RE: [Paddlewise] Topo CDs

I own and  have experimented with both the TOPO! upgrades, including TOPO!
GPS, and Delorme's Topo USA.  


Chuck is mistaken about the full GPS support with TOPO! 2.0, full GPS
support requires the purchase of TOPO!GPS, either on line or from your local
retailer.  REI has a better deal on TOPO GPS than the manufacturer. The
download of TOPO! GPS gives you the functionality to work with your GPS on
the detailed TOPO! maps that you have to purchase separately. The TOPO!GPS
CD includes several levels of USA maps that can be used for route planning
the maps have detail coresponding to paper state maps.

Both vendor's programs allow transfer of waypoints, routes and tracks
between a PC and a GPS.  I have had problems with programs crashing when I
was downloading routes and tracks.  The Delorme Topo USA, has contour lines
at 100 foot intervals, while that is not a problem for kayakers while they
are on the water, I found that lots of  dry land details are missing when
compared to the details visible on a 10 foot contour interval USGS
topographic map.  The Delorme product also includes Solus Pro, software that
will allow the downloading of maps to a PDA.

Whether or not either of the programs is worth the money depends on what you
expect.  Topographic maps of the entire US for $99, is a pretty good deal,
and the GPS functionality is fun to play with.

Dana Dickson

Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 14:28:31 -0600
From: CHUCK_at_multitech.com (Chuck Holst)
Subject: [Paddlewise] TOPO! Upgrade

Users of the TOPO! topographic map program can upgrade
it to version 2.0 for free by downloading the upgrade from
http://www.topo.com/down200.shtml. If you have the TOPO!
disk that includes the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness, you can also download for free two new files
that show official campsites and maintained portages.
Version 2.0 appears to have full GPS support, among other
improvements. BWCAW campsites are marked with GPS
coordinates, and the TOPO! Web site says BWCA portages can
be downloaded to your GPS unit as routes (just in time for
winter camping!). The new version also supports UTM
coordinates.

The TOPO! CD-ROM discs for Minnesota, which include the
BWCAW, also include Isle Royale and a couple hundred miles
of Lake Superior shoreline, including the Apostle Islands
National Lakeshore, which is a popular sea kayaking
destination.

I just downloaded these upgrades, so I haven't tried them
yet, but it looks like the new BWCAW info should greatly
simplify route planning.

Chuck Holst


Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1999 15:44:33 -0500
From: Bob Denton <BDenton_at_aquagulf.com>
Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] TOPO! Upgrade

Has anyone seen or used the Delorm Topo discs? Are they worth the $99?

cya
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