School me on this crazy invention called GPS

[TRD270]

First off I apologize if there are already similar GPS threads, I went back a couple years in the Backcountry section and nothing stood out to me.

I've never used a GPS system off road, or used topo maps on a GPS

I've always just used a map or guide book, which so far has served me well. However with the amount of trips I hope to go on this summer and future summers, I wanted to add to my navigating arsenal.

I keep seeing posts about GPX files, i'm assuming they are topo maps with preloaded navigation points on them, or just a topo area map.

How hard is it to plot out your trip on said files?

What GPS units are you using?

Where do you get your maps?

What software do you use to plot out your course?

Just a few questions I have since my GPS is about 13 years old now and gives me a nice military 8 digit grid to reference my position and thats about it

I'm mostly curious because i'm looking at a few systems and wondering if said files are compatible with them, or if anyone on here is currently using them.

First is the Garmin Etrex 30, followed by the Garmin GPSMAP 62 series, and finally the Garmin Montana.

It appears that the GPSMAP 62 series or Montana will be the best choice, both have advantages and disadvantages and just want some feed back on what everyone here is using both for software and hardware.

 

[Spork]

GPX files are just a list of GPS locations that diagram a trail. You can open them with a text editor like notepad if you are curious on what they contain. Normally I get mine from someone that has already ran the trail and load it on my GPS. I pull a lot of GPX files from http://www.traildamage.com/ for Moab. I got my topo map for Utah from http://www.miscjunk.org/ I have a Garmin Legend HCx and the basemap from garmin is pretty minimal so I loaded the map from miscjunk on my micro-SD card.

GPX files are supposed to be open so they can be loaded on a variety of GPS units regardless of manufacturer. They are strictly a track that overlays your map you are using if you don't have a basemap then it's a line against a gray screen or something similar.

As for loading the GPX file I have used http://www.easygps.com/ it's quick and lightweight for loading the files but I believe you can also do it through the Garmin software.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm still a total beginner with GPS, so I have a lot of the same questions. As others will agree, it's always best to keep a hardcopy map along with your GPS.

I've been using my Android phone as a GPS. I use the Gaia maps app (available for iPhone too). The app comes with 10 or so different maps of the US. You choose the map you want.

I have been able to create GPX files, as well as upload GPX files from other people. I have also been able to track my trip. I'm still learning how to find places of interest and how to leave notes for certain areas. I'm sure my phone and the app can do it, I'm just trying not to bite off more than I can chew, so I haven't tried it yet.

Google Earth is another great tool for route planning. In Google Earth (free download) you can drop pins on the map of the earth. GE will tell you the lat/long of that pin. You can add notes and comments to each pin. You can then plot out your map, dropping pins along your path. Then you can export all of your pins as a .KMZ file. A KMZ file is the file format for google earth. So I could send you my KMZ files from my last trip, and you would be able to view my trip in Google Earth.

Google Earth is great for planning trips, but it's impossible to use on a cell phone as a GPS navigator, especially when you're out of cell range. So I create my .kzm files in Google Earth, then I convert them to .gpx files (using a free online converter). GPX files are files that GPS can read. They are a list of coordinates, or plots on a map. So when you upload my GPX file into your gps, you can see all my plots, just like google earth, only now it works on your GPS, no google earth required.

I look forward to watching this thread to learn more about GPS and how people plot their trips out.


This is definitely a topic we should cover at a future RME Quarterly Training Day.

 

[TJDukit]

Since I am too cheap to spend the money on a GPS I am downloading that Gaia App right now and I'll have to check it out and play with it.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Since I am too cheap to spend the money on a GPS I am downloading that Gaia App right now and I'll have to check it out and play with it.

the free version is great, but I liked the program so much that I bought the $10 full version. I'm not sure what the differences are. one thing to note, you must pre-cache (or pre-save the map area you want) prior to going out of cell range. Gaia will show all the maps of the US when you have signal, but when you don't, it'll only be able to read the maps that are on your sim card. It's easy to download an area. If I can figure it out, anyone can.

 

[TJDukit]

Yeah I just went ahead and downloaded the $10 version. Seems like a cheap price to pay. Just looking at the map it looks very detailed. I am downloading a map right now just to play with while I'm sitting here at work twiddling my thumbs.

 

[TJDukit]

So far I think I am very happy with this app. The ability to import GPX files and record your own tracks as well as export them in a few different formats is nice. You get to pick accuracy and how often to set you tracks as well as distance between them. I am very new this the GPS thing. At least as far as using it for anything other than finding my way around town when I get fed up with the sometimes screwed up grid system. I grew up with paper maps and have traveled across the country a few times without GPS so don't feel the need to have it but it sure would be nice sometimes.

 

[TRD270]

To bring my thread back to life. I ended up picking up a Garmin Etrex 30

Just wondering if anyone has a line on, Utah topo maps with single track/ atv trails on them

I downloaded the map Spork suggested, it's a good start but would like some more detailed single track maps

 

[TRD270]

I didn't notice that traildamage link, thats a cool website I'll have to pull a bunch of trails off that

 

[jackjoh]

Is there one of these GPS units that can be used in a city you are not familiar with as well as on trails?

 

[jackjoh]

http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?88856-Garmin-GPS-TOPOGRAPHIC-and-beyond&highlight=garmin

After looking at this site I think the Garmin Nuvi would be the best for my purposes but they have a million different models. I am looking at a 2555 LMT at the present.