Topo Software for on the road?

[Root Moose]

I'm looking for some topo software for Windows. Something that has a PDA style interface (i.e. minimal interface w/ big, easy to read buttons) and is touch screen friendly. Bonus points for voice activated. Double bonus points for having both a PDA binary and PC binary version.

I've been googling around but have yet to find something useful. Do Fugawi or OziExplorer have a PDA interface style mode? The screenshots on their respective web sites don't seem to indicate if they do or not.

The closest hit was a new software called Overland Navigator but it only has US topo maps and I already have my own eTopo stuff anyway.

Recommendations?

TIA

 

[1leglance]

Well since you are north of the border I really can't help much.
I do like Delorme for in the USA, not sure how that will work for you.

 

[Root Moose]

Yes, it looks pretty close to the mark but the web site for the product doesn't mention anything about third party maps or similar.

 

[craig]

Edit: I didn't see that the original post mentioned our software. My apologies for the redundancy.

My company, Spatial Minds, makes Overland Navigator which is very similar to what you are after. It is designed to be easy to use with a touchscreen or via the keyboard. We don't have maps for Ontario compiled yet though.

 

[Root Moose]

Yep, I know. I'm reece146 over on the mp3car.com forums. I probably would have purchased it already if it worked with my data.

 

[craig]

Yeah, we're doing our best to get all of North America mapped but it takes time.

Let's talk offline a bit more about your needs. I'll send you an email.

Craig

 

[ScoutII]

That looks like some cool software. Nice touch putting the Rubicon trail on there. Does it have Dusy Ershim trail?

 

[craig]

Good eye on the trail.

The Rubicon trail is a GPX track overlaid on top of the Topos. With Overland Navigator, you can do the same for any trail you have a GPX track for, but the software doesn't come with the trails. Check out redtrails.com for tracks that people have made and are sharing.

A GPX track is just a text file rubicon.gpx, dusyershim.gpx, etc. Inside the GPX file are lat/lon points representing waypoints, routes, and tracks. Most GPS receivers can record GPX tracks, so you can get them via email from your friends that have run a trail, download them from the internet, or create them yourself.

Craig

 

[chasespeed]

BUMP....

I see you have Mid-Lant region... how are things looking for the Northeast? PA, NY, New England, etc?

This software looks nice, and user friendly... any recommendations on GPS software for interface, and antennae?

AND, while I do have a portable nav system, is there any plans to maybe offer a package with street mapping sortware(or something of the like), or maybe street maps themselves compatible with the software?


Thanks,
Chase

 

[egn]

In europe most people use http://www.ttqv.com/ in combination with http://www.pathaway.com/ .

TTQV runs perfectly on an touch screen. Some have separate controls to avoid fingerprints on the screen.

I personally use TTQV for planning. I control about 30.000 maps from all over the world with it. For navigation I use Pathaway with maps prepared by TTQV together with HTC Advantage. This works perfectly since more than two years.

 

[craig]

BUMP....

I see you have Mid-Lant region... how are things looking for the Northeast? PA, NY, New England, etc?

This software looks nice, and user friendly... any recommendations on GPS software for interface, and antennae?

AND, while I do have a portable nav system, is there any plans to maybe offer a package with street mapping sortware(or something of the like), or maybe street maps themselves compatible with the software?


Thanks,
Chase

Maps for the entire US are available at 1:250k and 1:100k in the US Map-pack. We don't have an ETA for regional map-packs (with 24k maps) that cover any of the states you listed but they are a very high priority. We just released ID, MT, WY, NM, OK, ND, SD, OK, and TX. We're working on it for sure.

I'm not sure I understand, "Any reccomendations on GPS software for interface?"

For a GPS, I'd reccomend a Globalstat BU-353 puck or a MightyGPS Weatherproof GPS.

While we'd love to add street network routing, and the feature is on our long term roadmap there are other features that need to be added first. Fortunately, with a PC, you have the option of running a variety of street network routing programs simultaneously with Overland Navigator providing you with great topo mapping and street network mapping. For now we want to keep our focus on on back-country travel.