Oziexplorer ECW v OZF2 (Size)

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 13:17
ThreadID: 6546 Views:9208 Replies:6 FollowUps:10
This Thread has been Archived
Hello All,

Just converted Natmap CD 1 from ECW to OZF2. This is all in
preparation of my soon to be purchased ipaq.

Original cd 1 in ECW format is 620meg.

Same cd in OZF2 format comes to 1.6 gig using 32 colours

or for individual files:

sd5108.ecw = 1314kb
sd5108.ozf2 = 3631kb

Is there something I am missing here? or will OZF2 always be bigger
than ecw? OZF2 seems to be smaller when converted from a jpg. I tried
16 colours and it came to a similar file size to 32 colours. Any ideas?

Have posted on Ozi-CE user list as well, just usually get a quicker reply here!
Cheers,
Wazza
----------------------
Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Ray M (Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 14:14

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 14:14
Sounds about right. To get smaller files reduce the colours and image size down to 50 or 70%Hooroo
AnswerID: 27738

Follow Up By: Groove - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:02

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:02
If you reduce the map size the .map files wont work and you will need to recalibrate all the maps.

For on screen use you can resample the files to 72dpi as oppsed to the 150 or 200 they are at the moment. When you zoom in on a map it wont look as good but the normal view will not show much reduction in quality if any. This will reduce the file size considerably. You will still need to recalibrate (bummer)
0
FollowupID: 19116

Follow Up By: Ray M (Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:41

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:41
Groove, the ozf2 conversion utility will make the new map files.Hooroo
0
FollowupID: 19120

Reply By: Member - Toonfish - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 15:49

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 15:49
Thanks wazz for those files on the cd's look good very handy (no its not porn?)
when i use that .map i guess u need the full version of ozexplore to see map .?
How can i open the non jpg files ie- what association do i use win 98 se?
cheers.
i have a few files here for u when u get back1999 NISSAN NAVARA DUALCAB
DIESEL 3.2 & SPRINGY CARLTON TOY
AnswerID: 27743

Reply By: Member -BJ (Sydney) - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:33

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:33
Wazza you will have to convert maps again set color to 16 & map size to 50% . your files size will be much smaller. I had the same trouble with mine, got expansion pack for iPac with extra CF slot so maps are on a 1gig CF card & a 256 meg SD card.
Check out OZI ce group on Yahoo archives Regards Bob
Where to next
AnswerID: 27747

Reply By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:37

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 16:37
Unfortunately Wazza there is not a lot you can do. I did some experimenting with little luck and so bit the bullet and put up with the size difference. I have decided to just load the required OZF2 maps onto my CF card as needed. The Desert Maps stay on as permanent, and then I load the others as required before setting off.

iPaqs are great. Easy to connect to GPS. Just buy a Null Modem connector from Dick Smiths and away you go. I bought a dash mount from Melbourne Map Centre for $68 and it sticks onto the dash beautifully. With spped monitor set, routes created on the laptop and saved to the CF card, I now have very little chance of getting lost as the iPaq tells me when to turn etc.

Have fun with it and enjoy.Just Do It!

AnswerID: 27748

Reply By: wazza - Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 17:22

Wednesday, Aug 13, 2003 at 17:22
Thanks guys, I will have a play around with it tonight (img2ozf for you dirty minded ones). Let you know how I go.
AnswerID: 27758

Reply By: Wazza (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 07:44

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 07:44
Ok, a bit of mucking around. I tested the following on the Tallangata map SJ5503.ecw as suggested by David on the Oziexplorer-CE yahoo group. This map has a lot of brown tracks/powerlines/contours and green areas so it is good to get an idea of the optimum color numbers to not allow loss of definition. Also I tried a few different image size reducitons to see how low you could go without losing detail.

The original ecw file was 2541kb.

Got the following:

Colours % of File Size Quality
orig size

32 60 2941kb Colour good, resolution blurred
32 68 3854kb Colour good, resolution good
32 75 4450kb Colour good, resolution good ******
64 100 8931kb Colour good, resolution good
64 75 5380kb Colour good, resolution good

****** This is the one I am going to use. You can still see the detail and the colours don't merge into each other. A little better definition than at 68% - worht the extra 500 or so kb in this image. The main size advantage you are going to get seems to be by coming down to at least 75% image size. Colours don't really change the image size or quality much between 32 and 64, but with 32 bring a little smaller, I am going with 32.

