Gene Sparks
New Member
Posts:33
 | | 15 Aug 2008 02:06 PM |
| I just ordered myself a new Garmin 76cx. This is a long overdue upgrade to my 45XL . Anyway I have a question about the Garmin topo maps. Is the 2008 US Topo in the 100,000 size sufficient or is it really worth getting the 24,000 size PNW + West version of the maps? I guess what I want to know is do the 24K maps have signifcantly extra usable info for trails? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Also is it possible to transfer National Geographic 3D Backroad Explorer maps into the Garmin software? Gene in Aberdeen |
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Todd Eliason
Veteran Member
Posts:3523
| | 15 Aug 2008 02:36 PM |
| I think the 100K are fine for what we do. If hiking, 24k might be better. As I understand it the 24k maps only have coverage of the National Parks.
Unfortunately, only Garmin Map products will load maps on the GPS itself. You can use a GPS with the NG product running on a laptop however. |
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Gene Sparks
New Member
Posts:33
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Nevak Risew
Veteran Member
Posts:1200
| | 15 Aug 2008 03:09 PM |
| I'm pretty sure the only thing you can load into a Garmin are Garmin's maps.
What kind of computer OS are you using? |
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Tony Sims
Veteran Member
Posts:1237
| | 15 Aug 2008 04:15 PM |
| I've got the 100k maps, I've found them to be accurate for any trail you'd try in a vehicle. The upside of running a PC in the car is display size -- it can get frustrating trying to use the 2x2 screen on a handheld, in particular while in a moving car. I mostly use the GPS for position and distance, and paper maps for actual navigation.
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 15 Aug 2008 04:48 PM |
| I've found the Garmin 1:100k maps to be horrible for navigating backroads and have even become temporarily lost while attempting to use the GPS for navigation. Unfortunately, there aren't any 24k maps with statewide coverage.
Craig
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Peter Kirkham
New Member
Posts:34
| | 15 Aug 2008 04:58 PM |
| I haven't actually done it yet but there are free/open maps you can load into your Garmin GPS. I like the Garmin GPSs themselves, but the software that goes with them and the pain of dealing with their software locking nonesense is getting to be a pain. I'm going to start trying some of the other options. http://garminmapsearch.com/ http://mapcenter2.cgpsmapper.com/ I think there was one other site worth looking at, but darned if I can find it again. |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 15 Aug 2008 06:44 PM |
| In an NWOS thread a few weeks ago there was a link to Garmin mountain bike trails. A lot of these trails are also 4x4 trails. |
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Gene Sparks
New Member
Posts:33
| | 15 Aug 2008 07:57 PM |
| Posted By Craig Miller on 08/15/2008 4:48 PM
I've found the Garmin 1:100k maps to be horrible for navigating backroads and have even become temporarily lost while attempting to use the GPS for navigation. Unfortunately, there aren't any 24k maps with statewide coverage.
Craig Actually they do unless I am mistaken Check this link. http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/topo/topous24kcard.jsp
These are not the Park maps. Am I wrong or does anyone know about these? Gene in Aberdeen |
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Tony Sims
Veteran Member
Posts:1237
| | 15 Aug 2008 08:13 PM |
| Posted By Craig Miller on 08/15/2008 4:48 PM
I've found the Garmin 1:100k maps to be horrible for navigating backroads and have even become temporarily lost while attempting to use the GPS for navigation. Unfortunately, there aren't any 24k maps with statewide coverage.
Craig
This surprises me. I've only used them in Oregon, but they've been pretty accurate. I did a run across the middle of the state from 395 to 97 on two track, every little goat trail was present on the GPS. Likewise for the Steens trip, and just last weekend, navigating out of the east side of Paulina lake to avoid having to backtrack to 97 to get to 20 and on to Vale.
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 15 Aug 2008 08:41 PM |
| Maybe give it a go in the woods? Tracks in open country are easy to identify via aerial photos and are typically mapped pretty well even at the higher scales. If I have time this weekend, I'll photograph the screen with the garmin data vs the actual track. We were lost for 20 minutes until I managed to get it sorted out with a 1:24k map. |
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Larry Grubbs
Advanced Member
Posts:576
| | 15 Aug 2008 10:16 PM |
| I'd have to agree with Craig on this one. Plus Garmin doesn't update their topo's very often. This wasn't a problem in Colorado where many of the roads were literally 100+ years old. Out here I find that a lot of the FS Roads are not on the Garmin Topo's, hence my search for a UMPC (Which I now have!). |
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Nevak Risew
Veteran Member
Posts:1200
| | 15 Aug 2008 10:32 PM |
| I agree about screen size being an issue with a hand held unit, especially while driving. Even when I was running windoze years ago, I had pretty good results with the Mapsource Topos on a 12" screen. They usually showed the backcountry roads. I gave my discs for Topos to Craig, so he would know better what the scale is. I still use my Garmin eMap, but with a 15" Powerbook running MacGPSPro. With this software i can select the scale I need; it has 250k, 100k, and 24k USGS topos. And can transfer tracklogs, routes, and waypoints between the two. Can't load the hi rez maps of course....
