Base Camp vs. Map Source

Nope it isn't just you.

Basecamp is a really powerful program but the interface and ease of use are really hard to master.

Not sure why you can't continue to use Mapsource however as it's still a viable option. It's just that Garmin no longer provide updates for it. If you have it on your computer it's still usable.

One feature of Base Camp is the ability to reclassify a via or way point so it doesn't announce. It's about the only redeeming feature I've found.

For those of us who are new to the Garmin GPS world I guess we are out of luck as far as Mapsource goes. It sounds much easier to use. I have tried Basecamp several times but have given up everytime.

See:

http://freegeographytools.com/2007/garmin-mapsource-for-free

or

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

For what it's worth, I haven't gone to the effort of learning BaseCamp although I have it installed. I still use Mapsource for my needs.

Lots of good info about using Basecamp at this link. It's definitely different than Mapsource but I like it after using it for the last 3-4 months.

http://garmin-mapsource.wikispaces.com/BaseCamp

There are some good links and help on this link. I started it when I was doing basecamp but I am too old to learn something hard when I have something easy that works for me just fine. For now I am staying with MapSource. (although a woman does change her mind so you never know when I might try Basecamp again)

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/35029

I was a long time MapSource user when BaseCamp came to my life. There are things I've not yet learned to do in BaseCamp I could do in Mapsource, some annoying behaviors, and many of the differences do not seem advantages.

Nevertheless, if you are not already a MapSource user, it seems a bad idea to me to start there, rather than getting your learning and habits queued up on the platform Garmin plans to support going on into the future.

If you are a fossil as I am, there may well be a good reason to hang on for a while, on the other hand.

For now, I'm sticking with Mapsource .... and occasionally using Basecamp ... it's possible to have both running on the same mapset.

However, Mapsource is a thing of the past ... so like others say, force yourself to use Basecamp.

I feel the same way about DOS versus Windows.

I mean, man, I could make a computer spin on its edge in DOS ... programming in Windows ... nope, can't even begin to understand it.

I've tried Basecamp and am sticking with Mapsource. I'm using it on Windows 7 with a current generation gps. When I read, on this site, a good reason for making the switch, then I will. In reading the comments in this thread, there doesn't seem to be any reason to switch now.

Garmin forced the download and install of Base Camp here too. I've tried it a few times and within minutes go back to Mapsource.

I'm more than happy I can still use MS with my new 2595 and will be uninstalling BC as for me it is a waste of drive space...

My guess is that for folks who install City Navigator map updates to "GPS and computer" that we may as well keep BaseCamp on the computer rather than delete it to save space. My assumption is that each map update to a computer will result in a reinstallation of BaseCamp if the installer sees no BaseCamp on the computer.

PS--Count me among those who still use Mapsource and will continue until some future event forces me to learn BaseCamp.

No need to go that far, see:
http://www8.garmin.com/support/download_details.jsp?id=209

From your link:

Notes:
◦WARNING: This software will not work unless you already own a MapSource product...

so it appears that without Mapsource already on your computer, this update will not "take." I can't test this since my PCs have Mapsource already.

It is my understanding that Basecamp will actually install all the prerequisite requirements for Mapsource. So if you install BaseCamp first, then install Mapsource, Mapsource will install and run correctly (on XP SP3 and above) in spite of the warning noted by CraigW. You can uninstall BaseCamp after you have Mapsource working if you don't want both.

I personally have used both, but have now removed Mapsource. I know Mapsource has its loyal advocates, but I always found its user interface to be kind of bizarre. BaseCamp seems to me to be more modern and intuitive.

Mapsource does not fully support the new Garmin handheld devices like the Oregon and Montana and does not support the BirdsEye map subscriptions commonly used on those devices. It seems like Garmin is agressively making some nice improvements with each new release of BaseCamp (which come quite frequently). So if you haven't looked at BaseCamp for a while, you might want to give it another chance.

Even better: unzip the Garmin MapSource download with WinRAR and run the .msi file that is extracted from the download. The .msi file bypasses the previous version check.

I personally feel learning and using BaseCamp is a better option however.

If you do not have MapSource on your PC, there is a way to install it.

On your C:\ drive in Programs in the GARMIN folder take any old small file from anywhere and name it " MapSource.exe " copy or paste it into the Garmin folder and MapSource from the Garmin download page will install!

I will take MapSource over BaseCamp any day. I played with BaseCamp for two days trying to get use to the program and found that I could do the same thing in MapSource in one tenth the time.

One of the thing I was trying to do was to set up a route from my home in Ohio to a place in Florida. I just happen to have another file in the same directory that I downloaded from the GPS of my last return trip from Florida. Playing with the new route BaseCamp kept wanting me to go through the downtown of Ocala regardless of what I set for shortest or fastest route. I know the route I wanted to take but BaseCamp kept routing me through Ocala.

I set up one way point hoping this would be away around this issue but BaseCamp still kept routing me through Ocala. I would move the waypoint down the road I wanted and BaseCamp would route a U-turn and back through Ocala.

It is as though BaseCamp was using the previous return trip as a point of reference and I could not clear it out to allow for my new route. I spent hours trying to find an easy solution to this in BaseCamp and never did. The file I ended up with from BaseCamp had more waypoints in it than I ever needed to create a route.

All I want to do was start with clean slate in BaseCamp create the route I wanted. I went back to MapSource and in 10 minutes I had just what I wanted with no aggravation.

I think BaseCamp is a step in the wrong direction.

I'm switching from Windows XP to Windows 7, 64 bit. Mapsource works fine on the new machine and I still can find no compelling reason to switch. Manipulation of waypoint data, including categories, is important to me and mapsource seems better for that.

