Philippine Maps for Garmin Units

Philippine Maps for Garmin Units

For automotive GPS devices, maps are just as important as the hardware, if not more so, because it is the maps who can tell which destinations are available, which streets are one way, the names of the streets, the no left turn intersections, where the U-turn slots are, etc. They also need to be regularly updated, as new roads, new flyovers, new traffic schemes, etc. can interfere with calculation of a route if they are not updated. So the maps needs to have a lot of ACCURATE, and UPDATED CONTENT.

'Philippine Maps'
As of this writing, there are mainly two sources for maps for the Philippines online: Roadguide.ph, and OSM Philippines. My unit came with the demo map from Roadguide.ph installed, and it was okay, enough to get you started.

The problem with roadguide.ph, though, is that they only offer a demo map for non-contributors. But the map is old, and showed some serious flaws. For example, the map didn't even show the flyover from EDSA to the Airport Road, so I ended up looking like I was flying over the streets on the Garmin's screen when I used it. Yes, it is THAT old.

You can get the latest, updated map by becoming a content contributor for the map, but the whole process of contributing data is a bit too complicated, and would suit only those people who are even much nerdier than I am (the thought of which scares me). It wasn't even worth trying.

OSM Philippines also offers free maps for Garmin units, and they update it around once a month. From a aesthetic point of view, OSM's maps are not as good looking as that of Roadguide.ph. The colors, images, animations, etc. are just not as good. But from a functionality point of view, it is good enough to use, and it is UPDATED, meaning all the roads or flyovers that need to be there are, indeed, there. And everytime it is updated every month, it just keeps getting better.

In terms of "Points Of Interests" (i.e., landmarks, places, attractions, etc.), I read that the contributor map from Roadguide.ph has a lot more points of interest. However, OSM's maps again do have enough POIs to be quite functional. As a result, I have been using OSM Philippines' maps exclusively, and just try to update it as often as possible.

If you are going to use OSM's map, I suggest you give a little donation also to them to keep them going, and as a way of giving thanks for giving us a free, functional map for use in the Philippines (and not a crappy one).

Here are the links to the websites:

- Roadguide.ph (you need to register to access the forum where the downloads are available): http://roadguide.ph/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

- OSM Philippines, direct download to the free map: http://bit.ly/gkrqQw

- OSM Philippines, main website: http://esambale.wikispaces.com/osmphil_garmin

'Transferring Maps'
First, you need to download the maps from any of the two sites mentioned above on your PC. It usually comes under the filename, "gmapsupp.img".

After downloading the map, you now need to connect your Garmin device to your PC using the USB cable that came along with it when you bought it. Once connected, the Garmin device will show up like a USB drive, where most if not all of the files and folders of the unit visible.

The next to thing to do, is to locate the directory where the file "gmapsupp.img". Once you locate the file, you might want to copy and save that somewhere in your PC as a backup, in case some problems will occur.

Now what you need to do, is to overwrite the file in your device with the one from the website. They have the same file names, so just overwrite the file on your device.

Once done, disconnect from the computer, and if everything goes well (hopefully), you should have a working Philippine map on your Garmin device.

'Contributing Waypoints'
Once you start using your Garmin device, you definitely will be storing Points of Interests, or Waypoints on it that are not be on the current map. I've had a couple of my own, and I was looking for a way to contribute them to OSM Philippines so the map could be updated.

Well, I just discovered that you can do so by accessing the link below, it shows a form that you can fill up and send to them for possible inclusion in the next update of their map:
- http://www.waypoints.ph/contribwptv2.php

I haven't tried it yet, but it seems you may have a problem inputting the "Altitude" section of the form since I don't remember that information to be accessible on the device. At any rate, if you figure it out, I suggest you participate and submit as much waypoints as possible, so a working, accurate, updated and FREE Philippine map will be available for everyone to use.

