Advice: eTrex to Laptop and moving maps

[OLR-067]

Like the title says after advice on maps, programs etc.
I am getting a Garmin Etrex and I want to run to laptop and utilise moving maps.Looks like ozi is the favoured programme.Now I don't know a thing about this stuff, so do I just buy a map DVD like Hema and open in ozi and all will be fine, or am I missing something.

Thanks
Paul

[Hoges]

have you checked out Trackranger? www.advantechdesign.com.au/trackranger.html


Have had one for a couple of years -excellent s/ware and a v good GPS aerial with magnetic mount. You can also get a set of 1:250,000 maps for the whole of Australia from National Mapping for just over $100...moving maps and all!

cheers

[DirtyDawg]

I have Ozi and the full range of topo maps 1:50000 for WA and I can't fault it...

[Phoenix]

Garmin GPS units are great, and OZI is the way to go. You just load up your maps and away you go.

[Utemad]

Which Etrex are you getting?

As far as I know the monochrome ones still use serial ports while the colour units use USB.

Does your laptop have a serial port? You can use an adapter if you don't but it is something else to buy/configure.

Oziexplorer doesn't recognise every map disc out there so check before you buy any.

[waynep]

I use OziExplorer - just go into it about a year ago.
I find it great for bush tracks - you can scan your own paper maps and calibrate them. Bit time consuming but very versatile. Virtually any paper map that is to scale and has lat/long grids on it can go on to your laptop and become a moving map. If you know people who have already scanned and calibrated their maps, you can beg steal or borow their files. Or you can purchase maps on CD already calibrated for Ozi from the map makers ( Hema, Rooftop, AUSLIG etc ). It should say if it will work with Ozi or not.

Ozi can't do the street navigation thing like your Tom Toms, Navman etc i.e. where you punch in an address and you get arrows and voice prompts guiding you there. However those devices do not have the bush tracks in them and are only really good for towns and cities.

If you take the time to punch in your own series of waypoints etc and make a route Ozi will prompt with with arrows and voice prompts. Haven't tried that yet.

[OLR-067]

thanks guys....think I will go OZI for flexibilty.trackranger looks very easy to use though..good for the stewardess....