Different needs
 

As you see there are different opinions. Some people say Garmin Worldmap is great, some think it is useless (unless you get it for free in your GPS). ;)

The reason is that people have different needs and they ask different things from a map. For basic overland traveller, Garmin Worldmap may be OK as are Michelin 4M regional maps. On my last trip in Africa most other travellers I met just used basic Michelin regional maps, they drove on main roads and were happy. If you travel main roads mostly then no need for sophiscated navigation systems and expensive maps. You can also do without a GPS as well.

On the other hand, I like *adventure* travel and for me that means I usually pick the smallest track that takes me there. Picking a small track can make you feel like an explorer, you find places less travelled, remote and unspoiled. :thumbup1:

So it comes down to what one really wants to do.

Hey Ollie
How you getting on with the Tecra ?

Intersesting to see - as mentioned above - everyones different needs from mapping - I have thus far kept only Mapsource/Google Earth on the laptop and used dash mounted GPS(s), good paper maps and local knowledge to get about - even on some well out of the way routes, I dont like the laptop out all the time, but I see where people are coming from if thats the set up they like.

Whichever way you do it - dont forget to enjoy the Scenery and spend some time (and money) with the Locals - IMO that is what separates an Overlander from a Tourist......

Later
Grif

Loving the Tecra
 

Hi Griff,

Loving the Tecra so far. Haven't really tested out its dropp/spilling ability (just as well!) but it is doing everything I won't fast. I am only using it for 'trip' related stuff, so not pushing it too hard so far. ONe thing has surprised me is the fingerprint scanning actually being useful. Really easy to swap between user sessions, or load up username/password combos. But I have noticed if I've been doing some manual work, or waashing up etc, it doesn't like that (on the fingerprint id'ing). I would defo recommend it for the price I paid, although haven't any toughbook/rugged laptop experience to compare it to.

As for the GPS setup, this thread has een incredibly helpful. It's amazing there are so many preferences, and what I have figured out is I need to understand what suits my eeds best.

Currently (and this is bound to change with the wind) I am thinking of using the garmin V for main navigation, with the maps etc all stored on the Tecra. I will also use the laptop for Oziexplorer when I get east of Poland. Also I'd like to get the main route in paper maps, so maybe a visit toStammfords is the order of the day.

Any thoughts or where to get world paper maps. What scale is the most appropriate?

Again - thanks everyone for contributions

Ollie,

I've had good experience with The Map Shop
For route planing on main roads you may find useful single sheet maps at scales 1:1 500 000 and over.

ta
 

thanks Roman have emailed them to get some figures and ideas

Talk to the natives
 

I dont understand this fixation with GPS. Isn't getting lost what its all about and anyway you can always wind down the window and ask a local. We're in Pak having driven from Sydney, with 3 gps's all useless.

Hey Intrepid,
what do you mean by 'all useless' ?

....are the gps not telling you your position ? - thats what they do - how much you want to interpret the position it gives you -and the features around you - with electronic or paper mapping is up to the user...maybe you need some better mapping?

....sometimes getting lost is not much fun when you have a deadline to get somewhere for visas etc -or you have limited fuel/water for a long leg between remote towns - someone in your vehicle/group is ill - or you have a mechanical problem.
if you get really off the beaten track theres not always someone who knows the way...with any accuracy.

A lot of the guys on this thread want accurate mapping beceause we drive in fairly remote desert areas with sometimes difficult to find sand pistes and not much backup.

Have a good trip
Cheers
Grif

GPS - To have or to not have.
 

It has all been said already but these are my views.

1) If a GPS is good at sea, not many markers out there, for getting you travelling in the general direction that you want to go then that's one good reason for having it.

2) My simple etrex is little more than a reciever, however once plugged into my laptop it locates me on the map.

3) I use Autoroute Express (£50) to navigate any part of Europe by street name. Also good for booking hotels on the way home through France as it has all the phone numbers. Also works with the GPS.

4) I use Fugawi Global (£120) Navigator for North Africa, this can use all of the IGN and Russian maps the Daaer have available on CD. This is far cheaper than buying the paper maps, and you can print off any paper maps that you require.

