Touring - GPS maps - I'm confused

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neilfein
01-30-08, 06:35 AM
I'm confused. I bought a Garmin eTrex Legend HCx, which doesn't come preloaded with maps. I need to get a mapping product, and there are several. I tour in NJ, PA, and I'm planning a Pittsburgh - DC trip, so I need DC/MD as well.

Does anyone have experience with using a Garmin GPS on tour? What maps have you found useful?

City Navigator North America NT (http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/citynavnt.jsp)

US TOPO 24K National Parks, East v3 (http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/topo24knpeast.jsp)

TOPO U.S. 2008 (http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/topous.jsp)

The "city navigator" is a must, since I gather that this is the ubermap. The Topo for national parks and the Topo US - I'm not sure what the difference is.

And there's the whole question of Mac compatibility... Help! I'm confused!

dannwilliams
01-30-08, 05:59 PM
And there's the whole question of Mac compatibility...

Check this out:http://www8.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011508.html
http://www8.garmin.com/macosx/

Hope that helps.
Little Darwin
01-30-08, 06:12 PM
I bought both the City Navigator NT and Topo maps.

I am using the GPS mostly for driving right now, so I have the City Navigator loaded... I have heard that the Topo will do routing etc, but it is missing the Points of Interest (stores. gas stations, parks, etc etc...)

I also read on the forums here that you can load them both at the same time. With a 2GB micro-SD I have the entire North America City Guide loaded with plenty of extra space. When I get around to it, I plan to see if I can load the entire US for each map set.

neilfein
01-30-08, 08:13 PM
Thanks!
spinnaker
01-30-08, 09:02 PM
If you have to choose then take City Navigator. Topo's road accuracy is hit or miss. It might not have all of the local roads and POI. I'm really not sure that Topo gets you all that much. You might even find the topo maps you need for free here (http://mapcenter2.cgpsmapper.com/).


If you need a place to crash, to start your trip, let me know. I live a couple of miles from the Montour Trail.

I'm actually considering doing the trip myself except I think I want to do the trip from the other direction.