GPS units
16 May 2011 12:55 #2883
by JonWells
I've recently started playing around using my Samsung Galaxy S with an app called "My Tracks", its pretty good for recording tracks then viewing on google earth. Theres also an app called "Maverick' which seems pretty good for navigating towards waypoints etc. I'm still waiting for the Google Earth app to be made available to SA, that will be awesome!
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16 May 2011 17:12 #2890
by Errol
I recently got a 62s. I've only used it twice and still getting to grips with Base Camp, but seems to have all one would generally need, comes with USB cable and can transfer wirelessly with compatible units. I've loaded the cave and pass gpx data from VE on to it, and trying to sort out scans of my berg maps to be able to use them as the base map ("custom maps" Garmin call it- anyone done this?). Also, found prices on line (in South Africa) were way better than the stores, although wasn't impressed with the service from the store I brought it from.
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16 May 2011 18:45 #2894
by Shingi
The 62S is a great GPS. The mapsource or basecamp software that Garmin uses is superb. You can download track coordinates for almost 30 different passes from the website www.berg.co.za. Go to the section on passes and you can download them. Mapsource/basecamp allows you to show the route on the map. It can also show you the profile of the pass, how much of altitude gained over a certain distance. This helps to see which are the steep parts of the pass or how steep a pass this is. If you can buy the GPS from the online websites from the US you can pick up this gps for R 2500, however most if not all do not ship gps devices to SA. If you know someone travelling from the US to SA, you can ask them to bring back to SA.
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17 May 2011 13:24 #2904
by DeonS
On the issue of custom maps - I have played around with it on the Garmin Base Camp software and it works. Just don't have a compatable GPS to test it out on. The Google maps part is a bit tricky as you need to line your scaned map up with the land marks, and you are done.
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26 May 2011 09:57 #2990
by Errol
Custom maps: I was battling to stretch my map scan to fit properly over the google earth map(?), so I started trawling the net for suitable (cheap) software. Found "mapc2mapc" (google it), downloaded it (along with "7-zip"-free), paid R116 for the mapc2mapc key (from the developer), and loaded my scan. You then calibrate it (the scanned map) using one of four methods, then write a garmin custom map. And you're done, just drag the .kmz file you created in to the custom map folder on a compatible GPS.
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26 May 2011 13:38 - 26 May 2011 13:39 #2995
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
@hasamatt: I use a Garmin eTrex Legend C and am fairly content with it. Will only upgrade to the fancier models if it breaks or gets redundant. I would reccomend that you get a GPS that can painlessly connect with computer and one onto which you can install maps. Even if you don't get into maps in the beginning, at some point you probably will and it really enhances your experience and opens up a whole new world.
On the topic of custom maps, I've been using a tool called GPX2IMG and am totally loving it! Thanks to a guy from Poland who decrypted the propriety Garmin IMG format (an IMG file is the map image that gets loaded onto your GPS from a computer), it has totally opened up many opportunities for creating maps for Garmins. See his website: www.cgpsmapper.com/ . Now, with cGPSmapper tool, together with a several other tools available on the web, you can do a whole bunch of things. But, its fairly complicated and tedious to work with, and takes time to figure out. Thats where GPX2IMG is so cool! It takes your GPX data files, creates an IMG file from it, and automatically installs it in MapSource, from where you can install it on your GPS (which even if you already have an IMG file, is a pain). It is a transparent layer which you can use on its own, or together with the Garmin topographic layer. Check it out: www.gpx2img.com/
On the topic of custom maps, I've been using a tool called GPX2IMG and am totally loving it! Thanks to a guy from Poland who decrypted the propriety Garmin IMG format (an IMG file is the map image that gets loaded onto your GPS from a computer), it has totally opened up many opportunities for creating maps for Garmins. See his website: www.cgpsmapper.com/ . Now, with cGPSmapper tool, together with a several other tools available on the web, you can do a whole bunch of things. But, its fairly complicated and tedious to work with, and takes time to figure out. Thats where GPX2IMG is so cool! It takes your GPX data files, creates an IMG file from it, and automatically installs it in MapSource, from where you can install it on your GPS (which even if you already have an IMG file, is a pain). It is a transparent layer which you can use on its own, or together with the Garmin topographic layer. Check it out: www.gpx2img.com/
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 26 May 2011 13:39 by intrepid.
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26 May 2011 17:58 #2996
by peterah
Have been using a Garmin eTrex Legend Cx for about 4 years now for both hiking and mountain-biking and never had a hassle with it. It connects via a standard USB cable to Mapsource to upload and download waypoints and tracks. One of the best "features" that I enjoy is the great battery life - I get about 40 hours continuous use on 2 AA lithium batteries.
You could probably pick one up second hand - saw an eTrex Vista Cx a few months ago at a Cash Converters for R1500.
You could probably pick one up second hand - saw an eTrex Vista Cx a few months ago at a Cash Converters for R1500.
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27 May 2011 12:40 #2999
by Kragbees
I bought my Oregon 450 for R3600 on a South African site. I like the touchscreen and the ability to use it as a hiking GPS and in the car as a normal GPS for navigating.
The big choice is between the 62S and the Oregon, whether you prefer touchscreen or buttons. Some guys say the Oregon's screen is difficult to read in sunlight, but for me it's totally fine.
I have recently done a custom map of the Bell Traverse from one of the official Drakensberg maps and will soon be testing it out ...
The big choice is between the 62S and the Oregon, whether you prefer touchscreen or buttons. Some guys say the Oregon's screen is difficult to read in sunlight, but for me it's totally fine.
I have recently done a custom map of the Bell Traverse from one of the official Drakensberg maps and will soon be testing it out ...
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