Step 1 – Install Basecamp on your PC
Click the following links …
Training Videos for Garmin Basecamp
Step 2 – Download the OFM free maps for both your PC and your Garmin device
For Garmin extracts, click the link BBBike Extract Service and follow the instructions there. When you have received the Disk Image File rename it to something like “OSM Aussie” (very important so you can put more than one country’s maps on the micro SD card). Then drag the renamed file to the “Garmin” folder on the Removable Disk drive (which appears when you connect your Garmin to your PC’s USB port). Better to put all your maps on the micro SD card rather than on the Garmin internal memory. Don’t forget to set the default on your Garmin to record rides to the micro SD card rather than Garmin internal memory.
Once copied onto your Garmin device, switch on the device, go to Settings>Map>Map Info and enable the OpenStreetMap map (the way to activate the map varies from one model to other).
Unfortunately, the service “Free maps for Garmin brand GPS devices” at garmin.openstreetmap.nl is no longer operational, so you can no longer install the map on your PC. However, you can use a tool such as JaVaWa Device Manager to view and work from the image map under Garmin Basecamp. Either connect your Garmin device to the PC or copy the image map onto a USB stick.
Step 3 – Copy your GPX routes from your PC to your Garmin device
Simply drag the GPX files to the “NewFiles” folder under the “Garmin” folder of the Removable Disk drive (which appears when you connect your Garmin to USB). When you disconnect your Garmin device from the USB, the files will automatically move from the“NewFiles” folder to the “Courses” folder and the file type will change from “.gpx” to “_course.fit”.
You can either create new GPX files using Garmin Basecamp or RideWithGPS, or download existing ones from websites.
Step 4 – To use a Route on your Garmin device
Just select the route under “Courses” and press “Ride” and then the start button.
Step 5 – To record a ride with your Garmin device
Hit the start button when you commence the ride, then select the X when asked if you want to navigate to the beginning of the course. When you finish hit the stop button and select “End Ride” then “Save Ride”. Connect the device to the PC and open up Garmin Express
which need to be installed on your PC. It should sync automatically. Sign in to Garmin Connect (can just click the Garmin Connect button in Garmin Express) to view your activities. Open up the activity you have just recorded and open up the menu at the top RH corner (see below) then select “Export to GPX”. This GPX file will be a Track not a Route, so import it into Basecamp and convert it to a Route, then export it or send straight to your Garmin. Select “Edit” in this same menu if you need to change to Km.
Other useful links
VeloMap (a useful add-in to install under Basecamp)