Edge 705 for mtb

joeduke

Hi Guys

I got a Garmin Edge 705, the problem I have is the map that comes with it is pretty poor or maybe Im not using it right. The map is a tiny triangle and you have to follow a small dotted line which does not seem to accurate even when you go back over the same path you cycled on..

Where is the best place to get the OS maps and are they better than the base map that comes with the 705??

el Bastardo

AFAIK there are no Irish OS maps available for 705 and the best you'll get are the free ones. Kinda strange when they have them for other countries and Garmin sell them for use with other GPS. Anyway, the info should be in the forum somewhere.

The internal 705 map is crap. I replaced it with the Garmin Citynav Europe 2010 so at least I could at least see roads where they actually are.

joeduke

So basically I have a fancy stop watch!! in all the pictures of the Edge thet have a large colourd map, its not much good if you cant get the off road maps for it :mad:

Dr_Colossus

AFAIK the problem is with OS Ireland as they won't release the license on the maps and as such Garmin can't acquire and sell them. I have a Garmin 705 and find it very good but in saying that I only use it for road cycling in conjunction with the Garmin Citynav Europe maps.
For offroad mapping I've read reviews of people downloading free maps and installing those onto their garmins so could be worth looking into that side of things.

logistic

I have the 705 aswell and use it for mtb. The base maps that come with the device are crap for mtb. You should load one of the free topo maps

http://emerald-island.eu/wikka/GpsMap
or
http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm

or you could buy some topo maps from garmin but at €160 for only a portion of Ireland there not worth it
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=255&pID=65908#featureTab

joeduke

I have looked at the Topo maps before but will they work with the 705??

logistic

joeduke wrote: »

I have looked at the Topo maps before but will they work with the 705??

I have a 705 and can confirm emerald-island maps work and from http://talkytoaster.info/ukmaps.htm under compatibility the 705 is listed as yes

joeduke

Im not very good with gagets,, is it easy to download the maps??

logistic

joeduke wrote: »

Im not very good with gagets,, is it easy to download the maps??

Very easy
1. Download the map http://talkytoaster.info/101015-IE+Contours-Routable-GMAPSUPP.zip
2. Unzip the file
3. Rename the file to gmapsupp.img
4. Connect your garmin to pc using usb cable, copy the file to the garmin folder. If you have another file called gmapsupp.img id back this up first before you overwrite.

Simples!!

joeduke

47.6mb.... thats a lot of memory.. will the Edge take that much???

fenris

yep

joeduke

I have downloaded the file but "Windows cannot open folder" its invalid??

logistic

see step 2

joeduke

its telling me the folder is empty!!