Adding bush maps to Garmin Nuvi 660

[Wilbur]

Hi all,

I have just made the whim purchase of a Garmin Nuvi 660 with no pre-spending research. The one that is promoted as having Australia wide maps powered by Whereis......

Well it doesn't know where I live near Bega in NSW, it doesn't know where I used to live only 80 k's from Melbourne and I doubt if it could guide me across the Gunbarrel.

Are there any 3rd party maps available that can be loaded into the 660 to make it suitable for off-road use?

Alternatively, can anyone recommend a talking GPS that IS suitable for outback use? Luckily I bought this one from Dick Smith and they offer a 14 day no questions refund or swap service.

As always, very grateful for any advice please.

Cheers all,

Paul

[Wilbur]

Maybe it's user error. When I zoom in, lesser rural roads are shown and named, but when I enter the address I get the mesaage Not Found.

I have even tried reading the manual but no answer.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

Taa,

Paul

[Wilbur]

Maybe it's user error. When I zoom in, lesser rural roads are shown and named, but when I enter the address I get the mesaage Not Found.

I have even tried reading the manual but no answer.

Does anyone have any ideas please?

Taa,

Paul

[weeds]

try entering the address without the house number

[Wilbur]

Thanks for the suggestion, just tried it but still "No match found".

Cheers,

Paul

[Disco300Tdi]

There is a forum specifically for Garmins called Tracks4Australia

tracks4australia : Tracks4Australia (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tracks4australia/)

The bees knees when it comes to Garmin GPS

[Wilbur]

There is a forum specifically for Garmins called Tracks4Australia

tracks4australia : Tracks4Australia (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/tracks4australia/)

The bees knees when it comes to Garmin GPS

Great, thanks for the tip. I will try that tomorrow, and see how I go.

Cheers,

Paul

[SuperMono]

You can load the Tracks4Australia and also topo maps into a few of the Garmin units but that doesn't give you navigation by voice. Have a look at the GPS OZ site OZtopo Mapping by GPSOZ (http://www.gpsoz.com.au/oztopo/)

[dmdigital]

I've just ordered a Nuvi 760 + OzTopo so I'll post what its like when I get it (should be next week).

[Wilbur]

Thanks for the replies, I will be really interested to hear how you get on with the 760 and the OzTopo.

I tried mine out today on some of the local rural roads which did show up on the Garmin map. I think it is a bit drunk. As I approached 'T' intersections, it would tell me to "Turn in 300 metres" which mostly would have landed me in the Bega River.

I cheated and turned in 20 metres instead, it re-calculated and tried to send me in the opposite direction to the correct one, and showed on it's map that I was driving across farmer Freds prize turnip patch.....

Do they all do this?

In a city, do they correctly tell one how far it is to the next turn? That is what I mostly bought it for, having last week become comprehensivley bushed while visiting Sydney.

Sigh.... maybe I shouldn't be farting around with high tech gadgets in a Land Rover. It doesn't seem quite right.

Cheers all,

Paul

[Rosscoe68]

trick with the garmin is to enter your search by street name first rather than by suburb first. when you get to the next step after state the top option is to search by susburb first and thats the default most people use. i use the other search all i think it is, and its amazing how many streets are located in suburbs incorrectly in the whereis maps, and pretty much all the gps use the same base maps , only the garmin and navman allow you to search by street rather than by suburb.
you can load the tracks 4 oz, and theres also a set of maps called shonky maps, both free, both can be added to your unit. dont be put off, you have one of the best available as an all round gps on the market.

[dmdigital]

If you put these co-ords into Google Maps, you will see why I'm interested how it works - 12°11'34.6"S 136°46'24.3"E

Or in your Nuvi try: Matthew Flinders Way, Nhulunbuy, NT.

I want it for out of town travel, surprisingly!

[Wilbur]

trick with the garmin is to enter your search by street name first rather than by suburb first. when you get to the next step after state the top option is to search by susburb first and thats the default most people use. i use the other search all i think it is, and its amazing how many streets are located in suburbs incorrectly in the whereis maps, and pretty much all the gps use the same base maps , only the garmin and navman allow you to search by street rather than by suburb.
you can load the tracks 4 oz, and theres also a set of maps called shonky maps, both free, both can be added to your unit. dont be put off, you have one of the best available as an all round gps on the market.
Thanks Rosscoe,

Great suggestion, and it worked just as you said! They don't even list my street as the wrong district, it is just listed as Lower New South Wales! But it IS there.

Thanks also for making me feel happier about my choice of Garmin.

Cheers Mate,


Paul

[Wilbur]

If you put these co-ords into Google Maps, you will see why I'm interested how it works - 12°11'34.6"S 136°46'24.3"E

Or in your Nuvi try: Matthew Flinders Way, Nhulunbuy, NT.

I want it for out of town travel, surprisingly!

I used to drive taxis in Katherine, NT. A GPS could have been mighty useful there!

The territory is great place to live.

Cheers,

Paul

[dmdigital]

Got the Nuvi 760 today. Used it to go down town - it almost got it right:D - but I will try things out bush on the weekend with the OzTopo maps.

Driving a Taxi in Katherine... now that would have been fun :eek:

[Rosscoe68]

Thanks Rosscoe,

Great suggestion, and it worked just as you said! They don't even list my street as the wrong district, it is just listed as Lower New South Wales! But it IS there.

Thanks also for making me feel happier about my choice of Garmin.

Cheers Mate,


Paul

and if you had of gotten a TomTom, you would be screwed cos you cant search that way. well done :)

[Wilbur]

Thanks for all the replies, I can now make it do what I wanted, and am pleased that by luck I made the right choice.

Taxi driving in Katherine... it was fun, but one needed a strong stomach!


Again, thanks everyone,

Cheers,

Paul

[SVX37]

After doing a search I came across this older thread.

I am wanting to add 4WD tracks to my Garmin Nuvi660.

Has anyone got any new updates or suggestions?

I can purchase Topo Australia for $199 DVD or SD Card or from Johnnyappleseed...


https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2010/06/778.jpg

Or this from Oztopo $229 DVD or $259 on SD card...

http://www.oztopo.com/images/oztopo_V21_case.jpg

Is one better than the other?
Is SD Card better than downloading?

Help!!!!!!!:)

[sashadidi]

I have both OZ topo 2.1 and garmin topo 2 and tried them out in south australia in January, seemed Ok and I would defintley buy the sd card as the SD /micro sd card can be transferred and used in any other garmin unit that takes the card so you are not restricted to trying to put into another garmin until etc

[DougLD]

Hi All
I have Topo Aus2 on my 760 and have found it pretty good around the local area and wil test it more when we go to SA next week. I would look on Ebay as you can get it there.
Regards
Doug