4GB limit Update

You can't use map sets bigger than 4GB. As GPS uses FAT32 file system to operate (on device and cards) there is limit to maximum file size that can be saved on it. For FAT32 it is 4GB. It's file system technical limitations that hasn't got anything to do with GPS and unless they do not change file system 4GB can't be exceeded for single file. Sorry.

From creator of FAT32, known as Microsoft
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314463
You cannot create a file larger than (2^32)-1 bytes (this is one byte less than 4 GB) on a FAT32 partition.

Just curious, what type of mapset are you using that exceeds 4GB?

I'm certainly glad you brought up this point since it got me thinking and I wasn't happy with my thoughts. My intention was not to hijack your thread but felt it was related to Fat32 limitations.

I just bought a Canon small point & shoot camera as a Xmas present for my nephew. The camera has the ability to take 1080P HD movies. It doesn't come with a SD card so I bought a Sandisk 16GB class 10 card.

I formatted the card in the Canon Camera. I just checked and it's formatted to Fat32. That means if I take a movie that exceeds 4GB Windows will not recognize it and not play the movie. I can't stop the camera before exceeding 4GB since I have no way of knowing when that point is. It only displays the length of the move in time, not size.

Next step was to format the card NTFS on my PC, after doing so I insert the card in the camera and receive the message "memory card error".
What good is having a 16GB card if I'm unable to limit the movie to 4GB and not have the ability to view it's contents on my PC.

Having no experience with making movies, is this just a issue related to this particular camera?
Any suggestions for a solution are appreciated.

The limitation is because the card's file system can't address more than 4GB of memory. The camera has nothing to do with this limit. If you shoot a video that ends up being over 4GB then the camera won't be able to save it to the card. The camera might save the large video in more than one file. You can save more than 4GB total of data, just not in one file.

I researched this further by downloading the owners manual (not included, only quick start).
The manual states a 16GB card can shoot up to approx 59 minutes and 49 seconds. However it has a restriction of maximum clip size of 10 minutes.
I think the 10 minute limit would put it under the 4GB limit using 1080 HD. But to make a continuous movie I would have to join the clips and not exceed 4GB, difficult to do without chopping out some content.
I was wondering why they picked a 10 minute limit I found that it's due to customs fees for exporting. Exceeding 10 minutes I think would cause it to fall under a different tariff category, probably HD movie camera.
I'm wondering if anyone on the forum has an HD movie camera and can verify their SD card can be formatted to NTFS and be recognized by the camera.

I don't think any camera (at least consumer type) will be able to work with NTFS file system. Reason for devices to use FAT system is simple: it was popular from MS DOS - Windows operating systems and Microsoft agreed to allow to use them royalty free (or something to this meaning). That's why devices use FAT16 and FAT32. Additionally they were readable by Apple and Linux system, so it was fairy universal.

There are different free file systems, like ext from UNIX/Linux systems, but as they were not readable in windows or Apple computers, they were less easy target to use than FAT, even if they have no limitations of FAT.

Systems like NTFS are patented, and can't be used without buying license. But as it seems that FAT is reaching slowly it' usable life as files are easily exceeding its limitations there will be probably new file system introduced to removable storage.

I purchased many 4GB microSDHC cards with adapter. They (with the adapter) work great in my 16 MP camera. However, my old XP card reader will not recognize that card. My work around is to use the camera USB cable.
Don't know why the pc won't read the SDHC card.

To actually answer the OP's question, split the map into two images, each smaller than 4GB.To the poster asking what map takes 4GB, topo maps can easily reach 4GB.

If you have an older card reader that may be the problem. The original SDSC standard (readers and cards) were limited to 2GB or 4GB I think. The SDHC standard went beyond that allowing greater capacities.
If the reader is built into the computer (like on a laptop) you can't do much about it, but you can always get a reader that plugs into a USB port.

Check the computer manufacturer's website to see if there are updates to the card reader drivers.

