Mapping programs

[mediocremelody]

I'm new to this forum so here's a hello to everyone.

My question is this, I'm thinking about getting some sort of topo program for my computer that I would be using on the road (and off) and am wondering what sort programs you guys would recommend. Right now I have the Garmin Mapsource software but it really isn't all that great. I've looked around the net a little bit but there really aren't that many product reviews for the different setups. Delorme has some interesting stuff but I haven't seen it compared to the topo! stuff from National Geographic for example. I'd prefer something that has a 3D capability which I think is pretty common for the computer only systems. Anyway, what do you all think? Thanks.

 

[big sky trapper]

I have an older topo! program for just the state of montana (10 cd's!!!) goes all the way down to 7.5 min quads. is compatable with most gps's over all is a great tool/program. one HUGE drawback...for the maps to be "seamless" and fully zoomable you must load all ten disk on you computer OR your stuck in cd changeing H3ll. as every mouse click requires inserting another disk. other than that i love it. i know theres several newer up dates/grades out there. but i find at least for my state very litttle has changed to warrent spending another 100 bucks on a new program.

The delorme i havnt seen or used and can make no recommedations, but the topo i could....

any one else?

 

[goodtimes]

I have never used this product, don't know anyone associated with it, and don't profit from it in any way, shape, or form.....but this thread is an appropriate place for it:

http://www.2ridetheworld.com/wanderlust_page.htm

Some discussion here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197925

Basically it is [supposedly] much higher detailed map which runs in the Mapsource environment.

 

[Scott Brady]

Just start out learning and using Ozi Explorer. I hemmed and hawed around it for years, using Mapsource Topo, Delorme, Topo! and others.

At the end of the day, it is the most robust and effective solution available. From satellite images to 7.5' topo's and everything in between.

Whitethaiger on this forum is an Ozi guru (I know 10% of what he does) and he also sells packaged topo and satellite sets, ready to run.

My second choice would be the NG Topo!.

Best of luck and WELCOME to ExPo

 

[flywgn]

Melody, welcome to ExPo!

Thanks for posting your question. I've struggled with that dilema as well, mucking along with Map Source for several years and being less than satisfied. I believe that I'll follow Scott's advice and re-do everything with Ozi. The 'final straw' was at last year's Vegas to Reno race when Chris, from his vehicle, was able to ID a track up a convenient peak for a com-link and Map Source barely had the contours in, much less showing a track. (See pic.)

'Thaiger', are you reading?????

Allen R.

 

[BajaTaco]

The 'final straw' was at last year's Vegas to Reno race when Chris, from his vehicle, was able to ID a track up a convenient peak for a com-link and Map Source barely had the contours in, much less showing a track. (See pic.)

Allen, that was a fun trip

I will also throw in my vote for Ozi. I am a relative newbie at it too, but despite that, I have actually been doing trips with Ozi for years, thanks to good friends who have been using it for so long, like Uwe (WhiteThaiger). I got to see Uwe use it under pressure, in competition when he sat in the right seat of my Tacoma for the Nevada Trophy and navigated the entire event. It was priceless to be able to seamlessly switch back and forth from aerial photo maps to USGS topos. Another great thing about Ozi is that you can scan any paper map and use it. That comes in handy for trips where ready-made digital maps aren't available. It can even be used with historical maps for research expeditions.

 

[whitethaiger]

Whitethaiger on this forum is an Ozi guru (I know 10% of what he does) and he also sells packaged topo and satellite sets, ready to run.

Thanks Scott. I still have to add the more info on my site, until then just shoot me a pm if you have questions.

'Thaiger', are you reading?????

Yep. How can I help?

Actually Goodtimes once suggested we do an "Intro to Ozi" trip for all those interested in getting started with Ozi. I'm up for it. Hands on and with experimentation in the field is a perfect way to learn.

Ozi has soo many features and there are not that many tutorials or help info available that provide an easy start. To get going and to the basic stuff one doesn't have to learn that much, it's the figuring out what to ignore first and what to learn that takes some time.
Downloading and organizing the free maps is one hurdle, that's why I prepared those DVD's. They are truly plug and play as Scott and some others have tested.

....It was priceless to be able to seamlessly switch back and forth from aerial photo maps to USGS topos.

It was cool when we surprised everyone at the Trophy by coming over the hill while everyone else had driven around because the maps showed no road. The aerial photo should a track and we took it. :safari-rig:

Another great thing about Ozi is that you can scan any paper map and use it. That comes in handy for trips where ready-made digital maps aren't available. It can even be used with historical maps for research expeditions.

I've scanned maps from Thailand and my Baja Alamnac for example and the GPS tracking on those maps is surprisingly good!

