Seeking free (and legal) U.K. maps for Garmin Oregon 650 was: Just purchased a garmin oregan 650

[+Marshall_31]

Hi, I have just purchased a garmin oregan 650, I don't appear to have any maps on it, I was looking to see if anyone can suggest If i can download free maps, to use when I am geocaching, I live in the U.K. And at the moment am only looking for a map of the uk, the other issue I have is the unit has come with opencaching on it but I would like to use geocaching, is there a way I can download this?

 

Any advice would be greatfully received.

[+MartyBartfast]

There are a number of places to get free maps.

 

This is top of my list for the UK: https://talkytoaster.co.uk/maps/british-isles-ireland/

 

If you're off on your jollies anytime then you can get pretty much anywhere in the world from here: http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

 

As for "putting geocaching" on it there's not really any such thing. The items on your GPS are .gpx files, which contain the cache information, so you need to get some .gpx files containing your favourite caches onto it, you have a number of options here and it's quite a big subject which has been described elsewher, maybe someone else can provide a link?

[robertlipe]

Moderator note Hi, and welcome. I've tweaked the subject of your post somewhat. I see it's your first time here, so here's a tip to asking questions online in general: the subject is the easiest way to attract the attention of qualified helpers on the question you're asking, Think of it like being in a room of car mechanics and shouting "my car makes a funny noise HALP" vs. "my '83 civic makes a noise when going up a hill around a left corner."

[+HHL]

I'm very satisfied with these maps:

Freizeitkarte [OSM based] (click here)

 

Hans

[+Bear and Ragged]

There are a number of places to get free maps.

 

This is top of my list for the UK: https://talkytoaster.co.uk/maps/british-isles-ireland/

 

If you're off on your jollies anytime then you can get pretty much anywhere in the world from here: http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/

 

As for "putting geocaching" on it there's not really any such thing. The items on your GPS are .gpx files, which contain the cache information, so you need to get some .gpx files containing your favourite caches onto it, you have a number of options here and it's quite a big subject which has been described elsewher, maybe someone else can provide a link?

 

Seconded!

 

Best to remove (delete) ALL cacheing related files on the unit(found in the GPX folder of the unit), as if the unit finds a Non Premium Member file it makes ALL added files Basic Member as default... Not good, as you get minimal information about the cache!

 

Old date on caches soon dates and becomes useless anyway.

 

eta

http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk is well worth a read and bookmarking.

It's written by one of the UK Reviewers, and contains loads of useful information!

Edited January 8, 2017 by Bear and Ragged