Why do GPS have very poor maps?

[+Jake39]

My Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has only 'Basic' maps installed. Now why would they call it "map"?

Bought a new Montana600 ($600) and the supplied map is just as bad. How can one justify spending that kind of money for not even a mediocre map/GPS? My summer home shows up in Lake Huron as well as other shoreline caches and nearest road is 12kms away.

 

- On the other hand my Nuvi50LM (C$89). shows every road and has me as well as the previously shown wet caches on dry. :-)

- and it has lifetime updates.

 

How can any business be so ignorant and not at least give us one decent map to load unto our GPS. according to country/state/province you reside in?

I guess it's still sucker beware.

Needless to say I am more than disappointed with Garmin.

[+Team CowboyPapa]

Agreed, my DeLorme GPSrs all have CDs with detailed Topo maps for the USA in the box. All the residential streets in my neighborhood are included.

 

Perhaps this thread could be re-titled: Why do some GPSrs have very poor maps?

[+T.D.M.22]

Well nobody would buy better maps if there where great maps preloaded would they? And there's also different types of maps, for example topographical. And then more detailed maps take up more memory, so you can but maps just for your country- I have no need for American maps, or maritime maps.

[+Red90]

Install the free Ibycus topo maps. They are the best for a handheld anyway. Another choice is the free Opencycle maps.

 

Garmin does sell "T" versions with maps included.

Edited July 22, 2014 by Red90

[+BAMBOOZLE]

My Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has only 'Basic' maps installed. Now why would they call it "map"?

Bought a new Montana600 ($600) and the supplied map is just as bad. How can one justify spending that kind of money for not even a mediocre map/GPS? My summer home shows up in Lake Huron as well as other shoreline caches and nearest road is 12kms away.

 

- On the other hand my Nuvi50LM (C$89). shows every road and has me as well as the previously shown wet caches on dry. :-)

- and it has lifetime updates.

 

How can any business be so ignorant and not at least give us one decent map to load unto our GPS. according to country/state/province you reside in?

I guess it's still sucker beware.

Needless to say I am more than disappointed with Garmin.

 

I feel your pain but its not just Garmin.....none of my Magellan's came with maps either but with one copy of Mapsend I could load maps to a dozen of my units....not so anymore.

For Garmin I like the City Nav. maps on the micro SD card....snap it in and you're in business. Do an internet search and you can find really good values on it.

[+Walts Hunting]

My Garmin GPSmap 76CSx has only 'Basic' maps installed. Now why would they call it "map"?

Bought a new Montana600 ($600) and the supplied map is just as bad. How can one justify spending that kind of money for not even a mediocre map/GPS? My summer home shows up in Lake Huron as well as other shoreline caches and nearest road is 12kms away.

 

- On the other hand my Nuvi50LM (C$89). shows every road and has me as well as the previously shown wet caches on dry. :-)

- and it has lifetime updates.

 

How can any business be so ignorant and not at least give us one decent map to load unto our GPS. according to country/state/province you reside in?

I guess it's still sucker beware.

Needless to say I am more than disappointed with Garmin.

 

I feel your pain but its not just Garmin.....none of my Magellan's came with maps either but with one copy of Mapsend I could load maps to a dozen of my units....not so anymore.

For Garmin I like the City Nav. maps on the micro SD card....snap it in and you're in business. Do an internet search and you can find really good values on it.

 

Be careful about that. Found a good deal on amazon and it turned out to be three years old. Fortunately amazon made it good.

[+Mineral2]

Perhaps you should buy one of these:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/discontinued/gps-60-/prod6446_010-00322-00.html

[+BAMBOOZLE]

Perhaps you should buy one of these:

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/on-the-trail/discontinued/gps-60-/prod6446_010-00322-00.html

 

I have never seen one of these in the field....interesting.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-GPS-60-Handheld-/291193298829?pt=GPS_Devices&hash=item43cc791f8d

[+GrateBear]

Great question. I bought a Garmin 1450LMT less than 2 years ago from Cabela's for under $90. Full maps and lifetime free updates. But paid just under $200 for an Oregon 450 around the same time with just the basic crappy map. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

[+Mineral2]

I used them back in 2007 when my place of employment bought a few to use for teaching an advanced orienteering and geocaching class. These basic units were designed for navigation with a map and compass, and they sure made traditional orienteering easier.

 

Anyone who has ever used a non-mapping unit know that the mapping devices are much nicer and more useful, but that a map on the GPS is not a necessity. But I won't ever buy a non-mapping GPS again, partly because current models are rare, and mostly because I live in a place where paper trail maps aren't readily available, so a map on the GPS is very helpful. In fact, that was my primary justification for buying a GPS. The ability to collect hiking statistics was a bonus, and geocaching came shortly after.

