Thread: GPS's and Electronic Maps

First thing you'll need is a data cable to go from the GPS to the laptop. Does your laptop have a serial port? A lot of the newer ones only have USB, in which case you will also need an additional serial to USB converter. It's also a good idea to get a combined power/data cable if your going to be running your setup in the car (saves on batteries). Good place for these is www.gpsoz.com.au.

Next thing is software. I would recommend oziexplorer as there's not much you can't do with it and heaps of info and support out there for it. Can be found at www.oziexplorer.com.

Then maps, this is up to you. What areas do you want to cover, how much detail etc... Natmap is a good one. Covers all of oz with pretty good detail.

Hope this helps.

Natmaps raster for maps $87-50 at mapsdownunder.com.au
and I am looking at Trackranger as it has more useable features than Oziexplorer with autoload $224 at mapsdownunder.com.au

Gday Paul,
I have a Garmin E-Trex GPS and a little Toshiba laptop and on the Dwellingup trip I took it along to try it out. I use the Ozi-Explorer mapping program which you can download the trial version from the above site and then purchase the codes from there to make it the full version. So far I have found it really easy to use and together with the NATMAPS Raster you are set for Australian travel. You can log tracks etc, make your own tracks at home and then transfer to the GPS or as I did on the trip just have the laptop sitting on the seat and have a little arrow tell me exactly where I was in the scheme of things.
I would recommend trying it, I have only just started and am still learning its full potential but am having a ball while learning it.
Shano [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Shano what do you have running in your laptop ( software and hardware ) as I am going to buy one shortly and if you don't need a fast laptop or a large HDD I was going to buy second hand

Also what is the best GPS to buy???


adam

Hi guys

thanks for all the info still wading through and experimenting with various software etc and what maps to buy.. so many to choose from.

I have oziexporer and i am quite happy with this, i can down load maps from the link below. dont see any point spending money when i can download the dozen or so maps which i need for now. but i am having trouble getting oziexplorer to read them, i can import the layers as tracks but nothing esle.

http://www.ga.gov.au/bin/mapserv36'map=/pu...x=0&map_gaz_y=0

RMP is a wizz on this stuff and published a book about it. I have asked for his help, and would thank him for his assistance.

RMP webs site is good and definitely worth a read.

www.gpsvehiclenavigation.com

What GPS, i bought the Meridian Gold, comes with a basic map in it, and can be upgraded by purchasing discover australia CD which i beleive covers most roads and some tracks throughout Australia. In hind site i wished i had bought meridian gold set, which comes with Discover Australia CD, memory card, in car bracket etc .....whole lot $1,000.00 but buy it in seperates and will have to spend $1,200.00 so much for trying to do things on the cheap.

I have tried various software, Oziexplorer, Arcview, and Mapinfo. Mapinfo being the best by far but comes with a price tag of $3,000.00 so won;t be buying that one. The Discover Australia i assume comes with its one map reading software. I can get a demo of this and would appreciate if anyone has got it, i would like to know what they think about it.

I decided to spend more on the GPS and therefore not having to use the computer in the car, i can see it now, down a track, round a corner, big hole, down we go, up goes the computer and down goes my bank balance when i have to buy another one. but would still like to use the computer for more detailed maps and storgae of waypoints and tracks etc etc.

all and any comments would be appreciated.

Defender130,

The data that is obtainable from the Auslig site is a vector set (readable by MapInfo, ArcInfo etc) unfortunately as you have discovered Ozi can't read vector data only raster (.bmp/.jpg/.png etc).

I have just started a download of one of the data sets and will see if MapInfo converts it to a raster set that is any use. (I did start this once before but never completed).

Not sure how it fits with the licence agreement either at the moment.

Bushie

G'Day there Bushie, I would be interested if that can be done as well, would go well on the iPAQ with OziCE

Graham,

Given that you can buy all 500+ Auslig 1:250000 maps (Australia wide) on a CD for around $90 I personally wouldn't bother with the hassle.

The CD images can be easily converted for the Ipaq and all the calibration files are available on the net.


Bushie