Also, by the time I get around to setting it all up and actually buying the ipaq, the cf and sd memory cards should be even cheaper. They seem to halve in price every 6 months or so, especially if you buy fomr the states. $115 Aussie for 256 meg SD at the moment.
AnswerID: 27836

Follow Up By: Wazza (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 07:51

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 07:51
Hmm, table didn't turn out so well, it reads like this:

Colours | % of orig | ozf2 Size | Quality

32 colours | 60% | 2941kb | Colour good, resolution blurred
32 colours | 68% | 3854kb | Colour good, resolution good
32 colours | 75% | 4450kb | Colour good, resolution good ******
64 colours | 100% | 8931kb| Colour good, resolution good
64 colours | 75% | 5380kb | Colour good, resolution good
Cheers,
Wazza
----------------------
0
FollowupID: 19194

Follow Up By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 09:52

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 09:52
Gooday Wazza,

The cheapest CF cards I have found is actually in Oz. Try www.mittoni.com.au. I bought a 256MB CF card from them for $99. Also bought a CF reader with USB connection for only $30. Makes it easy to copy maps onto CF card using the reader and then put the card in the iPaq.

256MB SD card currently $179
256MB CF card currently $106
512MB CF card currently $243
CF Reader currently $29

Delivery is $7 Oz wide.

They are based on Cnr Blackburn and Ferntree Gully Roads in Notting Hill. I am in no way connected with the company, but I have been happy with their customer service and pricing.Just Do It!

0
FollowupID: 19204

Follow Up By: wazza - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 10:39

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 10:39
Thanks Glenn

Yeah, that is pretty good.

Now, second question. Where to get a serial cable and 12v charger for the Ipaq? I assume you can charge the Ipaq at the same time you are using it with the GPS?
0
FollowupID: 19211

Follow Up By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 10:54

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 10:54
Wazza,

I bought the 12V charger through Harris Technology( $129??), they have a shop in Abbotsford and the website is www.HarrisTechnology.com.au. The required cables product numbers can be obtained from the compaq website, www.compaq.com.au. Once you have the product number, do a search on the Harris website for it. I believe I use the serial cable that came with the iPaq that I purchased off Ebay for $800 (iPaq 3970). All I did to connect to my GarminEtrex Venture GPS was to use the serial cable that came with that and bought 2 female to male RS232 gender benders that connect to the null modem connector. I did not need to configure Com ports or anything, just plugged everything together, switched on the GPS, switched on the moving map on the iPaq and off I went. Just make sure you change the power settings on the iPaq to not turn off the device if not used for ..... This will stop the comms from switching off.

Don't hesitate to ask for any more info.

CheersJust Do It!

0
FollowupID: 19212

Follow Up By: wazza - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 11:11

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 11:11
Thanks again, very speedy reply there! Think I am going to have to wait till i get the thing so I don't get to carried away.
0
FollowupID: 19213

Follow Up By: Janset - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 17:37

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 17:37
Hi Guys,

I use 18 colour and 90% size and find it works well for me.

Go to this site also and check it out.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ozi-UsersCE/

Regards
0
FollowupID: 19263

Follow Up By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 21:48

Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 at 21:48
Hi Janset,

I, and I believe Wazza are already signed up to the yahoo group. I receive emails from it everyday, and it took me a while to connect wazza from yahoo to Wazza from ExplorOz. Great group and can learn a lot from it.

Cheers.Just Do It!

0
FollowupID: 19314

Follow Up By: Wazza (Vic) - Friday, Aug 15, 2003 at 02:25

Friday, Aug 15, 2003 at 02:25
Janset,

Thanks. Yeah, I posted both here and on yahoo/Ozi-UsersCE. Found I got a great range of reponses. Some good ones from here, some good ones from there.Cheers,
Wazza
----------------------
0
FollowupID: 19333

Sponsored Links