Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter

Chris wrote:
> Hi Thinking of buying a new Garmin Chartplotter GPSMAP 172C which you
> also can buy 356 blank data card. Can I then upload my computer charts
> on the card and read as the blue charts do? A lot cheaper and I have
> more computer charts that Blue chart offers. Assume will need a few
> pieces of hard/ software to convert?
> Chris

Forget it. Don't waste your money.

Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.

If you want to read other format files, use a laptop with the requisite
software for connecting to a GPS. e.g.-

www.oziexplorer.com


Dennis.
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

What ? Just upgraded the software (sparetime during christmas) to 6.9. Used
to run 6.5

It's a *must* to have both running simultanous.

Just attached my spare gps (etrex) and realised that you are right something
changed. How do you then get the cursor on the PC ?? or: how do you turn off
the screen on the Garmin device ?

/Bjarke

"Spammy Spamson" wrote in message

> On 20 Jan 2006 18:25:09 -0800, "Chris" wrote:
>
snip
>
> *tip* if you do buy "Blue Charts" try to find a copy of Map source
> version 6.5 The later versions have dropped the ability to display
> and track your vessel simultaneously on the GPS unit AND a laptop when
> connected via a USB or 232. That's a bonus for me and my boats
> layout.. 276c in the cockpit, laptop below. Otherwise the map Source
> program is good and easy to use.

snip
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:52:59 +0100, "Bjarke Christensen"
<BjarkeMC RemoveThis @grevestrand.de(nej, det skal selvfølgelig være med K da jeg
er dansker)> wrote:

>What ? Just upgraded the software (sparetime during christmas) to 6.9. Used
>to run 6.5
>
>It's a *must* to have both running simultanous.
>
>Just attached my spare gps (etrex) and realised that you are right something
>changed. How do you then get the cursor on the PC ?? or: how do you turn off
>the screen on the Garmin device ?

You DON'T get the cursor on the PC with mapsource above version 6.5.
To do that you have to use "NRoute" which is geared more to navigating
on highways. (blechhhh)

Go back and install 6.5. If you do a search for "Garmin mapsource
6.5 download" you should be able to find the same FTP site I found.

I would uninstall 6.9, reboot, install 6.5 . The registry entries will
direct 6.5 back to your map files so no need to re-do all of that..

As to the "issue" of not being able to run other file formats (non
Garmin) thats not a concern for me. Here in Canada our charts are not
"free". i.e. I cannot download "free" usable charts for Canadian
waters THAT I WOULD TRUST.

Although not cheap (CAD $179.) the Garmin charts I paid for are a
relative bargan. I have at least 130 charts that would otherwise cost
me $22/each (!) - the charts are good, the gear works well. I'm a
happy boater that knows where I am or where I am going (most of the
time).


regards,


Capt. Spammy

to reply by e-mail do NOT remove "spam".

////snip
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

> Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.

I think that this is not the fact... there is a program that lets you
do your own Gamin maps. The program is GPSMapEdit
http://www.geopainting.com/en/
See description at http://plrecgps.pp.org.pl/bin/view/GPS/UserMaps

I have no tested this with a Garmin GPS, but I have used it to convert
Garmin maps to Ozi format, then used another program to convert the
the Ozi files (.bmp and .map) to be used with my Nokia 3230 cell phone and a
bluetooth GPS.
Works fine, the procedure is quite simple and does not require the time
consuming
setting of the chart calibration points manually.

But doing charts from a scanned image for use with a Garmin GPS will require
some more work...

Regards, TomS


"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message

> Chris wrote:
>> Hi Thinking of buying a new Garmin Chartplotter GPSMAP 172C which you
>> also can buy 356 blank data card. Can I then upload my computer charts
>> on the card and read as the blue charts do? A lot cheaper and I have
>> more computer charts that Blue chart offers. Assume will need a few
>> pieces of hard/ software to convert?
>> Chris
>
> Forget it. Don't waste your money.
>
> Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.
>
> If you want to read other format files, use a laptop with the requisite
> software for connecting to a GPS. e.g.-
>
> www.oziexplorer.com
>
>
> Dennis.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

TomS wrote:
>> Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.
>
> I think that this is not the fact... there is a program that lets you
> do your own Gamin maps. The program is GPSMapEdit
> http://www.geopainting.com/en/
> See description at http://plrecgps.pp.org.pl/bin/view/GPS/UserMaps
>
> I have no tested this with a Garmin GPS, but I have used it to convert
> Garmin maps to Ozi format, then used another program to convert the
> the Ozi files (.bmp and .map) to be used with my Nokia 3230 cell
> phone and a bluetooth GPS.
> Works fine, the procedure is quite simple and does not require the
> time consuming
> setting of the chart calibration points manually.
>
> But doing charts from a scanned image for use with a Garmin GPS will
> require some more work...
>
> Regards, TomS
>
He has no Garmin Mapsource maps/charts, that's the whole point of his post.
He has some (unspecified format) digital charts which he wants to use with a
Garmin 172C.

