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Fenix: Replacing the fenix basemap with a Trail network map

45879 Views 57 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  as4tik, 
O
I got so excited about the .img file installation proof-of-concept, I literally ran out to get the fenix at my local shop.
Umm, "Honey, about the credit card bill… remember all those times I saved $20 by changing my own oil?..."

After waiting what feels like a decade for useful ABCHR watch with GPS, now I have two!

I can't yet tell if the fenix & Ambit will be like my children and I'll keep both, or if they be like my other past watches and one of them will be on Craigslist in 6 months. I can tell it's going to come down to two factors

  1. How good is the fenix vs ambit tracks & sensor data in the real world of my hikes and jogs and vacation-wear?
  2. How good is the November Ambit update? I'm excited about that too.
  3. Is one of them better enough at one activity type or usage-model or the other to keep both?
(ok. 3 factors)

Anyway, back to the Trails "map" installation

************ WARNING: Do At Your Own Risk of turning your fenix into a paperweight ********************

  1. I copied the original gmapbmap.img from the fenix/Garmin folder to another folder on my PC for safe keeping.
  2. I used Garmin Map Install
  3. Selected the fenix.
  4. Message: "all my maps won't fit"
  5. So I chose just Washington and Oregon from Northwest Trails
  6. Installed it. Took about 2 minutes.
  7. It placed a second .img file in the Garmin directory of the fenix, called Northwest Trails.img
  8. I deleted the original gmapbmap.img
  9. I renamed the Northwest Trails.img to gmapbmap.img

Voila!
The original basemap .img file is about 558kB.
The new .img file is 4590kB. (about 1/4th of the fenix capacity) and has essentially every known trail in a 500mile by 300mile 2-state area.

Awesome!
Way way more useful to me than the Garmin Basemap.

This is super helpful to a hiker… so I'll have not just my planned route in the fenix, I'll see all the other intersecting trails, and can identify their names. In the watch. It's that extra bit of back-up and confidence, yep, I've had paper maps blow away, and yep, I've had dead batteries in my handheld. Never at the same time though. :). Plus I can impress my friends with 1-inch 70x70 pixel black&white trail maps. Priceless.

Here are images:
Northwest Trails overview in Basecamp - it has a bajillion trails. Make a donation, it's worth supporting.

Northwest Trails zoom-in in Basecamp. What you'd typically use to map/overlay your Route Waypoints.
Text Map Line Organism


A place I've been: my existing Waypoints from Basecamp are in the fenix along with the NW Trails. (Key point = those are not GPS tracks, those are the network of trails from the .img file… aka the Background Map.

An arbitrary trail crossing seen in the map mode of the fenix. Note the crosshairs.

In the Orange menu you can "Select Pt"

And depending on what your crosshairs are pointing to… you get the underlying information (e.g. could be trail name, or POI details. In this case the Pacific Crest Trail.

(p.s. I like Demo Mode.)

Running
And I did go for an hour run with both the fenix and ambit. Both on 1sec tracks. Verdict = No verdict yet.
  • The HR graphs are identical.
  • Tracks on map are very similar. No wildly phubar points. SportTacks-computed distances are within 0.01miles. Ambit "in-watch"/summary distance is 1% shorter. And the truth is out there somewhere.
  • The elevation graphs match. (baro-based I presume)
    • However the Ascent/Descent in Details seems quite (2x) wrong in the fenix… maybe GPS-based?
  • "In-watch" real-time Paces matched pretty close, by GPS standards: e.g. +/- 10 seconds.
    • Fenix Current Pace is not really instantaneous, it's doing some default smoothing I guess. It lags the Ambit by a few seconds when coming to an abrupt stop. Like the jump stop my basketball coach taught me in high school.
  • Can't review the HR and speed summary in the fenix. Huh?
  • Trending to give a slight nod to the Ambit for Training, for me. But also have no doubt that the fenix + Garmin Connect will be more than fine for the 97%.

