Re: topo trails

From: H.W. Stockman (stockman3_at_earth-REMOVE_THIS-link.net)
Date: 11/11/04

  • Next message: secheese: "Re: CSI Miami - I know it's just TV, but..." 
    Date: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 03:18:00 GMT

    "Curly" <curly@nyuk.com> wrote in message
    news:Z6mcnehont5iFwzcUSdV9g@ptd.net...
    > I'm new to the GPS world and have been looking at the garmin and magellan
    > systems. The compatible topo map software looks rudimentary. Do these
    maps
    > contrail trails? What are the best compatible sources for topo maps with
    > these units that show th most detail.

    I have both MapSend Topo on a Magellan SporTrak, and MapSource 100K Topo on
    a Garmin 60c. The Garmin maps usually win out, but the contour lines on
    either unit have been useful only a few times. Mostly, I just watch my
    pre-plotted tracks or routes (uploaded from a computer, from software such
    as ExpertGPS or MapTech), and pretty much ignore the contour lines on the
    GPS screen. I always carry a paper map, printed out with the same PC
    software, so I can see my planned routes/tracks plotted up in a readable,
    24k format.

    I've used the GPSs on about 100 hikes, most trailless, about half with the
    SporTrak and half with the 60c. The Magellan contours were somewhat useful
    on one of the more gentle Adirondack peaks, and here on Griffith Peak in
    Nevada (11060') in winter -- basically on relatively isolated peaks with
    moderate slopes. The Magellan intepolation scheme is hillariously
    inaccurate on ridges or in cliffy territory. The Garmin contours were
    useful in rough country, like the sierras, where the topography is fairly
    well-defined in 50m intervals; I've consulted them a little in 2 whiteouts,
    but mainly depended on following my pre-plotted routes/tracks, or depended
    on backtracking my active log (manually).

    In short, I've always wanted and paid for the topo software; but I almost
    never rely on it.

    For many Garmin models, a big advantage is that you can upload 10 tracks of
    500 points apiece, so you can pre-plan a trip in fair detail, without the
    extra clutter of route symbols. On the color models, you can make the
    uploaded tracks different colors.

  • Next message: secheese: "Re: CSI Miami - I know it's just TV, but..."

    Relevant Pages

    • Re: convert GIS maps to Garmin format?
      ... or are we stuck with the horribly bland Garmin Mapsource. ... National Geographic topo maps to a GPS unit. ... Using the DRGs for navigation on a handheld PDA requires a PDA with CF ...
      (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
    • Re: Which GPS to show exact location?
      ... What I really really want is OS or similar maps loaded onto the Garmin ... Do you reckon the latest TOPO Great Britain would be any improvement on my ... existing Mapsource software? ...
      (uk.rec.walking)
    • Re: Which GPS to show exact location?
      ... What I really really want is OS or similar maps loaded onto the ... loaded onto the Garmin" ... Do you reckon the latest TOPO Great Britain would be any improvement on my ... ordinary Mapsource plus the SMC contours is a nice cheap alternative - ...
      (uk.rec.walking)
    • Re: GPS Mainly for Hiking??
      ... If you upload maps to a Magellan unit using the new Topo software, ... maps uploaded to the GPS show the 30 meter elevation grid? ...
      (sci.geo.satellite-nav)
    • Re: OT: GPS Navigation Systems
      ... I have the Magellan explorist 400, ... A friend of mine has the Garmin GPSMAP handheld unit, he paid about twice the money. ... I've got a 1 gig SD card in it, but no individual map can be greater than 64 Meg, That means if I am driving a long trip, I have to switch maps on the unit and can't have it create a single route all the way from start to destination. ...
      (rec.gambling.poker)