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Cellular forums Home > Archive > GPS > September 2007 > Mapping software for Canada
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Mapping software for Canada
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| Larry G 2007-09-08, 10:33 am |
| Sorry if this question has been asked before.
I just got back from a trip to Canada where I spent 18 days on a river
with my GPS on the entire time we were on-River... capturing a track
log as well as marked waypoints.
Now, that I am back.. I realize that my preferred National Geo TOPO
does not support Canada nor do they apparently offer it.
I have Garmins Mapsource which has the basemap for Canada but I'd have
to buy their Canada product - which I probably will do even though I
consider Mapsource inferior to NG TOPO.
What other mapping software is available besides Garmin and DeLorme
and opinions please.
thanks!
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| Travel by GPS 2007-09-09, 10:33 am |
| On Sep 8, 8:20 am, Larry G <gross.la...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry if this question has been asked before.
>
> I just got back from a trip to Canada where I spent 18 days on a river
> with my GPS on the entire time we were on-River... capturing a track
> log as well as marked waypoints.
>
> Now, that I am back.. I realize that my preferred National Geo TOPO
> does not support Canada nor do they apparently offer it.
>
> I have Garmins Mapsource which has the basemap for Canada but I'd have
> to buy their Canada product - which I probably will do even though I
> consider Mapsource inferior to NG TOPO.
>
> What other mapping software is available besides Garmin and DeLorme
> and opinions please.
>
> thanks!
Hi Larry,
Among those alreaded mentioned. Fugawi headquarters are in Toronto
and they have some of the best basemap images of Canada I've seen in
an retail package.
http://www.fugawi.com/web/products/...anada_maps.htm.
Note that you have to buy Global Navigator software and purchase
detail maps separate, but the software comes with "bonus" data for one
region.
I hope this helps!
- Doug
Owner TravelByGPS.com
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| Larry G 2007-09-09, 10:33 am |
| On Sep 9, 8:51 am, Travel by GPS <DougAdoma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 8, 8:20 am, Larry G <gross.la...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
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> Hi Larry,
> Among those alreaded mentioned. Fugawi headquarters are in Toronto
> and they have some of the best basemap images of Canada I've seen in
> an retail package.http://www.fugawi.com/web/products/...anada_maps.htm.
> Note that you have to buy Global Navigator software and purchase
> detail maps separate, but the software comes with "bonus" data for one
> region.
> I hope this helps!
> - Doug
> Owner TravelByGPS.com- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Thanks guys! I was hoping to transfer my track logs and waypoints
from my GPS to the software (perhaps I forgot to mention this).
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| Jack Erbes 2007-09-09, 10:33 am |
| Larry G wrote:
<snip>
> Thanks guys! I was hoping to transfer my track logs and waypoints
> from my GPS to the software (perhaps I forgot to mention this).
And you haven't mentioned the brand or model either. You have to open
your mouth if we're going to pull your teeth. :> )
But your mention of Garmin and having one that was on for 18 days, and
your implying that it may have collected track data for that period of
time, suggests that you may have one of the "x" model Garmins.
So those models are what I am talking about in what follows.
If that is the case, you can put your Garmin in the Mass Storage Mode
(press Menu, Menu, Setup, Interface, highlight Mass Storage Mode, press
Enter), start Windows Explorer (not! Internet Explorer), find the
removable drive that is the memory card in the Garmin, and copy all of
the *.gpx files to a working folder on your hard drive.
Stop the removable drive to get out of the Mass Storage Mode and restart
the GPS receiver.
From that point on it is a case of opening the *.gpx files (there is
one for each day) with MapSource or any other GPS utility you prefer to
use. Choose from the list here for a good selection of shareware and
freeware candidates:
http://gpsinformation.net/#3rdparty
My preference is GPS Utility. I have been using that for some years
now, it is powerful, the developer is active, interactive with users,
and keeps it up to date with the new models.
Most of the 3rd party softwares can also download the track memory and
saved tracks directly from the GPS receiver. Any data that is in track
memory or saved tracks will also be in the *.gpx files.
In the *.gpx files you'll find track segments for one day, segments are
created for each loss of fix/new fix cycle and for each time the
receiver is turned on.
