Mapsource does not work on Mac also, unless there is a work around

Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk while having a cold beer

The work around is don't waste money on trendy tech which is locked down for profiteering. ;)

Apple is just a pain in the arsr for everything...

In the questions and replies there is much that is repeated from earlier threads in here; no matter, just saying that you can find background information, such as how to download OSM which is particularly covered in a sticky thread in here.

Regarding Maps.me, there is some discussion here:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...w-routes-81573
I have now deleted it, for the reason therein.

For some mention of the route planning software on the market:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...hich-one-82808

You have more than sufficient technology, when I did that trip 38 years ago all I had was the two Michelin maps (still have them in my study, actually).

Crossing the Sahara involved sighting up from the top of a sand dune the next cairn of rocks, or empty 44 gallon drum 2-3 kms away and aiming in the general direction - the locals navigated by stars, and only drove at night with their lights turned off, so it was advisable to camp well off the piste if you didn't want to wake up flattened.

Often when there were no obvious markers I would end up navigating using the sun knowing that if I continued in a south westerly direction I would eventually cross a set of tyre tracks I could follow.

So, yes, learn to use all the latest technology but recognise there are times when it fail, for various reasons, and be prepared to revert to more traditional methods of getting to your destination.

Sun compasses are in short supply nowadays!

Night navigation; now there's a different ball game. Even orienteering type games change their character.

Mapsource is discontinued. It is now Basecamp, which is also available for Mac.
But there are bucketloads of programs out there (google-search "JaVaWa") which can do all kinds of geeky stuff for your digital navigation needs - and most of these are Windows only, not for Mac.

But you will see that T4A and Maps.me will cover pretty much all your navigation needs.
The T4A, OSM and Maps.me Africa map is about 700Mb (since they all use the same source, OSM)

But wait, there is more...
Tomtom is now available as an app for both iPhone and Android, and the Africa map which you can download for free (since only the app is paid, not the maps) is surprisingly good and clearly based on OSM. I just used it driving down thru Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania and it was at least as good as Maps.me. And the interface is Excellent!

This is getting confusing. Map apps are named in the same list as map sources. Maps.me state that they use OSM maps. There are tonnes of mapping apps. Most use OSM data.

I agree with the before mentioned opinions that if you have some tech, phone or GPS and a paper backup you're covered. Spend more time in considering what mapping data to bring. T4A also have paper maps now and iphone and android apps. Not sure how to interpret the reviews the apps get compared to the GPS data. I presume it's the same data but I'm not sure. It's often more important to have an idea on fuel locations than whether there is a hwy or a dirt road. The latter is now easier than ever to establish before you go.

Some apps allow for custom maps which means you can scan in any paper map, georeference them in some GIS software like Global Mapper (much easier than it sounds. You just pick the a minimum of 3 map grid points and enter the coordinate of that map grid point). There are a few conversion software options to convert a GeoTIFF (georeferenced image) into something usable with your end use software. I use Backcountry Navigator (android) so I use MAPC2MAPC for the conversion which also does Garmin. It's really dead simple and will give you all the maps you need on a small device. Lots of really good phones are now really cheap. The S4 is now chump change and still "current".

:rofl::rofl::rofl: that might be the case but I like it :D

Wayne

Quick update:

The Garmin eTrex Legend HCx is not coming to Africa! Garmin have confirmed I cannot upload the Africa topo light map, or indeed any other Africa wide map. It is essentially obsolete.

For communications I have settled on a Delorme inReach. I am travelling solo so want an 'in an emergency' solution. I have discounted Spot due to the incomplete Africa coverage.

I can't decide between the inReach SE or Explorer. The latter is $80 more but comes with routing, waypoints and navigation (comparison here: DeLorme inReach - Two-way satellite text messaging, tracking and SOS anywhere in the world). Comments in this thread and wider reviews aren't positive about these features but if my (employer's) iPhone gets broken on route it will at least be a back up. Subject to any comments any of you may have I am therefore leaning towards the Explorer.

I have tried the maps.me app on the iPhone and it was decent. I am going to try and build a route in google maps and see if I can get it into maps.me. If I can get that to work I will stick with that and not bother with a dedicated 'sat nav'.

If I can't and decide I do need a dedicated GPS I am leaning towards an updated eTrex rather than the Montana 600 (Garmin eTrex 30 vs Montana 600 | GPS Compared). £170 vs £400 and, apart from size, I can't see the big difference?

Oh? keepcalm Possibly an ill-informed salesman?

I'd think you would be able to use an OSM map on it!
Limitation would be the size of microSD card it will take. If it is too small ... split the map up - say north and south ... with some overlap .. and have 2 cards. But I think you'll find it will fit on one card.

The maps.me app uses OSM data .. so having it on the HCx would give you similar detail and 'completeness'.

As Warin implies, garmin sales may be "encouraging" you to buy their products.
OTOH, built in obsolescence is the name of the game with such things - the software overtaking the capability of the built in hardware.

Ultimately, it does depend on the specification of the etrex including the sd card capability etc.

I am somewhat wary of maps.me having tried it out twice and deleted it from my Android phone twice - because when maps.me updates the mapping, automatically with no options available to me, it uploads Mega data which fills my 16 Gb card.
Navigator doesn't do that but simply updates with just the new info, also derived from OSM; who knows why Maps.me does this??

My problem with MapsMe is the lack of contrast on the display. Everything is shades of pastel which might be OK in a dark room but outside in the sun you can't see anything. OSMand on the other hand, while a bit of a pain in some regards, can be set up to display high contrast maps with wider tracks and all sorts of options. Couple of other android navigators I have thought were great until I went outside, have been deleted as well.

One annoyance is although most use OSM, they each customise their maps so if you have 4 apps, you have 4 copies of OSM

Is my current navigation technology sufficient (and how do I use it)?
 

The issue with the Garmin Africa map is that you have to download it. To do this you provide the serial number of the eTrex. When you provide this the Garmin system tells you its not compatible so wont download.

On the maps.me i noted the comments earlier regarding data and turned off 'background app refresh' in settings. I was hoping that whilst my maps (already downloaded) might be a few months out of date, i'd avoid this new data upload issue. Sound feasible?

Having played around it was also easy to export my waypoints and routes from google maps as a .kml file (to dropbox) and then just open into maps.me

I'll have a play with some other apps too - keen to learn from your experiences. I have downloaded OSMand as well so will have a crack with that.

How would i get OSM maps onto my eTrex Warin? If i could do that, that would be a good option for me. (I am about to work through the link you provided at the start of this thread to see if i can do it that way).

I like OSMand .. offers a variety of
display colours .. different colours for roads/tracks/etc.
display features - the bicycling display brings up bicycle routes etc... the pedestrian one brings up other features .. like drinking water. There is not motorcycle display ... unfortunately. I'd like one of those - similar to the Michelin maps - green = good twisty roads with views.

It should all be in that thread his. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...eet-maps-64135 .. no need to repeat it here. There are at least two methods.

Temporary, you might be able to set up your apps so they update when you are on free wifi, but not if you are accessing via a data service.