Oh, and one more thing:
No fenix Automatic mode switching between Altimeter ("Variable") and Barometer ("Fixed")? If true that'll be a bummer.
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A
Great finding. It works very well. I have a question though: my maps from Garmin are pretty heavy in details, and the Fenix has a hard time to zoom in and out. Mapsource has the possibility to show a different level of details. Is there a way to save the maps or generate the .img with more or less level of detail?
Thanks in advance
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as4tik
Ahg said:
Great finding. It works very well. I have a question though: my maps from Garmin are pretty heavy in details, and the Fenix has a hard time to zoom in and out. Mapsource has the possibility to show a different level of details. Is there a way to save the maps or generate the .img with more or less level of detail?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
My Fenix has a hard time to zoom in and out to. It seems normal with map. But to chose different level of details you must change map in Base Camp. Not level but map. Decreasing detail of map impossible on the watch. I use the maps from the server openstreetmap.org. In our country not too many detail it seems.

Support of maps didn't promised and didn't announced. I guess we should say thanks to Garmin for the fact that we're able to download the map in to the watch.
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F
I don't understand, is it possible to have different level of information when zooming out / in with a custom map on the watch ? For example, I would like to have a general map when zooming out and have a detailled map when zooming in.

How to select the area on the map and its level of detail we want to put into the watch ?
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as4tik
Falconeye75 said:
I don't understand, is it possible to have different level of information when zooming out / in with a custom map on the watch ? For example, I would like to have a general map when zooming out and have a detailled map when zooming in.

How to select the area on the map and its level of detail we want to put into the watch ?
Click to expand...
Yes, it is possible to have different level of information when zooming out / in with a custom map on the watch. That is true now. But to choose the level, when a detailed map begins to appear, as in hiking device (like on Montana, Oregon, Dakota, eTrex) - imposible.

Falconeye75 said:
How to select the area on the map and its level of detail we want to put into the watch ?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, we can not to select level of detail, which should appear into the watch.
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O
Reading through gpstracklog I saw someone else installed some maps on the fenix.
That motivated me some more.

I dug around in my basement and found my Oct 1999 version 3.0 of Garmin MapSource Topo maps - 3 CDs with the whole US. Since it's back from the era of handhelds with the same memory as the fenix, I thought they might fit well.
Poster Action figure Fictional character Games
Dvd Orange Wheel Technology Electronic device

​

And I decided also try the free/donation Garmin-compatible "Northwest Topo" maps. These are what I have installed in my 60CSX. I did this as a separate install, not in addition to the Garmin topos.

Outcome:

  • Both installed just fine on the fenix using either MapInstall or Mapsource. And yes, I used Windows7 and I didn't have to find my old copy of Windows 95.
  • I installed just a couple tiles of each and, just like in the old days, after the turn of the century, if you install just what you need for a hike, walk/outing, you can get a decent size area into the 20MB memory
  • Garmin Topos - I put in ~1MB of tiles, easily dozens of square miles. More than enough for days of hiking.
  • Northwest Topos - I put in 14MB of tiles, maybe 150miles x 30miles.
  • (+): Roads show up, Road names/numbers show up, topo lines show up, there is some amount of auto-adjustment of detail level with Zooming
  • (-): Couldn't point ot a topo line and get the value, topo line values didn't show, gets cluttered quickly if you have your own POIs/WPs,Geocatches etc.
  • (-): map redraw was definitely sluggish while Pan'ing. e.g. a few seconds delay.
  • I felt the overall the Northwest Topos gave a slightly better topo experience.
  • I haven't figured out how to get the Trails and the Topo to install at the same time
  • No brainer that I'll still want my color handheld.
  • But, gee, this sure is fun, and any of it beats the original basemap.