We did the historical map thing on our Sierra Madre expedition last Fall.

One thing not mentioned, but something I started to play with last year is the fact that one can write extension programs for Ozi. I wrote a little utiltiy that interfaces the USGS mine data base with Ozi. Now I have lots of info for thousands of mines at my finger tips when exploring and often can answer those questions "I wonder what the mined at the hole up in the mountain there"

 

[pwc]

Silly question, what maps does Ozi come with? I noiced a bunch on their site, but how do you go about getting aerial photos in there?

 

[whitethaiger]

Silly question, what maps does Ozi come with? I noiced a bunch on their site, but how do you go about getting aerial photos in there?

Ozi doesn't come with any maps.

For the US you can download all the topos and aerial photos for free from various sites.

 

[goodtimes]

Actually Goodtimes once suggested we do an "Intro to Ozi" trip for all those interested in getting started with Ozi. I'm up for it. Hands on and with experimentation in the field is a perfect way to learn.

I would still love to do this. Unfortunately, I am laptop-less for the forseeable future. I need a GPS solution for the moto before I need a GPS solution for the jeep..and a computer based system is not going to work for the moto...unless I put Ozi on a palm......

To further my problems, both the jeep and moto GPS need to be able to handle environmental conditions which are not laptop friendly (large amounts of dust, some water, lots of vibration, etc).

 

[mediocremelody]

One thing not mentioned, but something I started to play with last year is the fact that one can write extension programs for Ozi. I wrote a little utiltiy that interfaces the USGS mine data base with Ozi. Now I have lots of info for thousands of mines at my finger tips when exploring and often can answer those questions "I wonder what the mined at the hole up in the mountain there"

Wow, that's pretty neat. Where do you go to get maps for Ozi?

I've also heard about the USGS databases for hotsprings and other features (like the mines you mentioned) but I can't seem to find them on the website. Is there a specific page that I can access?

 

[Mlachica]

I have zero experience with MAC's but am researching them for my next notebook or desktop. I read on Ozi's site that with Virtual PC Ozi can be used on a MAC. Is it that simple? Are there any strings attached? Does it work exactly the same as on a PC?

 

[elcoyote]

I must echo that I have been dissatisfied with Garmin's products. With a pending trip to NZ, I wanted to purchase their maps but wouldn't you know that they're not compatible with my older monochrome Street Pilot. It tees me off when you pay substantial money for something only to find out over time that it has been rendered usless by the Mfgs unwillingness to support their own products.

I tried the Ozi trial download but did not get very far with it. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and I had trouble getting past square one with it. I would welcome an opportunity to get an expert tutorial from Uwe. Sign me up!

Another product that I have dabbled with is Expert GPS. www.expertgps.com It too allows for toggling between aerial phots and topos. There are no maps to buy, just the access. The downside (or upside depending uppn your needs) is that all the maps are internet based. Once you move your cursor to a new area, while you're online, it'll pull the maps from the online data base and store them on your PC. Pretty cool I thought. I don't know if they support Mac.

 

[BajaTaco]

Yet another laptop program not mentioned yet is Fugawi. (you know, from the old joke... "where the fug-aw-i?" They do offer map sets, and there is a website that has map files for Baja and does fugawi-ready motorcycle routes for Baja from Lizard Lady. I believe fugawi will also work with any scanned or digital image files. I have never tried it or seen it in operation myself, but would love to check it out sometime.

 

[whitethaiger]

Wow, that's pretty neat. Where do you go to get maps for Ozi?

I've also heard about the USGS databases for hotsprings and other features (like the mines you mentioned) but I can't seem to find them on the website. Is there a specific page that I can access?

I think there was a link posted on this forum somewhere for downloading Ozi maps. There is also a list of download sites over here

I don't know about that hotspring database.

I have zero experience with MAC's but am researching them for my next notebook or desktop. I read on Ozi's site that with Virtual PC Ozi can be used on a MAC. Is it that simple? Are there any strings attached? Does it work exactly the same as on a PC?

I don't have much Mac experience either. I know at least one forum member here (rgsii) is running Ozi on somekind of Mac. I helped him get started (by phone/email) and set him up with maps last summer.

I tried the Ozi trial download but did not get very far with it. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed and I had trouble getting past square one with it. I would welcome an opportunity to get an expert tutorial from Uwe. Sign me up!

Another product that I have dabbled with is Expert GPS. www.expertgps.com ...

From downloading Ozi to getting a map loaded and maybe even getting your current position displayed takes some work if you start from scratch. Having helped a number of people getting started I found that getting setup with maps seems to be the main hurdle. That's why I make plug-n-play map DVD's (just added a little info on that to my website)

I'll have to check out that Expert GPS.