GPS III+ Map Settings

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I have been doing work trying to figure out how to get the Garmin GPS III Plus to display the best quality data on the moving map display.  As you may have seen from the other pages, the Auto mode doesn't always get it right.  This matrix is an attempt to figure out how to get the most data into the screen without cluttering up everything.  It's a work in progress, as I'm not sure I fully understand the interrelationship between all of the variables.

I've come up with several observations:

  • It's not possible to turn off everything but leave the base map only.  Even with MapSource turned off along with all map settings, large bodies of water, state boundaries as well as country boundaries & names still appear.
  • These controls are interdependent to some extent.  The GPS III Plus will try not to over display data and it will not always display all data related to any one of these switches

 

Most

More

Normal

Less

Least

Base Map Must Be On?

Map Source Must Be On?

Only Adjustable by More/Least Setting
State Names 500mi 300mi 120mi 50mi 30mi Yes No
Major Highways 500mi 300mi 120mi 50mi 30mi Yes No
Large Lakes 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No

 

Line Tab
Track Log
Auto 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Max 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Active Route
Auto 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Max 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Local Road
Auto 2mi 1.2mi 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.3mi Yes No
Max 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi 0.8mi Yes No
Street Label (for Local Roads) [Requires Local Road on]
Auto 0.3mi 0.3mi 0.2mi 500ft 300ft No Yes
Max 0.3mi 0.3mi 0.2mi 500ft 300ft No Yes

 

Pnts Tab
All Wpts
Auto 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Max 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Active Route
Auto 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Max 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Common Exits
Auto 12mi 8mi 5mi 3mi 2mi Yes No
Max 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No
Special Exits
Auto 30mi 20mi 12mi 8mi 5mi Yes No
Max 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No

 

City Tab
Large City [If on, some are displayed to 500mi -- this setting indicates density displayed]
Auto 500mi 300mi 120mi 50mi 30mi Yes No
Max 500mi 300mi 120mi 50mi 30mi Yes No
Medium City
Auto 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No
Max 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No
Small City
Auto 30mi 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi Yes No
Max 30mi 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi Yes No
Small Town
Auto 12mi 8mi 5mi 3mi 2mi Yes No
Max 30mi 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi Yes No

 

Geo Tab
Geo Points
Auto Yes Yes
Max 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi 0.8mi Yes Yes
Rivers, Lakes
Auto 30mi 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi Yes Yes
Max 30mi 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi Yes Yes
Park Areas
Auto
Max

 

Topo Tab
Maj. Contour
Auto 3mi 2mi 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.2mi Yes Yes
Max 3mi 2mi 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.2mi Yes Yes
Med. Contour
Auto 3mi 2mi 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.2mi Yes Yes
Max 3mi 2mi 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.2mi Yes Yes
Min. Contour
Auto 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.2mi 500ft 300ft Yes Yes
Max 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.2mi 500ft 300ft Yes Yes
Land Cover
Auto
Max

 

Other Tab
Marine Navaids
Auto
Max
Railroads
Auto 2mi 1.2mi 0.8mi 0.5mi 0.3mi Yes No
Max 30mi 12mi 8mi 3mi 2mi Yes No
Metro Areas
Auto 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No
Max 120mi 50mi 30mi 12mi 8mi Yes No
Lat Lon
Auto 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No
Max 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi 500mi No No

 

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