BaseCamp vs. Mapsource

[MYT1]

What is the difference between BaseCamp and Mapsource?

Is BaseCamp an updated version of Mapsource?

Thanks.

[dlh62c]

A lot of new BaseCamp features are not included in MapSource (decent printing support, reading maps from devices, 3D view, Birdseye Imagery, geo-tagging of pictures).

Basecamp has at least one major advantage over Mapsource and that's that you don't need the actual maps on your computer. If you attach a Nuvi, for example, to your PC and fire up BaseCamp it will read and use the maps that are preinstalled on the GPS.

Overall, once you understand the differences in the user interface between the two programs, I think you'll find that BaseCamp is more feature rich.

Here's a link for some of the basics: http://garmin-mapsource.wikispaces.com/BaseCamp

daryl

[MYT1]

Thanks, particularly since I know this question must've been asked a million times before.

[Countdown]

Originally Posted by dlh62c

A lot of new BaseCamp features are not included in MapSource (decent printing support, reading maps from devices, 3D view, Birdseye Imagery, geo-tagging of pictures).

Basecamp has at least one major advantage over Mapsource and that's that you don't need the actual maps on your computer. If you attach a Nuvi, for example, to your PC and fire up BaseCamp it will read and use the maps that are preinstalled on the GPS.

On the flip side, I never used or ever plan to use nay of these features.

Not having maps in your computer can not be viewed as any kind of an advantage if you do any work on your computer at all. I have CityNav, topo, and Roads & Rec and switch between them many times in any given session.

If you have a new generation Garmin with maps and don't really do much on computer, BC is obvious choice but if like me you have thousands of MapSource files switching is out of the question.

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by Countdown

On the flip side, I never used or ever plan to use nay of these features.

Not having maps in your computer can not be viewed as any kind of an advantage if you do any work on your computer at all. I have CityNav, topo, and Roads & Rec and switch between them many times in any given session.

If you have a new generation Garmin with maps and don't really do much on computer, BC is obvious choice but if like me you have thousands of MapSource files switching is out of the question.

I don't think that reading maps from the GPS is THE selling point to BaseCamp - just a handy feature "in case". I have many many maps on my MacBook Air for the same reason that Jerry does. But when it comes to using the software on a daily basis, I was so disgusted with MapSource and file management that I bit the bullet and imported all of my data over a weekend and was done with it. Never looking back.

Cheers,

[dlh62c]

Originally Posted by Countdown

Not having maps in your computer can not be viewed as any kind of an advantage if you do any work on your computer at all.

If you have a new generation Garmin with maps and don't really do much on computer, BC is obvious choice but if like me you have thousands of MapSource files switching is out of the question.

Who says you have to switch all your thousands of files over to Basecamp at once. Just do the ones your working on or new ones. You can have both programs installed on your computer.

I do quite a bit of route planning on a computer. I use my 62s as a mass storage device. I store my maps and GPS projects on the SD card. With Basecamp installed on two desktops and a netbook, I can move between computers and work on any project I want too. All my maps, routes, waypoints and tracks move with the GPS. There's no need to have maps installed on multiple computers.

daryl

[dlh62c]

Originally Posted by MYT1

Thanks, particularly since I know this question must've been asked a million times before.

Don't worry about it.

If you have limited knowledage of Mapsource, I'd go with Basecamp.

daryl

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by dlh62c

I use my 62s as a mass storage device. I store my maps and GPS projects on the SD card. With Basecamp installed on two desktops and a netbook, I can move between computers and work on any project I want too. All my maps, routes, waypoints and tracks move with the GPS. There's no need to have maps installed on multiple computers.

daryl

Daryl, Are you saying you've directed your map/s and BaseCamp installations to a specific SD Card? So you need to have your SD Card volume connected to the computer/s anytime you want to use BaseCamp? If you use your GPSMAP 62s as the SD Card reader, I guess you obviously find the performance acceptable(?).

Cheers,

[dlh62c]

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

Daryl, Are you saying you've directed your map/s and BaseCamp installations to a specific SD Card?

So you need to have your SD Card volume connected to the computer/s anytime you want to use BaseCamp?

If you use your GPSMAP 62s as the SD Card reader, I guess you obviously find the performance acceptable(?).

Cheers,

Yes to all your questions!

I have an 8g Class 4 Micro SD card in my 62s. Will you see additional performance between a Class 4 or a Class 6? Nobody seems to notice any.

I also use the SD card to store pictures and bike documents. It functions just like a USB drive.

I'm using an OSM map to route me around the state of Missouri.

I sent you a PM.

daryl

[Countdown]

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

I was so disgusted with MapSource and file management that I bit the bullet and imported all of my data over a weekend and was done with it. Cheers,

Enlighten me on this issue. To me, MapSource works just like Word or Excel with relation to files. I don't see any of them used for "file management", I use MS Explorer to manage files.

One problem I have is keeping track of where my "Master file" is for a given set of tracks. I have 2,300 files with just short of 1 Gig of GPS Track data. I have office Table Top where I work daily, Lap Top for work on the road in motorhome (and at events) and an external hard drive for back up.

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by Countdown

Enlighten me on this issue. To me, MapSource works just like Word or Excel with relation to files. I don't see any of them used for "file management", I use MS Explorer to manage files.

Jerry,
If you read my post I said "MapSource AND file management."

As for data size, my personal BaseCamp backup file is just over 10GB in size and growing. I run most of the time on my MacBook Air laptop. I also travel with it and a 1TB USB HDD.

Cheers,

[Countdown]

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

Jerry, If you read my post I said "MapSource AND file management." ,

For the bottom 1/3 of the class, do you mean having all data in one file vs having it all over the place in thousnads of files? That has been a problem for me and my failing memory.

I assumed that once you organize all your tracks in thousands of folders in BC, it would be the same problem.

Still don't see BC but just waiting for you to convence me I really really NEED to jump to Montana.

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by Countdown

For the bottom 1/3 of the class, do you mean having all data in one file vs having it all over the place in thousnads of files? That has been a problem for me and my failing memory.

I assumed that once you organize all your tracks in thousands of folders in BC, it would be the same problem.

Still don't see BC but just waiting for you to convence me I really really NEED to jump to Montana.

The BC difference is that even with thousands of folders, you can simply select a folder and see all of its content on the map.

You don't need a Montana - you WANT a Montana!

Cheers,

[dlh62c]

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

The BC difference is that even with thousands of folders, you can simply select a folder and see all of its content on the map.

Cheers,

Your referring to list folders created within the 'My Collection' Library of Basecamp correct, which is only supported in the beta versions of BC?

daryl

[DRTBYK]

Originally Posted by dlh62c

Your referring to list folders created within the 'My Collection' Library of Basecamp correct, which is only supported in the beta versions of BC?

daryl

That is correct. We are expecting the v3.3.1 release soon which will provide that feature to the Windows BaseCamp.

Cheers,