Hudson
Well-known member
Had some time this vacation to play with some cool map software while I plotted some routes from Seattle to Northern Cal and back. I first tried playing with Mapsource, but I have found it really tedious to map out a custom route, although transferring to the Garmin is pretty easy.
Also, scored a Spot Messenger II during the holidays, but was disappointed to calculate how much $$ the annual fee plus tracking options will run ($150, plus the initial cost of the Messenger). So I found a couple of alternatives that, while not perfect, proved to be a great free alternative to Spot if you want to have the ability for others to track your route.
First up, the new Bing Maps is simply awesome! (Full disclosure, I work for Microsoft). I wasn't aware of its new features until SportsGuy and I started talking about getting the PNW crew together for a tutorial on how to use mapping software for the GPS. While I know my way around Mapsource, I don't really like it all that much, and I've used a whole bucket of cuss words after trying to retrace custom routes.
By example, Panman has a great little route up to La Conner that hits some nice twisty back roads. I spent 30 minutes in Mapsource trying to plot an accurate map, with lots of errors and restarts. In Bing, it took me 5 minutes: I simply typed in the start and end points, and then easily dragged the standard route along the backgroads I wanted it to track.
When Bing had recalculated the map to match my custom route, I then clicked the "Send to GPS" option at the end of the driving directions. (You are prompted to install the free Garmin Communicator web program, if you haven't done this already, do so before programming your route). It transferred it to the 2730 perfectly, I just had to plug in the USB cord to my computer!
Way easier than Mapsource, plus I could use the aeriel, topography, and 3D options of Bing to see what the route actually looked like. Very cool. I will be using Bing to plan custom routes from now on, and SportsGuy and I are working on putting together a presentation for the local PNW crew of how to use this online tool. You can quickly program a custom route on Bing Maps online, and download the route with one click to any Garmin GPS that supports downloadable routes. My 2730 qualifies, as does a newly acquired 755t only $199 at costco, and the whole Zumo family).
Other online tools like Everytrail also support the ability to download routes, but you have to convert files to to GPX, then import them into Mapsource. If you are on the road and without a laptop, Bing is a much better and more accessible tool if you can find a hotel's computer to go online (just need to have a USB cable to hook your Garmin too). Only bummer is that Bing doesn't yet appear to allow you to save a route online and share it, like you can at Everytrail or Google maps (or if they do, I don't know how too use the feature).
Trackr is the other really cool app. It requires a cell phone or laptop pc with a GPS receiver. Most new smartphones (like my Samsung Omnia) and all of the Iphones have GPS, as well as a few cheap cell phones. Anyway, Trackr essentially provides the same tracking feature as Spot does. You register for an online account, download the trackr application direct to your cell phone, and then turn on the track feature to begin tracking.
Your phone receives a datapoint from the satellite and every 15 seconds or so (configurable) your phone sends the data to Trackr's servers, which logs your position in your online Trackr account. Just like Spot, but totally free (your cell phone plan may incur charges; I have an unlimited data plan so it makes no difference). Trackr keeps logging the route until you turn off the tracker in the phone. Trackr allows you to control who can see your route, and tracks you in real time. You can even put a real time map of your location on your website, to allow friends and family to follow your route. It logs the route so you can save it and share it later, perfect for creating a library of favorite routes. (You can also do this with many GPS units now, but it is not automated the way trackr is).
However, trackr adds one other super cool feature. If you and a buddy are logged in and tracking, you can view your buddy's location on your cellphone (assuming you have a screen). This works incredibly well on rides where you might become separated (ahem, Panman). Unlike Spot, there is no ability to send messages to emergency personnel or family, so it is NOT a replacement for Spot's great emergency locator and help features. But a free way to avoid paying the $50 annual fee for tracking. My wife and I used it when we took the kids shopping, so I'd know where she was when I finished.
I used trackr this week to track me from Yakima to Snoqualmie, and it did a great job. It took a few tries on the install; you first have to change the setting in your phone to permit it to use the GPS to track you (phone companies disable this except for 911). Once activated, it took a moment to pick up a signal, I had to drive about 400 feet before it started to track me. However, once it found me, it worked great.
