GPS softwares

[husain]

Hi all,

Well guys, now the MAPsource is to upload waypoints and tracks from the GPS to PC and the other way back.. right?!.. well, the guy at the shop tried to sell it to me but.. he didn't know what he is selling!!..

but I heard some members talks about Oziexplorer, GPS track macker.. so I was searching the net to find out what is that all about...

I found something called EASY GPS... lil small "easy" free prog...it dose nothing but install waypoints into the programe to load it to a GPS... or upload it from the GPS.. which is a part of the MAPsource function, but it should have more if it costs almost 350AED.. so, what the others do...like Fugawi...etc

Regards,
H.S

[Klaus]

Does anyone have OZIexplorer, I can share with?

Klaus

[Prasad]

The link below is about making your own maps and uploading to Garmin GPS, I found while browsing. I have not tried it yet.

gpsinformation.net/gpsmapper/gpsmapper.htm

Prasad.

[RonThompson]

I like gps trackmaker-seems to do everything I want it to

[Klaus]

I now do everything with FUGAWI since they updated for the Ique3600 ( a nice GPS, Palm and lukily not a phone, would only be usefull as a satelite phone) got the whole scanned new UAE map downloaded in one piece to the SD-memory, works perfect.

But still would prefer to make Garmin file to download - I think.

Klaus

[ChristopheAbuDhabi]

I have both evaluation version of Oziexplorer and Fugawi, with calibrated satellite maps of UAE, but I am doubtful about them, and I would like to assess which one is more interesting before purchase.

Has anyone experimented both (or other soft) enough to be able to guide me ?

At present, I find Oziexplorer interface easier to play with. There are too many odd buttons in Fugawi toolbar.

And what about interopearbility/data exchange with other software ? waypoints, tracks, etc. This is often the pb because there is no compatibility between softs.

Thanks for your help.

[Fouad Berjaoui]

I have OZI's full version and I use Mapsource. In the past I used to post Mapsource maps in the magazine (after having taken permission from Garmin). Now I am thinking of switching to OZI on the magazine because it's neat looking.

It's a question of photographic versus vector image, put aside the software functions of both.

Having used both, yes there are utilities to convert from one software to the other, but it's a long complicated process that doesn;t always work properly.

I found tat the easiest way to convert from maprsource to OZI is to simply upload in Mapsource wpoints+tracks to the GPS and then dwload them back again in OZI. It's a stupid way of doing it, I know, but Hey, it's easy and it's FLAWLESS, works all the time.

MAPSOURCE : It was MADE for your Garmin, it has the same map you have on your unit.

OZIEXPLORER : Satellite image is neat, UAE's map is a bit old, goes back to around 4 years as per my estimate. Dubai Trade center roundabout was still a rounsabout, but they had JUST begun construction on the Gardens in Jebel Ali. In any case you can use your own map whether vector or image provided you calibrate it correctly.

The BIGGEST advantage of OZI is that it shows you topography and type of terrain (Rocky, White Sand, Red Sand, Mountains, Green Valleys....etc) These are important details when plaing a trip which Mapsource does not give you. Most important is to identify where there are military installations and farms and try to avoid them. If you;re exploring a route, you wouldn;t want to show up right at the gates of a military airport

Of course farms and topography change, but at least you have an idea.

The other advantage of Mapsource is sharing waypoints and track files among users. Magellan Mapsend and Gramin Mapsource are of course not compatible, but if both users are using OZI on both machines, then no problem.

The downside of OZI is that you have to have a laptop or Microsoft Pocket PC based PDA (No Palm support yet). The laptop or PDA have to be with you while you're on the move. otherwise you are confined to your GPS's software.

