Routes and waypoint strategy on non-routable maps

[grahambb]

After a lot of trial and error, I seem to be closing in on MM software and Hema maps of SA, NT for my off road activities on the planned trip.

I have a question about waypoint strategies for non-routable maps (such as the Hema, above). How do you plan your routes, how long do you make them? How many waypoints? I produced what I regard as a simple route form Quorn to Hawker by recording a waypoint (or track point) at each road bend. When trying to deal with this in a Garmin Nuvi 1490, The Gramin ponders for a while then throws up its' hands and gives up.

How SHOULD I do this? Restrict the number of waypoints? - do I do that by using longer distances between WPs and relying on an average track? I'll be driving on (mainly) tracks (such as Ooodnadatta) and e.g. Kings Canyon for the wilder parts.

Any suggestions on MM and Hema maps? Alternatives? Better strategies?

Cheers

Graham

[sirius Tas]

Have you had a peek at the latest v3 software from Oztopo?? They run on the Nuvi 1450/1490 easily. Also has the advantage of being able to use the SD card in other compatible units. Waypoints can be loaded to and from Mapsource software with ease.
I too have the Nuvi 1450...and just received the upgraded v3 of Oztopo. Available for $229 loaded on an SD card and with CD for computer use...plus covers all of Aus.
http://www.oztopo.com.au/
The amount of track detail for outback NT, WA and Qld is quite staggering....seems to show every thing that's on the ground.
Not familiar at all with where you're going...but may be worth a look.
Cheers
st

[grahambb]

I like the look of OzTopo, but the big issue for me is that it's not routable. That means buying 2 sets as I will need turn by turn in towns and cities.....

Right now, I may stick with the open street maps which have routing.... But the off road capability seems very poor.

ho uhm....

Cheers

[grahambb]

Have you had a peek at the latest v3 software from Oztopo?? They run on the Nuvi 1450/1490 easily. Also has the advantage of being able to use the SD card in other compatible units. Waypoints can be loaded to and from Mapsource software with ease.
I too have the Nuvi 1450...and just received the upgraded v3 of Oztopo. Available for $229 loaded on an SD card and with CD for computer use...plus covers all of Aus.
http://www.oztopo.com.au/
The amount of track detail for outback NT, WA and Qld is quite staggering....seems to show every thing that's on the ground.
Not familiar at all with where you're going...but may be worth a look.
Cheers
st

BTW, how do you plan / load tracks? (see my op). Do lots of waypoints crash your system?

[sirius Tas]

I just loaded over 7000 Trig points for Geocaching...all ran fine....though possibly a tad slower.
The advantage of using Oztopo is that it has been designed to run on Garmin units and with the Garmin software...so as yet I haven't had any issues.
Uploading/downloading of wpts is normally a breeze.
I've been using a Nuvi 1450 for in car use....transferring up to 4000 Geocaching points only takes a few seconds. Similar to loading onto other Garmin GPSr's.
The guys there are extremely helpful...so I'm sure they would help with any info you need.
Along with the vast majority of walking tracks....I expect that almost every vehicle track has also been shown.
The outback seems as if every station track/road has been marked.

Sorry..I missed a previous log by you.
To get around auto routing you could just set up a series of wpts along a specific route you plan to travel....download back into the Nuvi.
I guess the value of Oztopo is in its off road mapping which is why I originally purchased....walking tracks etc.
The Nuvi 1490 must have turn by turn software loaded for city use??(though it sounds as if you don't have it for some reason).....to use the additional Oztopo on the SD card...just a matter of ticking the Oztopo box in the map options...then all go....then switch back when near the city again...which is exactly what I do.

[grahambb]

Thanks for that. The Nuvi does have the ability, but the map also needs to be routable, not just the device capability.

Cheers