(Next: Hacking your Garmin device)

very informative writeup! thanks for sharing this

*sir rhk111

maganda po tong option na binigay nyo po na OSM map. maganda to masubukan kc hindi po ako kuntento sa Garmin mobile XT na gamit ko po ngayon that comes free with my HU.

sir tanong lang po ako kung itong OSM map pwede ko po ba magamit sa china HU ko with GPS (Lightning Lab). tapos yung pagcopy po ba nya copy paste lang po ba from my PC to an SD card? tapos pasok ko na po yung SD card ko sa HU ko? sori ha hindi po kc ako techie pagdating sa gadgets e... hehe.

yung HU ko po ngayon is using Garmin mobile XT po.

lastly, kung dalawa na po yung SD card ko yung isa ay OSM at yung isa naman po ay sa Garmin, magagamit ko po ba yung dalawang SD na palitan? plug and play lang po ba?

salamat po.

How to get the waypoints from Garmin GPS? I saved a lot of points of interest and locations to my Garmin gps unit and I would like to contribute, but I don't know how to retrieve the coordinates (?). Can someone help? Thanks.. btw, area visited was southern part of Palawan (Puerto Princesa to Rio Tuba)

*balto, sorry for the late response, but as for your question whether your China HU that uses a Garmin Mobile XT can use the OSM Philippines map ... maybe. This is because the OSM Philippines website says GPS-enabled phones using the Garmin Mobile XT can use it. See the webpage again, under the section, "List of Working Devices": http://esambale.wikispaces.com/osmphil_garmin

Pero mukhang ikaw ang mag e eksperimento niyan, kasi ala ibang nakagawa na before na nag poste rito. I suggest magpatulong ka duon sa binilhan mo ng unit, baka kaya nila kung medyo nag alangan kang mag eksperimento. Tsaka mas safe siguro iyon, baka magka problema ang software mo.

Benta mo na lang, bili ka ng Garmin para sigurado. :D


*Bruks_pt, I think you can get each individual waypoint on your Garmin device somewhere. I can't walk you thru, though, as I'm currently working abroad and don't have the actual unit with me. You can try fiddling around the device, I do remember finding it somewhere before ...

Or you can try using "Mapsource" to get the waypoints. Its not easy to install and use, though, so if you haven't used it before, its going to be a long, bloody process to install and learn how to use it ...

the OSM map is written/constructed for Garmin software. But you can not use both RoadGuide.ph map and OSMPH map on the same SD card as both should bear the same filename.

You can copy/back-up your SD card with Garmin XT software and put in one the roadguide.ph map and the OSM map on the other one. It can then be plug n play sa HU mo.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rhk111

*Bruks_pt, I think you can get each individual waypoint on your Garmin device somewhere. I can't walk you thru, though, as I'm currently working abroad and don't have the actual unit with me. You can try fiddling around the device, I do remember finding it somewhere before ...

Or you can try using "Mapsource" to get the waypoints. Its not easy to install and use, though, so if you haven't used it before, its going to be a long, bloody process to install and learn how to use it ...

---

Salamat.. Am also working abroad. Will try again when I go home in June. Thanks again.

*rhk111 at clarkent

ayos na po HU ko. i just experimented last month. 2 SD nga ang kopya ko ngayon. roadguide at OSM.... mas detailed yung OSM map lalo na dito sa lugar namin. di ko lang alam pano mag edit ng map dito sa lugar namin. dami na kc nabago.

salamat po mga boss.

Pang nerd nga yung sa roadguide. Ayaw ngang mamigay ng mapa. Nagtry akong magcontribute kaso di ko talaga magets. Buti na lang may namigay naka **********. Pero di na rin updated. Pa pm naman ule ng bagong mapa.

Alin kaya mas complete, yung sa OSM or contributor's map ng roadguide?

^ based on file size, the roadguide map have twice more data

:nod:

hi.just take your time to read sa roadguide, matututunan nyo din ang in and out. nahirapan din ako nung una kasi sobrang excited mag kamapa. once you get to know it, i tell you sulit maging contributor. makikita mo mga contributions nyo from that matutuwa ka talaga. more contibutions means more updated map.bayanihan mode:)

*rhk111, thanks very much for the map tips. I just came back from a trip to Hawaii where after driving around like a headless chicken who couldn't remember specific directions from google maps print outs, I bought a Nuvi 1300, knowing that it will come in handy in the Phils. The device worked like a charm and I never had to rely on printed maps ever again.

