Travelmate software

Hi Colin & Gayle,

I'll read the answers with interest on the software you mention.

We do our bush work using Oziexplorer, which works with a GPS and raster images (ie. bitmaps) of any map you like, but in particular the Auslig (now Geoscience Australia, formerly NatMap!!) 1:250,000 topographic maps. It gives you moving map charactaristics on a true topo map, rather than the "made roads only" databases of normal in-car satnav systems. Because the maps are raster images, the program can't do street directions like a satnav system, but having a moving map which also shows topo features, lets you record your realtime track, load waypoints, annotate, etc, is very cool. Plus it's Oz-made.

The cool thing about Oziexplorer is that if you have time and a scanner you can can in any paper map you like (eg. a 1:50,000 high-detail forestry map of your favourite areas), and get a moving map display on it as well, so you are not limited to one map database or only to maps available electronically.

See:

http://www.oziexplorer.com/ for the software; and
http://www.ga.gov.au/ for Geoscience Australia (navigate to 1:250,000 raster maps)

Cheers,

Matt and Lana

Hi! I think the product you talk about is TrackRanger.

I have used trackranger for several years now and find it very user freindly and works very well. I generally use the Natmap Raster Mosiac 1:250000 but i have scaned maps and put these in and they worked fine.

Trackranger is capable of holding notes, pictures etc and very good at tracking. I used the tracking capability a lot on one trip as the roads/tracks I was on were not shown on the map. They are now on the map as the track can be called up at any time in the future.

It comes with all the bells and whistles (no optional extras needed) and I have found the people at Advantech very easy to deal with.

The bigest problem you will find is that to really take advantage of good moving map displays you need a computer. I find PDAs etc a bit small. Mounting the computer and using it with sunlight on the screen is a problem.

I have partly researched the idea of the having the computer running in the back somewhere and having a second touch screen attched (say 10") and someof these are now available designed to be read in full sunlight. Needless to say you need a GPS that interface with your computer.

Moving map is a nice optional extra. For navigation purposes on the back rodas I mainly use just the GPS and the Natmap map on the computer (computer not attached to GPS) I put waypoints in before the trip and out in the field if I want to know where I am, I taking the GPS lat & Long and plug them into the map which then tells shows me where I am. The reverse is to be near but can't find a feature - then I point to the feature on the map, get the lat&long and make a waypoint in the GPS and use goto to find directing and distance. This technique gets me out of most problems and you don't need the moving map software.

I always carry paper maps in case the GPS should fail enroute.

In summary, moving map is great to have and it does give you warnings of turnoffs coming up and when towing it is great not to overshoot turnoffs and be forced to do U turns.

Trackranger is an Australian product with similar attributes to Oziexplorer.

Cheers
Hob and Barb

Thanks Matt and Lana and Hob and Barb for the information it never ceases to amaze me that people keep inventing new technology. You have given me a lot of food for thought. We have a lap top comp and will purchase a Garmin E Trek gps shortly and then will think about either of the software packages as they both sound fairly similar.
Thanks again for your help

Cheers
Colin & Gayle

Brian & Margaret

What arrangement do you have for your laptop to use it as moving map. Is it just in the passengers lap or do you have a solid mount? Do you have any arrangement for sunlight on the screen?

Cheers

Alan and Barb