My 16yr old son had a 1/2 of school so we hit the white tanks west of phx for a shake down run...
1st trail run of 2nd gen gps setup.
Equip:
Panasonic Toughbook CF-50
Globalsat usb gps puck
Oziexlporer
USGS 7.5 topo and DOQ ariel photos
Google Earth saving waypoints as .kml file and importing into ozi.
So the goal is to use downtime at work/home to look for fun places to play or input gps coord's from books/websites onto google earth. With google earth I can mark waypoint very quickly, look around in 3D and fly like a birdie on my route.
Once I have it figured with GE then I save it as a .kml file and import that into ozi using the approp. map. Nice thing about ozi is the ability to turn those waypoints into routes and then switch between topo and sat image to see elev. and image.
The reality....
Wow this was a blast!
Of course there are some issues as nothing is perfect but compared to my 1st gen setup this rocks.
Nice Features:
Ozi will switch back & forth between topo and sat image with the route intact so that you can compare and read feature names.
You can add different waypt sets other than your route like a cool mine database Whitethaiger gave me or geocaches. You can also quickly and easily add waypts for the future. Good looking places for picnics, interesting ruins or structures and other cool features along the way.
Ozi will alarm as you reach each waypt so you can look for direction or info and if you are bouncing around too much the message box will go away by itself.
The globalsat gps puck is faster to get a fix than my globalsat bluetooth gps and holds a fix without issue.
Wish it was better...
I do wish ozi would switch from miles to feet as you get closer to a waypt so you can keep track better.
I wish the heading would stay in the last known direction when you are stationary, right now it jumps around to different directions until you are rolling.
I wish I had bought the smaller toughbook with maybe a 12 or 13in screen instead of the 15in I have. I could have used an external dvd drive since the only reason I went with the 15in was the DVD drive. I also wish I had a larger HD for all the maps...no real big deal and I can carry DVD's with me and load as needed but still wishing wishing
Still to do...
I still have to build a laptop mount for the BlueJ, something that won't crowd the passenger, allows the laptop to fold up out of the way for getting in & out and can handle the rough trails.
I still have my 1st gen setup as backup (treo 700wx with bluetooth gps running Iguidance for streets & beeline for geocaching) and as my mp3 player, cell phone through radio and handheld geocaching tool.
All thougths welcome and more to follow as I learn.
Please chime in with any tips or tricks you know with ozi.
enjoy
1leglance
1st trail run of 2nd gen gps setup.
Equip:
Panasonic Toughbook CF-50
Globalsat usb gps puck
Oziexlporer
USGS 7.5 topo and DOQ ariel photos
Google Earth saving waypoints as .kml file and importing into ozi.
So the goal is to use downtime at work/home to look for fun places to play or input gps coord's from books/websites onto google earth. With google earth I can mark waypoint very quickly, look around in 3D and fly like a birdie on my route.
Once I have it figured with GE then I save it as a .kml file and import that into ozi using the approp. map. Nice thing about ozi is the ability to turn those waypoints into routes and then switch between topo and sat image to see elev. and image.
The reality....
Wow this was a blast!
Of course there are some issues as nothing is perfect but compared to my 1st gen setup this rocks.
Nice Features:
Ozi will switch back & forth between topo and sat image with the route intact so that you can compare and read feature names.
You can add different waypt sets other than your route like a cool mine database Whitethaiger gave me or geocaches. You can also quickly and easily add waypts for the future. Good looking places for picnics, interesting ruins or structures and other cool features along the way.
Ozi will alarm as you reach each waypt so you can look for direction or info and if you are bouncing around too much the message box will go away by itself.
The globalsat gps puck is faster to get a fix than my globalsat bluetooth gps and holds a fix without issue.
Wish it was better...
I do wish ozi would switch from miles to feet as you get closer to a waypt so you can keep track better.
I wish the heading would stay in the last known direction when you are stationary, right now it jumps around to different directions until you are rolling.
I wish I had bought the smaller toughbook with maybe a 12 or 13in screen instead of the 15in I have. I could have used an external dvd drive since the only reason I went with the 15in was the DVD drive. I also wish I had a larger HD for all the maps...no real big deal and I can carry DVD's with me and load as needed but still wishing wishing
Still to do...
I still have to build a laptop mount for the BlueJ, something that won't crowd the passenger, allows the laptop to fold up out of the way for getting in & out and can handle the rough trails.
I still have my 1st gen setup as backup (treo 700wx with bluetooth gps running Iguidance for streets & beeline for geocaching) and as my mp3 player, cell phone through radio and handheld geocaching tool.
All thougths welcome and more to follow as I learn.
Please chime in with any tips or tricks you know with ozi.
enjoy
1leglance
