...at last a 'detailed Worldmap' and not from Garmin!!!
 

We've been using Garmins World map on a daily basis to plan, prepare and plot our rides as we're now 4-years into our 'around-the-world' motorcycle journey. On hundreds of occasions we've cursed it, when in a strange new city or even a 'middle of nowhere track', we've desperately needed more map data and simply not had it. Even after spending 'way' too many hours scouring the internet for map sets of South America we came up short of what we actually needed. Needless to say when a friend and fellow bike traveler told us he was going to make his own World map as he too was tired of Garmins inadequacies, we were...skeptical. I thought "If a huge firm like Garmin can't get it right, what makes you think you can"?

Ohhh, how wrong was I! Bob's map set is called 'Wanderlust GPS World Map' and it beats Garmins hands down. Its compiled from public source data (but then so is Garmins) and help and support from a number of GPS forums and groups from around the world.

We've been beta-testing it for Bob since we left his temporary home in Peru 4-months ago, since then we've ridden North through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela returning back to Colombia before riding up through Central America (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize). Right now I'm writing this from Mexico.

We've ended up using the Wanderlust map almost exclusively. We'd start by using our old GPS maps and occasionally check Bob's to compare when ours showed no road, track, path or even river. Time and time again Bob's would be spot on and would give us the road/track location we needed and even the tinniest towns or villages near by.

Bob joked that his maps would store every populated place on the globe, well I thought he was joking...he wasn't.

Decent GPS map data for South America is very hard to come-by and so we posted some screenshots on our own website. I wanted to post them here but the maximum file size on this forum is 39kb (to small) You can check out the comparison screenshots here between teh wanderlust and Garmin worldmaps here www.2ridetheworld.com/wanderlust_page.htm . Let me know what you think.

Screenshots are all well good but it's how the product works in the real world that's important. Please take it from me, the Wanderlust WorldMap lives up to the job, we just wish we'd had the maps back in Africa..."shit Bob what the hell are you doing with your time :-) .


The next version should be due for release by late January. With even more map data. Bob's currently dealing with the Russian military as he's been given permission to use data for Moscow to street level!

The reason for the post is simple; I wanted to support a friend who started a project to help his own motorbike journey and ended up with a project that could help us all. As things have progressed Bob's invested in some nifty software and has dipped his hand into his own pocket.

If you'd like to register and download the Wanderlust World Map you can. Here's the idea. In order to recoup some cost's, the World map membership is priced at $50...that's it. Paypal has been set up to facilitate payment too!

You can visit our website where we have additional info on the maps where you'll find 'register and download' links for the Wanderlust World Map.
http://www.2ridetheworld.com/wanderlust_page.htm


You'll notice I said membership, that's because that's how Bob has set it up, which means that 'ALL' future software upgrades for life are free. Once your a member you'll just log onto your account and download teh latest map set. Bob’s already working on making later World Map’s routable; again something that Garmin is not. Future upgrades will include more city street level data, campsites, BMW dealers (globally) hotels, etc, etc. The idea is to make this an open project. You can also contribute and add quality/functionality by sending in tracks, waypoints, suggestions, corrections. Life evolves! And Bob will welcome all contributions - the very fact this product exists is thanks to many people worldwide supporting Bob's idea.

Its current size is approx 320mb and downloads with an .exe file - nice and simple and it all integrates in Map Source seamlessly.

http://www.2ridetheworld.com/wanderlust_page.htm

Now at least we can have some mapping outside Europe (Garmin maps are available for S.Africa, OZ and USA but I think that is it.)

Please support this new development as it will help us all.
Usual disclaimers apply!!

Thanks for your time, if you have any ideas, thoughts etc. I'd love to hear them.

Again here's a link for more info and register and download.
http://www.2ridetheworld.com/wanderlust_page.htm

Lisa T

http://www.2ridetheworld.com

Looks Great!
 

I've registered and am downloading the new Worldmap right now!

I've got a few maps from other sources (Tracks 4 Africa and Mapear) and it looks like Bob has incorporated those. Those maps have incredible detail (campgrounds, grocery stores, gas stations) and I really hope that Bob has got those in there as well.

I'll try it out on my Garmin Quest and report back!

:clap:

Hi Ekke,

Glad you like the the maps. The mapear guys kindly gave me permission to include their data & it really improved the coverage for Argentina/Chile.

I've not heard of Tracks4Africa - I'm using a blend of public domain data & peoples tracks for that area, but if they offer to share their data I'd be happy to include it. Same goes for any other data, provided I have the owner/authors permission and its free of copyright.

Let me know how it goes.

Errrr Think you'll find Track4Africa view their data as theirs ...
web linky http://www.tracks4africa.com/ .. there is a demo download showing the old contributions .. and anotehr shjowing the difference between the contributers data edition and the 'pro' edition.

If You have not heard of them then you will also not have heard of Tracks 4 Australia .. same concept .. but 'they' are using gov. geo data to get the basic outling .. then correcting it with peoples contributed tracks.

