Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Bicycles > Overland Bicycle Travel
best sat nav for bicycles? best sat nav for bicycles?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Overland Bicycle Travel Overlanding questions for two wheels, no motor!
Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

25 years of HU Events


Destination ANYWHERE...
Adventure EVERYWHERE!




Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



Like Tree2Likes

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 3 Dec 2017
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,131
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
Would Glonass and GPS not be useful in more remote parts of the world e.g. the stan countries.
Both GPS (or more correctly the US GPS satellites .. I forget their name) and Glonass cover the world. The advantage of both is increased accuracy and probably switch on time. None of those things have much impact on the practical use.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
One thing that makes me hesitate with the Edge series, is that I have heard they don't offer on the fly navigation and they don't recalculate your route if you miss a turn etc. Do you have any experience with this?
None. RTFM?

World map..
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
Is this not feasible now we have very large SD cards? For instance you can now get a 400gb micro SD card.
No one is offering this .. it would take a lot of computer time, and no one really wants it. Put it this way .. you start in country A .. by the time you get to country Z the map has changed and you want to update it .. the whole world at say 150 Gb .. over a Wifi network? How many days do you want to wait around while that happens? Much easier to take it country by country or continent by continent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
I will be carrying a laptop. So this is okay. Do you know if I can get an offline program to plan the routes for uploading. Would prefer offline than online.
Garmins Mapsource or Basecamp will do that (avalible free from Garmin) - and you can get the same OSM maps onto the windows or mac laptop for free.

Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
So what do I do when OSM is not fine? Will I be able to upload other types of maps to the Garmin Edge cycle units or make my own maps from google eath etc?
RTFM on the Garmin Edge cycle units for 'other types of map'.. I think they only take Garmin format maps. Garmin is probably the most popular brand around the world so you are well served with reasonable maps where ever you go. You can improve the OSM data .. but only when you know that it is wrong/missing and that may not be until after you are there. But it is a suitable pay back to them for the free service.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 4 Dec 2017
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Warin View Post

the whole world at say 150 Gb .. over a Wifi network? How many days do you want to wait around while that happens? Much easier to take it country by country or continent by continent.
But my point is I would download this onto SD card before I go. The company where I currently work has an extremely fast all fiber commercial network. I could download 150GB at work without a problem.

Is it not better to do this now, as it would be very easy to do. Rather than mess about on the road?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Warin View Post
Garmins Mapsource or Basecamp will do that (avalible free from Garmin) - and you can get the same OSM maps onto the windows or mac laptop for free.
Okay thanks for this. I am still weighing up whether to go for a dedicated unit or a smartphone. I have never really felt the need to have a smartphone before, but a user on another thread suggested the CAT phones which can be used in the rain / with wet hands. For instance the CAT S41 has the following specs:

5,000 mAh battery (38 hours talk time and 44 day standby time)
GLONASS, GPS, aGPS, Beidou
Waterproof Up to 2m for 60 mins
microSD (up to 2TB)

But then again I like to be able to plan my routes on a PC and like the idea of Basecamp for Garmin. But if I went the phone route, is there something like Basecamp I could use on a PC?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 4 Dec 2017
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post

But then again I like to be able to plan my routes on a PC and like the idea of Basecamp for Garmin. But if I went the phone route, is there something like Basecamp I could use on a PC?
There are probably dozens of them nowadays, such as Motogoloco and Tyre to name two. A few years ago it was my impression that German software writers were very much engaged in developing such computer software.

ps
CAT stands for Caterpillar = the big USA company that makes earth moving equipment; it is a marketing/branding/copyright the name thing that you pay for within the asking price.
pps
JCB did much the same thing, for a while at least.
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 4 Dec 2017
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
There are probably dozens of them nowadays, such as Motogoloco and Tyre to name two.
I also saw a lot, but the problem is they tend to be online rather than standalone programs.

Also I am looking for linux options and came across Viking GPS. So I may have to do some research into that. Although I do dual boot windows, so can always run a windows program if it really is the best solution. But these days 90% of what I do is on Linux.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 4 Dec 2017
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
Also I am looking for linux options and came across Viking GPS. So I may have to do some research into that. Although I do dual boot windows, so can always run a windows program if it really is the best solution. But these days 90% of what I do is on Linux.
Nice find.
Just one of the reviews from their website:
"Another example of open source software trumping expensive, buggy closed source alternatives in a niche market. Great job so far - very promising to be the mozilla of GPS editors."

I can't remember the last time I used MS operating systems - linux for me!
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 4 Dec 2017
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,131
Quote:
Originally Posted by chilswelluk View Post
But my point is I would download this onto SD card before I go. The company where I currently work has an extremely fast all fiber commercial network. I could download 150GB at work without a problem.

Is it not better to do this now, as it would be very easy to do. Rather than mess about on the road?
You can get all the maps you want now onto your PC. Get them as separate continents/countries so the GPS does not have to deal with a large file size. Change the map on the GPS as you cross boarders.

How long will your trip last? OSM maps are 'up to date' ... now, but in a years time there will be a more up to date version avalible. Generally the map makers update monthly. By the time you finish your trip the maps you have will be out of date.

South America has a number of free Garmin maps that are not OSM, some of these are better in some aspects than OSM. These two are frequently up dated.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 5 Apr 2019
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 48
I use an Etrex 20 bought specifically for cycle navigation, loaded with TalkyToaster maps.
I find the unit and setting up routes in Basecamp far from perfect, but from what I read it is the best of a bad bunch.

There are useful web sites for setting up the Etrex in the best way. For me the challenge is getting fully to grips with Basecamp. The other day roads I wanted to route over were not visible, I assumed a mapping error when in fact it was due to settings I had changed in the profile type ("Bicycling").

I persist with it as it does give me what I want, the ability to cycle without stopping for map checks every 5 minutes. The more frequently I use it the easier it becomes!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 27 Jul 2019
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 39
Just to let you know in the end I went for the Garmin 64s. I have been really happy with it and just use free OSM maps that I download from here:

Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap

As suggested I just load a country at a time onto the GPS, that way things are a lot quicker.
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Which sat nav for european touring and TET (on and off road)? Temporaryescapee Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS 10 16 Jan 2018 00:43
Best Sat Nav Map Morocco and how to download ??? el tronco Route Planning 28 25 Jul 2017 10:27
TomTom 220 sat nav wishfull traveller TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted 0 1 Apr 2015 22:40
Charger for Sat nav Badrakumar BMW Tech 1 28 Feb 2013 12:12
Which Sat Nav should I buy? Lonesome George Navigation - Maps, Compass, GPS 8 2 Jul 2012 09:57

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
Ecuador June 13-15
Bulgaria Mini: June 27-29
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Aug 14-17
Romania: Aug 22-24
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)

Ripcord Evacuation Insurance is available for ALL nationalities.


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books available from the author or as eBooks and audio books



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:18.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top