Re: convert GIS maps to Garmin format?

iamtonyz@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

I would like to take the US Forest Service maps and somehow download
them into the Garmin 276c. Is such a thing possible, or are we stuck
with the horribly bland Garmin Mapsource.

If the answer to above is no, then can anyone recommend a hardware GPS
platform that lets us pick and choose from more than the one
proprietary map vendor. For example, I would love to download the
National Geographic topo maps to a GPS unit.


I can't answer the question on the 276C.

For other hardware, if you want a ruggedized, waterproof, self contained for power, handheld, I don't think there is anything available in consumer grade GPS receivers that does not need optional at extra cost proprietary maps for topo mapping.

Some small progress has been made in people producing their own maps in the proprietary formats used by Garmin and Magellan but it is not to the point where anyone can easily make their own maps for those brands in lieu of buying them.

Last I knew, most reviewers considered the Magellan MapSend Topo 3D maps to be a little better than the Garmin topo maps. That is "better" as determined by comparing the details to that on the USGS 1:24K topo quads. Neither of those packages offer all the details that are on the USGS 1:24K topo maps, they are more like 1:50K maps vectorized and with some additional detail like more contour lines added.

The USGS 1:24K topo maps are, for most of us here in the U.S. anyway, the standard of comparison for topo mapping. I believe it is also the mapping data that is the basis for the vectorized commercial topo mapping packages offered by Garmin and Magellan.

The USGS Digital Raster Graphics (DRG) maps are publicly available bitmapped raster images of the 1:24K topos. Some larger scale (1:50? 1:100?) DRG topos are available also. There are numerous sources for downloading them for free. They are produced with tax dollars and my guess is that someone decided in the past that the information is public information for that reason.

You can use the free DRGs with Ozi Explorer, Ozi Explorer-CE, Fugawi, and a number of other commercial or free navigation softwares. That puts the DRG maps on PCs, laptops, and PDAs.

Using the DRGs for navigation on a handheld PDA requires a PDA with CF or SD card GPS receiver and service life is generally limited to a few hours by battery life. Sustained use starts getting more practical if there is a external power source (car, boat, motorcycle, ATV, etc.) available. Having external power also lets you consider using external (to the PDA) cabled or Bluetooth GPS receivers.

The biggest drawbacks in hardware devices that can use the free DRGs is that of matching the "rugged, waterproof, battery powered, etc..." features of the Garmin and Magellan lines. If you can live with these drawbacks and with dealing with more bits and pieces of hardware, the choices myriad (PDA brands, GPS receiver types, etc.). And the mapping detail will be better.

I have an older iPAQ 3765 with an external "mouse style" or cabled GPS receiver (Altina GGM-308). That works well on my ATV. I have to make provisions to provide shock cushioning and rain proofing but it is practical enough.

I use Ozi-CE for a software for the USGS DRGs on the iPAQ. The DRGs need to be run through a one time conversion process on a PC to create smaller/better map data file for Ozi-CE on the handheld. But with that done, I have a portable nav system with raster images of 1:24K topo maps. And I can probably get DRG map images for the entire U.S. for free.

I use the same hardware on my motorcycle for road use. For that I have full featured autorouting navigation software package (Tom Tom 5 Navigator) that comes with its own proprietary mapping package for the U.S. and Canada.

If you already have a PDA an inexpensive way to experiment with using DRG raster mapping would be to try Maptech's Outdoor Navigator:

https://outdoornavigator.maptech.com/outdoornavigator/index.cfm

That will give you a good feel for the raster image mapping products and it includes both USGS topo mapping and NOAA marine charting. That is a hard deal to beat IMHO.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)
.

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