software and maps for pda/gps combination

[pierre]

Hi,

I am new to this forum. I am about to buy a gps to go with my palm OS handheld. I have read good things on pathaway (www.pathaway.com). Works on both pocket pc and palm os pda. Has the capacity to create your own map and can use maps made with touratech qv or softmap softwares from bitmaps, online maps or other formats. It looks great as you seem to be able to recalibrate on the go as well.

Have any of you guys ever used it ? If so what do you think of it ?

The next question is obvious: where can I find maps of the UAE / GCC that can be calibrated for GPS use ? I read the forum and saw the NASA maps which are quite old. Do you guys know where I can find a map (even paper) with good resolution and accuracy ? I read in the threads that some scanned maps exist in the community here. would you be able to share them with me ?

Thanks in advance

Pierre

[Fouad Berjaoui]

Thanks for the info on Pathaway, it's new to me, most of us use Pocket PC based software and oziexplorer does very fine. Other than the iQue pda with built-in GPS I haven't seen anyone using Palm based GPSes and software.

I used to use a Palm m505 and connect it to my Garmin GPSMAP 76, but since I have a standalone unit, I used the palm simply to upload/dwload waypoints & tracks because the memory on the GPSMAP was only 8 MB

We all use the NASA maps because they are free and calibrated, and they do a good job. We mainly use it for offroad, and since NASA's maps are from 2000, the offroad scenery hasn't changed much from that time, the roads have, yes, but remote offroad areas have not.

Most up to date digital maps are for sale and not free, however if you are looking for a printed digital map to scan, I use this one, it's a 2004 map : www.zodiacpublishing.org/index.2ts?page=map

This map is available in any major bookstore in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they all have it for 35 or 70 Dhs I dont remember exactly, you can buy and scan it for your own use ONLY.

As to sharing maps, I have to caution you and everyone else that technically this is illegal (copyright infrigement) you can buy a map, scan it and use it for your personal use only (this is legal). Of course no one is going to ask or know if you share it, but still technically it's illegal to make copies and share with others, and we at the club do not want to be seen doing or sharing stuff that are in violation of the law.

My official position and advice to all members would be to buy your own 35 Dhs maps individually and use it for your own personal use.

Hope this helps and welcome to the club

Regards.

Fouad

[pierre]

Thanks Fouad for the very quick response.

I just downloaded fugawi and pathaway. I will try both on my pda (sony clie t665c) and let you know the results.

there are two good websites that I went to to learn about gps:

www.gpspassion.com/fr/default.asp?_SetCurrentVersion=EN
www.pocketgps.co.uk/
they describe many different things, but the forums are usually pretty good.

I will go buy the map you suggested (35 AED online). Any shop suggestions in Dubai ? City center, carrefour, Ace... ?

Can you point me to the NASA data maps of 2000 ? I only seem to find the very old ones. If you have the link handy, it would be much appreciated.

Also, do you know if I can find a similar map for Oman ? I am planning to go there for Eid and wanted to scan maps for the trip. I guess the NASA will cover it, but if you have a paper map I can scan as well, it would be great !

Thanks again for the quick response

Pierre

[Jo]

Hi:

NASA now has the 2000 series Landsat maps

zulu.ssc.nasa.gov/mrsid/

[pierre]

thanks for the NASA link !

I went there but I get pixelisation very quickly. Am I doing something wrong ? What is the resolution of this map ?

Thanks !

Pierre

[Jo]

Sounds like you are opening the jpg file. This is just a view of the tile. You need to open the .sid compressed image. Pixel size is 14.25 metres. I use MapInfo for this, I believe you can do it in OziExplorer also.

[Fouad Berjaoui]

Yeah I do it in Oziexplorer, on oziexplorer.com under support files or something, there is a file called mrsid.dll which should be installed on wiondows in order to see the MrSid map file (hi-res and calibrated map files) not all softwares support MrSid, i dont know if Fugawi does. anyway whatever option you choose, you have to make sure of one crucial issue : can your PALM view MrSid files that's the crucial point.

