time.

During power up both gmapsupp file will be placed in the NUVI for use. All you have to do is go to:

TOOLS >> SETTINGS >> MAP >> MAP INFO and select which maps you want to use.

----------------------
You can find FREE Topo Maps at this website.

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/

They are downloadable in a .EXE format. When run they will automatically install into MapSource, providing you have MapSource installed.

Available topo maps are:
Arizona
Colorado
Hawaii
Idaho
Mississippi
Montana
New Mexico
Utah
Wyoming

PS they have MAC versions also.

The Free Topo Maps from this site:

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/

Show up on the Map Screen and will overlay on the City Navigator Map.They are transparent.

So you don't necessarily have to have the City Navigator DESELECTED. You can view both at the same time if you would want to.

Again the following are the Topo Maps available for now, new ones show up every once in a while:
* Arizona
* California
* Colorado
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Maine
* Massachusetts
* Mississippi
* Montana
* New Mexico
* Utah
* Wyoming
----
Also thes Topo Maps of Canada are also available, for our friend in the NORTH:

* Elliot Lake, Ontario ATV Trails
Price: free
Elliot Lake, Ontario ATV trails consisting of the 5 loops and several connector / shortcut trails. Approximately 160 miles of trails.

* Ibycus Canada Topo | Direct Link
Price: Free
A very detailed topographic map covering a significant part of Canada with detailed roads as well as water features and contour lines. The coverage of Canada is shown below: . The Ibycus Canada Topo is available for free in both Windows & Mac versions.

* Ontario Snowmobile Trails | Direct Link
Price: Free
A map of most snowmobile trails in Ontario, Canada. This map is offered as either a transparent trails only version or a complete version with rivers, lakes, and roads. The map also includes pertinent points of interest including hotels and service stations.