Map Software

[tomdietrying]

I have the Garmin Vista (25 gig), Rhino 120 (8 gig), and the Rhino 110 (1 gig). I use the MapSource United States Topo. I comes with three CDs (Eastern U.S., Western U.S., Alaska and Hawaii). If I'm not mistaking, it was about $100 at REI.

When I went to Moab this year I mounted my Rhino 120 on the blank button near the cruise control. I was able to download all the maps from Northern New Mexico to Moab, Utah.

It worked out really well.

Peace.
Tom

[CrnCnn]

Thanks Kenny, any info is helpful at this point. I am looking at the handhelds just because I may want to hike if I go camping and it would be nice to take along.


Thanks Tom, did that Mapsource have backroads type stuff as well?

[nfpgasmask]

Yes, the Mapsource software does have trails, etc. The one I had with me when we went to the Flats was the Garmin Etrex Vista, and I think I had the Topo maps loaded, iirc. Its pretty good for trails and such, but sometimes it seems that maybe there are newer trails that aren't on the maps yet. And you definitely can't tell from the GPS if you are headed down a trail that has been washed out like the one we ran into.

The thing to think about with the Garmins is that they use proprietary software (that being MapSource) and no other software will work with a Garmin (as far as I know).

I chose the Etrex Vista CX because it was the best handheld they made at the time, might still be. Its got a very clear color screen, and its pretty easy to use. Also, it has a compass on it that does not require you to be moving to work (I guess some of the lesser models require you to me moving to get a compass reading). I like it because it has altitude readings on it too, so I can always tell how high up I am. It also stores your "record" altitude. Mine right now is about 11,500 feet or something like that.

Currently, I am on the hunt for some good Map software that will work with my Garmin that I can use in Japan....I'm not having much luck though

Bart

[CrnCnn]

I know that national geographic one will let you plug in way points to your garmin, but no maps themselves. When are you going to Japan? That would be sweet.

[nfpgasmask]

No plans yet. But me and wife have been wanting to go for a long time. So, we got to thinking, how sweet would it be if you could get a really nice street map set for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and map out all your way points ahead of time? This way, getting around there would sooooo much easier.

We were thinking sometime next year, depending on if we buy a house or not. The Reno housing market really chaps my arse...

Bart

I know that national geographic one will let you plug in way points to your garmin, but no maps themselves. When are you going to Japan? That would be sweet.

[CrnCnn]

No plans yet. But me and wife have been wanting to go for a long time. So, we got to thinking, how sweet would it be if you could get a really nice street map set for Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka and map out all your way points ahead of time? This way, getting around there would sooooo much easier.

We were thinking sometime next year, depending on if we buy a house or not. The Reno housing market really chaps my arse...

Bart

That would be incredible to go there. I really would love to go there some day too but two things hold me back one is money and the second is that I am an oversized piece of chicken poop.

My parents just bought a house off Toll road (Off Geiger going up to VC) and they paid 450K. One acre, not sure of the square feet but its pretty nice.

[Triathlete]

I have the National Geographics Backroads 3D for all 50 states and really like it. The NG Topo for the individual states gets a bit more detail. I paid $40 for mine at Sams Club. If you have any specific questions about it give me a holler!

Topo software will not list trail difficulty. I find the local 4x club web sites are a great source for that. Especially since trails change from year to year from the weather and use.

[nfpgasmask]

I wish I could afford a house for $450.... prices here are out of hand if you ask me.

Yeah, I don't like flying one bit, but for Japan, its worth it.

Bart

That would be incredible to go there. I really would love to go there some day too but two things hold me back one is money and the second is that I am an oversized piece of chicken poop.

My parents just bought a house off Toll road (Off Geiger going up to VC) and they paid 450K. One acre, not sure of the square feet but its pretty nice.

[Triathlete]

Currently, I am on the hunt for some good Map software that will work with my Garmin that I can use in Japan....I'm not having much luck though

Bart

Only two things you need to get around Japan are a bike and a train pass! Been there twice and don't look forward to going again. Crowded, crowded , and oh, did I mention it was crowded. But it was cool to see once. A totally different culture from what we are used to here.

[nfpgasmask]

Well, I'm not so much worried about getting around, as much as I am worried about finding the places I want to find. Both the wife and I are way into Japanese Otoku subculture, and there are all sorts of shops and stuff I know we will want to find, and I have read that a lot of the stores are tough to locate since they might be on the 11th floor of some building that is all marked in Kanjii and I can't read a lick so....the GPS idea would be sweet, if I could find a map of Tokyo with streets and stuff in English and Japanese...

Bart

PS - We are not THIS nerdy though...

Only two things you need to get around Japan are a bike and a train pass! Been there twice and don't look forward to going again. Crowded, crowded , and oh, did I mention it was crowded. But it was cool to see once. A totally different culture from what we are used to here.

[WyrreJ]

Ain't no reason to complain about cute girls doing the cosplay thing. But it should be a sport with minimum entry requirements.

As for maps around Tokyo, I don't know if anything specific, but I'm betting it is probably the most electronically mapped city in the world. I know that years before Google started doing these street-view things, the GPS units in the cars over there already had 3D man-on-the-street perspective. I suspect the hard part will be finding an anglo version of the software.

[newthings]

I have this. A very good deal for On
Road GPS.

www.usglobalsat.com/PS37 for a very limited time.
Good company to deal with.
Roy

Re-routing, Millions of POI's, 3D Bird's Eye view, etc,... I am able to to find the closest golf course within 25 miles in alphbetical order, in a city in WI! Or the closest Thai food Resturant in a city in El Paso Texas, Or the closest emergency medical services facilities on your trip, etc,....

In anycase, USGlobalSat, Inc. offers the GV370 unit current at $359.99, discounted from MSRP$499.99! -

That's an OK deal, but we are also offering a special hidden page for the GV370 units @$199.99 + S/H & you get a free Protective Pouch for free just for finding this page that we only print advertised to our Local Community in Southern California.

Now I will extend this offer to my beloved MacMap Group.
Here's the link, the rest should be pretty straight forward:
www.usglobalsat.com/PS370

BTW: Please enjoy the Limited Time Special Discount; of course this offer is good for anyone who may find this hidden page or is passed along this deal...

Offer only good for next 2 weeks and will be take down before the search engines will indexz the page.

Be well,
Larry Liang
USGlobalSat, Inc.

[nfpgasmask]

Hey, I'm not complaining, just saying I'm not quite that nerdy. But then again, I did dress up as Cobra Commander for Halloween a few years back Cosplay is great, it just kills me when you have like 35 year old men dressing up as Sailor Moon. THAT is good stuff, my friend.



Bart

Ain't no reason to complain about cute girls doing the cosplay thing. But it should be a sport with minimum entry requirements.

As for maps around Tokyo, I don't know if anything specific, but I'm betting it is probably the most electronically mapped city in the world. I know that years before Google started doing these street-view things, the GPS units in the cars over there already had 3D man-on-the-street perspective. I suspect the hard part will be finding an anglo version of the software.