Which GPS navigation is great for offroading
03-07-2009 | 11:07 PM
#24
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
From: Stephenville, TX
Hey!
Not Handheld but very useful...
-Laptop (preferably Netbook - you know the 9-10" laptops)
-60$ USB GPS: ht tp://www.canadagps.com/BU-353spec.html
-Google Earth: Free
-Earth Bridge: Free
With this setup you have actual environmental coverage of the surrounding grounds...
You can see exactly where you are on the Satellite photos, etc.
It makes "way points" while you roll so you have the real path you took, and you can easily go back if you missed the trail exit or something, etc...
I like the fact that you see the real stuff. Not a map or some picture not to scale.
It's even equal to (if not better than) a topo map because you really see the mountain rather than some round lines...
I never wheel without my setup and it got us out of the woods more than once!
10-4.
Not Handheld but very useful...
-Laptop (preferably Netbook - you know the 9-10" laptops)
-60$ USB GPS: ht tp://www.canadagps.com/BU-353spec.html
-Google Earth: Free
-Earth Bridge: Free
With this setup you have actual environmental coverage of the surrounding grounds...
You can see exactly where you are on the Satellite photos, etc.
It makes "way points" while you roll so you have the real path you took, and you can easily go back if you missed the trail exit or something, etc...
I like the fact that you see the real stuff. Not a map or some picture not to scale.
It's even equal to (if not better than) a topo map because you really see the mountain rather than some round lines...
I never wheel without my setup and it got us out of the woods more than once!
10-4.
OK... i'm about to show how stupid i am (again)...
running a laptop with a GPS reciever and propper mapping software, out in the sticks, will the laptop be getting info ONLY from the GPS or will it need some other "wireless" service (wifi card/$$) ??
could one connect a Garmin eTrex (Legend/Vista) to a laptop with proper software and do the same thing, or do you need something else...?
sorry, just looking into having the laptop/GPS together in the jeep with the ability to load trip photos and save trail info. Not needing to be "on line" in the desert/woods or wherever.
Thanks for any info
03-08-2009 | 08:39 AM
#25
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,540
Likes: 0
From: New France
Hey!
No need for any "internet" connection.
With Google Earth, you have a local cache on your computer, up to 500MB if I remember...
So all you have to do is check where you are going to ride before you actually go there...
Normally I plan my trips with Google Earth, looking around, checking lakes and stuff...
Then when I'm on site with the GPS and laptop, it shows where you are on Google Earth, with the data that you already "pre-loaded" at home...
Pre-loading the data is good for when you'll ride in the woods with your GPS, and it's also good to prepare the trip in case of river crossings, etc...
And trust me, when it's getting dark and you're really not sure where you are, this little trick works wonders!!!
I got us out of the woods more than once with my laptop, while the other guys with maps and GPS were not sure exactly where to go...
Yes a handheld GPS is more portable but the screen is small and the mapping software is very limited, while Google Earth really shows what is around you.
This river you see, it's right there, and this little yellow spot on this mountain, yes it's really there...
Try to do this with a paper map or topo map on a GPS!
I really like that what you see on the screen is what you get around your Jeep in real life...
And with Earth Bridge, Google Earth follows you automatically as you move... Very neat!!!
About the eTrex, I dont know.
If it has a USB port you can probably use it on the laptop, and probably with Google Earth but I dont really know...
Good luck!
[Neoxxis]
No need for any "internet" connection.
With Google Earth, you have a local cache on your computer, up to 500MB if I remember...
So all you have to do is check where you are going to ride before you actually go there...
Normally I plan my trips with Google Earth, looking around, checking lakes and stuff...
Then when I'm on site with the GPS and laptop, it shows where you are on Google Earth, with the data that you already "pre-loaded" at home...
Pre-loading the data is good for when you'll ride in the woods with your GPS, and it's also good to prepare the trip in case of river crossings, etc...
And trust me, when it's getting dark and you're really not sure where you are, this little trick works wonders!!!
I got us out of the woods more than once with my laptop, while the other guys with maps and GPS were not sure exactly where to go...
Yes a handheld GPS is more portable but the screen is small and the mapping software is very limited, while Google Earth really shows what is around you.
This river you see, it's right there, and this little yellow spot on this mountain, yes it's really there...
Try to do this with a paper map or topo map on a GPS!
I really like that what you see on the screen is what you get around your Jeep in real life...
And with Earth Bridge, Google Earth follows you automatically as you move... Very neat!!!
About the eTrex, I dont know.
If it has a USB port you can probably use it on the laptop, and probably with Google Earth but I dont really know...
Good luck!
[Neoxxis]
03-08-2009 | 02:27 PM
#26
JK Freak
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 629
Likes: 0
From: Stephenville, TX
the little Garmin i have ( i believe its the eTrex Legend/c?) is nice for finding my way around if i need to know what highway to take or whatever.
and the Garmin site said it WAS compatible with topo software.
so, i can get a Google Earth view of where i am, and really see which way to go, especially if i havent been there before (or if its dark).
this is SOOO COOL.
thanks for the info... now i have an excuse to buy a smaller laptop.
and the Garmin site said it WAS compatible with topo software.
so, i can get a Google Earth view of where i am, and really see which way to go, especially if i havent been there before (or if its dark).
this is SOOO COOL.
thanks for the info... now i have an excuse to buy a smaller laptop.
