Jogga

Does anyone have any experience of off-road satellite navigation in the UK or USA? I’ve been looking at a couple of options; but, they are both very expensive!

Here’s my shopping list of features:

• Must run on either my DELL Axim X50 or my iPAQ hx2790 (preferably the latter).
• The software should run on either my Desktop (Dimension 8400 - 3 years but has DirectX) or my laptop (Inspiron 6400 - virtually new)
• Must support OS mapping formats (UK maps)
• Must support 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scales
• Must include both PC and PPC formats in the purchase cost
• Must have tracklog and waypoint features (both PC>PPC & PPC>PC) and, ideally, talk to my Silva Multi Navigator
• Must support BT GPS device coupling (specifically my TomTom wireless MKII receiver)

Thereafter, everything else is an add-on (unless you can think of something I’ve missed!). Most of my walking is in the hills of North Wales, elevation information and profiles are also a consideration.

After some research, I’ve narrowed my list down to two possible candidates: Memory Map and Anquet. Anquet is the cheaper of the two (£165 ($330)) and looks to be a competent package; but, I’m really taken by the feature rich Memory Map (£300 ($600)).

I can download (or request) trial software, which I’ll do once my exams are done at the month-end; but I respect the opinions of the Aximsite community! The money is not really the issue, but either sum it is a serious amount of cash to spend on a poor choice! If anyone has tried either of these products, I would appreciate some feedback.

Box

Dear oh dear Jogga, you know you don't need no highfalutin GPS systems up dere in your part of the world.
Wat you be afta is one of does tings you strap to da sheeps back with de map on it.
Dem pretty girls know dere way around and dey wid always bings yu ome safe and sound.
Just doin go upzetin dem, dey might jus go and buck you off.

Jogga

Originally Posted by Box

Dear oh dear Jogga, you know you don't need no highfalutin GPS systems up dere in your part of the world. Wat you be afta is one of does tings you strap to da sheeps back with de map on it. Dem pretty girls know dere way around and dey wid always bings yu ome safe and sound. Just doin go upzetin dem, dey might jus go and buck you off.

Don't need no map to find sheep in North Wales :)

hstn

Another special moment of Aximsite helpfulness among friends

Jogga

I've had a chance to look at both of these products now and I must say, I'm impressed with both!

Of the two, Memory Maps is the more intuitive and is probably the one that I'll go for.

Both load to the PPC (I've only tried the iPAQ with the evaluation software) and hooking the setup to my TomTom BT GPS receiver was painless. Map rendering is suberb on both models and the flythrough software is groovy :)

JakeRich

But, how well do the sheep like it?

kcallahan

Originally Posted by Jogga

Don't need no map to find sheep in North Wales :)

Been there - Done that.

In Wales & Iceland. :)

Jogga

Originally Posted by JakeRich

But, how well do the sheep like it?

As we correspond, the sheep in North Wales are running for cover ;)

Graham2456

Hmmmm. Sorry I can't help with your decision but if I look at the help you have received already I think anything I could add would be redundant.
Why not just go with a nice handheld GPS like the etrex. Load a few waypoints before you go and drop in a few more on your way and you should always be able to get back to somewhere familiar.

Jogga

Originally Posted by Graham2456

Hmmmm. Sorry I can't help with your decision but if I look at the help you have received already I think anything I could add would be redundant. Why not just go with a nice handheld GPS like the etrex. Load a few waypoints before you go and drop in a few more on your way and you should always be able to get back to somewhere familiar.

Thanks Graham :approve: Your contributions are never redundant!

As a matter of fact, I already own a hand-held GPS/electronic compass, my Silva Multi Navigator! It's a solid piece of kit. Moreover, I'm a competent navigator using more tradditional methods (compass/map/pacing techniques): I'm proud to say that I can (and have) navigate safely in zero visibility without any electronic gadgets :)

However, both the applications I've been playing with are (essentially) PC based mapping software applications that allow seemless routing (i.e. not confined by paper maps), elevation profiling and 3-D fly-through and both can send Ordanance Survey quality maps to my PDA(s). Couple these features with a GPS receiver and you have essentially dispensed with paper-based mapping and manual navigating techniques (until the battery runs out :)).


All that said, the real point is that it is another gadget/application to play with I do a lot of walking all over the UK and this software means that I no longer need 204 1:50000 maps of mainland UK (and the additional 1:25000 maps for local detail). I can plan routes anywhere in the UK (and other parts of the world if I need to), transfer them to my PDA and go walking.