GARMIN AIR UK INSTALL FOR IDIOTS

[AndyH]

After a chat with Norris about this thread on the hill yesterday it reminded me to inform you of a change to the web-link for ContourMaps.
 
The original address was posted by Steve Watkins on August 19, 2008...........the new one is http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php .
 
Just thought i'd let you all know.
 
AndyH

[Rob B]

Andy

Great instruction they saved me a lot of time. Just uploaded the transparent "UK everyday airspace" map to my 76s as recommended by Steve Lowe. 

Any other tips will be much appreciated.

[AndyH]

Thanks for that Steve Lowe, now I have to start all over again but it does mean that i'll have more memory to spare for other data now, so i'm happy about that.

I think the altitude for Shobdon ATZ is 300'AMSL Steve, correct me if i'm wrong though, and the next flying item for me to purchase will definitely be a paper air map.

Oh, and by the way Steve i'll be overjoyed if I manage to fly over 10km, never mind 100km

[steve lowe]

thanks for sorting my Query about the (airspace img)
I think you are best off without that one because i have found that I only use .UK everyday airspace. meaning that is the only one of those 6 files that I have ticked to be switched on on the gps. the others just clutter your screen with air space you dont need.
I have found it realy easy to read when on an xc,use the transparent version so you can see your base map as well.and also it does not disappear when you zoom out past 12 km. it has helped me keep under 4000ft on the outer edge of cardiff airspace and stoped me flying into class A birmingham airspace.
I would advise every one to carry a paper map as well it helps with the bigger picture if you use both the gps and the paper air map together you cant go wrong.
the best thing is to expect to fly 100km every time you go xc and swat up on any airspace you might have to navigate round so when you get there you know exactly what to do.
remember ATZ like shobdon is 2000ft above the air field do you know the altitude of the air field ?

[AndyH]

OK Steve, all sorted, got rid of that 'Airspace.img' to make more memory space, put everything I needed on one file(all 6 airspace img's,9 regional contour map img's that included a few national ones) all in all I have used virtually all 8mb of memory and it has made a massive improvement to the GPS as a regional ground navigating tool aswell,an excellent suggestion thanks Steve.

     Nice 1

     Andy H.

[AndyH]

Thanks for answering the last question regarding the 'Airspace.img', I was just about to answer it myself as I have just sorted out viewing the maps using the geopainting web page and also sorted out which contour maps I require using this aswell.The only problem i've got now is getting all of the img. files into the same file ready for uploading into my 76 BASIC model, I think i'm going to have to delete my existing airmaps and contour maps and start again from scratch as my 'C Files' are now a bit of a mess, no worries i'm starting to enjoy it now .
   
If there is no need for this 'Airmap.img' then I could delete this before uploading to save valuable memory space.

Nice 1 Steve

Andy H.

[Steve Watkins]

Andy - is it the 76 basic model or is it 76S, 76S, 76Cx or 76 CSx ?

If its the 76 model, you have 8mb of memory and will need to be selective when uploading the files.

As for the airspace files:

There are six map files which include:
a) Everyday airspace to 8000ft - used always
b) Airspace over 8000ft - airways and some Class A
c) Weekday only airspace - MATZ, some danger areas and TRAs
d) NOTAM airspace - eg Fairford
e) BGA waypoints
f) Gliding areas

These are named 01000001.img - 01000006.img

The file named Airspace.img is a complete file of all the areas.
You have the option on your garmin to select individual maps so either upload each one and selectively turn off maps etc, or upload the whole map and use that one, although it may be messy for day to day flying - perhaps an XC guru could clarify this?

[AndyH]

I viewed the contour maps site yesterday evening and noticed that I would probably only need to download the Cardiff area and maybe one or two other areas,and was wondering if you could advise me as to which areas I would need to download for the Mid to South Wales area as I haven't sorted out how to view them yet at http://www.geopainting.com/en/.
Maybe you could also answer Steve Lowe's question in this thread for me,the only answer I can come up with is that the 7th(airspace img) could be 'UK Gliding Airspace' ,the only way to find out is for Steve Lowe to to goto 'MapSource Info' in the main menu on his GPS and check if he has 'UK Gliding Airspace', if not ,then that's what it is, let us Know Steve Lowe.
By the way Steve Watkins I have the GPSMAP 76 would it have enough memory space in it to take the extra 'Contour Maps' info aswell as the 'Air Maps'.

Nice 1

   Andy H.

[Steve Watkins]

They are individual maps like the airmaps, in other words you can switch them off in map settings so not to clutter your screen. They work great Andy. If you need a hand give us a shout.

[AndyH]

First i've heard about these contour maps Steve, they sound excellent, will have to download them ASAP(all at the same time obviously) as they seem to be as essential as the airmap itself in my opinion.
Hope you find everything works well when you test it out Steve, and it doesn't need altering because it works perfectly for me as it is, and I don't fancy another day like yesterday ever again in my life.

Nice 1

    Andy H.

[Steve Watkins]

Good article Andy, I will test it out and make into an article.

I went through this process sometime ago with Gareth Davies as we were both looking at airspace maps and contour maps for Garmin.

You may be interested in uploading contour maps as well which are available here : http://www.smc.org.uk/ContourMaps.php

They are free to download.

Just upload them along with the airmaps (all at the same time) and you will also have contour maps with hill names and hill altitudes etc which can be useful not only for paragliding but hill walking and navigating out of a bad landing zone

[Alex H]

Yeah, I have to admit the MapSource thing isn't a great bit of software. When I used the latest version 6.14 it kept crashing because of the Airmap registry entries. However version 6.13 works fine. If you want to view the .img files on the PC try using GPSMapedit at:

http://www.geopainting.com/en/

Shareware, but my unregistered version is still working, don't know what the limits are.

Cheers,

Alex

[steve lowe]

hi I have found that the mapsourse way of doing it always causes the computer to crash you dont want to be meddling with the registry if you can help it.I use the image2 gps software and find it easy.
I did not upload the 7th (airspace image) file. and mine seems to work fine,
I was wondering why you specified this, and could you explain what it is and why i should have it.
I use the transparent maps with metro guide maps switched on as well.
G76cs.
thanks.
I just upload the 6 airspace files and all my GB maps in one go. 

[John Nash (Nasher)]

Well done Andy and good documentation.


As an alternative you can buy the Garmin 96 with the Jepperson air map for Europe, Middle East & Africa allready on it.

[AndyH]

Thanks Alex, the problem I had was that I didn't have the Garmin Mapsource software with my GPS, if I did it would have probably been a lot easier, not to worry looks like i've got it sorted now.

  Nice 1

  Andy H.