Many thanks to Walter C for this package. I rode through Siberia in 2011 and I'm off around the World this year so they'll come in handy. I've converted them for OziExplorer HERE Save it on your computer and then open OziExplorer, click on File and "Load from File > Load Waypoints from File" and fetch the file you've saved.

Cheers
Andy
Andy Around the World

Updates file here:

Attached Files

28.02.13 updates.gdb (2.2 KB, 504 views)

__________________

Very helpfull information, thanks alot

Very useful indeed.

Does anyone (walter?) have any experience with GPS maps in Sibera? I'm curious to how accurate the Openstreetmap.org GSM maps are.

If there are any sources for Topo maps that work with the Garmin that would be great also.

I used OSM maps right across Russia, Central Asia and Mongolia, including to find my way around all the major cities.

Walter said the OSM maps are much better than Garmin's ROR and IIRC he said something about it being the basis for most of the GPSes you buy in Russia.

There is Topo 6.16 published by Russian Garmin distributor Navicom. You can find it for free download at various sites on the internet. I have Russian topo maps and OSM maps on my Montana and would switch between the two whenever I felt inspired to. I found I was using the OSM maps 98+% of the time, and only switching to the topo maps when I hit a blank area on OSM.

Many of the cities are NOT mapped on Topo maps. OSM has excellent Russian city mapping.

The highways and main roads and minor roads are 100% accurate on OSM. They are often out by several hundred yards on the topo maps.

Unless you are planning to go somewhere very very remote and previously untravelled by non locals, my experience is that you will ALWAYS be better with OSM maps. If you plan to go somewhere where Soviet army mappers went in the 1970s but still remote enough that no expeditions or travellers or OSM literate locals have been then there may be occasional times when the topo maps will be useful.

Also note the OSM maps come thru in latin script on the Garmin GPSs. The Russian Topo maps are only in cyrillic. In order to read them properly, most older GPS units (like Zumos) need to be flashed with a Russian operating system in order to read the Russian topo maps. You can get that done at Navicom in Moscow for about 20 pounds. It then is readable if you read cyrillic, but the GPS unit will not be able to properly read european names when you return to Europe. All non standard latin letters as is common in almost every european language except english will not be readable by your GPS unit.

[edit] Montana units can automatically read the Russian Topo maps without need to Operating system flash. Zumos can not.

__________________

Well I better get an update out before people head out to Siberia for the summer. Thanks to Noah and a few others for updates:

Here is the brief update file:

Full file, with all 1541 waypoints, has been updated in the first post in this thread. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...860#post293119

[edit - just updated the update.... so the 6 people who downloaded the update already, please re-download it - sorry]

Attached Files

2013 May Updates.gdb (1.3 KB, 459 views)

__________________

Apologies, its not normally my habit to spit out an update weekly, but have had a bunch of new and useful waypoints in Central Asia from Bob66, Snoah and Griffdowg. With people on the road now, it will be useful to get them out ASAP.

Further, I have also added in 45 border crossings in Russia / Central Asia / Mongolia that are all good for internationals - unless clearly stated otherwise in the waypoint name and waypoint notes. I consider that pretty useful info re map purposes - since the limited number of border crossing points does create bottlenecks in travel plans. Hopefully that will put an end to questions on the board about what border crossings are good to go for international travellers. I have included a couple of crossings that are scheduled to reopen for foreigners at some stage, but at this date, to the best of my knowledge, are closed, such as Penjikent and Karamyk in Tajikistan (they are clearly marked closed in the waypoints). Others, such as the Russia-Mongolia borders at Khandygayty and Mondy are presently closed to internationals, but may open in the near future. If anyone gets updated info on any of those presently closed borders, please let it be known on the forum and I should pick it up for purposes of updating the file.

The late May 2013 updates !

Attached Files

2013 May Updates #2.gdb (9.7 KB, 440 views)

__________________

Is the file above only the new ones?

or all of them?

I would prefer, if we could choose between only updates and the complete points.

Because i have cleared the ( very useful waypoints by the way ) for my route and dont want to load all of them again

thx

You can (we have already thought of that) ... the post above (and the one before it) are just updates. All of my update posts are just new extra waypoints.

The front page post (first post) is the complete set of waypoints.

__________________

You are perfect

Anyway, are you around in Russia or Mongolia in June or August?

probably in Moscow

__________________

Well, there i am going on my way back to the Baltic states in August.

But enough off Topic

Another week, another update ... another 100 useful waypoints here:

- fuel stations in very rarely visited regions, so hopefully knowing there is fuel there will spur more people to check out those areas.

- also I mapped out all the international Russian borders in the west - with Finland, Norway, Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine

- assorted other bits n pieces

As always, I will update the "Master File" on the first page.

Attached Files

2013 June Updates.gdb (11.1 KB, 462 views)

__________________

Hello!

I just wanted to say thank you for your work Walter. I am currently in Beyneu preparing my entrance to UZ. I somehow rushed it from Spain to here due to poor visa planning.

I am probably one of the most idiot motorcycle travelers in the world.. I don't even know how to properly use mi GPS, but I am doing fine.

I just realised that I can put these waypoints in my unit, and choose them to show at the maximum zoom level.... and NOW ITS LIKE I CAN SEE THE MATRIX!!

This is incredibly helpful and will finish with my many hours spent wondering around looking for cheap accomodation while not being able to even read the signs on the buildings.

Despite my lack of skills at whatever subject... I still plan to make it to Vladivostok at the end of the summer

Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks!