Experienced fell walker, novice at GPS

[mikealder]

Currently to plan any sort of route has to be done on the device itself, there is no way to use the PC to plan a walk then upload it to the active 10, this PC based software will be made available in the near future. What we don't know as yet is how it will work with the PC.

You can certainly read a SatMap SD card using a card reader, but you cannot do a great deal with it on the PC (as yet).

The dual scale 50K/25K scale maps are costly but competitively priced when compared to other OS based maps that are in electronic format, a cheaper solution is to use the 50K only maps by county which retail at £29 - the Lancashire and Lake District ones I have are great for most uses, the Peak District card duel scale card is great when I need the extra definition and detail a 25K map can offer. As most of my walking is in this area I paid the extra for the additional detail, but I can still use the other maps for walking as and when required. If I wanted to do any serious walking in the Lakes then I would go for the £99 cost of the Lakes, but I am not a great lover of this overly commercialised area to be honest - great scenery but too costly and overly used compared to the Dales - Mike

[iamian16]

Mike

Thanks again for the helpful reply.

So let's see if I have this right.

To plan a route on the PC I need Memory Map and then I can download the waypoints onto most devices?

Most simple Garmin devices do not come with maps and the more pricey ones have 1:25000 map images somewhat short of OS detail and clarity.

Even the more expensive Garmin ones have a smallish screen.

A PDA with Memory Map will do all I want but battery life is short and PDAs are not very robust.

Satmap Active 10 will do the proper OS 1:25000 mapping but you cannot plan a route except on the device.

Route planning software is planned for the Satmap but it isn't available and what it will do when it is is not yet known.

At least this forum has helped explain why I could never seem to get what I wanted when I searched various web sites trying to work out what to buy.

I'm still not sure what I want, or indeed need, but at least I will now make a more informed choice.

Peak (White and Dark) and Dales are our particular favourites.

[mikealder]

I think you have a good grasp of the current situation, when the SatMap PC planning software becomes available I am sure you will get to hear of it on this forum the very day it is released and a few of us will explore what it can do and how it performs in a short space of time.

Memory Map is great for PC based planning and sending routes to a PDA but the additional costs of a rugged case and external batteries (or home made battery packs) adds considerable cost.

If you don't need a new device for a few weeks I would sit tight and see what the SatMap can do, otherwise its a PDA in a decent box and battery pack - the Garmin maps simply do not work for me, I would sooner revert to a paper map and compass to be honest (And I expect some flack for that comment, but it is my personal view) - Mike

[philpugh]

[bradders2]

philpugh wrote:

Quote:

I'll give you cover Mike! Nothing wrong with compass and maps - never walk without them!

I totally agree with mike & phil's sentiments in the last 2 posts. Electronic devices can sometimes fail at the most inopportune moments, so back up map & compass are essential.

Having said that -

I feel sure there must be a market out there for a ruggedised PDA sized GPS that can display Memory Map on a daylight readable screen and have enough battery life to last 8 - 10 hours.

Chris B
_________________
Chris B

Garmin nuvi 2595LMT
Garmin nuvi 760T
Memory Map Adventurer 2800

[mikealder]

[bradders2]

mikealder wrote:

[TheReverend]

Hi gents. The Satmap seems exactly what I would like too. I'm surprised that a device like this hasn't been available for a while now, as I can really see the value in having an OS map on a GPS device. The question with these sorts of devices is whether it performs as well as a 'regular' GPS. Does anyone have any experience of the Satmap when compared to a Garmin for instance?

[iamian16]

[cecilrhode]

I haven't read all this thread, so apologies if I repeat something already said, but I wanted to correct something said

The only way (IMHO) to get OS style mapping on a hand held device is either a PDA type thing (short battery life, vulnerable screen) a Road Angel type which is a compromise between of road and on road GPS and the Satmap Active10 which is designed for off road use.

If you look at their website:
http://www.satmap.com/faqs.php

2 of the FAQs deal with the use of digital maps. The Active WILL upload and download digital routes from a PC

ie
Can I download routes from my PC based digital maps:
Yes. The Active 10 accepts routes in the standard GPX file format. This format is supported by most providers of digital mapping.