Fouad

[Klaus]

I dont't know about Ozieexplorer, I use for my Garmin Ique3600 Pathaway (was recommanded by Garmin) and also FUGAWI and with FUGAWI i am very pleased, it can handle big files from scanned maps and the calibration is more exact. Pathaway cannot handle big files. The scanned sattelite based new map from the UAE i have is in total 105,820Kb. I split it in north and south Uae so 2 maps each and in Fugawi it comes down to about 10Mb with still good resolution.
Fugawi can handle the maps very well and even zoom in/out is very fast. Trackmaker has up to now no interface for the nice big colour screen Ique3600. I put extra memory and it's just perfect. Just a Palm you can use for everything, but with avery sophisticated build in GPS. you can store tracks and routes from a trip around the world. The interface with the PC is perfect.
Don't worry about all the buttons in Fugawi, I know it's irritating, you only use a few anyhow.

[ChristopheAbuDhabi]

Thank you Fouad for this detailed response. It confirms what I am expermimenteing for few months now.

Klaus, you reply makes me think that Iwill have to instist with Fugawi, even though I a mdisturbed by all this "buttons". What is amazing is your final file size of 10 MB for the calibrated UAE satellite MAPS ! With OZI explorer, I am also using several maps, in fact one for nothern Emirates, one for main land and one for Liwa Area, but each of these is about 50 MB. And eventhough OZI epxlorer is switching nicely between these maps when you reach a border, I find it still very "heavy" for my lap-top in the car.

So, thanks, for your reply. I will insist on Fugawi in the coming weeks before my final choice.

But again, if finally Fouad is thinking of exchanging OZI format WP or tracks files, then this will have to be taken inton account since, as we all say, the gateways for file tranlation between all GPS software are not ideal ! Ia m doing the same like Fouad, i.e. loading of my GPs from one soft and then export to the other soft. I also used some translation of WP files using txt and Excel files, but it always represent quite a bit of work ...

[Robert]

where can i get these maps of uae ?

[Fouad Berjaoui]

Uhhmm..Abu Dhabi Aviation somthing, ask Klaus he has the details. Fouad

[autoscriptor]

I use OziExplorer full version. It will cost you $75 and you will get a full working application. What you get from www.oziexplorer.com for free is two applications. One is the Trial in which you are not allowed to download your waypoints from your GPS. The other application is a demo in which you are not allowed to calibrate a map.

The maps I use are LandSat images which date back to 1990 (LandSat 7 new images will be available soon, or that what they are saying) the images are available for download here (https://zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/). These images are famous by the name of MrSid sat images. The site is a secure site (https type) and the files to download are very big so make sure that you are patient enough to download by a dialup and download managers won't help.

OziExplorer also has a nice feature of the MOVING MAP. When you connect your GPS unit to a laptop as you patrol, a moving arrow will be moving simultaneously on the map loaded in Ozi's screen.

The new landSat 7 images will be publicly available in a year or two. But for now they are only for sale. If more details are needed I can get back with them soon.

[Markfloden]

Ok so i have downloaded a few of these Landsat files. No problem there. (They are in .tar format. I also have the trial and the demo versions of Oziexplorer. But I cannot open or view these files.

do I need some other conversion program or does the registered version of Oziexplorer have ability to see .tar files?

[Markfloden]

Silly me,
It turns out that .tar files are like .zip files and winzip will extract them leaving me with .sid files which Oziexplorer can see..

Getting there......

[autoscriptor]

Sorry for not including all the details. Yes, the tar files are just like the zip files. Oziexplorer can open MrSid files only if you have the MrSid dll (Dynamic Link Library). The dll is available for download from the optional extras page on oziexplorer.com (or just click the link 216.218.220.254/xtras/ozimrsid_dll_setup.exe to download).

The images are calibrated automatically inside Oziexplorer by importing them as single DRG files (from the file menu). All you have to do is to tell Ozi which UTM zone, and hemisphere. UAE is in UTMs 40, 39 and the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately, UAE is not included in one single image. Three images in two UTM zones have to be downloaded (N-39-20, N-40-20, and N-40-25). I didn't try to open them all in one screen, although Ozi has the facility to open multi DRG files. I usually use N-40-20 as this image will cover Al Ain and most of Oman.