[+Mineral2]

Great question. I bought a Garmin 1450LMT less than 2 years ago from Cabela's for under $90. Full maps and lifetime free updates. But paid just under $200 for an Oregon 450 around the same time with just the basic crappy map. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

 

You have to remember that the workhorse hand-helds have much better hardware than the Nuvi's, and that's what you're paying for. There are plenty of great free maps. Use them and don't spend the extra money on the "t" models, unless they go on sale for the same price as the non-"t" version.

[+gpsblake]

In all fairness, the current line of Magellan Explorist GC/x10 units do come with a complete (although somewhat outdated) map. However, only the 710 will auto-route, the rest only give "as the crow flies" directions.

 

However, Garmin is very open about allowing 3rd party maps to be loaded to their units. OpenStreetMap appears to be the best choice.

 

One downside of OSM maps is the Points of Interest are nowhere near as good as the paid maps.

 

Great question. I bought a Garmin 1450LMT less than 2 years ago from Cabela's for under $90. Full maps and lifetime free updates. But paid just under $200 for an Oregon 450 around the same time with just the basic crappy map. Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it?

 

It's the same reason why Garmin doesn't make car GPS with paperless geocaching. It's to encourage you to buy maps and/or buy another GPS unit with those features.

Edited July 25, 2014 by gpsblake

[+FunnyNose]

It's the same reason why Garmin doesn't make car GPS with paperless geocaching. It's to encourage you to buy maps and/or buy another GPS unit with those features.

 

I had a Nuvi 265WT and now a Nuvi 2598LMT both have supported paperless caching using Garmin POIs.

[+Mineral2]

It's the same reason why Garmin doesn't make car GPS with paperless geocaching. It's to encourage you to buy maps and/or buy another GPS unit with those features.

 

I had a Nuvi 265WT and now a Nuvi 2598LMT both have supported paperless caching using Garmin POIs.

It's not true paperless caching to have to convert the gpx to a POI file.

[+mrreet]

 

How can any business be so ignorant and not at least give us one decent map to load unto our GPS. according to country/state/province you reside in?

I guess it's still sucker beware.

Needless to say I am more than disappointed with Garmin.

 

The problem here is that you are not comparing apple to apples. Handheld devices are geared towards hiking and walking therefore you are paying for those features. When you buy an automotive GPS unit the target demographic is users who want mapping features. If the majority of the users use a handheld on trails or in the wilderness, why should Garmin force users to pay for something they (most) will not use? When you are trying to hike back to your campsite or to your favorite hunting waypoint, how much use is it to have a detailed Highway system? I would like Navigational Water Charts, but it would be ludicrous to charge everyone for that. The low detail map that is included is there for the general "what sort of major things are near me". If you decide you want maps for your handheld you are more than welcome to buy them. However what kind of maps do you want? Do you want routable car (Highway system) maps. Do you want Topographical maps (elevation, forest cover, water ect.)? Do you want Water Maps (legal shipways, buoys, water depths)? Which ones should Garmin include (and charge for)?

 

Is Chevrolet ignorant for not putting a 4x4 system on the Corvette because you would like to drive in the snow and mud?

Edited July 25, 2014 by mrreet

[+kunarion]

I would like Navigational Water Charts, but it would be ludicrous to charge everyone for that.

Yes. The reason maps aren't included is most people will buy the specialized map for their particular use. Maps use lots of memory, and they change. I'd rather not have to update a map I don't even use. But I did pay extra for a GPSr that had a built-in "Topo" map. If Garmin offered other pre-loaded maps, I might buy one, but certainly not all of them. The "Trail Map" doesn't even show any trails where I live, similar with the waterways.

 

Also, I bought a routable street map on an SD card, so that I can move it to another GPSr without "loading" at all. It transfers without issue. Downloaded or pre-installed maps are locked to one device.

[+northernpenguin]

Pretty sure the simple answer to this whole thread is that it is simply what the market will bear.

The person spending $600 on an "outdoor" GPS is still typically willing to spend another $200 for detailed maps. While there are quite a few people hanging out in forums like this talking about all the free map providers, the majority of the customers are simply ponying up for the manufacturers maps. When the majority of Garmin customers are going for the "free" Topo maps, either the map offerings on the handhelds will improve or (knowing Garmin) the units will be changed to have a different map format (with DRM) thus wiping out the free maps - case in point DEM rendering on the "State" type Garmin GPS units.

