betyouaint

I have an aging GPS 12 MAP that I bought in the UK many years ago. I recently moved to the USA and was wondering if I can change the internal map to be of more use over this side of the pond...!!?

BTW... I do have a data cable but no software like MapSoure.

HumVee

Hello betyouaint. Bet I ain't what?

Your Garmin GPS 12MAP looks very intriguing! Wow, is that thing really over a decade old? And still working well? Cool!

From what little I can tell from downloading the Owner's Manual and Specifications Sheet, the 12MAP doesn't actually store map data per se - am I correct? It looks like that model utilizes MapSource as management and planning tool, and you can send waypoints and routes to the 12MAP. Do I understand that correctly? When I click the Maps tab on the Garmin site, it lists nothing compatible for the GPS 12 series (of which the 12MAP was the last?) for you to be able to purchase.

If you can use MapSource, that still opens up a wealth of possiblities for you. It is possible to download the latest version of MapSource from Garmin, and get it installed on your personal computer. First, however, you must download and install Training Center (you can uninstall it once you get MapSource installed). You might also want to give Garmin's BaseCamp software a try, and see if it will work. It's a new (certainly compared to your 12MAP!) free product designed for the handhelds, and does essentially the same thing as MapSource - but with a slightly different interface meant to be more friendly with topo maps. I haven't had a chance to do more than install it, but it looks promising. You can have both installed on your computer.

MapSource comes with a very basic map. I can't remember if BaseCamp did, too. When I launch it, it shows me all of my detailed map info (I have City Navigator North America 2010 NT & Topo 24K US - West). There is a wealth of information on this forum regarding getting 3rd party enthusiast maps. You can search the forums for more, but one of the most discussed is GPS File Depot.

Please let me know if you found any of this information useful, and if MapSource, BaseCamp or both worked with your 12MAP!

betyouaint

Thanks for the info.

The GPS 12 MAP did come with a basic UK road map unlike the standard GPS 12 which didn't. From what I've read there is only 1.44 MB (floppy disc sized) of memory allocated for the map.

I'll try the MapSource and see what it throws up...

HumVee

Groovy! I look forward to your report back. After I sent my reply, I noticed the tiny little blurb on the specification sheet stating "Download street level mapping detail from compatible CDs to the GPS 12MAP." The base MapSource map only has very basic road info (mostly major highways), but it may be enough for you to see if loading maps onto your 12MAP will still work.

MTalvola

You'd be surprised. The older GPS units were pretty tough. I still have an old Lowrance I bought around '98-99. It was the first actual consumer mapping handheld unit. Got a rockin' 6 or so hours on FOUR AAs and that thing is such a brick you could really clock someone something fierce if you swung it upside their head with the lanyard.

Still works and gets a fix in a minute or two. Definitely not high sensitivity, but the EPE usually gets down well under 100 ft. Probably not good enough for geocaching, but it works and it will still get you to where you need to go for all practical purposes.

Andy

I don't think there's anyway to change the basemap in the 12 Map. Even if you copy map data to the device, it only stores it in the small memory set aside for map data. In my searches so far I haven't found a way to change the basemap since there is no direct access to the internal storage except for the area set aside for map data you load.

I still use my 12 Map as a backup since it has such a long battery life.

MTalvola

Just curious... Backup to what? Just to have around or do you actively employ it on a boat or something? I have two "backup" handhelds, one circa 2004 and the other circa 1998 or so.

Andy

I take it on trips as a backup to a 76CSx...not that it's ever failed me. I even upload my route to it using waypoints at intersections with them named in sequence and either "left" or "right" in the name so I know which way to turn. The 12Map only routes "as the crow flies" and has the map data as pure reference for the user. It doesn't use the map data for routing since it doesn't do turn-by-turn routing.

Garmin updated the firmware at one point giving it a 10,000 point track log as well.

HumVee

I applaud your redundancy planning! I carry my 76CSx as a backup to my z660 on long trips. Plus, I can also use the handheld for hiking or geocaching during my stops. With City Navigator North America loaded on both units, and both units being Route capable, I upload my routes for the trip to both. I also carry a paper map & compass just in case all electronics should fail (unlikely as that would be). They take up very little room, and are actually faster for looking up locations along my route than booting up my gps and scrolling the map view - great if I decide I want to modify my trip on the fly.

MTalvola

And I carry my 60CSx as backup, also with City Navigator, to my Nuvi 660. Good plan!