Garmin Topo Mapping

• Mapping covers the whole of the UK apart from Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. This can be purchased as one product or for areas of the UK including National Parks already loaded onto a micro SD card ready to insert into a compatible GPS
• The mapping provides more and more detail as you zoom in from viewing the whole country down to a single 10m contour line. Most paths and tracks are shown as well as 10 and 50m contour lines with spot heights, streams and rivers, roads and streets. Rights of way are not shown See PJ notes on page 21 The maps include points of interest such as food & drink, lodging, garages, hospitals, trig. points
• Mapping can be loaded onto compatible GPS in tiles up to its memory capacity. Compatible GPS include all current colour GPS
• Waypoint creation and editing
• Route planning and editing
• Distance and time calculations
• Turn by turn routing for on road journeys with automatic route recalculation with one way systems taken into account
• Real time tracking and routing on PC or Pocket PC with GPS connected with voice turn by turn directions using free extra software - Garmin nRoute - downloadable from Garmin's website
• Download waypoint and route data to your GPS from your PC
• Review your performance by uploading track data from GPS to PC
• Save your routes and tracks on PC for review and later editing

What map scales are available?
As Topo is not just one map the scale varies as you zoom in. Think of the view as though you were in a helicopter - high up you can just see the main roads and main land features but when you move closer to the ground much more detail appears down to residential streets, streams and footpaths. Topo is really a number of maps from large to small scale - which one you view depends on how far you zoom in. It is possible to zoom in right down to see just one 10 meter contour line.

Working with Topo GB on DVD - A Garmin MapSource Family Product
After you have loaded the software on to your computer through the DVD drive on your PC, the first thing Garmin recommend you do before you unlock your maps is to update your software. Update software you've just bought? Why's that? Updates fix glitches in the software programme, update the software to issues with new operating systems live Windows Vista, and provide new features.

The next thing you will need to do is to unlock it on-line. You will need to be connected to the Internet to be able to do this. Buying it entitles you to use the software on different computers (eg at home and at the office) with up to two different GPS. The GPS must be linked to your computer and switched on when this process takes place. Follow the steps outlined below.

A much simpler way to load maps to your compatible Garmin GPS is available. Topo is available on pre-programmed cards, each card covers one third of the country and is reasonably price - simply plug & play.

Step 1
Load Topo & update software using web updater. If you have space load all the maps as it will run faster. Connect your GPS by cable and switch

Step 2
Unlock Wizard starts automatically. Follow the instructions.

Step 3
Find the '8 character coupon code' on the slip of paper. This is found between the two pieces of printed cardboard that the disk was attached to.

Step 4
Make sure you are on-line to the Internet with Explorer opened. You are transferred to the Garmin website. Create a user account box.

Step 5
Enter the 8 character code, register your details then click on 'New Customer'.
You are given a 25 character code. This is e-mailed to you as well.

Step 6
In Topo, click on 'Utilities' then'Unlock Maps'.Enter the 25 character code and the maps are unlocked to the registered GPS serial number (you will find the serial number for your GPS in the battery compartment)

Garmin Topo and Memory
You can upload as many Topo map tiles as your GPS memory will hold. Unticking the route calculation data box at the bottom left hand side of the screen will save some memory but you will not be able to undertake turn-by-turn navigation on your GPS. Most modern colour GPS use micro SD cards (also called transflash cards). These are currently available up to 2 gigabyte (GB) but it is likely that the maximum capacity of a card will increase still further shortly. The whole of the UK would need a 2GB card. You may just upload areas as and when you wish to use them, for example - going to the Lakes for a week's walking would need mapping taking about 35 megabytes. Garmin Topo always reformats the memory card in your GPS before uploading maps so you will always need to select all the mapping you need to use, as it is not possible to add maps to those already on the card.

Working with Garmin Topo Data Cards
These products come ready installed on an appropriate micro SD card. They merely need inserting into your compatible GPS. Although all GPS based Topo features are available, the product does not come with a DVD for computer use. It does though provide a very simple and effective way of using Topo for a specific area of the country on your GPS.

	Dave Mycroft is OM's very own routes editor and a self-confessed GPS nerd. He's an outdoors and technology writer with impressive navigation credentials earned on some proper hills and trails.
	Garmin is a world leader in GPS and has an excellent range of products suited to British hill walkers. Not only that, we love the way it's approachable and supportive of projects like this one or Geocaching. How refreshing!
	GPS Training is the acknowledged leader in GPS training and advice. This small, family-run company runs accessible training courses and will give you the best possible advice on kit. You won't go wrong talking to these guys before you buy - they know their stuff and will tell you the truth.