GPSMapedit will not convert scanned raster charts to Garmin img files. It
allows you to change existing img files, i.e. edit them, or, if you fancy a
lifetime's work, I guess you could start off with a blank canvas and compile
your navigation charts in vetor format.

Having used GPSMapedit to add new roads to existing img files, I can tell
you that somewhere in the conversion to/from Polish format, the zoom
facility gets corrupted/lost and you finish up with a map which shows the
new road, as long as you don't zoom in or out on it, which is the whole
point of the excercise.

I am not suggesting that GPSMapedit is a substandard program, the author(s)
are to be commended for a brave try to crack Garmin's img files, but to
suggest that I could scan some detailed raster charts, convert them to
vector, and create img files capable of being used in e.g. a new 60CS, I am
sorry, you must have a different version of MapEdit to mine!

The Mapsource Bluechart files are freely, if illegally, available on many
file-sharing programs, and will run on a laptop, if that is what you want,
but you cannot load them to a Garmin plotter or handheld Garmin without the
unlock codes for that specific device, i.e. the one in your possession, with
it's device number, supplied by Garmin, and tied to it's serial number.

If you have a conversion program to convert bitmaps to vectors and use them
on a GPS or Cellphone, you are indeed fortunate, and we will await your next
post, giving full details, with anticipation.

Dennis.
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

With NOAA giving away "Official" official charts for free and updating them
regularly, it would seem that there is a business opportunity for someone to
build a chart plotter that the end user could use the NOAA charts with.



The current manufactures have no interest in this as they all either produce
or have exclusive relations with electronic chat makers. I currently use
both a chart plotter and my laptop with navigation software that can use
both the raster and vector NOAA charts.



If it existed I would purchase a chart plotter that could use the NOAA
charts. I believe the dedicated chart plotter is more reliable, more rugged,
and probably more water proof than my laptop.



Bottom line I feel that the time has come for a chart plotter that could use
NOAA charts is here. I am willing to beta test such a unit for anyone
already working this problem. E-mail me individually for my electronic,
cartographic, and navigation experience. I am retired and have the time to
donate to this endeavor



Pat Harman



"TomS" wrote in message

>> Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.
>
> I think that this is not the fact... there is a program that lets you
> do your own Gamin maps. The program is GPSMapEdit
> http://www.geopainting.com/en/
> See description at http://plrecgps.pp.org.pl/bin/view/GPS/UserMaps
>
> I have no tested this with a Garmin GPS, but I have used it to convert
> Garmin maps to Ozi format, then used another program to convert the
> the Ozi files (.bmp and .map) to be used with my Nokia 3230 cell phone and
> a bluetooth GPS.
> Works fine, the procedure is quite simple and does not require the time
> consuming
> setting of the chart calibration points manually.
>
> But doing charts from a scanned image for use with a Garmin GPS will
> require some more work...
>
> Regards, TomS
>
>
> "Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
>
>> Chris wrote:
>>> Hi Thinking of buying a new Garmin Chartplotter GPSMAP 172C which you
>>> also can buy 356 blank data card. Can I then upload my computer charts
>>> on the card and read as the blue charts do? A lot cheaper and I have
>>> more computer charts that Blue chart offers. Assume will need a few
>>> pieces of hard/ software to convert?
>>> Chris
>>
>> Forget it. Don't waste your money.
>>
>> Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.
>>
>> If you want to read other format files, use a laptop with the requisite
>> software for connecting to a GPS. e.g.-
>>
>> www.oziexplorer.com
>>
>>
>> Dennis.
>>
>>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

Patrick Harman wrote:
> With NOAA giving away "Official" official charts for free and
> updating them regularly, it would seem that there is a business
> opportunity for someone to build a chart plotter that the end user
> could use the NOAA charts with.
>
>
>
> The current manufactures have no interest in this as they all either
> produce or have exclusive relations with electronic chat makers. I
> currently use both a chart plotter and my laptop with navigation
> software that can use both the raster and vector NOAA charts.
>
>
>
> If it existed I would purchase a chart plotter that could use the NOAA
> charts. I believe the dedicated chart plotter is more reliable, more
> rugged, and probably more water proof than my laptop.
>
>
>
> Bottom line I feel that the time has come for a chart plotter that
> could use NOAA charts is here. I am willing to beta test such a unit
> for anyone already working this problem. E-mail me individually for
> my electronic, cartographic, and navigation experience. I am retired
> and have the time to donate to this endeavor
>
>
>
> Pat Harman
>
>
>
Don't imagine any of the current manufacturers of chart plotters would be
interested since it's the software where they make their money.
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

I'm in chock .... That will "freeze" me on 6.5. I probably have to look at
alternatives. Having everything i one piece of software is the whole trick
with mapsource.

