Navigation aids

Jehannum

Anyone here use [mobile] mapping software?

As a safety net when walking in the mountains[1], I've been using a pda with GPS reciever, and some free software. Recent s/w failure meant i went looking for something new. I found a thing called Quo v2 [2]. The software is free, but you have to buy the maps, available in various scales. There's a module of the software which runs on pda [or other mobile device], so you don't have to go through the rigmarole of calibrating home made maps. The image quality on the pda is also better than home made was, especially when zooming in.

The pc based element is a great help for planning walks, and cycle rides. When out at the weekend with Mrs Jehannum, we prefer to pootle circular routes, on unclassified roads where it's nice and car-free.


J.

[1] largely brought about by the embarrassing "arrived at the top of the wrong peak" incident. :oops:

[2] with the makers of which I have no affiliation.

lost_in_thought

I use google maps.

It's good, it is.

Aidy

My phone has a GPS receiver, I've found it pretty helpful at times

I've not really used it for following routes, so much as working out where I am when I know I've gone off it.

Doesn't have maps for being offroad, although I might investigate that way eventually.

Stuww

I use http://www.viewranger.com/ on my Nokia E71

1:25,000 maps are great for checking out bridle ways terrain etc

Nokia Sportstracker software is good too for recording your trip details and location.

Oddjob62

lost_in_thought wrote:

I use google maps.

It's good, it is.

Agreed. Nothing fancy but does the job.

blu3cat

Oddjob62 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I use google maps.

It's good, it is.

Agreed. Nothing fancy but does the job.

Yep agreed Googlemaps is very good, only problem is, if you go out of data connections range (relatively easy if you go 2 inches outside an urban area), you are kinda stuffed.

I have a copy of Tom Tom for backup.

Deadeye Duck

Every time I use Google maps on my phone, it'll show my location within 8 miles or something equally as helpful. That could have something to do with my phone being a big pile of lovely stuff though

lost_in_thought

blu3cat wrote:

Oddjob62 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I use google maps.

It's good, it is.

Agreed. Nothing fancy but does the job.

Yep agreed Googlemaps is very good, only problem is, if you go out of data connections range (relatively easy if you go 2 inches outside an urban area), you are kinda stuffed.

I have a copy of Tom Tom for backup.

I find it pretty good in sunny Essex too, not pinpoint accuracy like in London, but close enough, and it loads so much faster than everything else I've tried.

roger_merriman

Deadeye Duck wrote:

Every time I use Google maps on my phone, it'll show my location within 8 miles or something equally as helpful. That could have something to do with my phone being a big pile of lovely stuff though

depends on the area around my folks place it's equally useful, not helped by O2's woeful reception in that area. around london it's cracking out in the north downs it's not bad has the odd blind spot but mostly works which is about as much as one can expect.

Ridg

I use memory map with my garmin, but I always carry a paper landranger and a compass, as i've found that the garmin batteries can die if it gets too cold, and it's always worth taking a backup.

always_tyred

lost_in_thought wrote:

blu3cat wrote:

Oddjob62 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I use google maps.

It's good, it is.

Agreed. Nothing fancy but does the job.

Yep agreed Googlemaps is very good, only problem is, if you go out of data connections range (relatively easy if you go 2 inches outside an urban area), you are kinda stuffed.

I have a copy of Tom Tom for backup.

I find it pretty good in sunny Essex too, not pinpoint accuracy like in London, but close enough, and it loads so much faster than everything else I've tried.

Ummm.... GPS doesn't care if you are in London or the Kalahari, I don't think. Same accuracy, surely?

Also, Google maps is NOT good - it doesn't distinguish between dirt tracks and paved (small) roads and its no use looking at a blank screen with a red dot on it if you are anywhere that the boffins at Telemaps (which google uses) haven't considered that a normal person might want to go.

And that's all.

roger_merriman

Always Tyred wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

blu3cat wrote:

Oddjob62 wrote:

lost_in_thought wrote:

I use google maps.

It's good, it is.

Agreed. Nothing fancy but does the job.

Yep agreed Googlemaps is very good, only problem is, if you go out of data connections range (relatively easy if you go 2 inches outside an urban area), you are kinda stuffed.

I have a copy of Tom Tom for backup.

I find it pretty good in sunny Essex too, not pinpoint accuracy like in London, but close enough, and it loads so much faster than everything else I've tried.

Ummm.... GPS doesn't care if you are in London or the Kalahari, I don't think. Same accuracy, surely?

Also, Google maps is NOT good - it doesn't distinguish between dirt tracks and paved (small) roads and its no use looking at a blank screen with a red dot on it if you are anywhere that the boffins at Telemaps (which google uses) haven't considered that a normal person might want to go.

And that's all.

sure at that point you need a OS map really be that paper or digital.

but i've been impressed with how good google maps is, yes i can with ease point to areas that it makes a god awkful mess of but on the whole for the price it's not bad, better at least the areas i go to than say openstreetmap which has some fairly massive gaps of no or little data.

Jehannum

GPS accuracy outdoors will not vary much, unless there are lots of tall buildings around. The later ones [eg Sirf Star III] can cope very well with trees, earlier recievers can struggle in the woods.

I use the GPS to check position as the battery life of my pda won't allow continuous use. A walk may take 7-8 hours, and pda life is about 2 hours. It's also useful for resolving arguments with Mrs Jehannum [armed with paper map and compass] about where we actually are. It's particularly useful in the forests as the OS may have tracks and footpaths marked which just aren't there, or else are half a mile away.

J.

jimmypippa

OS maps or Harvey's maps

(Only used Harvey's walking maps.

Their 1:25,000 Cuillin map is a lot clearer than the OS 1:25,000