i'm sure its covered here somewheres.... but needing some help - or maybe just point me to a thread if you know of one. ok - i've just got this 62stc - and realize its got tons of capability. however - i'm having trouble getting just the basic navigation to waypoints sorted out. i'm able to get around the menus - setting profile etc. understanding tracks and routes, etc etc. i can't get the little bugger to give me the roads navigatable to a way point or any destination. just says route calculation error - maps do not have routable roads in this area. guessing i don't have the correct "map" loaded? i would have thought that the 62stc would certainly come with the basics to get me to where i want to go - and give me the options to choose some off road choices. a little frustrated..... any help appreciated. Jim - western NC 2012 DR650
The 62/78 do not come with maps (base map is only for main highways). Buy City Nav on DVD and download to 62. If you are really interested in off highway use like jeep roads, use Tracks not Routes. If you ae on main roads routes are fine but a little unstable, again Tracks are fixed and never change and you don't need map in GPS, just follow track.
Not sure what is available in your part of the world, I suspect the "T" stands for Topo which probably is not routeable. As Jerry said routes are over rated, find some tracks. You might look at some of the open-source maps but may well still have an issue with detail and routing. Bruce
thanks for your response. ok.... when you say find some tracks not routes etc - i'm a little confused. basically - i ride from the house - to the good stuff (national forest roads, dirt etc). and i'd like the best way to get there - so i'm trying to navigate those back roads - and finding some good routes etc. so i pick a waypoint in the middle of nowwhere - some 50 miles away or so - and would like to find the track or route to this place which would have the most fun. i'm able to do this on the iphone - but would like more detail and better understanding of the area/information -etc - which is why i bought the 62 stc. living here in asheville nc - lots of fun places to go in everydirection - just want choose the best way to get there - non highway. so if i'm wanting to navigate these back roads - i doubt the city navigator software is for this - ? just getting my head around this. i can find all the roads on the gps that are dirt/national forest - but it won't navigate for me.... help.
Sorry to say it, but it sounds like you have a lot to learn. If you want to create and use tracks and routes, you are going to have to buy a mapset like Garmin City Navigator. Then you have to learn how to use Garmin Basecamp or Mapsource to create routes and tracks. You then have to download the mapset onto your unit. And whenever you create a track or route you have to download them too. Despite its name City Navigator has lots of minor roads in rural areas. A nice feature is that once you have done a ride, you can upload the track to your computer and save it for future reference. You can also get other peoples' tracks off of GPSXchange.com or DualSportMaps.com and download these to your unit. Some people use free mapping software called OSM. I am not very familiar with this, but it might get you started.
I'm inclined to agree with wbbnm. I've owned a 62S for the past 2 years, use it frequently, not for motorcycle navigation but for bush fieldwork. It's a very capable machine for my purposes, hasn't let me down yet. It sounds like the OP needs to follow a GPS course or get some lessons from someone experienced. Also, he could've saved a fair penny by just getting the S and buying the maps separately, and a 5MP camera on a GPS is, in my opinion, nonsense.
In your case as you already have 100k Topo and are lacking a routable mapset, I suggest investing in CityNavigator. As has been said the name is misleading as CN includes the 99% of roads often down to challenging 4X4, and includes an extensive Points of Interest (POI) database. Be sure to buy the DVD or if a download select the option to install on both the GPS and computer. Bruce
"best way to get there", "good routes", "have the most fun" ? No software is going to do this. How does it know what you think is best, good, or fun? I think best is a trail or Jeep Raod, software written by some city guy thinks fastest or shortest is best. I want the long slow way. What you are doing now is for if you are in the middle of nowhere and really need gas, find the closest gas waypoint (in City Nav in your GPS) and say "go". Like said above, City Nav will have every public road (state, city, and all dirt county roads) plus most main forest roads. You can make a Route on you PC and download it but also as said try making a Track on PC and download it. But bottom line, it is your job to decide on "best" and "fun" way to go. This is after you get PC software and learn about Routes and Tracks.
spoke with garmin - and yes - sounds like i need the city navigator or topo for mid atlantic. i'm spoiled rotten with the iphone - and have been using that for some time. i was hoping the 62 was going to open more doors - and i'm certain it will - as i spend a lot of time on the water too. regards to price - it was pretty clost 62s vs. stc - so wtf - might as well. was getting frustrated as i was unable to navigate to anywaypoint - and was hoping on could do it out of the box.... but sounds like the razor/razor blade scenario is in full bloom.
That is true with car street units, every one uses the same roads, phone book, and maps. Hand held GPSs are a different story, people use marine maps, topo maps, and regular street maps. What should they pre-load? You wouldn't want to pay for them all, hikers don't want to pay for street maps. It is A la Cart. I have three maps loaded. You may want to look for an old copy of Roads & Rec it has all forest trails.