Thread: File Types: Pros and Cons

@hwdean,

Please explain what you want to do with your GPS.

The info in the manual is pretty clear.

You can use JNX files the way they are no need to convert

KMZ google map files and be made into IMG files very easy there there at websites that do it online for you.

But on my GPSMAP 66s I only use openstreet maps for my hiking
For Geocaching I get all my Geocaches from the geocaching wedsite no need to make any GPX files.
As for tracks GPX files you can download them from many sites again no need to make any.

Unless you know your way around MapSource then you can make the GPX files yourself for a hinking trip.

How long have you had the Garmin Oregon??

Been using my eTrex since 2007 and just upgraded to the GPSMAP 66s Last year.

Have never needed to make my own maps from any format.
For Birdeye view JNX files which can be downloaded directly to the 66s and also Oregon 600 I see no need to convert them.

I have tried Google KMZ maps and converted them but find them so so.

Best to stick with original Garmin maps or Openstreet maps for all your hiking.

A lot of users want to try their hands on doing all these converts and wind up not doing it correctly to begin with.

Then ask question after question to get it straight in their head what they are doing wrong.

Unless you know your way around your Garmin Oregon very good and have a need to convert something stick with what is out there with out converting anything.

Map Types
The Garmin Oregon 6x0 currently supports the following map formats:

IMG (*.img) Proprietary Garmin vector map
KMZ (*.kmz) User created raster map (not locked to device)
JNX (*.jnx) Garmin BirdsEye high resolution satellite raster map imagery (locked to specific device)
GPX (*.gpx) GPs eXchange format is a universal open source XML data format used for waypoints, routes, and tracks

Map Storage Capacity
The Oregon 6x0 is not without limitation. Consider these guidelines when selecting maps for your Oregon 6x0:

IMG: A maximum of 20 maps, not exceeding 4000 map segments in total, will be indexed
KMZ: Must not exceed 500 total map tiles across all KMZ maps
JNX: Support for 250 maps per device
GPX: Limited to 2000 total GPX + GGZ files, 4000 total waypoints, 200 routes and 200 tracks (maximum 10,000 points per track)

Map Install Direct
Not all maps require installation to a host computer before being sent to your Garmin GPSr. Maps in the following formats can be copied directly to your GPSr or microSD card as shown:

IMG: [GPSr]\Garmin\ or [microSD]\Garmin\
KMZ: [GPSr]\Garmin\CustomMaps\ or [microSD]\Garmin\CustomMaps\
JNX: [GPSr]\Garmin\BirdsEye\ or [microSD]\Garmin\BirdsEye\
GPX: [GPSr]\Garmin\GPX\ or [microSD]\Garmin\GPX\


Try starting here:

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