Garmin Mapsource 3.0 Topo --> get on to ebay and Craigslist and finds your copy today!
A suburban area, and zoomed into a street-level with an Active route
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Analog watch Watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap


Panning around to a random area - these are the maps existing icons for a hiking trail. Not my POIs.
Watch Analog watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory


An area with lakes, and zoomed out to an area of many unidentifiable squggles.
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Analog watch Watch Watch accessory Fashion accessory Strap


Working with a specific hill, zooming in, and view map info on a feature.
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Northwest Topos --> Get the maps and make your donation today!
I went to beautiful Mt Jefferson (in Demo mode, not for real), since it is pointy with lots of topo interest
Notes:
  • The fenix doesn't seem to to allow detail adjustment. So it's as-drawn
  • Basecamp does have detail adjustment.

Starting at the peak and zooming out. Not that blue is glacier, and that does show on the fenix
Map Ecoregion Line Land lot Parallel
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Map Ecoregion World Atlas
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Map Ecoregion Line Atlas World
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Happy trails!
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C
Nice. How long did it take to render those last two screens with all the detail?
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A
I just realized that in the garmindevice.xml file there are three datatypes named BaseMaps, PreProgrammedMaps and SupplementaryMaps, each one with its corresponding name with the .img extension. I tried to load both the basemap and another one named gmapsupp and it works fine, although I don't know if the gmapbmap.img file is considered, as I only see the gmapsupp.
Does anyone know if both can be seen or what is the creterion used by Fenix to show one or the other?
does anyone know what is the PreProgrammedMaps thing?
can anyone tell me how can I see on the PC how the gmapbmap looks like? i tried to upload it to mapsource without success, and I have never seen it in the Fenix screen (it might be because I live in Spain and bought the Fenix in the US)
thanks in advance
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O
cobrapa said:
Nice. How long did it take to render those last two screens with all the detail?
Click to expand...
Hi.
Hmm, not sure exactly how long. I'd guess most of the time when I was panning it was a 1-2 seconds to fully redraw a screen. That's what it felt like, but I didn't count it out. Maybe some were more and some were less.
Responsiveness to the Pan command buttons was fine - the stuff shifted promptly, but then left a blank area which then fills in after the delay.

Practically speaking with such a small screen and no color, to see your icon and your breadcrumb, you'll want to be a zoom with only a few contour lines to see what's going on. But also while you are moving, only a small increment of the screen will need to be newly drawn... I need to check this out more in the field... so far it's been an armchair demo exercise.

Where I'm at on this is right now:

  • I still really like having just the Trail network as the basic uncluttered background. Very practical. I'm lucky to be in a multi-state region (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, BC) so comprehensively covered.
  • I don't think I'll use the Topos too often, because of the responsiveness and clutter factor.
  • Streets are also in the topos, and perhaps there might be a rare occasion where that's handy on the wrist, but not often I suspect.
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Ahg said:
I just realized that in the garmindevice.xml file there are three datatypes named BaseMaps, PreProgrammedMaps and SupplementaryMaps, each one with its corresponding name with the .img extension. I tried to load both the basemap and another one named gmapsupp and it works fine, although I don't know if the gmapbmap.img file is considered, as I only see the gmapsupp.
Does anyone know if both can be seen or what is the creterion used by Fenix to show one or the other?
does anyone know what is the PreProgrammedMaps thing?
can anyone tell me how can I see on the PC how the gmapbmap looks like? i tried to upload it to mapsource without success, and I have never seen it in the Fenix screen (it might be because I live in Spain and bought the Fenix in the US)
thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Hi.
I have installed from two different mapsets using MapInstall in one loading: Northwest Topos, and Northwest Trails. (I don't know if the specifics matter though).
This put two .img files on the fenix, named after the original mapsets.
I had already deleted the original gmapbmap.img to make space.

I renamed the two new .img file to gmapbmap.img and gmapsupp.img.

that seemed to work well in that it now shows both the topo information and the trail information superimposed.

You can always see what the original basemap (or any map) by using GPS:DemoMode and zooming way out and panning around.

There is a file on the fenix called gmaptz.img. I don't know what it is, and I haven't intentionally modified it.