Can I upload my track onto a PC based digital map
Yes. The Active 10 stores track data in the standard GPX file format. This format is supported by most providers of digital mapping.

some of the Etrex eg Vista models come with (as already said) a primitive map that displays major roads and cities, BUT you can overlay that with free maps from the Scottish Mountaineering council. These maps were derived from NASA scans. They don't have full details, but do have major water bodies and contours. They don't have paths and other OS type info - the screen size is just not big enough to show it all clearly, and updating that info for every screen refresh requires powerful processing.

you can also buy the Garmin Mapsource Topo software that has contours and major features on it and a bit more detail (eg some paths) than the NASA scans, but again, not full OS mapping.

you can plan your route on a PC digital map and download it to the Etrex, and can upload your finished route as well. Thats quite standard feature of many walking/activity GPS units.

[iamian16]

Thanks Cecilrhode

From what I understand the map chips that come with Satmap can only be used in that device, though Satmap promise an "on-line" route planning system.

So have I got this right? - If I want to pick out a route on on my PC (with the benefits of a large screen) I need digital mapping software on the PC, something like Memory Map?

That means buying the digital maps for the Satmap and a different set of digitial maps for the PC? ££££££££

[mikealder]

As I have said earlier in another post speculation about what and how the SatSync software can do until it is released is not really worthwhile - Once it is out we will soon know how to use it.
You can plan a walk on Google Earth using the PC then manually enter the coordinates into the active 10, this is partly how I have been using my device in the absence of the PC software - Mike

[cecilrhode]

yes iamian16 you are correct. you need the software in the active 10 to display on the screen. you need the Memory Map or similar software in the PC to create the walk. You then transfer the walk route to the active 10 (or Garmin or whatever device)

what you see then on the device is your background map (from the device itself) with your route overlayed, just as if you took a paper map and drew your route on it. Thats the same if you use a garmin Vista or whatever unit with mapping built in.

regardless of what make and model you use, you need mapping software on both the unit and the PC. to the best of my knowledge, no software can be used on both a dedicated GPS handheld devices AND a PC because the operating systems and processors are different. You may be able to use software eg Memory Map with a PC and a handheld computer running Windows, I dont know, but I don't think those units are suitable for serious off road use as they have short battery life and are not very robust.

you are right that the Active10 maps on SD cards can only be used on that unit, if you bought garmin software, it would only run on a garmin. They are one=off costs though. Just like Memory Map and similar, once youve bought them, thats it, and you can build up your collection of maps as you go along.

I use a garmin Vista HCX and the free SMC topo information. I see contour lines, summits and major water bodies. If i bought the garmin topo softeware, I'd see SOME paths and tracks, but no where near teh info from an OS map, the processor isnt powerful enough to update the screen adequately, and the screen isnt big enough to show all the info without zooming in, if you zoom in too far, you see only a small area.

You can use Google earth or google maps to get the co orduinates of your route, but it isnt easy or quick, and a minor error in your cursor position can put you yards off course which can be compounded by subsequent errors, but thast the same with any mapping software, and with a paper map if you misread the co-ords. I've tried using Google and inputting the co-ords and found it much too slow. I dont want to walk round following an arrow on a screen, part of teh fun is actually navigating using the terrain features. I basically use the garmin to tell me my position - it saves time counting steps or other ways of calculating your position.

Eventually, i will probably buy Memory Map or similar (Anquet, Tracklogs etc) and use the software to plan routes, but as i said, i dont want to simply follow an arrow, I want to use my brain as well as my legs)

A good site is

http://www.gpstraining.co.uk/

they run GPS training courses where you can use a variety of different GPS units, both in the field and in the classroom, and make up your mind about what yu want. they are based in Penrith, but run courses all over the country, and they sell GPS units and software. They also part Ex GPs units, useful if you buy the wrong one.............. Theyre also VERY helpful people.

If you have any doubts about what unit to buy, go on a one or 2 day course, play with the units and ask lots of questions. Make up your mind about exactly what you want before buying. Some only want to know their current coordiantes along with speed disatnce etc, whilst others want to look at a display and see exactly where they are on the map. they need different units. try appraochng it from a "what do i want tod o, what is most importrant to me" rather than "what features does this unit have, and what does that one have"

[cecilrhode]

[iamian16]

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!