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GPS City Q&A » Outdoor GPS » Can I put 24K maps on the Dakota 20?

Outdoor GPS (7 replies)

Item

Original Question

Can I put 24K maps on the Dakota 20?

› Garmin Dakota 20

Author

Reply

Tom J
San Jose

Original question asked on Sep 29, 2009, 4:10pm

Hi...total newby question. I'm looking at the Dakota 20 and I see there is a bundle option that comes with a TOPO US 100K mapping software. I'm thinking that for hiking, I would much perfer to use the more detailed 24K topos. Is that possible? I already have software from MapTech that I use for playing with the topos, so is there an easy way to use that for the maps?

Thanks...I know this is a total NOOB question....

Jordan GPS City
Las Vegas, NV

Reply #1 on Sep 30, 2009, 7:43am

hello,
The Maptech maps will not load into the Garmin GPS units. Garmin does offer their own compatible topo 24K software for use in the Dakota GPS. Just use this link I provided to do a query of the 24K topo maps on our site.
http://www.gpscity.com/search/q=24k

Garmin uses vector mapping in a proprietary format for their GPS units and Maptech, to my knowledge still uses the older style Raster Mapping geo-referenced for their PC software. Raster mapping doesn't have very good zooming characteristics, especially on a small screen like the Dakota 20. This is because it is a scanned image.

Cheers
Jordan

TomJ
San Jose

Reply #2 on Sep 30, 2009, 7:57pm

Jordan,
Thanks for the reply. Just to be clear, to get about 24k detail on the Dakota I have two choices:
o Buy a preloaded SD card http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-topo-us-24k-w-microsd-card.html
o Buy their TOPO software http://www.gpscity.com/garmin-topo-us-24k-west-dvd.html

The TOPO software costs a tad more, but covers a few more states.

Will either of those work with the Dakota? The reason I ask is the Dakota is not listed, but I'm guessing thats just because its new.

Thanks again for your time!

tom

TomJ
San Jose

Reply #3 on Sep 30, 2009, 8:40pm

Ok....just answered my own questions, both those maps will work with the Dakota 20.

Thanks again for your time!

Jordan GPS City
Las Vegas, NV

Reply #4 on Oct 1, 2009, 7:30am

Hello Again!
I recommend buying the software on DVD so that you have some maps on your PC to overlay your GPS Data on. Maps on an SD card only view on the GPS unit and can NOT load to the PC.
Thank you for using our site. Have fun on the trails.

Debbie
Bay City

Reply #5 on Aug 6, 2011, 6:25am

I just bought a Dakota 20 and then purchased the Garmin TOPO U.S. 24K Great Lakes and I am unable to get the map to work properly. It seems the PIOs and other things work propely, I just can't get the screen to show me anything but what looks like a shaded relief basemap...no street grid or street names, etc. Is the map dysfunctional or am I doing something wrong?

Jordan GPS City
Calgary, AB

Reply #6 on Aug 8, 2011, 7:20am

First make sure you are zoomed enough that the data will appear.
If you can not see anything make sure that all maps except the DEM Basemap and Topo are turned off. The Topo may be hiding below another map.

Debbie
Bay City

Reply #7 on Aug 9, 2011, 9:15am

This TOPO U.S. 24K is the 1st and only map I have purchased and/or tried. I tried it with the basemap enabled and disable, zoomed in and out variety of distances, every way I could think of and I still get the same thing. I did notice some of the PIOs are really outdated... could it be possible that it doesn't work because it is an old version of TOPO US 24K? I did not purchase it directly from Garmin (which may have been a big mistake?). Thanks for your help! Greatly appreciated!

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