The *.gpx files will not be there if you did not have the "Log Track To
Data Card" feature is not turned on.
Jack
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| Larry G 2007-09-09, 10:33 pm |
| On Sep 9, 10:00 am, Jack Erbes <jac...@midmaine.com> wrote:
> Larry G wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
>
> And you haven't mentioned the brand or model either. You have to open
> your mouth if we're going to pull your teeth. :> )
>
> But your mention of Garmin and having one that was on for 18 days, and
> your implying that it may have collected track data for that period of
> time, suggests that you may have one of the "x" model Garmins.
>
> So those models are what I am talking about in what follows.
>
> If that is the case, you can put your Garmin in the Mass Storage Mode
> (press Menu, Menu, Setup, Interface, highlight Mass Storage Mode, press
> Enter), start Windows Explorer (not! Internet Explorer), find the
> removable drive that is the memory card in the Garmin, and copy all of
> the *.gpx files to a working folder on your hard drive.
>
> Stop the removable drive to get out of the Mass Storage Mode and restart
> the GPS receiver.
>
> From that point on it is a case of opening the *.gpx files (there is
> one for each day) with MapSource or any other GPS utility you prefer to
> use. Choose from the list here for a good selection of shareware and
> freeware candidates:
>
> http://gpsinformation.net/#3rdparty
>
> My preference is GPS Utility. I have been using that for some years
> now, it is powerful, the developer is active, interactive with users,
> and keeps it up to date with the new models.
>
> Most of the 3rd party softwares can also download the track memory and
> saved tracks directly from the GPS receiver. Any data that is in track
> memory or saved tracks will also be in the *.gpx files.
>
> In the *.gpx files you'll find track segments for one day, segments are
> created for each loss of fix/new fix cycle and for each time the
> receiver is turned on.
>
> The *.gpx files will not be there if you did not have the "Log Track To
> Data Card" feature is not turned on.
>
> Jack
Hey Jack -
yes... 76csx.... I did have the track "on" but I did not realize that
there was a "Log track to data card" option.
somewhere along the line -the track log got to 98% and I told it to
save the log and then clear the current log.
I wasn't sure if it did save the entire log until I got back and I was
able to upload to the Garmin base software... which showed it (I
think) on the basemap... with minimal features.
so .. I then was wondering what the choices might be for software with
more detail... preferably TOPO for Canada besides Garmin (since NG
does not have Canada).
I thought I had it with the tip on Fugawi... but for some reason they
don't have the Northwest Territories region... (which would have been
great since they claim they have 25K versions).
I have no interest in rolling my on... it looks like picky...
onerous..work and I am lazy.
but choices for Canada look like slim pickins.....
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| Jack Erbes 2007-09-09, 10:33 pm |
| Larry G wrote:
<snip>
> Hey Jack -
>
> yes... 76csx.... I did have the track "on" but I did not realize that
> there was a "Log track to data card" option.
That feature is usually obscure to new users. It is not mentioned in
the Manual I have but may be in an newer version of it if there is one.
> somewhere along the line -the track log got to 98% and I told it to
> save the log and then clear the current log.
If you have it set to overwrite, it will go to 99% and just stay there
until you clear it. But, of course, it is overwriting the oldest points
all the time. With don't overwrite, it quits collecting trackpoint in
track memory. But it will still log them to the *.gpx file if that is
turned on.
> I wasn't sure if it did save the entire log until I got back and I was
> able to upload to the Garmin base software... which showed it (I
> think) on the basemap... with minimal features.
Right, you are probably using the Trip & Waypoint manager version of
MapSource if you do not have one of the other mapping packages. The
saved track will only have a maximum of 400 track points and the
software chooses the points that best represent the track at the time it
is saved. So if you have 10,000 points in memory and and save it,
you'll only get one point out of 25 at best.
And saved tracks do not contain the time entires, only the lat/long and
elevation. So you can't use the saved tracks for historical purposes,
to calculate speeds, determine the time you were in a given spot, etc.
All things considered, I'd turn the Log Track to Card feature on the
never turn it off again. As long as there is free space on the card the
track points will be there in the *.gpx files and it will include the
lat/long, date/time, and elevation allowing full reconstruction of the
journeys later.
