Make Sense of all this for me ?

[deadly99]

Wow I can't believe a company like Garmin or someone doesnt make an idiot proof piece of software. I've spent some time reading through the various threads here and I can say I honestly more confused than when I started.

My goal is to hook a laptop up in my truck with an external usb gps reciever. My intended use is to make routes based on my travels that I can share with others. I'd like to be able manipulate the route once it's created, add waypoints, poi's, etc

I dont mind paying for the software.

I would not consider myself computer stupid but nor would I consider myself very gps savy. So I need something relatively simple to use.

I live in Canada which unfortunately knocks Craigs "Overland Navagator" out of the running. Too bad as it looked like just the thing, simple to use, easy interface, etc

So what would you recommend I get? Preferably I'd like one piece of software that does it all. This is where it got confusing for me. Buy this, then install this, then if it works do this and if it doesnt do this. See where I am coming from? I do not need topo maps but I do need good road maps and the capability to load Backroads Mapbook maps.

HELP

 

[off-roader]

Are you looking to route off road and on road trips with hires topo data?
Are you looking for software that provides directions on road?
Unfortunately both don't exist in a single package.

My suggestion is to use a car gps for on road navigation (street directions etc) in conjunction with whatever package you get for your laptop (sorry no suggestions for canada mapping). You may want to check gps specific forum websites for more on Canada specific mapping software.

As for ON, yeah, I know what you mean about lack of support for Canada. I have a similar problem because he's not supporting IOS devices (ipad, ipod, iphone) either.

 

[DaveM]

If you're on a MAc MacGPSPro is great for this kind of thing. You can use free, readily available geo referenced topos as the background and connect to most standard GPS units or pucks for the signal. They also sell ready to use map collections of the US & Canada.

http://www.macgpspro.com/

 

[deadly99]

Are you looking to route off road and on road trips with hires topo data?
Are you looking for software that provides directions on road?
Unfortunately both don't exist in a single package.

This is what I'm saying. It's absurd that this doesn't exist.......alright so I'll use my nuvi for turn by turn...now who has a suggestion for Canada.

Ps the mac software looks nice but buying a new laptop isn't in the cards.

Thanks again.

 

[nvprospector]

You can download all Canada Topo maps from Natural Resources Canada website or if you have ftp software and a few tera bytes to spare you can download all the topo maps from their FTP site.

As for the software you need one that will allow you to add the map and assign its place in space. Two pieces of software that are inexpensive and allow you to do this are ExpertGPS Pro and OziExplorer. GPS Track Maker is free software and will also allow you to assign raster maps to the system, but the process of assigning the maps is not as easy as the other two pieces of software.

If you do go the route of downloading the maps and using one of the three pieces of software, you need to be forewarned there the maps do not include georef files. So each map will have to be assign by hand. This is not hard to do, it is just time consuming.

 

[deadly99]

Much appreciated. I'll look into going this route. It's sort of what I have been trying to avoid though. So no one piece of software that installs, has good maps (roads and topo), creates routes, let's you manipulate routes, load routes, export routes, etc.....easy interface to use and works with usb pucks

Seems so simple, hard to believe no one has created that. All the pieces to the puzzle are there, just needs assembling.

So looks like I'll have to go the complicated route if no other options exist.

Thanks for the advice
Ted

 

[nvprospector]

Oziexplorer will do everything that you want in the manipulation of routes and running a GPS puck. There are free plug-ins that you can download, which are provided by Oziexplorer, that allow you to download and cache Google, Openstreet and Bing maps in vector, hybrid or satellite format onto your laptop so you can navigate using these resources. What is nice using these plug-ins is they create a seamless map.

If you don't want to download all the topo maps from the Natural Resources Canada website and then Georef these maps into Ozi, Spectrum Digital Imaging already sells all Canada topo maps in Geotiff format. In Geotiff all you need to do in import the maps into Ozi. Ozi will then determine where in space the map is suppose to be assigned.

 

[deadly99]

Thanks for the advice. That's the exact route I will be taking this week. Gpscentral.ca seems to have everything I'll need for a one stop shop, Oziexplorer, usb puck, etc. I'll certainly be looking into the pre done maps as well. This is exactly what I was looking for (well almost..) And idiot proof one stop shop, buy this, then load this...kind of a step by step easy to configure setup.

One last question...safe to assume the "backroads map packs" (sold in Canada which are a great reaource) will load into Oziexplorer ?

 

[off-roader]

Oziexplorer will do everything that you want in the manipulation of routes and running a GPS puck.

Routes off road or distance/quickest route planning on road? Last I checked it doesnt advise you of the quickest route on road which I believe the OP is looking for.