solution for using National Geographic TOPO! with the Garmin iQue. [Archive]

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 02:42 PM

If any of you are experiencing problems getting your National Geographic TOPO! and Pocket TOPO! to send maps to your PDA, please email us at topo@ngs.org or reply to this post and we would be happy to discuss a solution with you.

Chilao

03-10-2004, 03:02 PM

Can the iQue show it's position on the TOPO maps? There's certainly more detail on the TOPO maps.

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 03:04 PM

With our TOPO! maps on the iQue, you can do live tracking on a USGS 1:24 series map.

reinbeau

03-10-2004, 03:17 PM

I've heard that the maps have to stay in internal memory, is that true?

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 03:22 PM

That is true, althought I hope that a future version will allow maps to be exported to a SD card. I have been able to post a lot of files to it and they never take up too much memory. It really would depend on how area you would like to put on the iQue.

KurtAZ

03-10-2004, 03:36 PM

A solution, you say?

We are ready and waiting to give it a try, whatever it is.

Thanks.

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 03:40 PM

I have a web based solution I am waiting to hear back on but I have created a CD-ROM based solution as well.

Please email me at topo@ngs.org for more information.

rbest

03-10-2004, 03:56 PM

I, for one, did not know that National Geographic had an iQue compatable system of maps. The Topo software is $25, but, as I understand it, what it does is allow the loading of Topo state maps, which are $99.95 per state. If you already have the state maps, the iQue software is good, but to invest $100 a state is pricey for me.
I would love to be able to use NG topo maps on the iQue, but I wouldn't use it often enough, and not in one state, for the price.

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 04:15 PM

Thanks for your comments about Pocket TOPO!. The initial investment can be high but the quality of the maps is far better than Garmin's software. We do have a product call Back Roads Explorer that covers the entire country at 1:100k and retails for about $60 - $70.00. It also includes the Pocket TOPO! functionality and has a road layer with it. You can get more information at: http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/backroads.cfm

rbest

03-10-2004, 04:35 PM

So for under $100 I can get the US in 1-100k and soft ware to make it iQue compatable. Does it support full screen in iQue?
The level of detail is interesting, but does it all work on the iQue? For instance, the cross section detail showing elevation of route, can that be accessed on the iQue screen?
Thanks for responding.

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 04:39 PM

That's right. Back Roads Explorer covers all 50 states and contains Pocket TOPO!. When you have a map on the iQue, you can do live tracking, place notes on a location, draw a line and build a profile. It runs a scaled down version of the orignal TOPO! from the computer.

funbob

03-10-2004, 05:37 PM

What's the upgrade path for purchasers of Topo Sync USA, which contains an older version of Pocket Topo not compatible with the iQue. I've been discussing the matter with your support people, but it has been some time since I've last received a response.

NG TOPO!

03-10-2004, 05:39 PM

If you email me at topo@ngs.org, I can email me you the directions on how to get it working on your iQue. Since you already own TOPO! Sync, you won't need to purchase anything else.

funbob

03-10-2004, 05:46 PM

email sent

bentrider

03-10-2004, 08:19 PM

I just loaded Back Roads Explorer on the Q and than exported a small map, perhaps 15 x 20 miles at level 4. During the hotsync the screen went dark and I had to do a soft reset. The map did appear and I could draw a line on it and get a profile that was really cool. I cycle some hills and always wanted to know the elevations and slopes. When they can make it a full screen and get it on the SD card it will be really cool.
Phil

kenspice

03-10-2004, 09:11 PM

I have the Washington state maps and Backroads. I bought them for use on a Lowrance Globalmap100..Didn't work well. I am contemplating puting them on my iQue but will probably wait until I can put them on an SD card. Please post any updates and I will keep checking TOPO!

Toy Man

03-10-2004, 09:23 PM

Amazing.. After an extended period of NO support from NG, it pops up here.

Why not post the solution to Pocket TOPO not working with the State Series here also rather than have everyone get it via email?

But damn glad to see you here and hope you stick around to answer questions and solve problems.

Other questions (or future requests):
Can Pocket TOPO generate waypoints and routes?
If so, can they be exported back to the PC?

Toy Man

(who is also hoping for map storage on the SD card and can only wonder why this was not done in the first place. The ways of the TOPO! development team is indeed mysterious.)

funbob

03-10-2004, 10:29 PM

Well, maybe someone here can help me with my problem. Here's what's happening...

