Garmin Hunting Gps Software for Android Free Download Updated FREE

Garmin Hunting Gps Software for Android Free Download

How To Go Gratuitous Garmin GPS Maps For Hiking

The practiced news is that if you own a Garmin GPS device, at that place's a way to become free Garmin GPS maps. And in most cases, the free maps are much better than the expensive Garmin maps. I'm a large fan of Garmin GPS devices, simply I e'er found it disappointing that they charged extra for maps. Garmin doesn't publicize information technology, but most of their GPS units are setup to take whatsoever maps in the correct format. Hither's how to get and install these costless hiking maps in an like shooting fish in a barrel, step-by-step process.

In retrospect, I recall the cost for Garmin maps is also high. In that location are some every bit good, or meliorate, alternatives available at no cost online. This product is overpriced for what it is. I would recommend other software. – Garmin Map Review on Amazon

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Why These Gratuitous Maps?

So let me first by saying there are a lot of ways to become gratuitous Garmin GPS maps, and a lot of different methods to install them. You could create whole websites devoted to the subject, and people have (see beneath). This article focuses on installing my favorite costless Garmin GPS maps for hiking in the U.s., using OpenStreetMaps. If these don't work for you, try exploring the other map services that I have listed below.

You can likewise create your own highly-customized maps and download them to your Garmin device.

OpenStreetMaps are the Wikipedia of maps. The public contributes to, confirms, and edits the data on the map. This curation goes for hiking trails too. The maps are regularly updated, and over the last few years have seemed the most accurate in my experience. Y'all can fifty-fifty become a contributor if you similar.

Here'southward a next comparing of the Garmin base map with these costless topo maps.

The gratis hiking maps that I'1000 recommending are corking because:

• They are good topographic maps with elevation contours.
• They have a large number of hiking trails on them.
• They are "routable," which means that you can apply free tools like Garmin Basecamp to automatically create routes and tracks that you lot can follow (without having to plot each point of the trail yourself).
• The colors and item work well for me. That is, they look adept on the device.
• USA regions are packaged together.

This screenshot gives you lot an idea of the level of the detail in these costless maps. You can also search the maps for points of interest. Hither I searched for the Peachy Smoky Mtn NP.

Video Instructions

If you are on Windows, there are some special instructions below.

Which Garmin GPS devices exercise the maps work with?

First off, the Garmin unit of measurement you take might have maps already. You probably know this, but if y'all're shopping for a GPS, go to the Garmin website page for the unit. If it maps come with the unit, it will say it has "preloaded topo maps."

If you lot already have a unit and want to find out if these free maps work, go to the unit of measurement'due south page on the Garmin website, and and so check out the "specs" section. There is a line for "power to add together maps," if you take a check there, yous're skillful to go.

Downloading the Free Garmin GPS Maps

The commencement affair you're going to want to do is visit the GMapTool website, specifically the U.s. OSM Topo Routable page.

The squeamish matter well-nigh this site is that they've arranged the maps up into large regions.

So pick the region you want, and download the appropriate map package (link mode at the bottom of the page). The files are pretty big. The download might take a while.

Installing the Free Maps on Your Computer

The instructions are different for Mac and PC. The map website has a link for installation instructions, click on that. My instructions comprehend the installation on a Mac, but I have some general that fill in the gaps for installing on Windows below .

For the Mac, yous'll need three (gratuitous) programs to install the maps. Yous tin download and install these programs while y'all wait for your maps to download.

First is a 7z extractor. The map downloads are in 7z format, which is a fancy compressed ZIP file. Download and install this program. There are also other gratis and paid 7z options in the Mac App Store.

And then download the complimentary Garmin MapInstall and MapManager programs. They brand installing the maps easy and non-technical.

One time you download the map file, open up it with your 7z application. Information technology will unzip the files and put them into a folder.

After unzipping, you lot'll take a few files in the folder. Double-click on the large file with the "gmap" extension on the end.

That should launch Garmin MapManager, which volition enquire you if you want to install the maps. Hitting "yes" and information technology will re-create the maps into your Garmin directory. When you're finished, delete the map download and the unzipped folder.

That's information technology. The maps are on your computer. If y'all're not already using the complimentary Garmin Basecamp tool, I highly recommend getting it. It will allow y'all to browse maps, create tracks, and is invaluable in planning hikes.

Pairing Garmin Basecamp with these free maps for Garmin GPS gives you.a powerful planning tool. Here I'1000 browsing particular effectually Icehouse Saddle in California.

