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GPS software

ruffryder

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Aug 14, 2002
8,468
1,258
113
What is everyone using for software? Preferably free stuff. Specifically for getting tracks put onto your computer, making maps and the like.

Thanks
 
L
Dec 7, 2007
62
58
18
Western WA
The best I've seen is Topo (by Nat'l Geographic). It has much more detail (7 CDs for WA state) than my Garmin maps (2 CDs for the entire lower 48). It uses the USGS 7.5 minute maps which show trails, FS roads and usually a 40' contour interval. Topo imports & saves GPS tracks or can create / export waypoints back to the GPS unit.

It also allows you to print your own maps (with or without tracks) which is handy for new areas or boondocking expeditions.

Reg price is $100, I've seen on sale for $75. Might do better on-line or Ebay.

There are a number of sites that have downloadable snowmobile area Topo maps created for WA (numbskull.com, wssa.us, etc).
 
J

Johnmaster

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2009
381
109
43
Mukwonago, Wi
www.johnmaster.net
I found a sweet program called expertGPS to take old tracks and cut condense merge rename and otherwise clean them up and sketch out new tracks to go explore the next time I am out. It has USGS satellite maps and topo maps built in so you can draw tracks right over aerial imagery. I still use google maps satellite images for more up to date views to make sure what I am sketching will possibly work but the usgs maps work pretty good for what I do. it uploads to and from your device, but you will still need your mapsource program to load the base maps if you have a Garmin handheld unit, I haven't figured a way to take gps maps and display them and use them but maybe you can find the way.
 
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