> so .. I then was wondering what the choices might be for software with
> more detail... preferably TOPO for Canada besides Garmin (since NG
> does not have Canada).
There is a some mapping available for Canada, you can see the offerings
here:
http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/
The products that are listed there all have online viewers so you can
get a feel for the amount of detail you'll get with the various mapping
packages.
If you can find some of the older versions of Topo Canada or MetroGuide
Canada used (make sure they do not require unlocking), those are
probably worth having. You might find them on eBay.
The topo detail is 1:100,000 (as it is in U.S. Topo) but the mapping is
good enough and cheap enough to be worth having. I don't consider the
topo mapping on the handheld (I have a 76Cx) to be the best mapping but
it is good enough for many purposes. If I want more and better detail
for an area I'm going to be in I would want to get a 1:24,000 paper map.
> I thought I had it with the tip on Fugawi... but for some reason they
> don't have the Northwest Territories region... (which would have been
> great since they claim they have 25K versions).
> I have no interest in rolling my on... it looks like picky...
> onerous..work and I am lazy.
>
> but choices for Canada look like slim pickins.....
>
It looks like you might have to rub it with money. :> )
Jack
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| Angus 2007-09-16, 10:33 pm |
| "Larry G" <gross.larry@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1189370189.244754.221140@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 9, 10:00 am, Jack Erbes <jac...@midmaine.com> wrote:
>
> Hey Jack -
>
> yes... 76csx.... I did have the track "on" but I did not realize that
> there was a "Log track to data card" option.
>
> somewhere along the line -the track log got to 98% and I told it to
> save the log and then clear the current log.
>
> I wasn't sure if it did save the entire log until I got back and I was
> able to upload to the Garmin base software... which showed it (I
> think) on the basemap... with minimal features.
>
> so .. I then was wondering what the choices might be for software with
> more detail... preferably TOPO for Canada besides Garmin (since NG
> does not have Canada).
>
> I thought I had it with the tip on Fugawi... but for some reason they
> don't have the Northwest Territories region... (which would have been
> great since they claim they have 25K versions).
>
> I have no interest in rolling my on... it looks like picky...
> onerous..work and I am lazy.
>
> but choices for Canada look like slim pickins.....
>
The best Topo mapping you're going to get for the Northwest Territories is
1:250,000. Get Memory Map with eTopo map E70001.
http://www.maptown.com/cgi-bin/mt/s...&store_id=21983
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| Larry G 2007-09-17, 7:33 am |
| On Sep 16, 7:11 pm, "Angus" <angus.black@_REMOVE_gmail.com> wrote:
> "Larry G" <gross.la...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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> news:1189370189.244754.221140@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
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> The best Topo mapping you're going to get for the Northwest Territories is
> 1:250,000. Get Memory Map with eTopo map E70001.http://www.maptown.com/cgi-bin/mt/s...ls&store_id...- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Angus - thank you for the excellent link.... !
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| Angus 2007-09-17, 10:33 pm |
|
"Larry G" <gross.larry@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1190026135.761094.90870@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 16, 7:11 pm, "Angus" <angus.black@_REMOVE_gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Angus - thank you for the excellent link.... !
No problem. As far as I know there has never been any 1:50,000 mapping done
for the Northwest territories.
If you want to through the process of calibrating maps you can get free
1:250,000 images from:
http://toporama.cits.rncan.gc.ca/toporama_en.html
I've calibrated the Maritimes to use in OziExplorer and Memory Map.
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| Larry G 2007-09-17, 10:33 pm |
| On Sep 17, 5:14 pm, "Angus" <angus.black@_REMOVE_gmail.com> wrote:
> "Larry G" <gross.la...@gmail.com> wrote in message
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> news:1190026135.761094.90870@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
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> No problem. As far as I know there has never been any 1:50,000 mapping done
> for the Northwest territories.
> If you want to through the process of calibrating maps you can get free
> 1:250,000 images from:http://toporama.cits.rncan.gc.ca/toporama_en.html
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> I've calibrated the Maritimes to use in OziExplorer and Memory Map.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
how complicated is the process?
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