Has anyone tried out the new Garmin Birds eye downloadable satelite images service? The download onto certain Garmin GPS device via the basecamp software. I have a compatible GPS but have not beed able to get garmins website and my computer/gps to talk together properly yet and wondered if anyone else had gotten it to work ok?

Yes, I managed to upload some Garmin BirdsEye satellite imagery onto my Dakota 20. However since I've not yet subscribed to the paid service, I can just upload low res image with a limited size for now. First thing you should check is the firmware the device is running, because only latter versions support that particular feature, ie. for Dakota it's v2.80 and up.

According to ESRI it will work if the unit has an English OS on it. If it has a Thai OS then it will not work. If you want to use Birds Eye Sat Images MAKE SURE you buy the GPS unit outside of Thailand.

I blew 27,000 grand on an Oregon before finding this out. Was mightily pissed, ripped off on the price then the thing wont work as per Garmins website. Web updater also does not work on the Thai OS models

Thats a pity, though I could not see why the Operating System would affect the mapping functions so I phoned ESRI myself also. They told me the OS is hard coded by Garmin on all the units sold in Thailand and so there is nothing they can do about it. The web updater software was a surprise as it runs with my unit but when I check the software version it puts onto the unit it is a version that is over a year old compared to what is available from Garmin. I live and learn, again.

Huale

Do you have a Thai OS or an English OS? You can upload "custom maps" but not "birds eye service" with the Thai OS. They are very very different animals though. The custom map system is a pain IMHO

Edited June 4, 201016 yr by MRToMRT

I've found a pretty neat free app that can upload satellite images as "custom maps" for use in supported Garmin handhelds, it's called "Mobile Atlas Creator 1.7", available here: https://sourceforge.net/projects/trekbuddya...tor/MOBAC%201.7

And here's a guide for uploading maps: http://gpsteam.eu/guide/MOBAC_KMZ/MOBAC_GarminKMZ.htm

OOOooo thats a nice find. Thanks!

Takes a bit of trail and error on the tiles to get max resolution on the ouput file but the result is very good. And free as you said. I really like the multitude of maps available as well.

Unfortunately the Thai Firmware for the Oregon will not accept the KMZ file the program generates. Its a viscous circle. Better to buy GPS' outsdie of Thailand I am thinking

To complete the answer to my request I have been in email contact with Garmin HQ and they have confirmed that the birds eye is "not available in asia" but will be in some months when they release updates. I presume this means that its not available for units running multi language operating systems OR their is not satellite imagery of asia. I will wait and see.

I use Bird's Eye in Thailand and numerous other countries as well. You can also make custom map overlays using any jpg image. I currently use a Oregon 550T (bought in the US). If there is not a "custom maps" folder then you have to create one.

Link to custom maps http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/site/us/onthetrail/custommaps#fragment-2

Purchased a new Garmin 62 S from Eagle GPS in Chiang Mai 7 April 2012

The Birds Eye Satellite Subsription for Thailand working just fine.