Otherwise NASA files will only be of use to you on your PC, not your PDA

Fouad

[difflock]

Guys, What is the point of having electronic maps, GPS/Palm compatible etc...in such a small country ?? My feeling here is that unless you are a computer/electronic gizmo freak, there is no point of spending a lot of time and money in navigation aides in this country. It is too small to get lost...I believe that money would be better spend in good recovery gears...who else agrees ?

[Fouad Berjaoui]

Well it's not the size of the navigation area, it's the fact that we keep ourselves up to date on electronic gadgets, what works what doesnt, what is practical what isn't.

On the other hand it also depends largely on where you live, as an example, I now know most of the northen emirates area, lately I have been going out without a GPS, and sometimes I take it but never bother to switch it on. But when I go to Abu Dhabi (even the city) I need it, cause I dont know my way around there.

So it's a question of sharpening your skills and keeping up to date with technology, in addition it's a unified language for offroaders, during the MDC, we were people from all over the world, GPS waypoints was our language of communication

Where r u now ? oh I am at NXX XX.XXX . oh you are 3.56 Km away from me. Yes I'll be there in ETA 2.03 Minutes heheheh

Another example, if I ever buy the 320C and beleive me I have been seriously thinking about it (H3 or 320C) the first thing I would ask you to do is make room for a laptop on the center space of the dashboard. I could help you on "electronizing" the 320C. a Modern Civilian Electronic vehicle

Fouad

[difflock]

Hey Fouad, I just realized I never told you what is inside the AMV320C....

- Simple but good original Nissan patrol sound system with CD changer.
- Stock Patrol speakers but we just added an amplifier and 2 subwoofers positioned in the rear, between the two rear seats. This system provides basic entertainment for all passengers in the car.
- Garmin GPS on the dashboard, close to the driver.
- Complete car phone unit with a dedicated SIM card.
- Each of the passenger seat (1 in the front and 2 in the back) have a swing arm holding a laptop. The laptop can be used individually by each passenger for DVD , Audio CD, MP3 and all computer functions like games
etc..... Each user has to use a head set to listen to the sound.
- The mobile phone is GPRS connected, giving the laptops the possibility to connect individually with the Internet.
- The GPS is connected to the laptops and give to the passenger an instant view of the map and their position (like in an airplane)
- The laptops are networked. This allows the users to play network games.
- The laptops can easily be removed from the vehicle

and santa Klaus came to town.....but only for the rich kids.

[Fouad Berjaoui]

DUH !!! what is this ?? a mobile desert internet cafe ??

Actually, it's not only for the rich kids, it's not that expensive to do, it's just our commercial vehicles were not designed for this, as for the 320C it has all the interior space to install all of this & since it's custom, we get to choose what we want one of the MAIN reasons I thought of the 320C as my next vehicle. Once issue remains, can you produce and sell ??

I like the H3, no doubt about that, but I am more interest in a vehicle I can customize to my needs, my kids will not play networked games while in my car, they can do that in theri mom's vehicle, this is Dad's car, it GOTTA BE SERIOUS heheh

Anyway, I beleive customization is the next evolution in car sales and the 320C is a great step towards the future, question, if you price it high enough, you'll ruin it.

Keep it simple and affordable, and you'll get a GREAT market share, specially from Saudi.

In fact this is how I will be presenting it in the magazine : The Right long awaited custom vehicle, but...does it have the right marketing approach ?

As you can see, even Hummer have started producing affordable vehicle for the masses.

I dont think we should be having this conversation here, why not move it to the 320C AMV thread I created for you.

Fouad

[pierre]

just one quick thing, what is the scale of the paper map ? is it better than 1:100,000 ?

thanks

Pierre

[difflock]

The best paper map I could find was the one from the civil aviation at 1:200000. However, I have scanned the whole map and now I can have any scale I want on my PC.

[pierre]

Thanks !

where can I find the aviation map ?

Cheers

Pierre

[difflock]

In Abu Dhabi, go the Civil Aviation building. It is located just behind the old Carrefour store on airport road (blue and white building). Tell the watchman that you are coming to buy a map and make sure you have 70AED in your pocket. They have two types of maps. One is for air plane use with all the datas the pilots need, the other is the same but without the air data and only the land datas. It made from satelite pictures and the accuracy is close to 100% between the coordinates a point has on the map and the actual coodinates the same point has in reality.