Then there is island oafs Maro-Topo ..

There are a few people doing stuff .. some free .. some seaking some $$ back for the work.

I'd heard of tracks4australia & their stuff looks good, but its their data and copyrights were made to be respected.

Most mapping projects reserve rights to their data & considering how much work is involved I'm not surprised, so unless its official public domain data or donated by the copyright owner it doesnt get included in the worldmap.

I'm looking at ways to open up the worldmap project so people can edit the maps but that'll have to wait until the new version is finished - kinda busy right now.

New version released
 

Version 1.60 is now available for download ( http://www.smellybiker.com/maps )

Major changes to this version to improve preformance with Garmin's Mapsource and much better Russian data (cheers john!).

I'm calling this a Beta Version for now as I cant load it in my GPS to test it - my replacement laptop doesnt have a serial port & I only have a serial cable. Feedback from those who've tested so far is good (see http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93010 for more info).

The next stage is better allocation of placenames to map layers & standardise the road classifications - basically making it look prettier in Mapsource, as well as including any more data donated between now & then.

Loaded
 

V 1.6 loaded (with roads and waypoinst etc) fab stuff
Runs in my Garmin 276C and 60CSx :thumbup1:
good stuff Bob
now what about 1.7 and I can hear you say..... :eek3:.......

Enjoy the :Beach: !!

Oooooo Yeah!
 

I am so glad to hear that Bob's come up with a solution to our problem - one that the GPS companies have chosen to ignore (kinda like their customer service).

I just recently learned about Wanderlust on Simon & Lisa's site (those screen shots are great, thanks guys - love your site) and the fact that it "contains every populated place on the globe" makes it sound like the answer to my prayers.

Before I started my Americas trip I asked my friend Rene Cormier what he used in Central & South America and he said Garmin, as have most others I think. But I've had both Garmin and Magellan GPSs and their world basemaps just didn't have enough detail for my liking. For this trip I decided to go with a PDA in a waterproof case running a third party software for the mapping (Fugawi), but it's got it's problems also. For safety and because I don't have street level maps, I've tried to stay clear of large cities, but sometimes it's unavoidable - I'm currently lost in Bogota. Now it's time to get something that works in the cities also. I guess that means I'll have to buy a Garmin to run Wanderlust.

So, my problem now is how to get my hands on an inexpensive (used would be fine) Garmin (276C or 60CSx) with all the cables (12V and PC), RAM mount and bracket while traveling through South America. I haven't had anything shipped to me yet, so I don't know how feesable that is, but I've priced a 276C & 60CSx here in Bogota and they're too expensive for me. Any ideas?

Cheers
Daren

First up .. on the 60 models

The S simply costs you money for something you don';t need - barometic preessure sensor and flux gte compass.

The x gives you a memory card. A second hand 60C would be a lot cheaper than a 60Cx .. but the card is worth it .. IMO.

The C is a colour screen .. and you do want that with maping.

-----------------------
On the maping .. you'll neeed a pc with the maps to down load it to the GPS .. you carrying on of them around with you? If not you need a community member with the facilities .. or a friendly internet cafe. If you go with teh community answer then you'll have shipping info..

Hi
I've just bought a GS 1200 equipped with a Garmin sat nav. Bobs software sounds like a fantastic tool and it would be great to support him, in fact I will sign on anyway.
But im not a genius with computer or tech stuff.
Will bobs software work on my Garmin machine or how does that work

What came with the GPS?

If it came with a CD/DVD containing "Mapsource" then WanderLust will work - best if the PC is connected to the internet when you install it. If you don't have Mapsource then you could have a problem restoring the maps already on the GPS..

Some details
"Mapsource" is a Gramin program that does various things .. including handeling maps, routes, tracks, Points of Intrest.

"CIty Navigator" (for various countries), "World Map", "Metroguide" etc etc are map data ... and you use "Mapsource" to manage them ..

I have taken advantage of wanderlust and want to upload it to my GPS, but seeing as I am a newcomer to the GPS scene I have been racking my brain how to view the img files on my garmin. Everytime I try to open these files in mapsource it just keeps saying that the files are not recognised formats.

Could someone break it down into some easy steps.

That would be fantastic

[quote=Frank Warner;128948]What came with the GPS?

I dont know , I'm actually flying to the UK to pick up the bike tomorrow and drive it back to Ireland, so I'll let you know then.

By the way, my route will be from Cape Town to Cairo , via the west coast, how will it work on that route

gary

You'll need your home computer to up load the maps to the GPS ..

And on your home computer you should see the maps .. and be able to form your own idea of the WnaderLust maps .. The mich paper maps are teh ones to get and carry (for Africa).


Errr to Cairo would be by the east coast.

silly question alert
 

throw me out if this is just too stupid a question.... but I have a Tom Tom Rider (yes I know...) can I use these maps with that?

m