My questions (pls pardon the techno-idiocy in them) on installing Phil. maps are these:

1. If I installed both Roadguide and OSM, how will I know which one is being displayed by the device? Can you switch from one to the other? When I was abroad, it was quite intuitive since I was only relying on the pre-installed maps.
2. Will overwriting the "gmapsupp.img" file on the device affect any of the pre-installed maps?

Thanks for the help!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JackFlash

*rhk111, thanks very much for the map tips. I just came back from a trip to Hawaii where after driving around like a headless chicken who couldn't remember specific directions from google maps print outs, I bought a Nuvi 1300, knowing that it will come in handy in the Phils. The device worked like a charm and I never had to rely on printed maps ever again.


My questions (pls pardon the techno-idiocy in them) on installing Phil. maps are these:

1. If I installed both Roadguide and OSM, how will I know which one is being displayed by the device? Can you switch from one to the other? When I was abroad, it was quite intuitive since I was only relying on the pre-installed maps.
2. Will overwriting the "gmapsupp.img" file on the device affect any of the pre-installed maps?

Thanks for the help!

---

1. go to tools -settings - map - map info and see what map has a check mark... yes, you can switch from one map to the other.

2. it's better to back up the garmin drive first just to be safe.

hth:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JackFlash

My questions (pls pardon the techno-idiocy in them) on installing Phil. maps are these:

1. If I installed both Roadguide and OSM, how will I know which one is being displayed by the device? Can you switch from one to the other? When I was abroad, it was quite intuitive since I was only relying on the pre-installed maps.
   Yes, you can select which map will be displayed. If you enable both maps, I believe in some units you will see both maps so that if the tracks are misaligned you'll see two roads, while others will show only one map depending on their so called FID or which map is saved where, internal memory or sd card.
   
   
   
2. Will overwriting the "gmapsupp.img" file on the device affect any of the pre-installed maps?
   No. The new gmapsupp.img will only overwrite the old gmapsupp.img. Pre-installed maps on new Garmin units have different filenames, e.g., gmapprom.img (U.S. Map) and gmapbmap.img (World basic), so they won't be overwritten. But as always advised, backup all files of your unit before tinkering with it!
   

Thanks for the help!

---

hope that helps :grin:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by boybi

Alin kaya mas complete, yung sa OSM or contributor's map ng roadguide?

---

Mas kumpleto ang contributor's map ng roadguide bro...

Pero, maraming mali sa roadguide contributor's map lalo na sa mga probinsiya.

A couple of them, based on my personal experience are :

1. Bolinao,- shortcut road to the lighthouse was marked as major thoroughfare, but it was dirt road, almost a 4x4 trail
2. Candelaria,- diversion road to San Juan was marked as major road, but was dirt road....

13.0K:funa:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CVT

Mas kumpleto ang contributor's map ng roadguide bro...

Pero, maraming mali sa roadguide contributor's map lalo na sa mga probinsiya.

A couple of them, based on my personal experience are :

1. Bolinao,- shortcut road to the lighthouse was marked as major thoroughfare, but it was dirt road, almost a 4x4 trail
2. Candelaria,- diversion road to San Juan was marked as major road, but was dirt road....

13.0K:funa:

---

it would be better if you can submit the said corrections, so that it can be updated in the next map release.:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by liv

it would be better if you can submit the said corrections, so that it can be updated in the next map release.:)

---

Hi Can someone point me a tutorial on how to contribute to roadguide, I'm using garmin 265wt currently using OSM version.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TholitzReloaded

Hi Can someone point me a tutorial on how to contribute to roadguide, I'm using garmin 265wt currently using OSM version.

---

Just got my Garmin 265W from the US a week ago. I loaded both OSM and Roadguide junior map on my device. It takes up around 54MB as opposed to 27 MB for RG and 29MB for OSM.

There are times that OSM has more POIs than RG or vice versa that's why i loaded both maps on my device. Now, I can do POI searching using both maps' POI database.

The catch is that the RG map overrides the OSM map. But you can easily select which map to activate.

Hope this helps.

Need help, guys. I can't seem to find the "gmapsupp.img" in my Nuvi 1300. I already downloaded and installed mapsource from OSM, then downloaded gmapsupp.img from the OSM site. But when I opened my device and went through each folder, I couldn't find its gmapsupp.img so I could overwrite it. Is there any thing else I need to look into? Thanks very much.