Maps for China, Stans and SE Asia
 

I know nearly nothing about GPSs and SatNavs... but, I don't speak a word of chinese and they seem like a good (although expensive) alternative to navigating by gestured indications.
Can anyone comment about map availability, quality and for what systems?
Thanks.

Fernando

G'Day,

the NELLES maps are the best ones for China....
http://www.nelles-verlag.de
http://www.elstead.co.uk/acatalog/China.html

best regards, Butch

Try Gizi Map - China Northwest from Map-World Direct:
http://www.mapsworldwide.com/search....hina+northwest

J

ta
 

thanks Butch and Mr. Redboots!
...going to check it strait away.

Now, I phrased my question badly (excuse my bad English, please):
I wanted to know if any Gps/satnav system offers maps good enough to navigate through China.
Thanks again.
Fernando

G'Day,

my mates swear by http://www.destinatortechnologies.net for China and know a few people who use this system.

Beijing contact:
+86 - 10 - 85111446

Shanghai contact:
+86 - 21 - 64958877

best regards, happy travels!
Butch

looks interesting...
 

Thanks Butch,

(any offers already for the sporster?)

The estinator looks interesting. I can't see on their website dedicated maps for China or Asia in General.

Do you know if it can be purchased in China?

I know GPS systems like Garmin offer a world map, but I'm not sure it's going to be of help in PRofC. Do you?

Thanks again

Fernando

World Map Boo
 

I bought Garmin World map, and its seems like you may be able to navigate by ship with it, but thats about it. I haven't actually used it in anger, so perhaps I'm doing it an injustice, but the level of detail looks poor to me.

what sort of info do you get from the unit?
 

Thanks for your advice,

what info do you get from it?
the road number or name?
Your direction (compass)?
Coordinates?
And, how is this useful on bike in a country where you cannot read the road signs? Any idea?


Thanks again.

Fernando

destinator and level of information
 

I looked at the Destinator website but cant figure out what sort of info level I will get in China/Asia with one of this units.
Any ideas?
thanks

Fernando

The Garmin worldmap is pants... but it will allow you to to do waypoint navigation. You cant do routing.

Smelly Biker (www.smellybiker.com/maps) is producing a worldmap from public domain maps collected form many sources. V1.51 is out now and is way better than the garmin offering.
There are even sections in Russia that go to city level in the next release in Feb.

Its not free but its very good value... works on Garmin units. Again, you cant do routing bit as there is much more detail, making a route or track is easypeasy

I'm using it for my trip later this year and in combination with the hardcopy maps it should be the dogs.

J

err...
 

Sorry to be a total nerd...
How does it work? You get coordinates from the gps and you compare those with your map?
I suppose routing means that thing sat navs do, telling you to turn here and so on?
thanks
Fernando

You use a program called Mapsource from Garmin to view the maps you install on your PC. These can be world maps/country maps/ off the shelf or bespoke like the smellybiker map.

You then zoom into the area you want and start adding waypoints to a route using placenames etc. This is then saved and uploaded to the gps along with the map segments that cover the route.

It requires some learning and time to put your route together and then you use this on your gps as a guide - it wont give you left/right directions but you will alway know where you should be heading. Probably best described as its more like navigating at sea than on land.

Or, just get some good maps and a good compass and go with the flow!:clap:
....and save a load of money.

Even with the GPS, it should only be treated as guide and NOT a fixed route.


J

G'Day,

yes have offers, not sold yet.

yes the maps are available in Chinese/English, get in touch with the above stated China contacts (ETEN company).

according to my mates (they are into GPS, I do not own a GPS..) the Garmin worldmap is useless for PRC.

best regards, Butch

G'Day,

might be worthwhile to check this out:
http://www.unistrong.com/English/index.htm

regards, happy travels....
BUTCH