Map and Device FAQs
Thick Black Lines on Roads
If you are seeing wide black borders on the roads on your Garmin device, then you will see something like the following: This is NOT a fault of the map, but an issue (amongst others) that Garmin introduced in their firmware in the middle of May, 2024 ...
Pre-loaded MicroSD Card Installation Instructions
As a greener solution rather than including a printed instructions page with pre-loaded MicroSD and Own Card orders, I have now digitised them. Below are links to the PDF (Abode Acrobat) versions of the printed instruction pages that I used to ...
What Can I do With The Maps?
Placing any order via our sites is legally binding and confirms your full acceptance of and agreement to be legally bound by our terms and conditions (which you must acknowledge when placing an order/donation). The license is legally binding between ...
How GPS Works
In its most basic form, radio signals are beamed (transmitted) down to the earth’s surface from satellites, usually made up of around 30+ satellites in what is known as a constellation. These are spaced apart, and for us to get a lock on our current ...
Map Expiry Message
If you see a message mentioning map expiry it is almost certainly related to some trial OS (Ordnance Survey) maps on the device, not the Talkytoaster maps. If it looks like the one below, it is due to Trial OS (Ordnance Survey) maps that may have ...
Do You Offer Translated Versions of the Map Key (Legend) File?
The file is created in English, so unfortunately not, same with every other language, sorry. Why not? There are over 7000 spoken languages and over 300 different writing systems in use across the world; hopefully you can see the scale of the work ...
My Maps Looks Odd on my Epix Gen2, ForeRunner 965 or other Garmin AMOLED watch!
This issue is not related to the maps, but to the firmware of the Epix Gen 2 models (including the Pro models), ForeRunner 965 and related AMOLED display Garmin watches. It is a transient rendering issue, which is most quickly fixed by simply ...
How can I view the Talkytoaster maps on Linux?
There are a few apps you can use to view the IMG (map file) in Linux, these include: GPXSee (https://www.gpxsee.org/) QMapShack (https://github.com/Maproom/qmapshack) Both of these should also be available via the package manager for most common ...
How many maps can a Garmin device support?
As with most things Garmin, it depends on Garmin imposed limitations, not on the available storage, for maps (internal and/or MicroSD card size): There are two limits that are imposed by Garmin (both in their device firmware and their file system), ...
Where do you recommend I buy a Garmin device from?
For those in the UK or Ireland: For most Garmin devices, I highly recommend GPSTraining as the best source for Garmin devices; not only for the devices themselves, but also for their excellent customer service and allow returns (within 14 days, for ...
How do I update the map?
If you have purchased an Automatic Download for self install, you don't get access to updated versions (as stated on the product page, as shown below): "This is a one-off download version of the map and does NOT include any updates or versions of the ...
What's the Best Route/Track Planning App/Tool?
There are loads of planning tools to create GPX files, these include: BaseCamp Garmin Explore GPSTraining OS Route Planner Komoot OS App Outdoor Active Plotaroute etc. The list is very long. At the end of the day it is a personal choice of features, ...
Ordnance Survey (OS) Maps for Ireland?
Garmin no longer offers OS maps for Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland as they were discontinued a few years ago. However, our maps are even more detailed and include data that you won't find on any OS map. Plus, they are vector-based and ...
Aren't you breaching OpenStreetMap (OSM) Copyright?
NO, and neither are any of the other map producers that are using OSM data, including GARMIN, Outdoor Active, Thunderforest, etc. (who all sell maps and services based on OSM data). There are over a hundred companies using OSM data and selling maps ...
Error -36 When Copying File to MicroSD Card (Mac)
If you get an Error -36 message when trying to copy the map file to a MicroSD card in your Mac, the issue is due to a bug in Mac OSX (as usual), and it still isn't fixed! You may find this article on the cause of the error message and how to fix it ...
Why do I see the map listed twice on my Garmin device?
This only occurs on older Garmin devices that see the two parts of the map as separate maps; in this case BOTH need to be enabled as one is the Contours and the other is the Map data. These are the models that I know will show the map listed twice in ...
Windows SmartScreen Stops Installation!
This is only an issue (usually) if you are trying to install the dedicated BaseCamp version of the map on Windows 10, via running the “install.bat”. If so, you may see the following alert: To allow it to run, first click on the “More Info” link on ...
Why don’t you do a complete Europe, USA, Canada or Russia map?
We do not offer a map of all of Europe because our maps are so detailed (and therefore larger than many other maps); A Europe wide single map would exceed both the map file size and tile limits imposed by Garmin. The same is true for both the USA, ...
Why can’t I unzip the ZIP file on a Mac, I get “Unable to expand “.zip” into “”. (Error 1 -= Operation not permitted)”, Error 79, or some other error?
There is a confirmed bug in MacOS Unarchiver (yet another issue with Macs, so much for them being easy to use!). You will normally only see this issue when you are using Finder or Unarchiver to try and open the ZIP. The other rare possibility is that ...
What Rechargeable Batteries Do You Recommend?
I often get asked what are the best rechargeable batteries for Garmin handheld devices, after years of trying a multitude of different brands of rechargeable batteries, I found that the best batteries were the Sony/Panasonic Eneloop ones. Why? Well, ...
