OziExplorer users - where to get maps? (1 Viewer)

[Bambusiero]

Questions for OziExplorer users that use it for moving map GPS navigation on the trail. In particular, I'm looking for North America, southwestern states.

- Where do you get your topographic maps?
- Are they free downloads, or do you buy a package from someone, or do you actually scan from paper maps yourself?
- What do you have to do to make them usable? (format conversions, etc)
- What file format or compression do they use?
- How much filespace do they use?
- Which map scales are most useful?
- Ever attempted (succeeded?) to run it under a Linux OS?

Thanks.

 

[george_tlc]

I've run oziexplorer for many years. Great software - especially for places without decent alternative mapping programs - i.e. most places other than the US.

In the US it is less useful since there are plenty of excellent PC etc based topo programs and excellent maps from Garmin, Delorme etc.

Ozi can be used with freely downloadable USGS quads - google is your friend. Ozi will extract the calibration info directly out of those maps so it's pretty well a no brainer to get them working with ozi.

Ozi can handle a LOT of different file formats, compressions etc - read the manual

There's also a Yahoo Group for Oziexplorer - join it - tons of info there too.

No idea if it will run under anything but Windows - but feel free to try...

Oh - I assume you've bought the license to run Ozi - if not, the trial version is limited in the file formats it will deal with and some other functional limitations are in place too.

cheers,
george.

 

[Bambusiero]

Thanks for the info George. Sorry it took so long to acknowledge. I was madly racing around getting the family equipped for a first time ski trip to southern Colorado, AND hoping to get GPS mapping working to help with a little back rode exploring while there. I did read your reply but barely had time for that, much less give any reply of my own.

I did pay up for OziExplorer, and downloaded 1:250,000 topo's of the San Juan region of southwest Colorodo from the state's web site. For some reason Ozi did not like the calibration of the map, and would not use it with the GPS receiver until I manually added calibration coordinates gotten from a DeLorme Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer.

That worked, but not accurately. It looked to be about 1/2 mile off. Probably something wrong with all the map grid/projection/coordinate stuff, and maybe the 1:250,000 scale maps aren't so good for this purpose anyway?

I did stumble across the Yahoo group for OziExplorer. I'll have to join up and spend some time there to learn this thing. It seems to be a "can of worms" if you aren't using some company's proprietary mapping software with their own proprietary map database. The map data companies seem to work very hard at keeping their data inaccessible to other programs.

So far, the freely available USGS quads have only been a little bit successful. Arizona's web site wouldn't let me register until I made a special request to the administrator via email. Then, when I try and get a Phoenix area map, it points me into somewhere in Mexico. Messed up database. Colorado's website worked smoothly, but the map didn't. I'll work more at it and see how it goes.

I think I will try TopoZone as a map source. They say that they are dedicated to open source data. $50/year for all the maps you want. We'll see.

 

[pismojim]

I have downloaded FREE USGS topo maps for California, Alaska and recently Arizona. All worked great with OziExplorer. The geotiff files have everything for Oziexplorer to calibrate the maps. They are very accurately positioned when using the GPS.

You should be doing MUCH better than 1/2 mile.

Good luck,

 

[GLTHFJ60]

What sites have you guys been using to download the geotiff files? I downloaded some NYS .map files that are supposed to work, but every time that I try to open one with oziexplorer, the program freezes. I know that it is a reputable site too, because it is one of the state's own government sites.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[pismojim]

I have to admit I must re-train myself after months between using the software but I'll take a shot. It goes something like this:

Take a look at this site for Alaska USGS Topo maps:
Alaska Topo Maps

You'll see three file types:
Metadata - You don't need this, but it is "Human" readable and useful to check datums, projections, and other data.
Tiff File - This is the map file (big)
.tfw file - this is the geo-reference data

Download the Tiff and tfw files into a folder on your computer.

In Ozi go to File - Import Map - Single DRG map and point it to the directory with the two files. It should import them and calibrate them automatically. Usually works great for me.

Sometimes you may want to check the metadata file and verify the map settings but that is pretty rare.

Basically, just be should to get both files (same name, different extensions) keep them togther and Ozi knows what to do with them.

Hope that helps,

 

[Bambusiero]

Here's a site that has links to mapping websites for the 50 states : U.S. Sources of Map Images
So far, for Arizona and Colorado, you have to register first (no charge) and then you can download what they have.

Here's another site called TopoZone: TopoZone
It's a commercial site. Apparently, you register for free to get in and look around and see their product pricing, etc, and then you pay up to subscribe for all the topo downloads you want for a year, or some package deals.
Looks pretty good, I may try it.

 

[on the rocks]

A little off topic buuuutttt.... I got the Magellan Triton 2000 and it looks promising. You can download NG topo maps on the hand held and track off it. Gives you elevation changes on your recorded trail from start to stop and much more. I was hoping for their trails map they publish but will settle for this for now. I hope to post some results soon....

 

[on the rocks]

They also claim to offer maps of your favorite ski resort to download on the gps.