Gps Map software

[mungatuksas]

Hi Ive just brought a Garmin 60 csx and want to stick some 1:50,000 topo maps for walking in the bush off track.
What has everyone found to be the best for this purpose. I see that there are about 4 options Fresh Map, Map toaster, ect
I am really in to contour and bush contrast (type) detail. Cheers

[BaldEd]

Most are fairly similar in detail. Prices differ. Search the forum - there are topics relating to this issue.

Whatever product you purchase I recommend that you get the CD/DVD version and not any version that comes pre-installed on a microSD card. With the microSD card versions you will not be able to (a) display the product on your PC and transfer routes etc from your PC to the gps, and (b) combine your topo map with any other map product in your gps. The one thing you will most want to avoid is inadvertantly overwriting your pre-installed microSD card.

I am very quite happy with gt's maps.

[rediguana]

+1 to Ed's recommendation of CD/DVD over cards!

[mungatuksas]

Thanks for the heads up ED

[pmcke]

I see no one has mentioned Gary's maps http://www.gtmaps.co.nz I have been using these for the last couple of years and have found them excellent. Mind you, I havn't used any of the other products except for an earlier version of Brent's maps.

The thing about Gary is that is isn't commercial. He is just one of us guys on the forum.

My the way, if you are interested. I have made a GPS loadable map of Dept of Conservation boundaries, the same information as depicted here http://koordinates.com/layer/754-doc-public-conservation-land/. If anyone is interested in this then I am quite happy to email you the file. It is 6mb and there is no fancy installer, you will have to edit the .reg file to get it in there. They aren't transparent so can't be used with anything else and comes with no warrenties and a few cautions.

PM me an email address and I will send it.

[Graeme.N]

I see no one has mentioned Gary's maps http://www.gtmaps.co.nz

Actually ...

I am very quite happy with gt's maps.

[rediguana]

And FYI - most of the map developers follow these forums, and two are on the Management Committee for the Society. I can think of four off the top of my head that have been active posting here.

[kangaroo]

The thing about Gary is that is isn't commercial. He is just one of us guys on the forum.

HI when they start selling the maps then it is commercial
i was hoping for free topo maps for my gps oh well better luck next time for me lol lol

[pmcke]

HI when they start selling the maps then it is commercial

I think the difference is that Gary is covering his costs. He had to buy a compiler and probably had to make an investment to get the data as well. It certainly isn't his day job and he doesn't have to support a whole overhead of administrative staff and shareholders.

I remember Gary saying himself saying that there is a percentage of users out there who havn't bothered to pay him and have just copied his CD and are using it for free, which I suspect is just the hazards of this type of business.

[kangaroo]

sweet as i understand sorry to cause any misunderstanings on my part

[pmgnicol]

Ok, some good tips here. I have just bought a Daytona and topo4gps map software. I love the GPS, the maps are ok but what I want to know is.......is there a topo software that shows detail on the gps screen just like the sheet topo maps you buy. It would be very good to find something like this as I only work at plotting small areas in the bush. Am using mapsource on the PC. The issure is definitely the clarity on the GPS screen. I have looked at a number of packages but none seem to be up to the job......

[pmcke]

Ok, some good tips here. I have just bought a Daytona and topo4gps map software. I love the GPS, the maps are ok but what I want to know is.......is there a topo software that shows detail on the gps screen just like the sheet topo maps you buy. It would be very good to find something like this as I only work at plotting small areas in the bush. Am using mapsource on the PC. The issure is definitely the clarity on the GPS screen. I have looked at a number of packages but none seem to be up to the job......

This is exactly what GTmaps does. It may not have all the features on the topo maps but it has all the important ones, contours, bush edges, streams, tracks etc, all from the same data as the 1:50,000 map series is made from.

One other product that is now available is rc's maps, which are free. He has 10m contours which aren't as accurate as the traditional 20m contours. There is no vegitation but not bad considering the price. See http://www.rcmaps.nzopengps.org/

[pmcke]

I have just bought a Daytona and topo4gps map software.

What is the Daytona. Don't you mean Dakota?