NE 1 recommend a GPS Mapping Program?

[goverton]

I would like to take GPS readings from the field of land marks, treasure signs and put them on
a mapping program that could be used to topo maps, old Plat Maps and Google Earth.

Can NE 1 recommend a good program to use?

I not talking about a Tom Tom or likes.......

I am using a Garmin GPS 40

Thanks in advance

 

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[Tnmountains]

I would like to take GPS readings from the field of land marks, treasure signs and put them on
a mapping program that could be used to topo maps, old Plat Maps and Google Earth.

Can NE 1 recommend a good program to use?

I not talking about a Tom Tom or likes.......

I am using a Garmin GPS 40

Thanks in advance

When GPS first came out we had a lot of problems with the map programs. Magellan makes some topo maps. They were awful. Of course our gps was as big as a brick back then.
Now days with the smaller versions you can hook them up and down load way marks routes and such to google earth and give your self a real time map.
I have yet to ever see a good topography map interact with a GPS. A good topo like the forrestry service use
Maybe someone else knows of a good GPS topo interactive map.

 

[goverton]

I use this all the time. Works really well and easy to use.
Supports all GPS units and did I mention it's FREE!

http://www.gpsbabel.org/

Thanks I will give it a try.....It took me a bit to find the REAL download link......these sites try to trick you to download
another tool bar program.

 

[boogeyman]

I've been using a Magellan 315 with TOPO! for years. I've got TOPO! on an older IBM T23 laptop. Allows carrying everything in a shoulder bag in the field, or just carrying the GPS. Along with three extra batteries. Transferring from this to my other machine is a breeze. I think everyone in the world wrote aps for the Magellans. For less than $300 (including TOPO!) I haven't felt the need to upgrade.

 

[lumix]

If we are talking about a hand held GPSr, try USAPhotoMaps. Great program for topo maps. It interacts with most of the popular GPSr's
You can upload waypoints, routes and tracks to the topo or download them from the maps to your GPS.
Download here http://jdmcox.com/
It's very easy to use, but you'll probably need some help to get it going. Install the program and goto help / using or press f1

Yahoo Groups help Fourm http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/USAphotomaps/

 

[goverton]

If we are talking about a hand held GPSr, try USAPhotoMaps. Great program for topo maps. It interacts with most of the popular GPSr's
You can upload waypoints, routes and tracks to the topo or download them from the maps to your GPS.
Download here http://jdmcox.com/
It's very easy to use, but you'll probably need some help to get it going. Install the program and goto help / using or press f1

Yahoo Groups help Fourm http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/USAphotomaps/

Thanks, I have that one....just want something a little better.

 

[goverton]

Ok, I found a Great program!

www.oxiexplorer.com

 

[Boilermaker27]

You get what you pay for and if you don't pay anything, you don't get much.

I have been using my Garmin Map60 with my topographic program for years and I couldn't be happier. I can fire up my topo program and zoom in real close and see all kinds of features. When I see something I want to check out then I mark it as a waypoint on my map program. when I have all the waypoints mapped I then hook my Garmin up to my computer and download all the waypoints into my Garmin and I am off.

The program and the Garmin also work in the reverse. When I am in the field looking for relics I keep my Garmin turned on and it traces my route and when I find something I mark it as a waypoint on my Garmin. When I get home I then upload all the waypoints and tracks onto my topographic program and I can see exactly where I have driven or walked and I can also see all of my waypoints. Once in the Garmin I can always go back to where I found something with no problem.

Now for the program. I use the National Geographic Missouri program. It has all the topographic maps for the State and they are all connected so there are no seams. I am able to download and upload into the program. It also has a place finder and many other features, I can also save the maps and print the maps from the program. It has a route tool that you can use to trace a route and then it tells the distance covered. There are just a lot of features. The State series can be found at the following website http://www.natgeomaps.com/topo_state.html you can also buy these programs from Ebay and save some money.

A good site to use with the map program is the following http://mapper.acme.com/ this map program is much better than Google Earth, the maps are easier to read and you can toggle between topo. maps, aerial photo's, and other views. You can use the Acme mapper to find a spot in your State, then get the coordinates and transfer them to your Nat. Geo. map program, or visa versa, find a spot on your map program then go to Acme to get a view, or zoom in and see it close and toggle between views. This is the best free map program with satellite imagery that I have found.

A third website that has super valuable information can be found at http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/index.html you will have to copy and paste all the above sites. When you get to this site you can scroll through the States until you find your State. When you find your State download that State's file. You will get a listing of tens of thousands of features in your State including towns; churches; cemeteries; old towns; ghost towns; rivers; streams; mills; everything you can think of that has some kind of historic interest. It also supplies you with the coordinates so you know exactly where to go, you can then enter these coordinates into your map program and then download those coordinates to your gps.

Believe me, don't go with the freebies, this is the best way and only way to use a gps with a map program.

 

[goverton]

You get what you pay for and if you don't pay anything, you don't get much.

I have been using my Garmin Map60 with my topographic program for years and I couldn't be happier. I can fire up my topo program and zoom in real close and see all kinds of features. When I see something I want to check out then I mark it as a waypoint on my map program. when I have all the waypoints mapped I then hook my Garmin up to my computer and download all the waypoints into my Garmin and I am off.

The program and the Garmin also work in the reverse. When I am in the field looking for relics I keep my Garmin turned on and it traces my route and when I find something I mark it as a waypoint on my Garmin. When I get home I then upload all the waypoints and tracks onto my topographic program and I can see exactly where I have driven or walked and I can also see all of my waypoints. Once in the Garmin I can always go back to where I found something with no problem.

Now for the program. I use the National Geographic Missouri program. It has all the topographic maps for the State and they are all connected so there are no seams. I am able to download and upload into the program. It also has a place finder and many other features, I can also save the maps and print the maps from the program. It has a route tool that you can use to trace a route and then it tells the distance covered. There are just a lot of features. The State series can be found at the following website http://www.natgeomaps.com/topo_state.html you can also buy these programs from Ebay and save some money.

A good site to use with the map program is the following http://mapper.acme.com/ this map program is much better than Google Earth, the maps are easier to read and you can toggle between topo. maps, aerial photo's, and other views. You can use the Acme mapper to find a spot in your State, then get the coordinates and transfer them to your Nat. Geo. map program, or visa versa, find a spot on your map program then go to Acme to get a view, or zoom in and see it close and toggle between views. This is the best free map program with satellite imagery that I have found.

A third website that has super valuable information can be found at http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/index.html you will have to copy and paste all the above sites. When you get to this site you can scroll through the States until you find your State. When you find your State download that State's file. You will get a listing of tens of thousands of features in your State including towns; churches; cemeteries; old towns; ghost towns; rivers; streams; mills; everything you can think of that has some kind of historic interest. It also supplies you with the coordinates so you know exactly where to go, you can then enter these coordinates into your map program and then download those coordinates to your gps.

Believe me, don't go with the freebies, this is the best way and only way to use a gps with a map program.

Thanks for links and info!