Thanks a lot

If you have old reader, from times before SDHC cards were introduced it will not work with SDHC cards. It's not even problem with drivers but with design. HC cards are different, so they can hold more than 4GB (limit to standard SD cards). It was a problem with older digital cameras, that couldn't use cards bigger than 2-4GB.
Some more details you can find here:
http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-betwe...

If you got this old reader, than instead of wasting time trying to make it work just buy new one. You will have as well additional profit - old readers were USB 1.1 compatible. New ones are USB 2.0 and this gives you big speed boost while copying or recording to card, if your computer has USB 2.0 port. Readers are not expensive right now, so it's not worth to waste time on old device. And of course you can use old SD with new reader, but not other way.

Nope, won't work tried that. I've tried this many a ways. I did them one at a time which it then just over writes each time or I get an error because i'm over the limitation. What i'm looking for is what I think i did with my 255w way back when, but can't remember.I renamed each mapset and put them on the sd card and it worked. I just don't remember what I renamed them too.
I know you just can't put anything.img

They are topographic Maps

Forgive my ignorance, I've never used Topographic maps. Strephon_Alkhalikoi did point that out in response to your original question.

I normally park my old butt in a car seat and stay on the road, no longer the adventurer of years past.

My apologies to you for taking the thread off track.

Can't you put part of them on the unit as one GMAPSUPP.IMG and part on the SD card as another GMAPSUPP.IMG? All units that I am aware of will read two separate GMAPSUPP.IMG files.

Some units support alternative names for the supplemental map files and some do not.

As I posted that i remembered doing that with my 765T.
I didn't like it cause it filled it up. The more I think about this, your right it's going to be the only way if I want them all on there. Or I do two 4gb cards.

Haha... and I have never done that? I've hi-jacked a couple of threads here and there also...lol
No apology necessary.

Firmware 7.60 for the 2x5 series added support for a second supplemental map on the SD card. I believe it must be named gmapsup1.img. This support was also added on the 7x5 series a couple of releases back. It may have also been added to some others (7x0 maybe?)

Easy to try that out. Substitute the p for a 1. Hmm
ok I'll try it, when this map set is done, another 1 hour + or so. I'll just rename it and see if it reads it.
Thanks

While not 100% positive about this since I don't recall whether this is per map or in total, you could also be bumping up against the map segment limit nüvis have. If so, even if both maps are installed one or both may not work properly.

I have a somewhat related situation in recording and editing sound on a professional recorder that I own. In that case the limitation on file size actually arises from the format specification for the sound file itself which in a header contains a length specifier which if interpreted as a signed number limits the length to 2 GB, or if interpreted as an unsigned integer limits the length to 4 GB.

The manufacturer of the recorder includes firmware features which allow the user to specify the maximum file length (thus allowing the user to use older software which enforces the lower limit, or to take advantage of newer software which allows larger limit). On this recorder the behavior is that when you hit the file limit it closes that file, then opens a new one, with sample perfect splicing possible at the boundary.

The result is that when imported into an editing environment, one has one simple splice to do. I don't know whether there's anything analogous that goes on in the video world or not, but it might be worth looking into for the poster.

There isn't a choice it seems. 1 map or all combined.
I have 5 maps installed. Not in full, except the Parks ones. Topo Canada, Topo US 24K Southwest, Topo US 24K west, Us Topo National Parks, Central v3 and US Topo 24k National Parks, west v2. Now, what I have found is that I cannot just choose 1 of theses in myMaps section. If i choose 1 and backup one page and then re enter, none are highlighted. I need all 5 maps ticked off. I think i'm going to dump the Parks ones. I'll need to install just one parks map and see if it is worth the effort. This is a real pain because it takes Mapsourse almost 2 hrs. to build the map set. Then another 20 minutes to transfer. Would be even more if I left the sdcard in 3590. I'm using firewire, much faster. So as one can see it takes a lot of time to test this out.

Good info

I bought a new USB/SDHC card reader on ebay for 99 cents. I can now use a micro SD card w/adapter in my camera. My pc reads the card when it is in the USB adapter.
Thanks to the above suggestions.