I am getting ready to order a Garmin to take along with me on my rides. My question to everybody that uses them is.Did you buy the pre-loaded sd cards with the TOPO maps, and possibly the pre-loaded sd card with your region on it? Or is everybody just using the stock system that it comes with? We are going to start going to a few places we aren't familiar with and I wanted one I could dedicate to just ATV. Thanks for the advice in advance! Chris Hi Chris. In your information panel, you don't specify where you are from - Canada or the United States?

In Canada, I purchased the Garmin Topo Canada Version 4 with Basecamp DVD, Garmin part #010-10469-00 from GPS City for $99.95. I am still able to use it with the previous Mapsource program as well. Once you have this DVD, you open up the Basecamp program, connect your GPS to the computer, and you can choose which areas of the map you want to download to your GPS Micro SD Card. I have the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx GPS unit and I purchased a 2GB Micro SD card for it, and it was plenty big enough for the Ontario and Quebec map area download I wanted to do.

Virtual Breadboard Full Cracked Softwares. To install the maps, you just (1) connect your GPS to the computer using the USB cable, and the name of your device will appear in the 'Library' of the Basecamp program, (2) right click your device in the 'Library' and click 'Install Maps', (3) follow the instructions in the Map Install Wizard to complete the installation. It is easy to do and although it takes time depending on what map area coverage you want to download, you will have the version 4 topographical and detailed maps in your GPS unit so you don't have to buy the preloaded Micro SD card - you customize and make your own. If you are not from Canada, and need this for the States, I would suggest that you go to the Garmin site for information on what you require, or even email them with your inquiry - I have always found the people at Garmin to be very helpful.

Hope this helps. Edited by CANAM705, 27 February 2010 - 09:50 AM. The stock maps in the GPS may be ok depending on the unit you purchase. Personally I would go the route of the Mapsource TOPO disk and upload the maps to the unit. There is also a wealth of free maps available on websites like, many of which are more detailed then the garmin maps. I went with purchasing a garmin Oregon, ram mount, 4GB sandisk SD card, and the Mapsource TOPO DVD. If you are looking at a etrex I might recommend bumping up to a Oregon, Colorado, or a Dakota.

Amazon.com has the Oregon 200 for about the same price as the high end etrex models. With the Oregon I can create custom maps from either scans of paper trail maps or image captures from PDF trail maps downloaded from the internet.

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I seem to use my custom maps more than the Garmin maps. Here are a couple of useful links for creating custom maps:, -Rob. I am actually in US, in Tennessee. I fly so I am familiar with the updates with Garmin and so forth. My plane has 2 garmins built in and I also carry a portable one as back up that also has weather built in.

I just wasn't sure if I should get the pre-loaded sd card for my region or what? I am not all that familiar with the trail type stuff.

Only air, and street. Thanks for the help!

Oh and I am planning on getting the Garmin 60. Chris Off topic - but what do you fly? I'm in the same boat, only used to the 496 and 430's.

I am actually in US, in Tennessee. I fly so I am familiar with the updates with Garmin and so forth. My plane has 2 garmins built in and I also carry a portable one as back up that also has weather built in. I just wasn't sure if I should get the pre-loaded sd card for my region or what?

I am not all that familiar with the trail type stuff. Only air, and street. Thanks for the help! Oh and I am planning on getting the Garmin 60. Chris Hi Chris.

If you do get the Garmin 60, I would highly recommend the GPSmap 60CSx model which will have the electronic compass and barometric altimeter built into it among other features. I use this one on my quad in conjunction with the Garmin Mapsource and Topo Canada software, and am quite pleased with its features and abilities for tracking and map display. See for yourself, compare the other GPS units with it here >Black And Decker Mr Cappuccino Manual Arts. Steve Edited by CANAM705, 28 February 2010 - 12:17 AM. The 60csx is the exact model i was looking.

It looks like a great unit. On the other note, I am in a flying club that has a few Cessna's 182, and 2 172's. Also a Piper Lance. I personally own a Aerostar 601 Twin that I use mostly for trips, etc. The club planes are great for training and currency, not to mention local flights for time in the the air. All the planes I fly have 430's in them, and I had a 496 for a few years, and about 6 months ago upgraded to the 696 which is SWEET!

If you ever thought about that upgrade it is worth it! I actually sold my 496 to a buddy for $2000 so I was only out $1600 instead of the full price!

I think you can still get about $1600 trade in on some of the websites that sells them for the 696.