Hi, folks: I'm evaluating various software packages for mapping, particularly for use in planning sea kayaking trips on both lakes and the coast. Any recommendations, and, if so, what draws you to the software (features/benefits)? Thanks much, .ashton *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 02:33 PM 9/19/00 -0400, Ashton Treadway wrote: >Hi, folks: > >I'm evaluating various software packages for mapping, particularly for use >in planning sea kayaking trips on both lakes and the coast. Any >recommendations, and, if so, what draws you to the software >(features/benefits)? Aston, Here's a link to an article that I wrote for Sea Kayaker last year reviewing one of the electronic chart plotting programs. I still use the program for every trip that I plan. Also, all of my friends come over to my house to use it as well (and print out charts). They usually bring beer and sometimes food, which is one of the benefits that I didn't mention in the article. http://www.seakayakermag.com/dec99/electronics_01.htm Cheers, Kevin Kevin Whilden Your Planet Earth http://www.yourplanetearth.org (206) 788-0281 (ph) (206) 788-0284 (f) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I use Ozie Explorer , which has a downloadable demo at http://www.oziexplorer.com/main.htm Full cost of ownership is $75US, however all upgrades are free (and there is ALWAYS a beta in testing). It has excellent GPS ( esp Garmin, but others as well.support, you can down load and upload waypoints and tracks. You can scan in maps, calibrate them, then download (or upload) coordinates. It supports a wide range of datums. It is certainly worth the download of the Demo. Support for this program is excellent. You might ask at sci.geo.satellite-nav for more tech-head evaluation. The usual disclaimer: I have no financial interest in this product, just a happy camper (canoeist) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I use TOPO! for those areas covered by it (in my case, the Twin Cities, Voyageurs National Park, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the Apostle islands, and the western shore of Lake Superior to the Canadian border). For other areas, I use a shareware program called OziExplorer, which can import USGS DRG digitized topo maps and BSD digitized marine charts, both available on CD-ROM, and scanned maps and charts. The latter program is more versatile, but you have to provide the maps in one form or another. I use it for the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, for which maps are not yet available on CD-ROM. Both can upload and download wapoints, routes, etc. to GPS units. Chuck Holst -----Original Message----- From: Ashton Treadway [SMTP:ashton_at_tundra.org] Hi, folks: I'm evaluating various software packages for mapping, particularly for use in planning sea kayaking trips on both lakes and the coast. Any recommendations, and, if so, what draws you to the software (features/benefits)? Thanks much, .ashton *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
For interface with my Etrex I use Delorme's Topo USA. In its latest upgrade it will interface with my Etrex nicely. So far it is the only topo software that I have found that will interface with the Etrex. There is a better software package out there, Maptech Terrain Navigator (They also have a marine version), but it will not as yet interface with the Etrex. If you have any of the other GPS units the Maptech may be the way to go. Of course there is a price to pay for this better software. Maptech charges $100 for the state of NH alone, four times that much for the larger states like Maine. But you can get only the coastal part of Maine for $100, they had to break it down into 4 CD's. The Delorme product costs $50 for the entire northeast region. Maptech uses digitized USGS Topographical maps, resulting in much better detail and the resulting larger data base. I don't know where Delorme got their data. Please note that all prices quoted here are in US dollars, I don't think that either product covers areas outside of the United States. Delorme; http://www.delorme.com/ Maptech; http://www.maptech.com/ Mike Usual caveats apply. -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I just downloaded the latest upgrade for Maptech, and they now support the Etrex too! Great news for people like me who have the Etrex and wanted something better than the Delorme offering. Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> For interface with my Etrex I use Delorme's Topo USA. I have the Delorme software for Maine and it is quite good. > Maptech uses digitized USGS Topographical maps, resulting in much better > detail and the resulting larger data base. I don't know where Delorme > got their data. I don't either, but I think they have their own research people. Delorme is a pretty serious mapping company based in Yarmouth, ME. Their "Atlas & Gazeteer" of Maine is pretty much a "must have" in this state. Everyone has one. People refer to places as "it's page 14 in the Gazeteer." I've visited the Delorme offices and it's a pretty impressive place. They have a retail store there - -quite a worthwhile visit. It's not far from LL Bean if you're in that area ever. Mark *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 05:07 PM 9/24/00 -0400, \"Sailboat Restorations, Inc.\"_at_ wrote: >> For interface with my Etrex I use Delorme's Topo USA. > >I have the Delorme software for Maine and it is quite good. > >> Maptech uses digitized USGS Topographical maps, resulting in much better >> detail and the resulting larger data base. I don't know where Delorme >> got their data. > >I don't either, but I think they have their own research people. Delorme is >a pretty serious mapping company based in Yarmouth, ME. Their "Atlas & >Gazeteer" of Maine is pretty much a "must have" in this state. Everyone has >one. Only one? I've got my first Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer for Northern California and eventually replaced it after so much use. It had marks on lots of the pages that I later transferred to a second copy (that is also about ready to be replaced). I've also got the southern California edition, and copies for NY State, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Vermont/New Hampshire, and Maine. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I have the Gazetteer for New Hampshire, a couple in fact. I keep wearing them out. Many of the people I converse with use the same "it's on page 14" notation. The difference between the two softwares is primarily in detail, Delorme is able to fit fifteen states in the northeast onto one CD, Maptech takes four CD's just for the state of Maine. Maptech is in Greenland, NH by the way, not too far either. I have been by the offices of both, but never stopped in. Mike "Sailboat Restorations, Inc." wrote: > > For interface with my Etrex I use Delorme's Topo USA. > > I have the Delorme software for Maine and it is quite good. > > > Maptech uses digitized USGS Topographical maps, resulting in much better > > detail and the resulting larger data base. I don't know where Delorme > > got their data. > > I don't either, but I think they have their own research people. Delorme is > a pretty serious mapping company based in Yarmouth, ME. Their "Atlas & > Gazeteer" of Maine is pretty much a "must have" in this state. Everyone has > one. People refer to places as "it's page 14 in the Gazeteer." I've > visited the Delorme offices and it's a pretty impressive place. They have a > retail store there - -quite a worthwhile visit. It's not far from LL Bean > if you're in that area ever. > > Mark -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
John Fereira wrote: > At 05:07 PM 9/24/00 -0400, \"Sailboat Restorations, Inc.\"_at_ wrote: > > >I don't either, but I think they have their own research people. Delorme is > >a pretty serious mapping company based in Yarmouth, ME. Their "Atlas & > >Gazeteer" of Maine is pretty much a "must have" in this state. Everyone has > >one. > > Only one? I've got my first Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer for Northern > California and eventually replaced it after so much use. It had marks on > lots of the pages that I later transferred to a second copy (that is also > about ready to be replaced). I've also got the southern California > edition, and copies for NY State, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, > Vermont/New Hampshire, and Maine. > I currently have two for New Hampshire, the older is two years old and looks ten. The newer has replaced the older as my in vehicle map. They are invaluable as a reference for out of the way places. Mike -- Paddling along through fog so thick that only one's thoughts are visible, your reverie is abruptly shattered by the ancient cry of a great blue heron as she lifts uncertainly from the brilliant blue of a mussel-shell beach witnessed only by the brooding, wet spruce....your passage home seems as much back through time as it does through space. Mark H Hunt *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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