What MicroSD/SD Cards Do You Recommend?
I personally use Kingston as I have found that they are the most reliable and compatible for use in Garmin devices of all the makes available. In over 20+ years of using Kingston I have only had one card fail or be faulty in all that time (and that ...
What is BaseCamp?
BaseCamp is a Garmin product for both Windows and Mac that can be used to create routes, tracks, waypoints, etc. and send or receive this data to a Garmin device attached to the computer via the USB cable. It also has the ability to read maps in from ...
Using the Map in QMapShack
The GPS version of the maps will work in the OpeSource desktop application known as QMapShack (this is the nearest that you can get to Basecamp on Linux, without installing WINE and trying to get BaseCamp to work via that). You can find out more ...
The Map is too Big/Large…
Before purchasing any map(s) from us you should check the following: Does the device support Garmin map files? Check our device Compatibility table, as not all Garmin devices support on-device mapping. Do you have sufficient free space on the Garmin ...
Rights of Way – How are they Shown?
Talkytoaster maps are, as mentioned all over our site, including all the product pages, based on data from OSM and NASA, not OS (Ordnance Survey, IGN, etc.). Rights of Way (R.O.Ws) are included (and shown) where that data exists in the raw OSM map ...
Mac MapManager Blank!
Another common but infuriating Mac bug! When using Dark Mode on Mac OSX the list of maps to install via MapManager appears to be empty (in fact it is showing white text on a white background), as shown below: The map is listed there, it just can’t be ...
How to Switch Maps on a GPSMap60Csx, etc.
This is only required if you have an old Garmin model, such as: GPSMap60Cx or Csx Edge 705 Etrex Legend Cx or Hcx Etrex Vista Cx or Hcx Etrex Venture Cx or Hcx Why? Simply because these older models only support a single map at a time, and it must be ...
Garmin Worldwide Basemap
Many Garmin devices come with a pre-installed basemap (worldwide or regional), and these range from only having major roads and little other detail, to slightly better ones that have a little more detail and even some DEM data (on some models). ...
Do the maps work on an iPad or iPhone?
No, the maps we offer are in Garmin IMG map file format and there are no apps that we are aware of that handle and render this map file format on IOS devices. This is the same regardless of who produces the maps in Garmin IMG format. This includes ...
Do the maps work on a TomTom?
No, the maps we offer are in Garmin IMG map file format and there are no apps that we are aware of that handle and render this map file format on TomTom devices. There is a full compatibility list here:
Do the maps work on a SatMap?
No, the maps we offer are in Garmin IMG map file format and there are no apps that we are aware of that handle and render this map file format on SatMap devices. There is a full compatibility list here:
Do the maps work on a Polar watch?
No, the maps we offer are in Garmin IMG map file format and there are no apps that we are aware of that handle and render this map file format on Polar devices. There is a full compatibility list here:
Do the maps work on a Coros watch?
No, the maps we offer are in Garmin IMG map file format and there are no apps that we are aware of that handle and render this map file format on Coros devices. There is a full compatibility list here:
Do Talkytoaster maps work in MemoryMap?
No, our maps are in Garmin IMG map file format and MemoryMap does not support this file format; so you can’t import or use our maps (or indeed any Garmin format map) in MemoryMap. There is a full compatibility list here:
Computer says the “Disc Image File is Corrupted” or “Not Mountable”, etc.
The file is probably fine, it is just that you are trying to open, run, launch or execute the map file on a computer, it isn’t designed to work on a computer, just on a Garmin GPS device. So, on a windows PC, if you see a message telling you that the ...
Can’t Paste the IMG (Map) to the MicroSD card!
If you have this issue, the most likely cause is that you have the MicroSD card in a SD Adapter, as shown below: And, that you have engaged the Lock on the adapter; this makes the MicroSD card “Read-Only“, and therefore you can’t add files to it ...
Can I use GPX Files from Other Sites on Talkytoaster Maps?
Yes, our maps are GPX, FIT or TCX file agnostic (means they don’t care, as that feature/function is a system/firmware level one, not a map specific feature/function). You can use any GPX, FIT or TCX file from any other source on my maps (as long as ...
Can I use a 64GB or larger card?
No, most Garmin devices (Oregon, Edge, Dakota, Montana, Monterra, Etrex 20/25/30/35 including x, GPSMap, etc.) only support cards up to 32GB* (they will NOT support 64GB or larger cards). Older Garmin devices (such as the Vista/Legend Hcx or ...
BaseCamp & Garmin Explore
Garmin BaseCamp was the replacement for Garmin MapSource (both are desktop applications for Windows or Mac). BaseCamp allows you to plan (and upload/download) routes, tracks, waypoints (and other data) between you Garmin devices and your computer. It ...
Why can’t I Copy and Paste the map to a Fenix 5x, Descent Mk1, Tactix Charlie, D2 Charlie, Fenix 5 Plus, 5s Plus ,5x Plus, 6s, 6 Pro, 6X, MARQ, Forerunner 945, etc.?
You are probably trying to copy and paste directly from the downloaded ZIP file, this may not work. You should extract ALL the files from the zip to a folder on the hard drive in your PC or Mac first, then go to the folder (where you extracted the ...
Next page