New navigation tech

[asutherland]

A lot of you may recall my old setup, a Windows CE tablet from about 1999 that ran OziExplorer and the BackRoad Mapbooks. For the time it was a very good device for backroad mapping. However it was limited by the hardware and by decade old software.

I recently purchased second hand a Galaxy Tab 10.1 Pro tablet. I configured it with CyanogenMod 12 (Android 5.1), Androzic and the Backroad Mapbooks high quality geo-referenced maps. Complete with a new RAM mount sleeve to attach to my old RAM mount system in the Cruiser.

Wow, resolution. Super clear LCD capacitive touchscreen, 2560 x 1600 pixels (~299 ppi pixel density).

 

[Antarctican]

Been running this setup now for a few years it's a great choice. I use Backcountry Navigator, which loads the Backroad mapbooks maps, Western Canada Canmatrix, Canada Toporama, CBMT Topo, NR Canada Topo, and a couple of other less useful ones. It's a quick switch between the maps with a couple of taps. Am using an external bluetooth GPS antenna so its super sensitive even when completely enclosed in brush and trees. Also, the big bonus is I can watch my overhead projection live in Google Earth...

Related question: I put all of my trips, every single one, both US and Canada, onto one giant trip file. Most people split them out so they can share a particular trip (ie Whipsaw, Barkerville etc). Do you or anyone else know of an Android or PC program that can edit trip files of different formats?

 

[asutherland]

Pete, I use Google Earth to manage all my way points and track logs. It's easy in there to export just a folder to kml, which is readable by Androzic.

I'll have to give that backcountry navigator anothrr try.

 

[Vanny]

I am not really tech inclined but I would love to learn if I can combine my Garmin Oregon (with Backroad Maps) to work with my Surface Pro 3. Is this a possibility? I am tiring of driving and trying to look at the small screen the one or two times I go out per year now

 

[tweeek]

Where did you get the georeferenced BRMB files? I thought they discontinued them?

I am using a similar setup, but with Backcountry Navigator.

Edit: NM, I just checked and it looks like they are available again! Sweet, when I checked a couple months ago, they weren't. I called BRMB and they told me they were not going to offer the digital geo files anymore. Guess they changed their mind.

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Been running this setup now for a few years it's a great choice. I use Backcountry Navigator, which loads the Backroad mapbooks maps, Western Canada Canmatrix, Canada Toporama, CBMT Topo, NR Canada Topo, and a couple of other less useful ones. It's a quick switch between the maps with a couple of taps. Am using an external bluetooth GPS antenna so its super sensitive even when completely enclosed in brush and trees. Also, the big bonus is I can watch my overhead projection live in Google Earth...

Related question: I put all of my trips, every single one, both US and Canada, onto one giant trip file. Most people split them out so they can share a particular trip (ie Whipsaw, Barkerville etc). Do you or anyone else know of an Android or PC program that can edit trip files of different formats?


View attachment 1308901

I plan to try and use this setup. I used the demo for Backcountry navigator and found it user friendly after a few uses. Combining that with BRMB maps would be stellar.