OSM maps for Navitel — and what to download for Garmin, OsmAnd, TomTom
You need an OpenStreetMap map for a navigator or chartplotter, but every device has its own format — and it's unclear what to download. Let's go honestly through each system: where you can download a map straight in the native format, and where there's no such format and a universal GPX saves the day.
Garmin — the native IMG format
For Garmin navigators and watches, maps come in the .img format. Select an area and download the map straight to Garmin IMG — OpenStreetMap roads and objects go into a file you place on the device (the Garmin folder) or attach in Garmin BaseCamp. Points of interest separately can be taken in Garmin GPI. Details are in the Garmin IMG deep dive.
OsmAnd — OBF offline maps
OsmAnd (Android/iOS) uses its own .obf format. Download an area to OsmAnd OBF and drop the file into the OsmAnd maps folder — you get an offline map with routing. A technical breakdown is in the OBF article. A Garmin vs OsmAnd comparison is in this guide.
TomTom — points in OV2
For TomTom devices the handiest is a points-of-interest database in the .ov2 format: download POI to TomTom OV2. It's a selection of OpenStreetMap objects (fuel, parking, shops) to load into the navigator.
Navitel — we don't have its native format, but GPX helps
Honestly: Navitel's own map container (.nm7) is closed, and we don't produce it. You can't easily build a full routable Navitel map. But Navitel imports GPX — tracks, routes and points. If you need not the map itself but a route or a set of points over an area — download it as GPX and import into Navitel. Full Navitel maps have separate OSM-build projects, but that's outside our service.
Lowrance chartplotters — also via GPX
Marine and fishing Lowrance chartplotters use proprietary map (.at5) and user-data (.usr) formats — we don't make those. But Lowrance, like most plotters, accepts GPX for waypoints, routes and trails. Need points and routes over a water body or shoreline from OSM — take them as GPX and load onto the plotter's memory card. It won't replace a full marine depth chart, but shoreline context, moorings and landmarks — absolutely.