# Garmin thingy **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [July 8, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472 "2014-07-08T20:05:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/westtoastpete/32/996_2.png) [@WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/u/WestToastPete)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/1 "2014-07-08T20:05:41Z")
So, a few years ago I bought this: ![](http://i737.photobucket.com/albums/xx16/WestcoastPete/20140703_194500.jpg) I’ve never used it. I’ve turned it on a few times and found satellites, and seems to find them. It seems to have a map of sorts, but nothing with any useful detail. Turning it on here in Coburg, it just shows a dot on a screen. Zooming out seems to show a road or two a long way away. What should I do with it? For example, if I wanted to go out to Plenty Gorge on my MTB and follow Prolly’s strava route out there, how do I do that? I’d be happy to give someone beer or roasted brussel sprouts or whatever for helping me set it up. ---
**Author:** ![Seb](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/seb/32/606_2.png) [@Seb](https://fixed.org.au/u/Seb)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/2 "2014-07-08T20:23:48Z")
Aren’t beardos supposed to be good at this sort of geekiness? Next time I come to Coburg I’ll pull your beard, maybe it’s a fake. ---
**Author:** ![WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/westtoastpete/32/996_2.png) [@WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/u/WestToastPete)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/3 "2014-07-08T20:27:21Z")
Beardos prefer paper maps. ---
**Author:** ![snowflake](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/snowflake/32/3245_2.png) [@snowflake](https://fixed.org.au/u/snowflake)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 8:36pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/4 "2014-07-08T20:36:27Z")
You should be able to download other people’s rides (from Strava for example) commonly as a GPX or TCX? file. And then copy that onto the Garmin’s SD card as a route. Then you tell the Garmin to follow the route. Sounds like you might need topographic maps to get what you need. Garmins without maps at all will still follow routes but the only guidance you get is a compass arrow. My 810 has topo maps so I can do very detailed navigation. But I’ve only ever used it once to get to Blakey’s house, even though I knew how to get there. I’m not sure how well it would work if you have base maps but no topo maps. My guess would be that it will work fine but you just won’t see the detailed map. edit: roasted brussel sprouts are underrated. ---
**Author:** ![Zach](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/zach/32/3243_2.png) [@Zach](https://fixed.org.au/u/Zach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2014, 8:46pm UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/5 "2014-07-08T20:46:37Z")
You might need a ‘base map’, try [Shonkymaps by Shonkylogic](http://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/) (not as shonky as title suggests), or try an OpenStreeMap base map from [Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap](http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/) I think the Bicycle option is pretty close to OpenCycleMap. Copy the \*.img over to your Garmin, let it do its thing and you should see street names etc. Snowflake is on the money about tcx/gpx files, only Strava premium can grab GPXs IIRC? Don’t pay money for a basemap or get one from Garmin, they’ll probably suck. ---
**Author:** ![shakes](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/shakes/32/782_2.png) [@shakes](https://fixed.org.au/u/shakes)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 12:57am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/6 "2014-07-09T00:57:10Z")
> [@zach](#): > > You might need a ‘base map’, try [Shonkymaps by Shonkylogic](http://shonkylogic.net/shonkymaps/) (not as shonky as title suggests), or try an OpenStreeMap base map from [Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap](http://garmin.openstreetmap.nl/) I think the Bicycle option is pretty close to OpenCycleMap. Copy the \*.img over to your Garmin, let it do its thing and you should see street names etc. > > Snowflake is on the money about tcx/gpx files, only Strava premium can grab GPXs IIRC? > > Don’t pay money for a basemap or get one from Garmin, they’ll probably suck. I aquired garmin, hema, and a few other maps… They ALL sucked. OSM for the win [Open Street Map Australia](http://www.osmaustralia.org/garmincycle.php) - download the applicable maps from OSM - plug in your garmin and find and copy the gmapsuppppp.img file to a ‘back up’ folder on your pc - place the OSM img file in the garmin with the same name as the original. Create rides using [ridewithgps.com](http://ridewithgps.com) - save as ride.GPX load into random folders until you find the right one. Google gave me this. - [How to download free maps to your Garmin Edge 705/800/810 | DC Rainmaker](http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2013/05/download-garmin-705800810.html) If you get stuck feel free to drop it past. ---
**Author:** ![WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/westtoastpete/32/996_2.png) [@WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/u/WestToastPete)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/7 "2014-07-09T02:24:28Z")
Hey wow. There’s an SD slot… ---
**Author:** ![WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/user_avatar/fixed.org.au/westtoastpete/32/996_2.png) [@WestToastPete](https://fixed.org.au/u/WestToastPete)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 7:14am UTC](https://fixed.org.au/t/garmin-thingy/65472/8 "2014-07-16T07:14:45Z")
Thanks for the help eh, reckon I’ve got it sorted. Will test it out for real when I have time next week. Ta!