What is BaseCamp?
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Garmin BaseCamp is software for use with Garmin GPS navigation devices and Garmin-format maps facilitating communication between mobile devices and computers. It is used for planning, managing , documenting, and sharing trips, routes, tracks and waypoints.
It is available at no charge, in Mac and Windows versions, at www.garmin.com It is interface software. In addition, you will require Garmin-format maps to use it effectively. More information on the fiunctionality of BaseCamp can be found at the Garmin BaseCamp Wiki on Function |
Where can I get maps for use in BaseCamp?
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Garmin maps can be purchased from Garmin itself or Garmin dealers. Purchasing from Garmin direct allows you instant access via download. Other vendors (as well as Garmin) will sell an access card for downloading, or maps on other media such as DVD or SD card. Older Garmin units may not have the capacity to utilize downloaded maps initially, you may have to purchase a DVD first. As the BaseCamp copyright indicates it first published in 2008, we can assume that an 'older' unit is one designed before 2008.
Maps in Garmin format may be purchased from third-party vendors. These are often the best maps for locations other than North America (USA and Canada) and Europe. For example, superior maps of Mexico can be purchased from BiciMapas Garmin format maps can be found for free at online sources. Acquiring Garmin routable maps for free is suggested only for advanced users. If you already own a Garmin device you may have access to the maps on that device through BaseCamp, but this feature is not available on older GPS devices. If your GPS came with 'lifetime' or 'onetime' upgrade access, you may be able to download Garmin maps to your device as well as your computer for use with BaseCamp. Although map products may be used on multiple computers, only maps purchased on an SD card are usable in multiple devices. Other media require that you associate the map product with one GPS device only. SD card format maps from Garmin have limitations, they cannot be upgraded and in most circumstances cannot be printed. This not the case with maps purchased on other media and then placed on an SD card for use in one (only) GPS. More information on using maps in BaseCamp can be found her at the Garmin BaseCamp Wiki on Maps. |
How do I get my locations (waypoints) into BaseCamp? |
Locations in the Garmin world are called 'waypoints' , though they are also known as 'points', 'POIs', 'locations', 'favorites' or 'places'. We'll use the waypoint term to describe specific locations that you want to save, create and use to make routes in the program.
If you have a file in a Garmin format (.gdb or .gpx) simply import it using file>import it in BaseCamp. When a file is imported , it is automatically saved and will appear in the 'Library' pane. In BaseCamp. think in terms of 'importing' a file rather than 'opening' . Likewise, to share data, or move data out if the program, it is 'exported' rather than 'saved' . If you have file in a competitor's product such as Microsoft Streets and Trips or Delorme Street Atlas, it will need a third party 'helper' program. such as GPS Utility or GPS Babel to convert the file to a Garmin compatible format unless the program will export a .gpx file. A spreadsheet file (MS Excel) can be saved in the .csv format and converted to a Garmin format via these third party helper programs or the Garmin POI Loader program. It's free. If you wish to import 'placemarks' in Google Earth into BaseCamp, save them as a .kml or .kmz file, then import this file into BaseCamp via file>import If you do not have waypoints in file format that can be brought into BaseCamp, they can be created from within BaseCamp. |
Look at these options, then use the waypoint tool to select a waypoint most convenient to your planned approach to that park. You can click on the waypoint tool in the upper menu bar and then on your preferred location on the map, or you can click on the waypoint tool that pops up when you click on a map location, either where it appears in the search pane or the map location.
A waypoint can be deleted entirely, or deleted only from one list, and manipulated in various ways. More detailed info can be found here in the BaseCamp Wiki on Waypoints
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How do I find a specific GPS coordinate?
latitude and longitude, which always appear in the lower left corner of the screen, indicating the coordinates of the current position of the cursor
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Make a waypoint by clicking on the waypoint tool then clicking anywhere on the map. Right click on that waypoint, then select 'Open'. In the editing box that appears, edit the coordinates shown to the coordinates you want to make into a waypoint. While you have the box open, you can change the name, the symbol, or add additional information. You cannot use the 'search' function to search GPS coordinates, you locate them by this editing process.
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Where are BaseCamp files?
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BaseCamp manages data in a more sophisticated manner than traditional files and folders, in multiple databases. It is a structure similar to that of i-Tunes. You can import and export data from BaseCamp, but within the program your data resides in the databases.
To backup your BaseCamp data, simply go to file>backup and then select the location you want to use for your backup. It will appear as a single massive file, named BaseCamp 2013-02-16.Backup, with 2013-02-16 indicating the date of the backup. To restore data, use file>restore. If you use BaseCamp on multiple computers, you can use this backup file to move everything, or you can export/import data, but these methods are a bit cumbersome. A better way to use BaseCamp on multiple computers is to utilize the Garmin Cloud storage. You will need a Garmin account, but if you have registered any of your devices or have lifetime maps you will already have one. To enable Cloud Storage, go to Sign In >Enable Cloud Storage. It will prompt you for a new user name that will be used if you make any of your data public, and in future this user name will appear on your task bar. You will now be able to sync your BaseCamp data between multiple computers. More information can be found on BaseCamp Wiki Data Management and on BC_Database |