I start by installing the State Series, then I install Topo Sync USA, finally I apply the 3.4.2 patch. When I choose Install Pocket Topo on Palm from the menu, it still tries to install the old version of Pocket Topo (v1.1). Any ideas what I'm doing wrong here?

I'd really like to get it to work on the iQue, but so far it's not happening for me.

Toy Man

03-11-2004, 07:14 AM

If you install the state series, you should not install Sync. as it is built into the state series TOPO! program.

NG needs explain this better.

Toy Man

ssaibal

03-11-2004, 09:26 AM

NG said that the various search options in iQue will not work on NG maps. While the concern is that each NG state map costs US$99 besides the $25 cost for the Pocket Topo (compared to only US$90 for all of Mapsource Topo 24K western region), what is the additional info available on NG maps ?

Has someone taken both and compared a small map segment.

NG TOPO!

03-11-2004, 09:35 AM

Sometimes the only way to get something fixed is to try to fix it yourself. I (TOPO! Tech Support) was able to come up with a round about fix yesterday. The reason I ask people to email me is because the fix requires sending a CD in the mail. I wish it were easier but since this is the only resolution for now and since the developers can't figure out what is going on, this will have to do for now. I greatly apprecaite all of your patience in regards to this matter.

I was made aware of this site by a customer so I decided I might be able to help more people by posting it here.

The only way I was able to solve the exporting problem involved a very detailed set of events. It is possible we can change this to make it quicker but for now, I know it works.

I hope that one day we can add support for SD Cards and waypoints. Please understand that I am pulling for you.

Thanks again,

TOPO! Technical Support.

ssaibal

03-11-2004, 10:07 AM

NG Topo,

I am glad you are actively participating in this forum. I wish Garmin would do the same.

funbob

03-11-2004, 10:24 AM

The correct version of Pocket Topo is finally running but now I'm getting the following error when I try to export a map...

"Information about the Palm device for this user was not found. Please make sure that Pocket TOPO! is installed on this device and then HotSync with this device. Then try again to see supported map colors. If you know what map colors your device supports, you can choose one from the list and proceed."

So I manually select the color and resolution, but the map isn't transferring when I hotsync.

NG TOPO!

03-11-2004, 10:30 AM

funbob,

Please email me at topo@ngs.org and we can talk more about this. Thanks.

bentrider

03-11-2004, 02:44 PM

Funbob,
The same thing was happening to me. I made the map smaller and kept lowering the color count until it transfered. Oh, I also just made it a 4 zoom with no 1-4 zoom.
With the GPS on today I could not get any indication that it was tracking in NG. Not sure what to do. The Q map was working and so I opened the NG map and moved the map to the area I was but nothing!!!
NG, what is the procedure or does it track in NG?
Phil

NG TOPO!

03-11-2004, 02:52 PM

Once I know I have a map exported to the iQue, I open up the GPS antenna and make sure I have a 3D fix. Then I open up TOPO! and select the map I want. I then take the stylus and tap the map and select Go to Destination. It then takes me to a refreshed map with my location.

Usually the first time before I have connected TOPO! with a GPS, I do this with the GPS OFF. I open up TOPO! and select a map. I then tap my stylus on the screen and select Go to Destination. I then can choose my GPS settings and I choose Garmin and iQue.

I have found one my GPS has a 3D fix, TOPO! acquires it very fast and refreshes often.

Ben Wallace

01-24-2006, 06:50 PM

I have just purcahsed a Garmin Ique M4 and already have the National Geographic State Series Topo! for Wyoming. I am going to get the pocket topo expansion and want to upload detailed 24K maps and do live tracking while snowmobiling and dirt biking. I have ordered an Otter Box case too with a garmin external antenna to hook to my helmet and hardcase backpack. Do I need to get an extra CD from topo support to make it all work?
Thanks,
Ben

Miataman

02-05-2006, 04:36 PM

Recently purchased NG Mid-Atlantic Region TOPO and Pocket TOPO. Downloaded all updates and patches. Normally good at getting buggy software to work, but this has me stumped. Tec support has had an out-of-office recording for two weeks. Can't transfer maps, no menu on my PDA screen . . . could go on and on.

Anyone had success with TOPO v4.14 and Pocket v1.4 for Palm OS 5/?