Will a GPS do what I want?

psilocybe

I want to be able to look at a map and then plan an unknown route using public footpaths, bridleways and other countryside paths. Can I do this on GPS using mapping software on a PC first and then will it show me the way to go while riding and include gradients etc. What would be a good one to buy, whould it be the Garmin etrex Vista HCx? Does it also allow me to share and get maps from others on the net etc.

or am i better off just buying an ordanance survey landranger map and planing it that way and printing it off?

dave_hill

psilocybe wrote:

I want to be able to look at a map and then plan an unknown route using public footpaths, bridleways and other countryside paths. Can I do this on GPS using mapping software on a PC first and then will it show me the way to go while riding and include gradients etc. What would be a good one to buy, whould it be the Garmin etrex Vista HCx? Does it also allow me to share and get maps from others on the net etc.

Stay away from public footpaths. Bridleways, byways and tarmac roads only please.

or am i better off just buying an ordanance survey landranger map and planing it that way and printing it off?

Just buy an OS map and learn to use it.

The batteries never run out on an OS map. Neither does an OS map get confused when you have it too close to the trans-ceiver for your computer/heart-rate monitor.

You can't navigate successfully from a GPS screen because they just don't show enough detail and a wide enough area to be able to get a fx on points on the landscape.

They're great for tracking where you've been I suppose, but then my memory isn't so bad that I can't remember.

Wouldn't have a GPS given. In fact I'd be mad if I found one. But then if I'd have been born 200 years ago I'd have been out smashing power looms instead of giving you the benefit of my opinion.

Yeti575

Get hold of Memory map and plot all your routes onto that. My mate has a Garmin Vista C which is excellent for mapping. I am waiting on an Edge 705 but think that is more for training purposes than out and out mapping. Don't bother printing maps off, last thing you want to do is be flying down a hill and having to stop, get the maps out and decide which way to go!

DaNnY77

Hi

A gps should take you on random public footpaths to give you a good trail ride and get you to where you want to go

Anonymous

i would say that there is no substitute for learning to use an OS map and compass, it's really not as hard as you might think, its just a big picture of the earth!!

that said, i think there is lots of value in using a GPS too, the way i do it it is to plot a route to get me from a to b then set off and use the gps to check navigate.

by that i mean every time i come to where i expect to make a turn or whatever i quickly mark my position with gps and it gives me a 10 figure grid reference (wasted on most OS maps as you can only be accurate to 6 figures by eye) this will then confirm or deny what i believe to be my position on the map.

it is very satisfying to be correct most of the time.

(ps i do this for route finding/planning at work, not on my bike so it might prove to be a bit of a faff)

stumpyjon

I do exactly what you want to do with a Garmin Vista HCx. I have Tracklogs (OS 12:25000 mapping) on the PC for route planning etc. I up load this to Gramin and then follow it on screen using the TOPO GB software (which you have to buy in addition to the Garmin). I also use the Garmin to track where I've been and then upload it back into Tracklogs to view and store.

OK Pros

It's nice to be able to plot the route out at home.
There is enough information on the screen of the Garmin to navigate a new route 99% of the time (saves getting the map out every five mins and has stopped me shooting past turnings going down hill a couple of times.
The Garmin also works fairly well as an in car Stanav as well.

Cons

It's expensive, think the Vista cost me around £200, Topo GB (the GArmin mapping software) cost £ 100 and the Tracklogs software costs £ 25 for each OS Explorer map.
The Topo GB software is sh1t for navigating on it's own, the contours are dead accurate but paths and bridleways sometimes just stop on the mapping software and I find it difficult to tell the difference between paths and minor roads on screen.
You really still need to carry an OS map for when things go wrong and you need to find a shortcut home.

I like using mine and it is good when you are riding new routes for the first time. I also like planning routes on screen (although you can do this without a GPS unit, just print out the map and follow that instead). Tracklogs lets you save routes in several different file formats as well as the Tracklog format so you should be able to share routes (they also have an online database of routes for free download although it's not very big at the moment).

Other softeware is available that is similar to Trackologs such as Memory Map (think you can export routes from Memory map as PDFs). There also seem to be some GPS units on the market now (not Garmin) that actually display OS maps on screen which look really good, not sure how usable or how expensive they are though.

To sum up they are fun to use but not essential and can cost quite a bit, I made a bomb on Ebay selling old tat which was how I paid for mine, if it had had to come out of my hard earned it may have been lower down my spending priority list. Hope that's helpful and well done for reading all the way down to this point .

Chris`I

No matter which one you get, check out http://www.bikehike.co.uk . Its an awesome little site which has 2 map views, one google and one OS, and elevation, and allows you to plot, save, download, upload routes. Can do Garmin formats so you can upload it to the unit.

I have Memory Map, but hardly ever use it as this website is so good

psilocybe

Chris`I wrote:

No matter which one you get, check out http://www.bikehike.co.uk . Its an awesome little site which has 2 map views, one google and one OS, and elevation, and allows you to plot, save, download, upload routes. Can do Garmin formats so you can upload it to the unit.

I have Memory Map, but hardly ever use it as this website is so good

Nows thats exactly what I'm after. thanks very much.

steve

Larok

Really like the functionality of these http://www.satmap.com/index.php

moggy17

I have a garmin gps60 and tracklogs mapping software, i use both for hiking/camping and have recently started to use them for biking too.

you can print of the maps any size you want and put them in aplasic wallet, much easier than messing wtih os maps.

stu76

You can do all that you want and more using a smartphone and external GPS reciever.

I have a nokia N70 and some software called Viewranger installed (www.viewranger.com i think). You can download a free 10 day trial of the software with only specific maps (Snowdonia and somewhere in the Lakes). You can buy the maps in different ways e.g whole country, national parks etc, I went for the select your own maps option for the places I go to regularly which cost me a total of £25 with the software included.

You can import routes from websites (in GPX format) and then set it to direct you to the next waypoint etc. It will also give you trip details Speed, altitude etc in realtime or plotted on a chart. There are too many funtions to list here have a look on the web site.

I've used it to follow routes and it works well, you could do with having it on a handlebar mount which then runs the risk of getting your phone damaged however!

the beauty of this is that it combines all the functions you need into one (well two including the GPS..unless you have a phone with built in GPS eg N95) unit..Camera, Gps, Maps and phone for emergencies etc.

I wouldn't rely on it for sole means of navigation if I were to go somewhere off the beaten track - carry a map just in case!

ArcticFish

First of all sorry to drag up a real old thread, but it’s basically what im asking.

Im looking for a GPS device that I can plan 23 days worth of routes on in one go, 1,200 miles. And really looking for something that has batteries that can be changed as electricity may be a problem most days.

Is there anything out there that will work?