/Bjarke



"Spammy Spamson" wrote in message

snip
>
> You DON'T get the cursor on the PC with mapsource above version 6.5.
> To do that you have to use "NRoute" which is geared more to navigating
> on highways. (blechhhh)
>
snip
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

Bjarke Christensen wrote:
> I'm in chock .... That will "freeze" me on 6.5. I probably have to
> look at alternatives. Having everything i one piece of software is
> the whole trick with mapsource.
>
> /Bjarke
>
>
>
> "Spammy Spamson" wrote in message
>
> snip
>>
>> You DON'T get the cursor on the PC with mapsource above version 6.5.
>> To do that you have to use "NRoute" which is geared more to
>> navigating on highways. (blechhhh)
>>
> snip

Download Garmin Tracking Enabler from the ftp site at
http://garmincity.dyndns.org/ and you should be OK even with the latest
versions.
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message

> TomS wrote:
>>> Anything you buy from Garmin will ONLY read Garmin charts/maps.
>>
>> I think that this is not the fact... there is a program that lets you
>> do your own Gamin maps. The program is GPSMapEdit
>> http://www.geopainting.com/en/
>> See description at http://plrecgps.pp.org.pl/bin/view/GPS/UserMaps
>>
>> I have no tested this with a Garmin GPS, but I have used it to convert
>> Garmin maps to Ozi format, then used another program to convert the
>> the Ozi files (.bmp and .map) to be used with my Nokia 3230 cell
>> phone and a bluetooth GPS.
>> Works fine, the procedure is quite simple and does not require the
>> time consuming
>> setting of the chart calibration points manually.
>>
>> But doing charts from a scanned image for use with a Garmin GPS will
>> require some more work...
>>
>> Regards, TomS
>>
> He has no Garmin Mapsource maps/charts, that's the whole point of his
> post.
> He has some (unspecified format) digital charts which he wants to use with
> a
> Garmin 172C.
>
> GPSMapedit will not convert scanned raster charts to Garmin img files. It
> allows you to change existing img files, i.e. edit them, or, if you fancy
> a
> lifetime's work, I guess you could start off with a blank canvas and
> compile
> your navigation charts in vetor format.
>
> Having used GPSMapedit to add new roads to existing img files, I can tell
> you that somewhere in the conversion to/from Polish format, the zoom
> facility gets corrupted/lost and you finish up with a map which shows the
> new road, as long as you don't zoom in or out on it, which is the whole
> point of the excercise.
>
> I am not suggesting that GPSMapedit is a substandard program, the
> author(s)
> are to be commended for a brave try to crack Garmin's img files, but to
> suggest that I could scan some detailed raster charts, convert them to
> vector, and create img files capable of being used in e.g. a new 60CS, I
> am
> sorry, you must have a different version of MapEdit to mine!
>
> The Mapsource Bluechart files are freely, if illegally, available on many
> file-sharing programs, and will run on a laptop, if that is what you want,
> but you cannot load them to a Garmin plotter or handheld Garmin without
> the
> unlock codes for that specific device, i.e. the one in your possession,
> with
> it's device number, supplied by Garmin, and tied to it's serial number.
>
> If you have a conversion program to convert bitmaps to vectors and use
> them
> on a GPS or Cellphone, you are indeed fortunate, and we will await your
> next
> post, giving full details, with anticipation.
>
> Dennis.
>
>
>
I do not have a coversion program that converts raster charts to vector
charts.
I just claimed that it IS POSSIBLE to make vector charts from a raster
chart,
you'll have to make the vector charts your self.
Have not tested GPSMapEdit to make charts for Garmins, but I have used it
to convert Garmin charts for use with my cellphone, and it works fine.

-Recipie for chartplotter-
You'll need:
Series 60 cellphone
Bluetooth GPS
SmartComGPS (Navigations software for Series60 cellphones)
http://www.wild-mobile.com/eng/news.php
GPSMapEdit (conversion program 1) http://www.geopainting.com/en/
OGF2tool (conversion program 2) included with SmartComGPS
Garmin mapsource charts

1. Convert Mapsource .img chart to .bmp(chart) and .map(calibration data)
files with GPSMapEdit
2. Convert .bmp file to .ogf2 with OGF2tool
3. Copy .ogf2 and .map files to your cellphone
4. Install SmartcomGPS on your cellphone... start navigating.
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

That site continues to be "Site is down!!". Any other (reliant) sources ??

Tried google but that just guided me to a lot of virus infected .ru sites.

/Bjarke


"Dennis Pogson" wrote in message


snip

>
> Download Garmin Tracking Enabler from the ftp site at
> http://garmincity.dyndns.org/ and you should be OK even with the latest
> versions.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

Bjarke Christensen wrote:
> That site continues to be "Site is down!!". Any other (reliant)
> sources ??
>
> Tried google but that just guided me to a lot of virus infected .ru
> sites.
>
> /Bjarke
>
>
> "Dennis Pogson" wrote in message
>
>
> snip
>
>>
>> Download Garmin Tracking Enabler from the ftp site at
>> http://garmincity.dyndns.org/ and you should be OK even with the
>> latest versions.

This site requires that you register for membership. As a member I am
automatically signed in, and do not get the above notification. Are you sure
there is no registration option?
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter 

Bjarke Christensen wrote:
> That site continues to be "Site is down!!". Any other (reliant)
> sources ??
>
Yes, e-mail me.

Dennis.
 >> Stay informed about: Copying computer CD Charts into a chartplotter