Free or low cost electronic topo maps for Baja Mexico?

[xbox73]

Hi all,

I just recently got a Samsung Galaxy Note II Android mobile phone, which has a nice big bright 5.5" screen & which I always have on me as it's my phone, as well as a Google Nexus 10 Android tablet (with nice big bright 10" 2560x1600 high res display), which I bought for normal use (web surfing & Netflix etc.), as well as for using mapping software like BackCountry Navigator Pro (BCN Pro) when going on trips in the car, especially offroad trips and/or to remote areas.

For the US, I think I'll be pretty much covered as there are the free ArcGIS USA Topo Maps & CalTopo US 24K Topo Maps in BCN Pro. And even if I don't pre-cache the map tiles (desirable & plan to do when route or area ahead is more or less known), both my phone (AT&T) & mobile hotspot (Verizon Jetpack 4620L) have LTE access (& usually 3G outside LTE coverage areas) that will often be able to download map tile data if necessary. And my Verizon Jetpack even has an external antenna jack, so I plan to mount a higher gain antenna on the roof to enhance signal reception (bigger, higher gain antenna, as well as being outside the car & at least partially grounded should help). Also, both of my Android devices have full GPS receivers inside (i.e. not just position estimation, using trilateration from cell towers) that seem to work reasonably well in general. I may investigate getting a Bluetooth GPS puck if it seems either or both devices struggle or occasionally lose lock when in the car (& not overly obscured by tree cover or other natural obstacles like narrow canyons etc.)

However, things are a little more complicated when it comes to Baja. It seems both ArcGIS USA Topo Maps & CalTopo US 24K Topo Maps only have rudimentary support for Baja, if anything at all. And also data roaming would be cost prohibitive for non-cached tile map data. Does anyone know of any free or relatively low cost electronic topo maps for Baja Mexico? I like to go down to Baja, MX for all the SCORE International races, like the San Felipe 250, Baja 500, Baja 1000, and would like to download full topo maps for Baja & then import the race course by importing the Google Earth *.kml file SCORE usually supplies, so I would have topo maps displayed in BCN Pro, with the KML race course overlaid on top (on both my phone & tablet). Other events, like King of the Hammers (KoH), also supply a Google Earth *.kml file of the course, but again, since KoH is in the U.S. & USA topo maps are available in BCN Pro, it shouldn't be as much of a big deal to get working properly with some advance planning?

So, anyone know of any free or relatively low cost electronic topo maps for Baja Mexico? Or have a different solution for Baja, like pre-caching map tiles or data from Google Earth? I kind of know my way around Baja Norte somewhat, as I've been down there a number of times (both for the SCORE races & for day or weekend trips with foreign friends & family who visit), but it would be kind of useful & fun to have full topo maps for Baja installed, with race courses & current position data being updated in real time.

 

[YukonRob]

I have a chip for my Lowrance that has decent(ish) Baja mapping - I think I got it from PCI. You might give them a call and see if they have any ideas.

 

[SilverBullet]

I just got an app that a friend used in his Chase team in Baja for the 1000, it is called "My Trails" and he downloaded the entire Baja in it.

 

[Sawyer]

Most detailed maps I have found are these for Garmin. Not cheap/free though. I have them and they are pretty good. More detailed than other options I found. Still need to spend some time trying convert them for use with a tablet or Ipad...

http://cartografiagps.com/mape32/index.htm

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I use LB Maps, Baja Navigator and Baja Expeditioner for years. Not sure how cheap but I found them equal to the BAJA ALMANAC for detail.

 

[Sawyer]

^^^ totally agree. I had LB Maps prior to to the Cartographia. Probably the best low cost option is just sticking to the Baja Almanac...

 

[No. 3]

The best cheap/ free choice is the Baja Almanac and free Russian army maps (raster maps). I use MacGPS Pro & a Garmin Rino to see where we are on the laptop if there is any question on the Almanac. The paper map and a compass always work and the GPS/laptop can be helpful if you have no effing idea where you are...

Russian maps: http://loadmap.net/en (older, obviously, but the topography of most places hasn't changed and a current Almanac fills you in)

 

[xbox73]

The search continues for topo maps (preferably vector, so searchable & scalable, rather than raster) of Baja, suitable for Android.

