Garmin BaseCamp
Thu 27th October 2011
One of the key issues in the world of digital maps has always been that GPS owners have had to purchase their OS maps & license twice; once for the PC for Route Planning and then again for their GPS to see an OS map on screen.
Garmin have resolved this issue with a unique new piece of software; now when you purchase a new GPS & mapping bundle (Dakota, Oregon, Montana, eTrex20 and eTrex30) the map supplied on a pre-programmed MicroSD card can now be viewed in BaseCamp for route planning etc when the GPS is connected to your PC.
What does all this mean?
From now on Garmin owners no longer need expensive OS PC mapping software for route planning etc as they can now plan routes & trails anywhere in the country in the GPS and view the contents of their map card for route planning in BaseCamp.
How does BaseCamp compare with other OS PC based mapping software?
I’m sure Garmin won’t mind us saying that BaseCamp isn’t as sophisticated as some of the other PC software on the market; but if you just want to create waypoints, routes or tracks on an OS map, save the data to your PC/Laptop, and send to GPS then BaseCamp does all this without the additional cost of buying PC based software.
Unfortunately the license agreement with Ordnance Survey does not permit the printing of maps in view from BaseCamp; but is this an issue if you have a full OS map in the GPS?
Summary
If you think about how much money this will same you compared to having to buy a PC based mapping software (e.g. Memory Map, Quo etc) it is truly superb.
Click here to view the BaseCamp download from the Garmin web site.
To see all the compatable Garmin units you can use BaseCamp with please click here.
We also have a Garmin GPS Tarining Day on the 14th April 2012 which training with BaseCamp will be a big part of the day. More info here.
comments
How does this compare with www.bikehike.co.uk or getamap from OS?