| Author | Message | ||
     Impulse_101 |
The title of the thread says it all. What is the best mapping software. Do any let you draw your route rather than typing the city names for each way point? JT | ||
| Reepicheep |
I have been mostly happy with Delorme Street Atlas. It will work fine by itself making paper printouts. In the car with a $50 GPS receiver and a laptop, it is a first rate navigation system. I also cabled it up to a couple Palm Pilots I had laying around (Delorme street atlas handheld), and it will do decent trip navigations that way (even on the Buell). It was a nice cheap way to get into the GPS way of doing things, and is nice trip planning software all in itself, but if I were to do it again I would probably just spring for a fully integrated unit. They are getting pretty cheap now, back when I was getting into it I was looking at $1000 for the "real" systems versus $150 for my Delorme kludge. GPS rocks. (edited to fix name of Delorme product.. do'oh!) edited by reepicheep on July 21, 2004 | ||
| Buellishxx |
Depends on what you want to do. If you want to plan a route, upload it and track it then there are all sorts of programs from the GPS manufacturers. I run a survey company and we use GPS for everything, from $100 handhelds to 30k geodetic units. Software for mapping ranges from $100 Ozi Explorer to $$ ARCMAP/ARCVIEW. For ease of use and compatibility I recommend Ozi explorer (google Ozi for downloads), as you can import background images (topo maps, aerial photos, sat imagery etc) and then overlay your route / waypoints etc. You can also create your routes and upload which when used in conjunction with a topo sheet is great in finding the back way into places, and is especially valuable in places where there aren't any roads. The other nice thing about Ozi is that they have a pocket pc and I think a Palm version as well, which lets you navigate in color with whatever background imagery you want. The units with built in databases are great for the most part, but in some areas (Canada) there are some discrepancies with the real world. Used in conjunction with a program like ozi you can at least see the roads cities etc on the screen as you drive. The problem with these units (including the ones with external memory) is that you can not upload any maps to them other than the ones sold by the manufacturer. For this reason I use my pocket pc with Ozi and a cheaper garmin. I can use either the features on the receiver or the pocket pc. If you want any more info or have any questions contact me. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
I have microsnot's Streets and Trips 2004 and have not had any problems with it at all. It came with the synchro program to use with a Palm and I have no problems drawing out my own routes. It will link into the net and update all of the construction areas. I don't have a GPS so I would have to pull out the manual to see if it would/could be tied to the GPS itself like you can with a palm. $29.99 at Sam's Club. | ||
| Mbsween |
Bill, I'm sure you've posted this stuff elsewhere, but can you throw me a link to the 50.00 GPS receiver? Thanks Matt | ||
| Reepicheep |
Here is one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73362&item=5710287174&rd= 1 Just do a search for Delorme Earthmate on ebay and look for the old bigger serial version, not the new USB version (which is great but more expensive). It is *not* nema, so as far as I know only Delorme streetatlas and Streetatlas Handheld will talk to it, but thats what I use so I can live with it. It runs on four triple A batteries, can be powered through the serial port connector, has adequete accuracy and adequete lock times (1 to 5 minutes). If you find an old Delorme TripMate, they were good for their day, they *are* nema compatible for the most part, run on four double A's, take 5 to 10 minutes to get a lock, and are less accurate (maybe 60 feet instead of 20 feet). But if you can find one they are probably dirt cheap. Don't know if it can be powered through the serial port or not. They have no display, they have to have a PDA or laptop to work, but the price is right. I have seen generic units that look very similar for sale (overstock.com maybe?) new for $50 or so as well. The newer USB Delorme Earthmates are also very nice. Very tiny, really fast locks, really good accuracy. I have solid reason to believe they can be made to speak RS-232 Nema with nothing but a custom cable (which would let it talk to a palm pilot or pocket PC), but have not gotten ahold of one to hack on to try it. I had a Palm on my tank (TRG Pro) with an Earthmate in my tail bag riding through deals gap, glancing down to see just how much turn I should expect on that next blind corner coming up. It's cool stuff. You can probably get other units with primitive displays built in for $100 to $200, I have not looked in a while, that will also work fine with a PDA or Laptop but would also give you some usability standalone. Somebody (Garmin maybe) makes a full Palm compatible PDA with GPS hardware and mapping software built in. edited by reepicheep on July 23, 2004 |
