Re: UK-biased question about GPS
- From: "Nigel Cliffe" <me@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 20:29:06 +0100
Dominic Sexton wrote:
In article <memo.20060517111547.6332A@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, David
Collier <from_usenet_sci_geo_sat-nav@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes
I'd like to take a GPS with me on my Sunday walks.
I assume that if I buy the bottom level GPS I have to "manually"
enter a set of waypoints, which I derive in some manner from my OS
map, and it just watches satellites, and points me towards the next
waypoint?
As long as it has a PC interface you can use that to enter waypoints,
a route or tracks that you can follow. Lots of software is available
to do this with OS 1:50k & 1:25k maps.
http://www.tracklogs.co.uk/
http://www.anquet.co.uk/
http://www.memory-map.co.uk/
And work with cheaper receivers (say from circa £100), as well as the more
expensive models with "mapping" support. Pretty much any receiver with a
computer interface will take a set of waypoints and string together a route
between them.
There are ways of extracting routes from on-line free mapping tools, such as
Google-Maps, but you don't start from the detail of an OS 1:50,000 or
1:25,000 map. Or there are tools which will take a scan of a paper map and
let you calibrate that for later use (though its hard work to scan an OS
sheet well, so I'd probably purchase one of the above to work from a
computerised OS sheet).
Or, once you get the hang of reading and typing grid references, its pretty
quick to type in a sequence of grid references from a paper map into a
computer, and then upload those to the GPS. There are numerous tools to
perform the upload of such references, many of which are free. Its not
that hard to put the points directly into a GPS receiver - something I
frequently do when away from home; the next day's walk is planned, and 20
minutes is spent putting in key waypoints incase they are useful.
One of the more important questions about the GPS is "what do you want it to
do ?"
If it is required as the primary navigation device, then it needs up-to-date
maps in the device, and ability for you to change your plans as the walk
develops (maybe that field is ploughed rather heavily...).
If it is a "confirm position if unsure" and then walk from a paper map, all
it needs is ability to give an OS grid reference (almost any device can do
this). There is a case for altitude readings and barometric altimeters, but
I'd suggest that only applies to very mountainous areas.
If its a "walk logging device", then it just needs to record a track of
where you've been for later use.
Different GPS devices will do all of the above, but answering the question
will help decide how much to spend.
Obviously the best thing in the world would be a colour GPS, compass,
etc which had a walkers map of the Cotswolds in it.
I assume that if I buy a £350 Garmin, and the Fugawi OS maps CD, I
can pretty much achieve that?
No. Fugawi and other OS mapping suppliers cannot load maps into the
Garmin (or other brand receivers).
Garmin do their own OS map based software but it's a far cry from the
maps you are used to.
http://www.garmin.com/cartography/mapSource/topogb.jsp
Or there is the less-detailed, but free, public domain UK contour map set
for Garmin mapping receivers. Has basic UK contour data, plus major hill
summits. Its good software provided you are aware of its limits, and that
it has inaccuracies from the base NASA data and the way it is processed.
- Nigel
--
Nigel Cliffe,
Webmaster at http://www.2mm.org.uk/
.
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