5) I don't have to constantly navigate on the laptop, I can upload waypoints,and just use the goto command.

6) When I've been somewhere, and got lost, I can download the track to display it on the map.

7) I have a papertrail to follow if I do have to turn back.

8) Finally - ever lost the car when you've gone shopping? Take the GPS with you, mark the point where you left the car, and however far you stray looking for somewhere to eat you'll still be able to find the car.

I think having all of the maps available on a laptop is extremely useful, and yes perhaps I do rely on it a little to much but it's saved me from getting rather lost in the Tunisian Sahara at least 3 times. Unfortunately where I was at the time there was no one esle to ask.

This is useful!!!
 

What a useful thread - thanks for everyone's input and ideas:thumbup1:

We eventually decided on a GPS and went for the Garmin 60 Csx. Used it a couple of time on road to get use to the buttons etc but will try it out off-road on the weekend. Trying to plot a simple route in Mapsource and then load it to the unit to use.

We will also be travelling with a laptop, not just for navigating, but also for entertainment/photos diary etc. Still need to do a lot of research on what best option will be re loading maps etc and which one to use. I do like the touratech maps, looks very useful (and exp):eek3:

I think we will definitely use some of google earth images etc as well to help with navigation.

So much to learn still. It takes long enough to just understand all the function on the 60Csx (great unit so far btw)!!!

Pumbaa,

Rather than capturing google earth images, consider dowloading 15m/pixel sat images from https://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/.

You will find ready made TTQV calibration files here: http://www.alpenverein-schleiden.de/...t7_sid_cal.zip

I found the sat images useful when navigating off-piste, particularly in the Awbari and Murzuq sand seas. No need for it if you stick to the beaten path.

So recently found out results
 

OK - Just thought I'd add to this with the results of our first major shakedown trip with some different bits of kit. We drove down from Le Havre to Portugal and back, going a little bit off the beaten path but not much. We took a little under 3 weeks for the trip and here are my recents regarding mapping:-

1.Map Reading

Rubbish. I didn't realise I could be so bad! The wife too. I am not sure if this is the result of Europe being covered in so many roads, all with multiple names, or shear ineptitude. We were only using 1:900 000 2007 Europe road atlas, but I would have expected better! We didn't try anything too tricky, but even understanding which motor way we were on was beyond us. To give us just a little bit of credit we did improve with time, but still .......

2.Axim X5 300 Mhz + TOMTOM 6

Not sure whether this was too much application for too little machine, but the processor seemed to have a heart attack on the way home. It totally lost sight ofthe GPS mouse connected via the serial port, and all other parts of the application started working in super slow mode. I haven't had a good chance to look at this, but I might try with an older version of TOMTOM.
Until then it had done a pretty good job, except in the Pyrenees. There it spent 30 mins telling us we were in the Atlantic. I really enjoyed playing withthe routing, and some of the places it took us in the mountains in Portugal were great fun. Anyone who argues that you don't get to go to unusal places using one of these is wrong. Completely the opposite in fact. I would say if you want to see off the beaten track use one!
Now our plans is to buy a good PDA that is up to te job of TOM TOM and Ozieplorer and figure out how to use the more complicated parts of GPS. Can't wait.

3. Garmin City Explorer and Mapsource with Garmin V.

Once TOM TOM died we turned to our old Garmin V. Man I was surprised. I couldn't really read the display and the fact that you couldn't load a days maps into the unit really surprised me. BUT once hooked up to the laptop this was the easiet thing to navigate with. I'm really glad we got a REAL chance to use it and find this out. I did also discover what a pain in the arse it was to have a laptop in the cap with us. I'm not sure I will ever be able to have kids now (phew!). But it worked and it worked really well. Didn't seem to loose the signal as badly in the Pyrenees either, but there were quite a few short moments when we did loose the signal.

So, in summary we will be buying a kick ass PDA, using TOM TOM and Ozi on that. As back up the lap top with the Garmin V. Sorted. Oh and some paper maps too. For the fish and chips :)