Garmin Topo software

Hi - why Basecamp? Havent had a good look at it yet but only feature it has that Mapsource doesnt is 3D visualisation (I think). Mapsource, which can be used with Oztopo and Shonky (and Garmin Topo) etc, does everything else you should need. I suppose advantage of BaseCamp is that it is supplied free though I am lead to believe you can get a legitimate version of Mapsource for nothing as well (see gpsaustralia forum ..or do search here). I do note there is also a Mac version of BaseCamp which I suppose is handy.

Maybe your question is what is the best map set?. Garmin Topo has autorouting (for roads not tracks) so maybe that is a bonus - Oztopo doesnt. I have not seen Garmin Topo first hand but from what I have heard it has less tracks shown than Oztopo. Whether this is signifciant or not would depend on which tracks are missing, how many are missing, if they actually exist and if you would ever go there I suppose. Personal issue. There maybe some tracks on Garmin Topo that arent on Oztopo - big place Australia - doubt if anyone has compared both over full extent.

OziExplorer is a GPS mapping program so no surprise it doesnt work with Basecamp...which is another gps mapping program. Many different maps/airphotos (raster format) can be used with OziExplorer - difficult to compare to Mapsource/Basecamp.

Cheers
Greg

Just rang Jonny Appleseed Gps they sell both Oztopo and Garmin Topo Australia and they felt that the Garmin product was better. I'll be going down to Melbourne in the next few days so I'll take my Garmin down for a demo. They have run out of DVD's and won't have the next supply until mid June, they only have it on SD cards, which I'll never buy!
Arthur

Compare these screen shots,

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Have Garmin 276c and Oziexplorer running on a Palm pilot. Have been using Shonky maps on the Garmin and didn't think much of it(The Garmin). Bought TOPO Australia 2 weeks ago and went on 4WD Trip around Snowys last week. Buchan, McKillops, Delegate etc. All off road through small tracks. The Garmin knew exactly where we were and named all the tracks. It also layed in an excellent track file which follows tracks exactly. Oziexplorer is a bit vague when you are in the tight stuff (I was running the Ozi along side the Garmin). Now very impressed with Garmin and will be using it as my main GPS.

Hello

It may also be helpful to state what device you plan on using the maps on. A high percentage of Garmin units come preloaded with a mapset such as CityNav or Garmin Topo. Do you already have a unit or are you planning on buying one?
Some places also will preload oztopo though not sure of economics of it all.
Cheers
Greg

As a new user of Garmin Topo Aus the first thing I looked at in Mapsource was the area between William Ck and Coober Pedy.

I'm a bit underwhelmed.

At 70 km zoom the only road marked is the Stuart H'way

Zooming from 70 km to 50 William Ck and the old railway disappear. They reappear, and tracks and roads like the Ood. appear, only at 3 km.

I have many people say that this track or some other road is not shown on their GPS , One of the first things a user should do as soon as you get the unit and or have the software on the PC is do this setting , on the Nuvi it's called MOST and on the PC it'll be HIGHEST, that setting will show a lot more than MEDIUM will ,
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To do the setting on the Nuvi GPS touch in sequence TOOLS / SETTINGS / MAP / MAP DETAIL and set it to MOST.


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One thing to bear in mind whichever system you use, paper maps are invaluable!! They are give you the perspective of where you are and also the long view of where you are going, rather than zooming the GPS. I zoom the GPS just enough so I can see the immediate vicinity then use paper maps or maps printed from electronic copies (Better in my view as I can load track files and Waypoints before printing). plenty of waypoints so you always have one in view and I find this helps heaps. I print out the maps on A4 at the scale of the map, fit them in a plastic wallet in the order I need them and then I can flick over easily.

Cheers