Digital mapping

[Des Butler]

Dear fellow outdoor enthusiasts. I am just about to invest in a Garmin handheld GPS but I am stumped by the plethora of digital mapping systems available. Is 1 in 50000 adequate for walking in the UK ? Now I know that you can only down load the routes and way points from these maps and not the maps themselves but are some systems more user friendly than others. Any pointers in the right direction would be most gratefully received. Incidentally are Garmin's own Topo maps worth investing in or is there not enough detail in them? Thanks, in anticipation. Desy.

[Special_K]

Firstly wlecome to GX Des.

There are many different digital mapping products out there on the market. Some of these include Anquet and Memory Map. I have access to Memory Map and find ity useful in the planning of routes (and cheaper than buying loads of maps for my lovely cadets to destroy.

As for the scale 1:50k is ample for navigation in the UK but it is all down to personal preference in te end. Some of the guys on here use 1:50, other's 1:25k. There is a thread talking about it but I can't get the link at the moment as I'm sat on a very cramped train from London.

With regards to using GPS on the hills again it is down to personal preference. Many people use them, others dont. Some versions only record track whilst others allow you to download the Topo map to them.

I myself don't use them as I have found them to be a pain in the bum to set up so always rely on the Mk1 Eye, Map and Compass.

NB - Mods - I'm sure you want to move this to the Nav topic so please feel free.

Thanks

[clunk]

welcome to g.x. mate .
i have a basic garmin gps 60 and you dont realy need the maps for your comp , you can just create your own route using a normal map , you just put the map ref points in the gps manualy , although i did get the memory map 1.25000 for the yorkshire dales and cant fault it , i cant recomend any though , because this is the only one iv'e used

[Raph]

I've used a mio digiwalker and a Garmin GPSmap60C, and they're both excellent. Memorymap is brilliant though possibly because I'm used to OD maps, mapsource has less information on it but combined with the GPSmap it's more reliable, plus the unit uses AA batteries.

I slightly agree with "always rely on the Mk1 Eye, Map and Compass" - I don't rely on the GPS, I just double-check I'm on the right track, and if eye map and compass let me down (they have been known to) then if the GPS still has a fix then it'll save the day. Only problem is - the same conditions that make it hard for eye map and compass also make it harder for the GPS signal.

Anyways, back to your question - I find 25,000:1 is a luxury, 50,000 has enough info to get by. Mapsource topo has contours and the odd landmark but not much really, but in combination with a map and compass (oh... and eye!) it's good enough.

Using only the basemap is a bit of a pain - if you plot a route then if you stray from it or change your mind about any of it you're out in the blankness of nowhere until you cross-reference it with a real map, which means more faffing - if the priority of being out in the open is to enjoy the view and get some exercise then it's better to have mapping on the unit. I had a Garmin Edge 305 which showed position with no mapping and no basemap - pretty useless really, just showed a wiggly line where I'd just been.

Back to the approximate vicinity of your question, there isn't really a choice of scale with mapsource - you zoom in and out and you can choose more or less detail to be displayed.

When I got my GPSMAP60C I was dismayed at first to find you couldn't get memorymap onto it - but actually it's a lot better to use than the mio which does take memorymap, because the navigation interects with the mapping, e.g. it does an elementary form of satnav, which great for cycling. Also it gives average speeds and arrival time estimates etc. And loads of other stuff like sunrise/sunset times - very useful to plan when to call it a day and pitch up.

Not sure if any of that helps...