Speaking of which, my eMap still has the pre-loaded map set that shows most highways in North America, and I've used this set from Alaska to Mexico. They may even go beyond? I assume Garmin still loads this basic set to the newer units? |
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Todd Eliason
Veteran Member
Posts:3523
| | 15 Aug 2008 10:55 PM |
| My experience on the garmin maps is that many of the roads and trails are there but you have to zoom in heavily to see them on normal settings, as you might do if hiking. But when you are travelling faster, you need a larger picture.
Try turning Declutter off and bump up the visibility settings of small roads in the settings. |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 15 Aug 2008 11:15 PM |
| My complaints are not due to having my GPS improperly configured.
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Dale Avery
Advanced Member
Posts:684
| | 21 Aug 2008 09:38 AM |
| I have a Garmin GPSmap76S mounted on the steering column. It is the old gray scale model. I use it primarily for fixing waypoints as i drive into new territory. Every time I come to a branch in the trail, or move to the right or left, I mark that spot. Easy and quick was to find my way back out. As someone else stated earlier, the Garmin software is a real PITA to use. I also like the computer screen, the ability to track direction and elevation, etc. Out of the vehicle I use my trusting old Brunton compass to find the way.
When traveling alone, which is my preferred mode, I mount a notebook computer on top of a Pelican case in the passenger's seat. I use DeLorme's Topo USA series of software and their GPS LT-20 with it. This software and large screen format give me a pretty good idea of my location and what's ahead. I sometimes pre-enter a planned route to a desired destination, and add waypoints, notes, etc., as I travel along. Not a bad system really.
Neither of the above systems is that great for following logging roads old mine trails and so on. But the whole idea for me is to go EXPLORING, searching out new locations, finding new camping spots, discovering the unknown. So I am not that hung up on maps that exactly locate every double track out there.
Prefield work usually starts with me searching out blank spots on the map using either the DeLorme Gazetteer or the new Benchmark Road and Recreation Atlas. The Gazetteer seems to have more historical information in it; locations of old mines, ghost towns, etc. The Benchmark maps have better 3D graphics and give me a better idea of the terrain.
Last year I donated over 7,000 7.5", 15", 1:100,000 and 1:250,000 maps to EWU. Now that I am no longer actively in the field as a geologist, I found that I wasn't using them much anymore. They are also becoming a PITA to roll up carry in a tube, and have to pull out frequently to locate myself. BTW, this included a near complete set of 7.5" and 15" maps for the states of WA, ID, and MT. The USGS coverage was really pretty danged good! I especially like the older 15" series of topos from the USGS as they contained nuggets of information on old roads, mining towns, mine sites, etc., that the newer, post-1960's maps (boy, that shows my age!) have expunged. If you have a college or university with a good geology and/or geography department nearby, I suggest you check out their map libraries. They usually will let you view their maps and may even let you Xerox portions that are of interest to you. Get to know some of those old profs and they can direct to some really neat places to visit too!
What I would like to find now is a small notebook or ultramobile notebook touchscreen computer with a 10-12" monitor and detachable keyboard. I would like to try out Craig's topo software using my Delorme GPS with that setup. Maybe ASUS or some other company makes such a device. My goal would be to RAM mount it in the truckso that I can swivel it between the driver's and passenger's view as a navigationala aid. Price is a big consideration and I would like something with enough flash drive style memory to load up the Top USA and Craig's software on and give them both a try.
My $0.02 worth.......
Dale WU7X |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11803
| | 21 Aug 2008 10:14 AM |
| Gene,
You won't have any trouble with the 2.5" laptop sized hard drives or the 1.5" iPod sized hard drives that come on UMPCs. They are designed to operate without being perfectly stable. The 3.5" drives can still be problematic.
Overland Navigator occupies approximately 5gb per western state (E.g. WA, OR, ID are about the same size).
Paul has a good thread in this same section on his new Asus UMPC. The price to value ratio was outstanding. It even comes with a built in SIRF III GPS, and RAM makes a mount for it. |
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Larry Grubbs
Advanced Member
Posts:576
| | 21 Aug 2008 05:00 PM |
| I'll get a picture of my Motion LS800 mounted up over the next few days. It has the same exterior dimensions as the Asus only the touchscreen is 8.4". The downside is that it doesn't have the built-in GPS, but I don't mind that personally.
In the end they both seem pretty sweet for a GPS. Much better options than any of the purpose built GPS's out there. |
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Gene Sparks
New Member
Posts:33
| | 22 Aug 2008 02:05 PM |
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I have a question about a tablet to hook up with my Garmin 76cx. There is a screamin deal on ebay for a Fujitsu LT 500 here is the link
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fujitsu-Stylistic-LT-500-Tablet-PC-Laptop-Computer-GPS_W0QQitemZ360080839786QQihZ023QQcategoryZ177QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting Anyway I wanted to know if this would work with the Overland software and if it is a suitable choice for that application. Is it powerful enough? Windows 2000 will the operating system work? If anyone can help any advice would be greatly appreciated. The auction ends SOON. Thanx
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Paul Wilhelm
Basic Member
Posts:302
| | 22 Aug 2008 02:19 PM |
| I'd say don't do it. Pass this one by. A bit too wimpy. The HD is only 6Gigs and RAM 128megs. Like a Palm Pilot with a bigscreen. It's HD size wouldn't hold those nice maps that Overland Navigator has. All you could do is hook up an external GSP antenna and maybe run ???something??? to view it. |
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