taking os maps in pdf format for ebook instead of paper map.

weii

paper os maps are just the wrong size for everything but a pannier or a rucksack, not to say annoying when windy. instead a sony ebook (or kindle) is just the right size for the jersey back pocket, bum bags or even some of the tool bag attachments. the battery last forever and you can easily save the map of the whole country onto it. tbh i think it would be better idea to have a ebook full of maps instead of taking a paper map on rides.

the only problem is, where can i easily download the os map in pdf format (it is probably harder to get it in epub format). anyone got any ideas?

you could manually save the maps from the various free map websites as a picture and then move these picture to the ebook reader. it is quite a lot of hassle and i think i had better ask before i work on it. no doubt others would have the same idea as i.

mikeq

eh, how about from Ordnance Survey

http://www.shop.ordnancesurveyleisure.co.uk/products/digital-maps

They aint free, no OS map is. If you want to go the free way then you will need to endure the hassle

briantrumpet

You can put them into pdf for your own personal use using the free program Mapyx Quo - you'll need to buy the map tiles, but they are less than £1 for a 40km x 40km tile for the 1:50,000 maps.

weii

i knew about the os survey downloads, but it is annoying that, the maps are split into tiles squares (400 in total for the SU region, SU=berkshire, hampshire and oxfordshire and a around that region, total about 800mb for this region). each map tiles will have to be separately converted to pdf files, which makes finding where you are a bit hard.

there is no map with a tile index, so you had to guess, for example, which tile is the town of reading, (ie SU55SW,or something, essentially grid 55 southwest).

if anyone know where i can find a map with the index of which map tile is which, for the os survey downloads of the os street view?

mapxquo, dont that require to have bike gps in the in order to use? if i had a bike gps i wont be messing with these map hassle.

briantrumpet

weii wrote:

mapxquo, dont that require to have bike gps in the in order to use? if i had a bike gps i wont be messing with these map hassle.

Nope - it's a stand-alone mapping program, and you can plot routes on it (it's a bit clunky, but it's OK once you get used to it.). The 1:50,000 tiles are 40km x 40 km, and cost about £1 each, though you can buy the whole of GB for about £90. It cost me about £6 for the whole of Devon. I don't use GPS for cycling - I just plan on Mapyx Quo, print the maps out, and ride.

ColinJ

I have the entire mainland UK as one huge seamless digital OS map. (Memory Map full GB version).

Buy that and a netbook to install it on?

I'd be worried about water damage if it rained though.

Why not just buy a decent GPS unit?

pilot_pete

Get yourself a colour scanner/ copier/ printer (they're cheap these days - although they get you on the ink!) and scan the area of your OS 1:50,000 map in. You can then use a photo editor to crop it to what you want, print it off on A4 and put in a descent map case, like http://www.ellis-brigham.com/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi?prod_code_in=288501 these. I used these for years in the Army and they are superb. If you squash all the air out before sealing it you can fold it twice (like a letter) and it fits in a jersey pocket. Totally waterproof.

I used to print off several A4 'sheets' to cover a longer ride and have them 'back to back' in sequence in the map case, so one side leads to the other and only after that do you have to open it and put your next two sheets to the top. Way less bulky than an OS sheet and you don't have to risk it 'sailing away' as you try to read it on a windy day!

Now I use Memory Map and just print off the areas I need.

PP

p.s. that way your OS sheet stays in pristine condition. Oh, and you can iron the sheet from the back to get the creases out as much as possible before scanning.

Buckled_Rims

The problem now is that Android mobile phones are so inexpensive you can use one of them to install an openstreetmap program, it's img and set the gps and you should have everything you need.

I just use the basic MyTracks program on my Android. And it's free!

http://mytracks.appspot.com/

Also installed is OsmAnd

http://osmand.net/

weii

one just love the ebook, guess if all fails i'll just have to take my netbook with a dongle on the ride, although the last time i tried it, there was no 3g signal. still the ebook is lighter and ofc have a bigger screen than a phone.
cant have everything, will just have to save these map onto the ebook.

MichaelW

I use a normal digital camera to take jpg pics of maps to print out at convenient sizes.
Lacking a printer, I have even navigated from the back of a camera.
Its really useful if you dont have a map and there is a poster map at a tourist centre or trail-head.

jpg to pdf is a pretty easy conversion to make.

Buckled_Rims

weii wrote:

one just love the ebook, guess if all fails i'll just have to take my netbook with a dongle on the ride, although the last time i tried it, there was no 3g signal. still the ebook is lighter and ofc have a bigger screen than a phone.
cant have everything, will just have to save these map onto the ebook.

Well if you want pdf for the ebook (and it does have a long batter life) then install a pdf creator on to computer. Then use the print facility to print to pdf rather then your printer. This will save your map as a pdf.

What maps you use is up to you. If it's just roads then openstreetmap is just as good and free.

winel0rd

MichaelW wrote:

I have even navigated from the back of a camera.

I do this - a lot easier to carrying a map if space is limited.

ColinJ

MichaelW wrote:

I use a normal digital camera to take jpg pics of maps ... I have even navigated from the back of a camera.

Brilliant!

I always carry a camera on long rides. My GPS has been totally reliable but I want backup just in case.

I can live with the tiny risk of the GPS and camera both packing up on the same ride!