That's about all I know... I've just tried these few things.
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M
or_watching said:
There is a file on the fenix called gmaptz.img. I don't know what it is, and I haven't intentionally modified it.
Click to expand...
This file keeps the Time Zone Map
where the Time Zone changes etc..

In general on Garmin handheld devices you can add more maps with those specific filenames:

gmapbmap.img
gmapprom.img
gmapsupp.img
gmapsup2.img

it may apply to Fenix as well...
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Thak you or_watching and maxgraves
I tried the Demo thing (which I had never done before) and I saw that the original gmapbmap has the information on the spanish border line, which is of little interest knowing that in Spain you realize when you are leaving the country because your feet get wet!
If a gmapsup2.img is possible, do you think this can be extrapolated to 3,4,5,6,,,? It should be better to put smaller files to accelerate the zoom delays (I will try it this evening)
No one knows what the gmapprom.img is for? or just another way of naming a map with no difference with the others?
No one knows neither if it is possible to generate .img files with the different levels of detail that mapsource or basemap allow to show on the screen?

Thanks
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M
no, the gmapsup3,4 etc wont work

usually the gmapprom.img was the map stored in the builtin memory of the device
and the gmapsupp.img the map stored on the SD memory of the device
so its the same thing

when you add many maps on the device
you should know the Draw Order of the maps

the Draw order is what defines which map will show first then second etc
the levels

ofcourse on the Garmin handheld devices you can enable/disable maps through the Menu
in Fenix you dont have that..
cause it was not built for that purpose I guess..

the other thing you can try
is to Join maps in one IMG, if you want to add many
using GMapTool
Pliki/Download: GMapTool, Nutrak

anyway
if you try search the internet about Garmin maps etc
you will find MANY stuff
one thing that made Garmin a GPS navi giant is the "flexibility" that provides to the users that need more!!
officially or unofficially :)
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F
Do you know where wa can find a step by step document or a youtube video describing how to iport maps on the Garmin Fenix ? I have Garmin topo Map V3 and I would like to select a small area and to have this area sent to the watch. If possible, to have different level of zoom for this area.

Thanks.
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O
maxgraves said:
This file keeps the Time Zone Map.
Click to expand...
That makes sense. Thanks.
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mvyrmnd
I'm hoping to load the Australia OSM maps into mine when I get it. Thanks to those who've posted instructions!
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J
The problem with recent maps, Garmin, local topo, OSM, velomaps... is that they contain a lot of additional information on top of the mapping information that makes then very big, too big to fit into the small memory of the Fenix, that's why old maps from a time when devices had little built in memory are nice for the Fenix. The problem with these old maps is that the mapping information is obsolete.

For the Fenix, the best would be to have some stripped down maps with only the basic mapping information.
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as4tik
jipe said:
The problem with recent maps, Garmin, local topo, OSM, velomaps... is that they contain a lot of additional information on top of the mapping information that makes then very big, too big to fit into the small memory of the Fenix, that's why old maps from a time when devices had little built in memory are nice for the Fenix. The problem with these old maps is that the mapping information is obsolete.

For the Fenix, the best would be to have some stripped down maps with only the basic mapping information.
Click to expand...
For this reason, useful maps OSM. They are fresh, the most accurate and part divided into 5 MB, which is convenient for loading into Fenix
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as4tik said:
For this reason, useful maps OSM. They are fresh, the most accurate and part divided into 5 MB, which is convenient for loading into Fenix
Click to expand...
Y

Yes, but 5MB is still big for the small memory of the Fenix and they contain too much information for the limited display possibilities of the Fenix.
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F
Do you know if there is a simple way to use online maps and convert it to IMG maps without purchasing Garmin MAPS ?

For exemple, it would be great to be able to catch maps from websites like openrunner and to convert maps into img files.

Any idea about it ?
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as4tik
Convert map in to img format is very difficult. There are no simple way for this.

without purchasing Garmin MAPS you may use maps from http://www.openstreetmap.org/
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