 

The automotive GPS units meanwhile are quite useless without a routable map, and the customer base knows this, so the market doesn't "bear" that. Remember there was a time that units did not get "lifetime updates".

[+Red90]

The person spending $600 on an "outdoor" GPS is still typically willing to spend another $200 for detailed maps.

 

I'm still confused as to the complaint. Garmin DOES sell a version with maps and versions without maps. If you want included maps buy the version with maps....

 

http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-montana-600.html

http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-montana-600t-camo.html

http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-montana-650t.html

 

It is only a $30 (or $70) difference in price in Canada. Not $200.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

The person spending $600 on an "outdoor" GPS is still typically willing to spend another $200 for detailed maps.

 

I'm still confused as to the complaint. Garmin DOES sell a version with maps and versions without maps. If you want included maps buy the version with maps....

 

http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-montana-600.html

http://www.gpscity.ca/garmin-montana-600t-camo.html

http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-montana-650t.html

 

It is only a $30 (or $70) difference in price in Canada. Not $200.

 

I don't think any Garmin handheld comes with City Nav Preloaded....I wonder why not, for many its useless with just the basemap.

They sell them with Topo loaded and charge more why not do the same with City Nav.

[+Red90]

I don't think any Garmin handheld comes with City Nav Preloaded....I wonder why not, for many its useless with just the basemap.

They sell them with Topo loaded and charge more why not do the same with City Nav.

 

Because they are intended for hiking, not driving. City navigator is completely useless for hiking.

[+northernpenguin]

 

It is only a $30 (or $70) difference in price in Canada. Not $200.

 

Sorry was remembering my Magellan days where the Topo + Street maps for my eXplorist DID set me back another $200.

Either way though, the base point exists. People ARE willing to buy a Montana or Monterra and still buy more maps. Heck I know people with Topo Canada, City Navigator AND Bluechart on their 62s.

 

This is not the case with a Nuvi.

 

[+Harry Dolphin]

It's the same reason why Garmin doesn't make car GPS with paperless geocaching. It's to encourage you to buy maps and/or buy another GPS unit with those features.

 

I had a Nuvi 265WT and now a Nuvi 2598LMT both have supported paperless caching using Garmin POIs.

It's not true paperless caching to have to convert the gpx to a POI file.

 

Que??? Why not? POI conversion gives me paperless caching in a POI file. I have all the information I need in the POI file. Same as in a GPX file. I get to upload 20000 caches (if I wish). GPX files are limited in numbers.

It IS paperless caching! I have no idea why you think otherwise. Give it a try.

[+mrreet]

I thought the nuvis could only handle 2000 poi's?

[+FunnyNose]

I thought the nuvis could only handle 2000 poi's?

 

When I did a trip through Scotland Ireland and Northern England I had close to 45,000 caches on my poor Nuvi 265WT with full and complete descriptions and numerous logs. And not a single piece of paper was used.

Edited July 26, 2014 by FunnyNose

[+BAMBOOZLE]

I thought the nuvis could only handle 2000 poi's?

 

When I did a trip through Scotland Ireland and Northern England I had close to 45,000 caches on my poor Nuvi 265WT with full and complete descriptions and numerous logs. And not a single piece of paper was used.

 

True.....I've had more than 40,000 on my 780 and it was a fraction of what it could hold.

[+mrreet]

Do they show on the map or do you have to search for them?

[+northernpenguin]

1406394347[/url]' post='5406838']

Do they show on the map or do you have to search for them?

 

Depends on the Nuvi model, and the POI settings. Generally, yes the POI's show on the map and you can set alerts for proximity too.

Also, the handhelds do this trick too, I load 2000 caches on my eTrex for full paperless (including mark as found field notes and such) and 60,000 caches as POIs all the time so I can tell there is a cache there even if I leave my "loaded" area.

[+BAMBOOZLE]

Do they show on the map or do you have to search for them?

 

I use GSAK which loads them as favorites to my 780 ( I just plug it in just like my handhelds ). As favorites you will see them on the map and they will remain visible even when you zoom way out......the 780 can hold 500 favorites in this manner.....I picked up a couple extra 780's on Ebay so I could bracket an area that had over a thousand caches.

Using GSAK and a macro I can load almost an unlimited amount of caches to the 780 and all the cache info. will be available but you have to be zoomed in to 200' or so to see them on the map making this approach almost useless IMO.....I used this method before I had paperless handhelds.

 

I haven't found a better way to cache than driving to a cache using the Nuvi and walking to the cache using a handheld.