Map requirements for Drive 61 GPS

**mpilihp** · 28th January 2020, 07:35 PM

Hello I have been creating maps (non routable) for the Nuvi series GPS for many years using MapSource and GPX2IMG applications and it has served me well.

I am now trying to create maps for a Drive 61 and the maps are not loading, it appears they use a different map file format or possibly more.

Could someone describe the Drive series map file format and tools used to create a map? If possible I would like to be able to make the routable.

Thank You

~ Phil

**Butters** · 4th February 2020, 10:18 PM

@mpilihp
Drive 61 has 'protected' firmware which doesn't allow use of detail maps other than those either available as the device's OEM entitlement or legally purchased Garmin-issued mapping for the specific device. Unfortunately that also may mean that any third-party map will not be allowed either. On attempting to load unauthorzed mapping the device will probably show a message something like 'Maps are corrupt and cannot be loaded'. The only solution is to use Universal Firmware Patcher for Protected Garmin Devices however to do that for any reason breaches Garmin EULA for it's software even though in your case it mightn't technically breach their EULA for mapping data use.

**mpilihp** · 10th February 2020, 12:52 AM

HI Butters thaanks for the info. So do you know of a garmin gps model that allows using in the portrait mode like the Drive allows and allows custom maps?

Thank you

Phil

**Cnfhbr** · 10th February 2020, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by mpilihp

I am now trying to create maps for a Drive 61 and the maps are not loading ...

What kind of warning does your Drive 61 issue when trying to load such a custom map?

Could you give an example of any such custom map to analyze the reasons for its rejection?

**mpilihp** · 27th February 2020, 02:47 PM

So I am using maps our cell to create a garmin I'm file and then transfer it to the gps. Been a while since I've tried but will do it again and post the results.

Thanks. Phil

Hello so I happened upon a Garmin Nuvi 65LM for cheap so I bought it thinking since its a NUVI it may be able to display my custom maps. I first tried to load the map directly from MapSource and the PC sees it as a drive and MapSource cannot recognize it. Googling this says the GPS needs to be put in Garmin mode but I do not see how to set it in that mode. So I did the next idea and created the map on a microSD card and put the card in the GPS. It recoginzed there was a new map/or drive and said GPS needed to reboot. Note the map is two layers, the base is a topo map and then there is my trails layer. I make the trails layer with MapSource, I then load that into GPX2IMG application and then it gets made into a Garmin format file and loaded into MapSource. From there I then say transfer it to the microSD card. I did this and the Topo layer shows but not the trails map. THe topo map is a garmin product so its sounding like even this Garmin model does not allow putting in non garmin licensed maps as you said.

I can send you the file if you want/can look at it to see if something can be done with it. IE such as the Butters person mentioned, using a tool called Universal Firmware patcher blah....

Any help is much appreciated. Thank You

~ Phil

**Cnfhbr** · 6th March 2020, 07:07 AM

@mpilihp

If your custom map is created correctly and it's not unicode, it should be displayed on any automotive device without patching the firmware.
Have you tried opening your custom .img in BaseCamp?

**mpilihp** · 6th March 2020, 01:36 PM

Hi I do not have BaseCamp but if its a free download Ill try it, I use MapSource which does display the map area (a square) and when zoom in the actual trails too when it is imported into MapSource from GPX2IMG but it is not the img file. The file generated is a gmapsupp.img which I assume the same img file type you are talking about.

Originally Posted by Cnfhbr

What kind of warning does your Drive 61 issue when trying to load such a custom map?
Could you give an example of any such custom map to analyze the reasons for its rejection?

Hi yes I can send you an example if you were interested in looking at it. Thank You for the offer.

~ Phil

**mpilihp** · 7th March 2020, 01:36 AM

Hi so I installed BaseCamp, not familiar with it but this is what I did.

First I tried to open the .img file that I have saved on my PC from the SD card MapSource installed it on and Base Camp does not appear to support opening that file type.

Next I connected my Garmin to the PC via USB and said receive from device and it imported the map from the GPS and I could select the map in BaseCamp and the trails are on it. So the only thing I can think of that is causing the issue with my maps is I am selected to create an IMG file from both a TOPO map and my trails GPX files and I wonder if the topo map is being layered over my gpx trails file is that possible?

Otherwise I wonder if the GPS is like the Drive 61 models that the firmware only allow displaying Garmin map files...

Thanks ~ Phil

**Cnfhbr** · 7th March 2020, 09:28 AM

@mpilihp

We cannot make wild guesses, having no idea of your custom map parameters, for example: map format (?), codepage in LBL's (?), etc.

Put another way, if your custom map is created correctly and it's not NT and not unicode, it should be displayed by your Drive 61 without patching its firmware.

**mpilihp** · 9th March 2020, 01:49 AM

So I verified I can make a map and load it on my older Nuvi 1490 that the map works on and place it on the Nuvi 65LM and it doesn't work. The map file includes a base layer from Topo US 2008 map and the trails layer with the trails. Both display on the 1490 but on the 65LM just the Topo layer displays. If I unselect the topo layer then the trails layer still does not show. So I believe it is being created correctly or as the GPX2IMG program intended to but it doesn't work on the 65LM. I can send you a copy of the img file if that would help you identify what is wrong or if I need to patch the firmware??

Thank you for your help

~ Phil

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