I like the interface on MapSource better and I do not understand why Garmin had to do things the hard way with BaseCamp but I use it for routes. I tried routes in MapSource, Google Maps and Steets and Trips. All are easier to use, at least at first, than BaseCamp. But once you struggle through the silliness of the interface it works fine. The problem I had with Google, MapSource and Streets and Trips is the routes they created did not work on my nuvis. You can do other things in any of these programs but if you need to create a route to use in a nuvi, my recommendation is "get over it" and use BaseCamp. You may say some bad words or have to give up and come back to it but if you'll stick with it, you can do it.

Jim

Thanks for the insight. I don't create routes for my Nuvi, but if I do so in the future, I'll try basecamp first.

I still use Mapsource, guess I'll also be one of those to switch to Base Camp only when required. I don't have a problem changing and learning new software, but seems most don't think BaseCamp is an improvement.

It's only my perception, but I thought with a name like BaseCamp, it was aimed more at hiking and camping needs. MapSource is pretty old and quite clunky, but we all learned it and got used to it with our Nuvi's.

Having recently bought an Etrex for hiking and geocaching, I started using BaseCamp and it's an entirely different program with a completely different workflow. I think it's becoming hard for Garmin to justify the development expense of two separate applications.

I still use both programs. Searching for roads and POIs and routing is still more robust in MapSource than it is in BaseCamp. Fortunately, they are both free.

Garmin doesn't have to justify the expense of maintaining both MapSource and BaseCamp since MapSource has been discontinued for some time and is no longer supported.

I thought the same, tried Basecamp and continue to use Mapsource for my hiking/boating oriented Gpsmap76csx. When somebody posts a comment here about a wonderful new functionality in Basecamp that I can use, I'll switch.

Just about the only advantages that I see to Basecamp are:

1. It will view img files from your GPS provided the img file comes from Garmin. In the case of transparent maps such as the RailTrail series, you can view trails superimposed over a crude Global map. Mapsource will not read maps from a GPS.
However,
- In Basecamp, an img file created in Mapsource, Mapinstall, or a free downloaded map will NOT be viewable from the GPS or microSD.
- It will bring up maps from the GPS or microSD very, very slowly if its a large file.

2. As mentioned earlier, the ability to designate vias as non-announcing is another advantage.

The 3D function I couldn't care less about.

Personally, I do not like Basecamp's system of dumping everything into a common database. I much prefer to keep things separate and use multiple instances of Mapsource as needed. Can you imagine if MS Office dumped everything into a common database?

In my opinion, the routing function works a lot more smoothly in Mapsource.

Basecamp permits you to view and drag files into your GPS, but for some strange reason you cannot delete them from within Basecamp.

I am just hoping that Garmin doesn't decide to alter the structure of new map products so as to preempt their ability to be worked with Mapsource.

I must say though that Basecamp is improving from what it was when first introduced; its been around for several years now and very slowly beginning to evolve into a usable product. I wonder how many resources Garmin has dedicated to the project. Whatever it is, it appears to be inadequate.

I remember that when Basecamp was first introduced, a stated goal was to "dumb down" Mapsource, but istead its evolved into a non-intuitive and difficult to use beast.

I suspect that the majority of GPS users never set up their own preferred routing and strictly rely on the GPS to do it automatically, so don't have a need for such programs.

I'd wish garmin would consider keeping it...

See my comment at:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/37335

It is available for sale??????

I notice that there are some file types which mapsource can open which basecamp can't which means I have to run both. Basecamp grows on me as I use it more, you're probably like me I hate change.

now gone never to return...as with most things Garmin...new means worse.

Oh yea, what can you do? I am trying and trying to figure it out. I can create a route and port it to my GPS now. It isn't easy

I am new to this.

I have downloaded the Garmin POI loader and I have downloaded a POI for Interstate rest areas. I put it on my Nuvi 750 (used on my motorcycle)

What will this do for me? Do I need to turn something on? I admit, I am ignorant at this point.

I would appreiciate some advise

First off, welcome to the site.

The first thing you should do is a backup of your unit. There are several excellent guides by Charlesd45 and jgermann detailing the steps.

As to the Rest Area file, you need to do a couple of things. You will need to check the 750's settings to be certain alerts for custom POI is enabled under tools and settings. Then, running POILoader you will need to select the manual mode and enter a distance for the alert. The CSV file format used by POILoader doesn't allow a proximity setting within the file structure, so it has to be added manually.

Thanks.

Yesterday i downloaded both basecamp and mapsource and i have to make a decision of what i should learn and use. I belive i will go for Basecamp, even if it has a lerning curve that my be a pain...
Maybe it is old news but i had no problems to get mapsource, i just had to download something called Training center and then go for mapsource.

best regards Jocke

Yea, I've been avoiding Basecamp, it seems for years. Too many years with Mapsource, which I love, to now being somewhat forced into using Basecamp.

I use both Mapsource and Basecamp for much of my work. Although Basecamp will do almost all of what Mapsource will do, Mapsource is faster at some tasks.

A link to an excellent Basecamp tutorial was recently posted in another thread by GPS-Rider :

http://www.newenglandriders.org/Learn_BaseCamp_PC.pdf

One of the best I've seen.

I believe Norwood had a series of tutorials available on YouTube before Garmin published the bulk of theirs. The Garmin tutorials are excellent at showing features but not necessarily explaining what they do though.

Ed Conte is not a representative of Garmin, and his tutorial is based on practical routing and uses for a motorcyclist. It's more advanced than most automotive drivers need, but it exploits the best features, and takes about a day to get through.

Any Garmin device can still be used with Mapsource, but you need to configure the GPS as a USB Mass Storage Device rather than Media Transfer Protocol, which Mapsource does not support.

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/41134

Go at your own pace