All units newer than 60cx all need basecamp to manage tracks back and forth to the GPS so this is pretty much an essential tool now. I find myself using both... Mapsoucre for manipulation of the tracks and then basecamp for managing them on the device. Actually if you get the SD card then you can use it in any GPS. The modern GPS like 62s and Montana have tons of internal memory so the issue of track saving to memory is not an issue. Overall Backroaps is Good, pricey but has lots to offer; I find most of the roads are on Canada Metroguide. The maps on the computer that you can download with the SD purchase are very nice, pretty much every trail system are on it, making planning a bike, ATV or Sled trip in Ontario quite nice.... even if you don't end up using that map set on the GPS, at least you see the trail system while planning the route on the computer. All the same are on the SD as well, but on the GPS they are not quite as nice to plan with on a small screen and no mouse. On the Montana it has enough horsepower that I can have the Backroads SD in the slot, topo and metro in Memory... depending on where and what I am doing I can switch between them on the menu. Another fantastic feature of the new GPS over the old that this can be done like in the NUVI series If I am doing more city navigating I simply pop in my City Nav SD and can switch from that to Topo easily if I find myself on a trail (seems most rides end up that way
I just saw this on gps central. •Limited or No Support for Backroad POI & Write Up: ◦eTrex Cx, HCx series (limited) ◦GPSMAP 60Cx/CSx, 76Cx/CSx (limited) ◦Rino 520HCx/530HCx (limited) ◦Edge 800 (no support) ◦Quest 2 (limited support for Write Up) ◦Colorado series (no support for Write Up) Does this mean the sd card will not work in my 60cx?
I"ve purchased the GPS software which you can buy on a SD card or download on your own SD. I chose to download the software and you also get the same map version as a separate download for Garmin Basecamp. I plan and create my routes on Basecamp and than upload them to my Garmin. I also have all the Backroad Mapbooks and draw all the same routes out using high lighter pens. The reason for this is a backup should I be up north on trail or backroad and the GPS should quit. This way I can still carry on with my route although it is much more difficult, as it actually happened once in the Birk Falls area. Also when traveling in unknown areas its nice to pull out the mapbooks to get a better view of the entire area for reference. The Backroad Mapbooks and GPS software are great because they show you all the trails, snowmobile, atv, even some dualsport! One thing I've have learned though is when planning out routes, especially if snowmobile trails are involved is to check these routes with Google Earth. By zooming right down to the road or trail you can follow the entire route you've created to see if there are any issues, eg: many of the snowmobile routes cross small ponds which are just not accessible by dualsport (unless you plan to put a big snorkel on your bike :lol: ). All in all I think the software is great and well worth the money and it covers all of Ontario. Cheers Hardy
Would someone be able to please post a screenshot of the Ganaraska Forest? I'm curious to see how well marked those trails are.
Thanks TE 450 Pilot - that was fast!! Much appreciated. That's actually pretty cool... much more detailed than I expected. Are those dotted lines single-track, or just non-main paths?
here is a close up around the P2 parking area. All the trails are numbered. I believe these numbers are the same as on the forest maps. Randy
Thanks for the close-up, I think I'll get the SD card version this weekend. If you (or anyone else who purchased this product) haven't been notified, there is a promotion right now - "Free Updates for Life". http://www.backroadmapbooks.com/main/Rebates.html Thanks again for the screenshots.
With that version you are allowed 3 downloads for your computer <s> as well < locked to your computer> . I put a copy on each of my computers. I have not even tried to load a track or any thing in my Montana yet. Should learn how to use it soon. :shock: Randy
Wow.. You got a Montana.. You will now have to learn two new gps languages.. Garmin MapInstall to upload maps.. And Garmin BaseCamp to mess with tracks, waypoints and routes.. Ring!! Ring!! BobM please pick up the white courtesy phone please!! Ring!! Ring!! Ring!! :mrgreen: Click these link if you want to see: My Montana Anti Vibration Mount .. My Heavy Duty Tether ..
You are so right Tony =D> Funny is i called Bob just after i posted that to chat. I have the maps on the SD card so they are on the GPS. The screen is bright and much better for my old eyes to read. I had some prescription sunglasses made to help out the reading too. Randy
Actually, you can continue to use Mapsource with the Montana once you understand what the Montana needs. I initially tried switching to Basecamp but found it so counter-intuitive that I went back to Mapsource. It seemed like the years I'd spent mastering Mapsource were too valuable to toss out, and there's only a couple of features in Basecamp that aren't in Mapsource - the ability to view and use maps that are installed on the GPS (good for someone with maps purchased on a memory card), and the ability to convert routes to tracks and vice verse (and other programs exist to do this). If anyone wants to use the Montana with Mapsource, PM me and I'll explain the process (and then I can post it, but right now it's all in my head). Bob
Just a quick update to this thread - a big thanks to Russell Mussio who reached out to me and wrote: My free upgrade (thanks to their current promotion) arrived in the mail the other day, a brand spanking new SD card and I didn't even have to send back my current version so I can evaluate both to see the changes. Top-notch customer service to reach out and contact your customers offering free upgrades - the cost of these mapbooks might be a little more than competitive products but a great product combined with this type of customer care makes it well worth it if you ask me!
I purchased the book to supplement my garmin topo maps. The best thing about the backroad maps is they show Crown Land. I carry the book with me now up north because I am tired of being told I am tresspassing when I am on crown land in the Almaguin Highlands. Just because the MNR allows you to put up a hunt camp on crown land, doesn't mean you own the land.
