Posted: 6/28/2014 9:51:35 PM EDT
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I was going to buy this software, Topo North America 10.0 but the reviews say the maps are all out of date and useless.
I love the idea of this program, showing road, trail, elevation, water, etc. for everywhere in the US and with GPS integration, but it's useless if it's out of date. Can you recommend me something similar or better? |
Topographical maps don't go out of date, but many of the 4x4 roads won't be open or drivable anymore. Here in Az. the Forest service closes roads so often that you have to get a new road map every year in some Nat. forests. The Topo! series maps that I got 15 years ago are great, as long as you remember that anything marked 4x4 trail most likely won't be open for motor vehicles. Also, MAKE SURE that whatever map software you get is compatible with YOUR gps. I found out the hard way about that when I tried to update my gps unit and found out that the one I bought wouldn't link to my map software even though it was the same brand as the one it replaced.
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Quoted:
Topographical maps don't go out of date, but many of the 4x4 roads won't be open or drivable anymore. Here in Az. the Forest service closes roads so often that you have to get a new road map every year in some Nat. forests. The Topo! series maps that I got 15 years ago are great, as long as you remember that anything marked 4x4 trail most likely won't be open for motor vehicles. Also, MAKE SURE that whatever map software you get is compatible with YOUR gps. I found out the hard way about that when I tried to update my gps unit and found out that the one I bought wouldn't link to my map software even though it was the same brand as the one it replaced.Some of the map sources are just completely wrong. I've had puzzled FedEx drivers stop and ask me directions, while I was walking the dog, because their GPS had the road names mixed up. One of the online map services (can't remember which one, off the top of my head), will get you completely lost, if you are trying to find my house, because it shows my road as being the driveway to a house across the field (their driveway is the next turn AFTER the turn onto my road). I've learned that an interesting way to kill time, is to program your GPS to avoid interstates, then pick a random spot and let it tell you how to get there. Ended up on a service road (started as gravel, then two graveled ruts, finally turned into two dirt ruts), on the backside of a state park. |
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Quoted:
I was going to buy this software, Topo North America 10.0 but the reviews say the maps are all out of date and useless. I love the idea of this program, showing road, trail, elevation, water, etc. for everywhere in the US and with GPS integration, but it's useless if it's out of date. Can you recommend me something similar or better? So elevations and hydrology are going to be out of date? I use the Nat'l Geo TOPO! series, which is now "out of print". Scanned quads. As far as roads and trails, it is GROSSLY overstated that "older" versions are useless. Sure, you might miss some of the newest roads, but 99.999% of the roads/trails will be correct. |
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Quoted: I was going to buy this software, Topo North America 10.0 but the reviews say the maps are all out of date and useless. I love the idea of this program, showing road, trail, elevation, water, etc. for everywhere in the US and with GPS integration, but it's useless if it's out of date. Can you recommend me something similar or better? The base maps are not all that bad and you can add and remove detail and draw layers. Plus there is a lot of support online for it. I would recommend getting the MAP Pack service for like 35 dollars a year and you can download Sat photos and USGS topo maps. The thing about the Delorme software is that you can upload your GPS tracks to it and create draw layers. Then if you want you can print the maps with your tracks on them. It is really up to you how much time you want to put into your work. For the price you won't find a better package for your PC. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.. WP |
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I use GaiaGPS on iPad. The Android version is horrible This option looks interesting. In doing some reading, it seems people use different map software for different purposes, as some do things better than others. What I'd like is something that shows updated 4x4 trails. So that if i'm freeballin in bumfuck New Mexico, it will show me what off road trails there are. It would be nice if it would tell me if it's a hiker/biking only trail too so that I don't drive to it and find out that way. |
