GPS Using USGS 7.5 Min Topos?

[TheJackRabbit]

Is there a GPS system that uses the USGS 7.5 minute Quad Sheet topo maps (1:24000)?

I am looking for such a system for offraod use only and I need the scale at one inch equals 2,000 feet with 20/40 foot contiur intervals. If not, which system has the finest scale topo base maps and do they cover remote areas in NM?

I tried emailing a couple of on-line GPS vendors and, as usual, there was no response.

Any info is appreciated.

[Mark W]

Delorme Topo series uses the most accurately scaled USGS maps available for each region.



Mark...

[Waorani]

Ditto on the Delorme 3D Topo Quads - $100/state. Note - the Topo USA software is not based on 24K Quads - get the 3D Topo Quads

[GeoRoss]

If you use a Mac, MacGPSPro uses USGS 1:24K maps as an option as well.

[Mark W]

Originally Posted by Waorani

Ditto on the Delorme 3D Topo Quads - $100/state. Note - the Topo USA software is not based on 24K Quads - get the 3D Topo Quads

Yep, thanks for clarifying. Topo 3D, not Topo USA. (Although you can run the Topo 3D cds with the Topo USA program and it works fine. But the Topo USA doesn't include the info with it that the Topo 3D does.)


Mark...

[pismojim]

If you're using a laptop, check out Oziexplorer.

http://www.oziexplorer.com/

You can download or scan real 7.5 minute quads, or any map for that matter. In some places, like California, the USGS maps are available, for free, online. Not just maps, but aerial photos, satellite imagery, etc. If you search around you may be able to find already scanned maps for NM.

I use the Delorme Topo maps too, but for off-road adventures, the Oziexplorer and detailed topo maps have much more information. I guess it does depend on your area. Search some of the expedition sites like 4wdtrips to what maps other have found for your area.

If you have a scanner you can use any paper map you already have.

[spaldam]

Originally Posted by GeoRoss

If you use a Mac, MacGPSPro uses USGS 1:24K maps as an option as well.

I've been trying to figure out how to get my old Magellan SporTrack GPS to work with my new iMac. I'm thinking I might need a new GPS. Any suggestions that would work with the Mac and this software?

Thanks.

[bj70_guy]

Is your new iMac an intel version? If so you can run boot camp and run windoze for your gps software. That's what I'm doing with my Macbook Pro and Garmin software. It's a drag that that is the ONLY thing I need windows for, but it's cool to have the option of running windows native on the Mac.

[spaldam]

My GPS and software are getting old, so if something came out that worked on a Mac, I’d be very interested. Until then I plan to just do what I can with what I’ve got.

I've got Parallels to run the few windows applications I can't find good alternatives for, including my GPS mapping software. The main problem right now is that the GPS is serial and the iMac only has USB. I'm currently looking to get a good quality Serial to USB converter and hopefully that will work, but it would be so much nicer to just be able to run in natively on the Mac

O, and yes, it is an Intel, but for the programs I run most of the time, I'd be better off with a Power processor. I guess I'll just have to put down a bunch of money on upgrading my software (and GPS) one of these days.

[george_tlc]

Originally Posted by pismojim

If you're using a laptop, check out Oziexplorer.

http://www.oziexplorer.com/

Hey Jim - nice to see you supporting an oz product

Yep, Oziexplorer works great with scanned maps and free online (where available) USGS topos. Also the WinCE version works great on a PDA with a gig or so of flash to store the maps etc.

I've run Ozi on the laptop since 2001 and it is a great product. I started to use the WinCE version in 2004 and it also works very well. In my case for oz use I had no choice but to use Ozi and raster maps etc since we don't have decent maps available built into GPS units (things are slowly improving though).

Recently I've upgraded my GPS to a bluetooth version and that gives me a portable solution with no cables etc. I put the BT GPS in a backpack and the PDA is handheld. Gives several hours of use and more if turning off the units between fixes etc.

So, my current vehicle navigation is a BT GPS on the dash (Sirf III chipset) that runs about 10 hours on a charge (could be powered off cig lighter too) and the PDA in a holder with cig lighter power.

To set it up takes more work than an off the shelf GPS - but it is a lot more powerful than the average commercial GPS supplied software like delorme and mapsource (garmin) etc.

cheers,
george.

[GeoRoss]

Originally Posted by spaldam

I've been trying to figure out how to get my old Magellan SporTrack GPS to work with my new iMac. I'm thinking I might need a new GPS. Any suggestions that would work with the Mac and this software?

Thanks.

Your computer is fine.

Check out http://www.macgpspro.com/ for more info.

Here are the supported units. http://www.macgpspro.com/html/newhtm...workswith.html

It looks like your unit is supported, but you can double check with the vendor.

[Cracker]

No ones mentioned it, but i believe you can combine USGS DRGs, aerial orthophotos, and DEMS into one graphic, giving you a 3D map to look at with the layers overlayed on top of each other.

[Waorani]

Originally Posted by Cracker

No ones mentioned it, but i believe you can combine USGS DRGs, aerial orthophotos, and DEMS into one graphic, giving you a 3D map to look at with the layers overlayed on top of each other.

I use the Delorme BT20 Bluetooth GPS with ArcGIS 9.0. I run with DRGs, DOQQs, and the more recently available NAIP imagery (really nice but huge file sizes). Not sure how to integrate DEMs but that's probably just my ignorance. However, I doubt there's any easily available cheap software for this kind of stuff.

[Cracker]

Wow! ArcGIS9?....Are in GIS as a proffession? Thats a lot of program...
Do you need an extension to be able to calibrate and project a .jpg into a shapefile, or can you do it with the core program?

[GeoRoss]

Originally Posted by Cracker

Wow! ArcGIS9?....Are in GIS as a proffession? Thats a lot of program...
Do you need an extension to be able to calibrate and project a .jpg into a shapefile, or can you do it with the core program?

A university license is about $100/year.


Over the counter as per the ESRI website is $1,500/year without any extensions. You don't need any extensions to rectify images.


It is the software you love to hate.