Installing the Complimentary Maps on Your Garmin GPS

Once your map is downloaded and installed, yous're all set to install them on your GPS unit.

Connect your Garmin GPS unit to your computer and make certain it's on. Requite it a minute or two to load and register with the computer.

Load the Garmin MapInstall application. Information technology should show your GPS unit of measurement in the summit box. Hit continue.

MapInstall will bear witness you what maps you take installed already (if any), what's on your figurer, and how much room you have on your device (at the lesser). Click on the maps you lot desire to install while watching the space on your device. My eTrex 20x has 3.7gb of internal memory, no demand to add a MicroSD bill of fare. Click "ship maps."

Now yous wait. It tin can take a while for the maps to load onto your device. Don't do this if y'all're in a rush.

Now confirm that the maps are loaded. Go into your settings for maps and poke effectually. The process is different for different units, but y'all should exist able to see something similar this.

Blast! Maps! Savor the maps on your Garmin GPS. And if in that location is too much detail or the map rendering seems wearisome, get to settings and try decreasing the detail level.

Installing on GPS Devices With MTP Mode

Garmin added a connection mode called MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) to transfer files, which makes the Garmin announced as a "media device." And of class, Apple doesn't back up it. Most Garmin devices allow you to switch the USB style to "mass-storage" and yous should find that in the settings and give it a try. Make sure the device firmware is updated to get the latest settings. Once in "mass-storage" mode, you should be able to follow the steps laid out earlier.

If you lot're stuck in MTP way, I've establish a solution. It'due south not the most svelte 1 in the world, but it works (confirmed on a Fenix 5x Plus).

• Get your maps from here: http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl
• The site will send you an email with a download link.
• Download the Aught file that is described equally "Compressed file that contains a single image that tin be placed straight onto the SD-card of the GPS."
• Unzip the file. Y'all should accept a file with a ".img" extension.
• At present we need to connect the Garmin to the computer. Download the free Android File Transfer program from Google. Install it on your machine as per the instructions.
• If you accept Garmin Express running, make sure it's not running and you take disabled any "automatically launch when device is connected" settings.
• Plug in your Garmin to the computer and launch the Android File Transfer program. You should see a screen like this:
  
• Simply drag the ".img" file that you downloaded into the Garmin folder. Yous might want to rename the ".img" file to make sure it doesn't whack any maps already on at that place.

That's it. Go to your map settings and turn the OSM map on and off.

OSM maps on my Fenix 5x Plus

Tips for Windows Installation

The directions on GMapTool site aren't very descriptive for Windows. Here are some tips from swain hiker Dave T. on how to install the gratis maps on Windows.

• Run the "bat" file as described on the GMapTool site.
• Open up Garmin Basecamp to ensure that the maps accept been installed.
• Apply the gratis Garmin MapInstall programme to send the maps to your device. OR y'all can as well install them directly from Basecamp. Right click on the internal storage and selected install maps (thanks to John S for the tip).
• Or use the maps at garmin.openstreetmap.nl, Download your map showtime. This volition create a single "img" file for each map you download.  And so re-create that map file to your Garmin (the drive if you have a micro SD card, not the device) in the "Garmin" folder (which you must create first if it doesn't already exist).

If These Free Garmin GPS Maps Don't Work For Yous

In that location are other gratis maps for your Garmin GPS, and over again, they might have different instructions for installation. Check the website where the maps are offered for directions on how to install them.

• GPSFileDepot is a great resource that'south frequently updated. I recommend trying this site earlier whatsoever others.
• OpenStreetMap.nl is good if you want to grab.a smaller, more than specific map.
• OpenSeaMap offers nautical charts.
• frikart.no
• openmtbmap.org

If you're having trouble finding the GMAP folder, this tip has helped some folks (cheers to Liz Southward!).

Some Terminal Thoughts

I recommend planning your hike and creating a GPX file beforehand. Most Garmin GPS units are too small for anything more than impromptu navigation planning. I have a tutorial on how to plan a hiking road for your Garmin GPS here.

And I could apply your assistance. I don't download these maps every twenty-four hour period, so if these directions don't seem up to date, delight contact me and let me know. I'll update the directions hither accordingly.

Lastly, a note if you're having tech problems. Unfortunately, I tin't help anybody who emails me. I recommend posting your question online in the Garmin Reddit, the Garmin Forums, or in a Garmin group on Facebook. That's probably you lot're quickest path to success.

Take an idea on how to brand these guides better? Leave me your thoughts here..

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Source: https://hikingguy.com/hiking-gear/how-to-get-free-garmin-gps-maps-for-hiking/

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