Thread: Free(?) satellite GPS mapping software

Looks good, I will check this out when I get home. I am always on the lookout for new gps mapping programs, currently use Ozi which is ok. Memory Map is also good, but I haven't paid for the maps yet as they are pretty expensive and you have to buy each state separately.

Cheers.

Have also just found the link on their site for a plug-in to enable you to use Google Maps (both road maps and satellite images).

MapSphere - GPS position exchange, satellite images, maps, chat, and blog for your trip

Though it states "special offer", it's actually free...

Loving this program already. Just been for a small spin around the estate and the accuracy is amazing! As soon as you start thr program up it starts recording your "track", even showing the direction of travel. This map can then be saved and recalled at anytime over any of the map source selections chosen.

May not be so comprehensive as Ozi and the likes, but it's just become my new fave!!

edit:
Attached a test map of my above mentioned mini-trip around the area if anyone wants it for testing.....just unzip and load it into the program.


..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

D2Au - The Australian Discovery2 owners group (Yahoo! group)
d2au.com - Australian D2 specific web forum (different from above!)

Excuse my ignorance.
But how I go about? Once I download the programa, transfer it to a SD card an put it in my GPS unit?
Cheers

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Excuse my ignorance.
But how I go about? Once I download the programa, transfer it to a SD card an put it in my GPS unit?
Cheers

Hi Chucaro,
It's ONLY for PC's/laptops running Windows.
Won't work on Magellans, TomToms, Garmins, etc.
Purely a Windows based application. Sorry.

From their download page:
---------------------------------------------
System Requirements

Minimum configuration:
# Operating System: Windows XP or Vista (works on Win7 too - AussieAub)
# Processor: 800 MHz processor
# Memory: 256 MB
# Hard Drive: 30 MB free space
# Internet connection
# Graphics Card: 32 MB, DirectX 9.0 compatible
# Screen: 800x600, "16-bit High Color"
---------------------------------------------

Currently running on my Dell Mini 10 (Inspiron 910) laptop easily.


..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

D2Au - The Australian Discovery2 owners group (Yahoo! group)
d2au.com - Australian D2 specific web forum (different from above!)

Thank you, so it is good for trip planning then or to use in a laptop.
Cheers

Originally Posted by Chucaro

Thank you, so it is good for trip planning then or to use in a laptop.
Cheers

Yes, that's right.
Once loaded (with an internet connection) you can just select a map source from a drop down list.
The program then connects to that source and you can see the maps on screen.
As you pan around and zoom in-out it can automatically save the map files/images to your hard drive. But it compresses them significantly to save space (ever seen the size of the GoogleMap files?!?!?).
Then, when offline, it automatically reads these files so you can still zoom and pan around without an internet connection, but still keeping high resolution images in real world co-ordinates.
Attach a GPS receiver (I use one of those small USB mouse type ones) and it will lock onto your location. As soon as the app is started it starts recording your movements, and these can be saved to file to load later, or pass around for others as pre-run tracks.

Maybe if we get enough people using it we could start a "track/route share" section?

Some attached screenshots from my "other" laptop showing the program and the track file from above.
I selected GoogleMaps as my source. These screenshots were taken whilst offline to show it really does work, and at differing zoom levels, which loads automatically just by zooming in and out. The pink line is my recorded track loaded from the above zip file). Window areas can be minimized at will for greater screen real estate on smaller screened laptops (third pic).

Hope this helps to explain its simplicity...

edit:
Pics aren't the best, sorry. AULRO uploader does funny things to them, like re-size!

..:: KIEREN ::..
2000 Disco II Auto V8
Object Of Mass Consumption
AussieAubs Disco Page

D2Au - The Australian Discovery2 owners group (Yahoo! group)
d2au.com - Australian D2 specific web forum (different from above!)



I'm sure you'll agree it's pretty smart looking!

Thank you for the info, I appreciate it.

I'm having a quick look at this - it looks quite useful.

I do have one question though: how do you save a path or polygon from Google Earth to do an area download in Mapsphere? I've tried saving .kml files from Google Earth but when I import it into Mapshere it shows a distance of 0 and therefore (I'm assuming) it doesn't download the maps.

Any hints?