Windows based, GPS enabled navigation software

[BPage]

All I am new to expeditionary travel and am trying to get my gear right.
I have a Viliv S5 Ultra mobile PC that I would like to us for navigation.
It is Windows XP machine, with a built in GPS.
I would love to have software that has satellite view with topo and the ability to be used as a normal car navigation system around town.

If I could combine my TOMTOM with google maps and add topo without being connected to the internet that would be perfect!

Any suggestions?

 

[HenryJ]

I use Delorme's Mapsend Streets and Topo USA. With a subscription you can download as many aerial, satellite and USGS maps as you want.
Works well for me.

 

[uli2000]

Though It doesnt do topo, Iguidance makes a umpc client, it uses the same maps as their Windows Mobile version. Very good mapping, and I preffered the interface to TomTom (though Garmin XT was better than both), but this was on WM, not xp.

 

[craig]

Most wind up running two separate programs. One for offroad, and another for onroad. I don't think there is a single UMPC/touchscreen friendly application out there that does everything you want it to do.

Overland Navigator is topographic mapping software that was designed for use on a touchscreen UMPC. It doesn't have detailed satellite imagery or street network routing, but would work extremely well on that UMPC.

Craig

 

[BPage]

any of you guys here of STREETDECK? or used it before? Someone on another forum recommended it?

 

[craig]

Street Deck is a complete multimedia package. It is for use on a carputer where you replace your headunit with a computer. StreetDeck plays videos, divx movies, DVDs, mp3 jukebox, etc. The integrated Navigation used to be based on Microsoft MapPoint. I'm not sure if that is still what they are using now.

Craig

 

[tdesanto]

All I am new to expeditionary travel and am trying to get my gear right.
I have a Viliv S5 Ultra mobile PC that I would like to us for navigation.
It is Windows XP machine, with a built in GPS.
I would love to have software that has satellite view with topo and the ability to be used as a normal car navigation system around town.

If I could combine my TOMTOM with google maps and add topo without being connected to the internet that would be perfect!

Any suggestions?

Have you looked into Delorme Topo 8? I have version 7 and it's pretty close to what you're describing. The aerial and satellite imagery combined with street & trail routing and very good topo maps make it a powerful tool.

 

[BPage]

Have you looked into Delorme Topo 8? I have version 7 and it's pretty close to whtu're describing. The aerial and satellite imagery combined with street & trail routing and very good topo maps make it a powerful tool.

Hey TDESANTO thanks for the recommendation. This DELORME looks perfect! Just need to verify the system requirements with them. My processor is alittle smaller than they want.

ALL
Thanks for the sound adivice.:wings:

 

[Hedge]

Have you looked into Delorme Topo 8? I have version 7 and it's pretty close to what you're describing. The aerial and satellite imagery combined with street & trail routing and very good topo maps make it a powerful tool.

I'm researching topo software suitable for use with a laptop with a GPS input. The desired use is both route planning and realtime course guidance. A bonus would be the ability to output .gpx files to a handheld GPS unit.

Topo 8 looks interesting, but the following anonymous review on Cabela's website seems rather damning. I couldn't determine the base map's resolution from their website. Is your Topo 7 base map equivalent to 24k USGS topos?

"DeLorme TOPO 8.0 was a real let down after owning 9 DeLorme State Atlas of quality topographic maps. Buyer beware…. Downside: My expectations were simple. I thought I would get 5-6 CD's with good quality topo maps of western states. What you get is one CD with a topo map operating system and very rough base-map. If you like using 7.5, 15, and 30 minute USGS maps this product is a disappointment. The base-map quality is so rough as to be useless for field use, or even planning field trips. The legend design is non-standard and does not match USGS legend graphics. If you use on-line ALIS or LR2000 mapping systems for land ownership and topo information, this DeLorme product is a letdown. Basically the TOPO 8.0 marketing pictures and advertizing descriptions are very misleading as they show mostly ‘after market' add-on maps you must import from other sources. Upside: If you are looking for a quirky high tech city street map navigation system to locate fast food, motels, etc. this might work for you. You can even load your routing information into some handheld GPS products currently on the market. Bottomline: I own better quality electronic marine chart and highway navigation operating systems. DeLorme has a market out there for quality 7.5 topo maps on CD's with minor operating system features like field routing and profiles. I have high hopes their next product design will fill that niche for hunters, prospectors, trappers, etc. This TOPO 8.0 misses the mark by a mile."

 

[Bodo]

Everything that was quoted may be true, but can't you subscribe to their online program and download the more detailed maps? Isn't that the selling point?

Just wondering. Looking at the PN-40 / Topo 8 bundle.

 

[Hedge]

That's what I'm wondering--what is the base map's USGS-scale detail equivalent, and how much time and effort does it take to procure the needed maps from the download subscription service, if the base map is not sufficiently detailed for one's desired use?

 

[HenryJ]

Delorme Topo 7: I do not find the base maps to be sufficient for more than very well designated service roads. Details for towns is poor at best.

The subscription rocks! :wings:

You can get as much detail as you want. As an example: I am looking at a camping site in Utah. Primitive undeveloped BLM lands. The forest service road that passes is not in Topo 7. It is clearly shown in the USGS maps. The USGS maps do not show a side road that is visible to some extent on the black and white aerial maps. The black and white aerial maps do not show the turn off the forest service road. The Color aerial maps show the turn off and more detail. Very comparable to the images I was able to view with Google earth.

I have 9 gigs of maps downloaded. USGS maps for nearly the whole NW. Aerial data for areas of interest and color for specific sites. I can not imagine an easier way and everything I need at my finger tips. It does take a while to download the maps. Set aside an evening for one trip or several weekends to gather a few states worth.

I would say it is worth more than twice the going price.

 

[fishbum]

Agree with HenryJ's comments.
DeLorme's Basemap is continuous across all states and includes routable roads/highways, ground cover, contours, and POI's. Its probably more up-to date than USGS quads regarding the road layer, but the USGS quads have alot more info and historical info that's not in more modern maps.

So you use the basemap as, well, a basemap. Then you get DeLorme's map library subscription for $29.95 and download additional data layers... such as the color imagery, USGS Quads, black and white imagery and then you have plenty of info to reference.

You could also consider getting XMap if you have access to GIS data locally that includes imagery and USGS quads. Same basemap but now the power of GIS....