This is gonna get moved

We use a Garmin, camping apps on iPad mini/iPhone and, Benchmark Maps for the state's we plant to explore.

To avoid any complaints from the person in the passenger seat about having to hold the laptop all the time, you might consider a Jotto Desk or similar holder.

jmckelvy wrote:

Can you provide more details about this. What TOPO program are you using and where did you get the campground POI?

Anything else about what and how would be great?

The program was Delorme TOPO North America version 10. See my post a couple before the screen dumps for more details.

You can use the "Find" or GPS Radar Find feature to search for POIs already in the program. Overlay files give you even more functionality and control of when POIs are displayed.

For either Delorme Street Atlas or Topo the overlays are handled by the Draw layer functionality of the program. They have good tutorials about the functions in the help pdf, and the user forum can help as well.

You can load multiple draw files and display at the same time or make them visible when you need them. For examples turn on the "Rest Areas layer" when you are needing a stop while traveling. Turn on the diesel fuel layer, showing Pilot, FlyingJ, Petro and TA truck stop. Hide the layer to reduce clutter when you don't need it

The program already recognizes various data file types found on POI Factory or other POI websites (*.csv) or common to GPS (*.gpx) or a text file. Key thing about importing lat./lon, description and symbol is knowing the format the program is expecting (can be found by exporting another POI file to text if all else fails).

While Delorme has lots of POI included, they don't show until you zoom in to a very small area (not as useful for planning). I usually assemble my own draw file data from many sources. A phone call to the State Parks department can get you a file with all the parks, picnic areas, fishing access sites, and boat launches. A call to a USFS office can get you a file with all the CG and trailheads in the district (verses looking them up one at a time on their website. Same with a call to the BLM. Since these programs have been around a long time you can almost always find someone on the web has done the work already.

pm me and I can send you either an excel file or csv file with the data.

A video for Delorme Streets.... shows how easy it really is....Practice makes perfect:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-DWevEcaE4



Jim

I too use the Delorme Topo and Streets running on a small laptop. Always carrying a hard copy too!

We do have a iPad and an S5 android that works great when cell service is avail. If not you have to make sure you load the maps for the area you are going to be in.

With the Delorme's Streets and Topo that is not required. Maps are always resident in your machine.

Sometimes we run both at the same time... switching back and forth...

Planning a trip and being able to change the route easily is great.... Vias/stops etc easily inserted.

Both programs require a bit of learning as many of the GPS device programs require.

Here is a link to the delorme forum's:

http://forum.delorme.com/index.php?/forum/128-street-atlas-usa-2014/



You can load into the program, all kinds of POI's... Walmarts, flyingJ's, Kaka dumps and the list goes on.

To see the list of POI's click below and when you see the option "Please Select Your Program" click that and select Delorme...

http://www.discoveryowners.com/test.asp



Nothing that I know is better for Boondocking... Or travel up in the way rural areas of ALASKA!

Jim

narcodog wrote:

2oldman wrote:
Advanced Search 'GPS' in heading in technology. For such a general question you'll be reading all day.

Why not post in Technology in the first place?

Because most folks that post there don't boondock is the main reason.

you're kidding right? 50% of the discussion there is about solar, longevity of various battery combinations, boondock charging, all from real boondockers. And those are often the longest threads.

I'll be watching this too since most GPS devices have become so dumbed down and feature laden with things that "boondockers" don't really need they are actually hard to use in a basic mode.

jefe 4x4 wrote:
I'm still a believer in Pocket Earth. Installed on Jeanie's ipad, It has gotten us thru terrible city traffic and enlightened our navigation of the outback.
http://pocketearth.com/
You can download the whole world if you want to, map wise.
The significant difference in P.E. and GPS, once you download, there is no internet connection involved, no connection of any kind. You can follow along your route with an arrow curser and the maps are in layers; interactive, even way out beyond internet coverage area. This is important difference in mapping programs for the off-road campers. Different things appear at different levels as you tele in and wide out. For the price it cannot be beat. Well, maybe if they pay you to take it could be beat. National Geographic's wonderful mapping software was put out of business by the Pocket Earth people and Nat Geo dropped their support of their very expensive mapping software upon P.E.'s unveiling. I need to upgrade our 1st gen to the 2nd generation, which I read has some clarity upgrades. If you have an iMac, Ibook, or iphone, the price is right.
It would be good to have a critique on all the current mapping programs for us off-road XTC types. Maybe on roads and routes, which, unfortunately doesn't get much traffic from us hard core TC'ers.
I have no affiliation with P.E. and paid the same price you will pay. 8<)
jefe

Thanks Jefe, I just bought the Pro version for $2.99. The apps store description says it's optimize for iPhone 6 and 6+ and all reviews are all 5 stars so that got me to push the Buy button. There is also a free version. I wonder if it's optimise for the 6+ barometer sensor to get accurate altitude.

Going winter camping during holiday break and try it out.

-Virgil and Maria

bb_94401 wrote:
narcodog --

TOPO Screen dump of the USFS, BLM and State Parks POI I have for MT, ID and WY. Used for planning



Once arriving in the area figuring where to go (spotted bear CG circled red)



Detail level around Spotted Bear CG





two more zoom levels left. Still adding POIs as I explore further so I can find the place again.

Can you provide more details about this. What TOPO program are you using and where did you get the campground POI?

Anything else about what and how would be great?

pianotuna wrote:
It works without a cell phone signal on the Galaxy S3 and S4.

But, you have to have the map downloaded which requires a data connection unless you have already saved it.

Hi Steve,

It works without a cell phone signal on the Galaxy S3 and S4.

nycsteve wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi narcodog,

If you have a smart phone try using the gps mapping feature on it.

Probably only works where there is a cell signal. A GPS will work pretty much anywhere.