GPSrChive Discussion Forum

With the latest update Firmware 20.50, Garmin has removed all runways on the Topoactive map.
If you move around the marker where the runway usually is, you can see that the information is still on the map but is no longer drawn out.

Received this information from Garmin,
`` Thanks for contacting Garmin Support.

Thank you for having a closer look at our Topoactive map!

It is true that after the latest update, some details have changed, and runways are no longer displayed on this map. However, airports are still marked with an icon, so you can quickly find them. Unfortunately, it is not possible to add the runways on the Topoactive map. If you want access to this information, we recommend our Topo or Outdoor Maps+ Maps, which have a more detailed content including landing lanes.´´


This means that I have to pay for a new map when the information is still there.
It is good that the Montena 700 series can undo updates.

Or you can just use a superior third party OSM topo map not created by Garmin.

I have had a little more contact with customer service and have received this response
``The fact that the runway is not visible on the Topoactive map is "by design", that is, it is as it should be. You don't need to see the runway on that map as it is not designed for pilots or the like.´´

It is a rather odd answer as I received this recommendation from garmin in the email before
``If you want access to this information, we recommend our Topo or Outdoor Maps+ maps, which have more detailed content including airstrips.''
Those maps are not for pilots either.

I am not a pilot and do not use the map topoactive for navigation in the air.
My friend and pilot uses special maps in the plane's screens and ipad + paper maps as backup.
In the air, the GPS is mostly a fun toy to follow and mark interesting things on the ground.

For me, the runway is very important because we usually use small airports that are almost always unmanned and we need to check that the runway is safe before take-off.
Now that winter is on its way, a snow drift in the wrong place can lead to an accident at take-off.

In such cases runways do not need to be perfect on the map but serve more as a reference to know where you are on the ground in comparison to saved waypoints for problems found and marked on the map.

As an aviation enthusiast, it is also important to have airstrips on the map so I can find a good place to photograph aircraft close to the ground from a safe distance.


In the picture you can see that the runway is still on the map but not plotted.

Spoiler

281.bmp

What Garmin has done is to block my gps from showing certain information on the map creates more confusion especially when you can put the cursor on the place and see that what you are looking for is still there but you are not allowed to use it.
It also creates a certain uncertainty for the company to know that in the future, for example, motorways may suddenly disappear on the map on the same day you are going on a long drive because someone thinks city navigator is better for a car.
How can I as a customer be sure that information that should be removed from a certain map does not accidentally affect other things on another map.

What I wish Garmin would have done is delete the information right on the map and release it as a map update even if nothing else needs to be updated.
Then you as a customer know that certain things should not be left and no confusion arises.



If you look at garmin's website for the TopoActive Europe map
it still says so
``Orienteer and reference any outdoor or recreational activity in European countries with this map, compiled using the community-generated OpenStreetMap (OSM) database.

Includes routable street and off-road networks, international boundaries, waterways, natural features, land use areas, historical sites, airport structures, buildings and more

Displays thousands of points of interest, including shops; restaurants and bars; car parks; schools and universities and accommodations´´



TopoActive is not the best map but a good compromise.
It covers all of Europe and there is room for your own maps on the memory card.

My trust in garmin has decreased but I will continue to use their products as they are really good.

I hope this is a small bug that will be fixed in the next update and that the information I received was a communication error within garmin.

The object may be defined in the map file but will not be visible on the map screen
if the object display has been disabled in the Type file.

If you can, check if the runways are visible in Base Camp when reading the map from the device,
it will be clear whether the reason for the lack of runways display is the device
software or a modification of the Type file in the img file.

Check in the Type file if Polylines (Type=0x10c02) is prepared for display.

I think it could be the result of a new way the map theming is handled on outdoor handheld devices. For the GPSMAP 67 there was a new file included in the latest software update that is a map theme file that is also used on the newer outdoor watches. This map theme file influences the way TopoActive maps are displayed.

Maybe this change was also included in the latest Montana 7x0 firmware update. @lost, could you check if there's a Garmin\SID directory on your device with a file called da699000c.sid. If so, I would be interested to know if the runways are visible if you rename this file to da699000c.bak for example.

Also, lost, which version TopoActive map do you have loaded?

JungleJim » I modified the da699000c.sid file as per your suggestion and it worked perfectly.

It was a good and simple solution.

GPSrChive » 2024.10

Excellent work!

You guys are amazing!

lost wrote: Wed Nov 13, 2024 4:59 pm JungleJim » I modified the da699000c.sid file as per your suggestion and it worked perfectly.

It was a good and simple solution.

Great! Note that the file will probably be reinstalled by Garmin Express or Explore app. So you would need to rename the file again if that happens.

It can be assumed that Garmin will withdraw from defining the display of map objects by the Type file,
this could significantly hinder the creation of maps by independent developers.

If the sid file has a higher priority than the Type file, there is no need to worry yet,
but in the future the device software may stop implementing the Type file,
then there may be a problem with using maps from independent developers.