Bicimapas & LB maps appear to only support Garmin GPSs (& PCs running Garmin MapSource). I do have a Garmin 60CSX, but some batteries leaked in its battery compartment, so mine may only work intermittently or off cigarette lighter power, but while the 2.6" screen may be suitable for hiking where you can stop & hold it up close to your face, the 2.6" diagonal is too small to be really practical for use while driving. I do have an Ultrabook with 13" 1080p IPS LCD arriving tomorrow (bought for work & travel purposes), so running MapSource on that with one of the above products could be my fall back position, but ideally I'd really like to get something suitable working on both my Samsung GNII & N10 running Android.

Free Russian topo maps appear not to cover any of Mexico at all (and if raster only, while raster would work, I'd prefer vector topo maps).

Cartographia looks good, but also only supports Garmin GPSs or PC. PC version loaded on Ultrabook may also not be a bad fall back option, if no vector topo maps can be found that can be loaded by an Android program like BackCountry navigator Pro.

I just got an app that a friend used in his Chase team in Baja for the 1000, it is called "My Trails" and he downloaded the entire Baja in it.

I am intrigued by this response, but 'My Trails' is just a GPS app, like BackCountry Navigator Pro, so would still need the topo map data to be loaded in, in which case I am wondering where SilverBullet's friend got the topo map data for Baja from. I think I'll trying PMing SilverBullet to see if he can ask his friend where his friend got the Baja topo map data from.

The other potential option appears to be the Creative Commons OpenStreetMap: http://planet.openstreetmap.org/
Central America download folder, incl. some Mexico data here: http://download.geofabrik.de/openstreetmap/central-america/

But it looks like the OpenStretMap data would need some processing, to extract & cull necessary data into a form suitable for an Android program to use, using one or a combination of e.g.:
Processing the file: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Planet.osm#Technical_notes
Osmosis: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Osmosis
Osmosis Membrane GUI: http://code.google.com/p/osmembrane-gui/

I do plan to pick up a copy of the Baja Almanac, as well as the Traveler's Guide to Camping Mexico's Baja from Discover Baja (http://www.discoverbaja.com/pdf/2012-Gift-Guide.pdf), as it's nice to have a low tech option, at least as a backup, in case of loss of power / use away from a power source / dead batteries. I have already picked up a couple of Baja paper maps from AAA, as they are free for members. Since they are essentially free, they may be useful for drawing routes or planned trips in highlighter & can be discarded afterwards, or for giving away to others less prepared if the need arises.

 

[preacherman]

The motion x GPS app for iPhone has downloadable maps including Mexico. I'm not sure if they have the app for android but the maps are not bad and you can pre load as many as your phone can hold. I think. Paid 1.99. For the app and the maps are free.

 

[goodtimes]

^^^ totally agree. I had LB Maps prior to to the Cartographia. Probably the best low cost option is just sticking to the Baja Almanac...

One word of caution with the first print run of the revised Baja Almanac (not sure if they have had a second run or not) - the GPS grid (coordinates printed in the margins of the paper maps) are not always accurate. A couple of the pages literally have the wrong numbers printed on them - so when you take your position from your GPS & try to put yourself on the map - it doesn't work.

As far as electronic topos for Baja go - I gave up trying to find them a few years ago. What little is (was?) out there wasn't much help, & everything required a PC, or was severely limited in its capability. I went back to using paper maps (Baja Almanac) & just use the GPS to put myself on the map. Not like I'm trying to win a race or anything, so I have the time to stop on the side of the road & figure out where I am at.

 

[susswein]

I spend more time sailing than driving around Baja, but I've found that the high resolution satellite maps are MUCH more accurate than any topo mapping data I've found for Mexico. In one case the topo software showed me as 2 miles inland, while the satellite photos not only pinpointed me at the dock but were even accurate down to which slip I was was in!

There are a few android apps that let you download these satellite maps - I think trimble has one.

 

[royewest]

I have been experimenting for the past year with Backcountry Navigator Pro. The free "Open Cycle Map" layer appears to have good topo coverage of Baja. Sadly, this is for armchair travel at the moment -- I'd be curious whether anyone has put this to the test in Baja.