I think one drawback of trackr is that you need cell phone coverage in order to send the data back to the trackr server, which could be a challenge in areas with poor coverage. However, my route from the Dalles had some obvious dead spots but the final tracked route had no gaps, so it must have filled in route between any cell phone coverage gaps.
One thing you need to know: it tracked and displayed my speed at various locations, something which would pose privacy and potential legal issues if you don't follow the speed limit, get pulled over, or get in an accident. I think you can control the data displayed to others, and you can control the identity of who sees this, but just be aware it is tracked and potentially available to others. Finally, one problem I had was the impact on batter life of my cell phone. Between the 15 second data send settings and the fact my phone would not turn off its screen during the time I had the GPS tracking on, it can eat up a cellphone battery much more quickly. However, a car charger rigged up to the battery would easily solve that problem.
Try both out, would love to hear comments about your experiences.
Also, scored a Spot Messenger II during the holidays, but was disappointed to calculate how much $$ the annual fee plus tracking options will run ($150, plus the initial cost of the Messenger). So I found a couple of alternatives that, while not perfect, proved to be a great free alternative to Spot if you want to have the ability for others to track your route.
First up, the new Bing Maps is simply awesome! (Full disclosure, I work for Microsoft). I wasn't aware of its new features until SportsGuy and I started talking about getting the PNW crew together for a tutorial on how to use mapping software for the GPS. While I know my way around Mapsource, I don't really like it all that much, and I've used a whole bucket of cuss words after trying to retrace custom routes.
By example, Panman has a great little route up to La Conner that hits some nice twisty back roads. I spent 30 minutes in Mapsource trying to plot an accurate map, with lots of errors and restarts. In Bing, it took me 5 minutes: I simply typed in the start and end points, and then easily dragged the standard route along the backgroads I wanted it to track.
When Bing had recalculated the map to match my custom route, I then clicked the "Send to GPS" option at the end of the driving directions. (You are prompted to install the free Garmin Communicator web program, if you haven't done this already, do so before programming your route). It transferred it to the 2730 perfectly, I just had to plug in the USB cord to my computer!
Way easier than Mapsource, plus I could use the aeriel, topography, and 3D options of Bing to see what the route actually looked like. Very cool. I will be using Bing to plan custom routes from now on, and SportsGuy and I are working on putting together a presentation for the local PNW crew of how to use this online tool. You can quickly program a custom route on Bing Maps online, and download the route with one click to any Garmin GPS that supports downloadable routes. My 2730 qualifies, as does a newly acquired 755t only $199 at costco, and the whole Zumo family).
Other online tools like Everytrail also support the ability to download routes, but you have to convert files to to GPX, then import them into Mapsource. If you are on the road and without a laptop, Bing is a much better and more accessible tool if you can find a hotel's computer to go online (just need to have a USB cable to hook your Garmin too). Only bummer is that Bing doesn't yet appear to allow you to save a route online and share it, like you can at Everytrail or Google maps (or if they do, I don't know how too use the feature).
Trackr is the other really cool app. It requires a cell phone or laptop pc with a GPS receiver. Most new smartphones (like my Samsung Omnia) and all of the Iphones have GPS, as well as a few cheap cell phones. Anyway, Trackr essentially provides the same tracking feature as Spot does. You register for an online account, download the trackr application direct to your cell phone, and then turn on the track feature to begin tracking.
Your phone receives a datapoint from the satellite and every 15 seconds or so (configurable) your phone sends the data to Trackr's servers, which logs your position in your online Trackr account. Just like Spot, but totally free (your cell phone plan may incur charges; I have an unlimited data plan so it makes no difference). Trackr keeps logging the route until you turn off the tracker in the phone. Trackr allows you to control who can see your route, and tracks you in real time. You can even put a real time map of your location on your website, to allow friends and family to follow your route. It logs the route so you can save it and share it later, perfect for creating a library of favorite routes. (You can also do this with many GPS units now, but it is not automated the way trackr is).
However, trackr adds one other super cool feature. If you and a buddy are logged in and tracking, you can view your buddy's location on your cellphone (assuming you have a screen). This works incredibly well on rides where you might become separated (ahem, Panman). Unlike Spot, there is no ability to send messages to emergency personnel or family, so it is NOT a replacement for Spot's great emergency locator and help features. But a free way to avoid paying the $50 annual fee for tracking. My wife and I used it when we took the kids shopping, so I'd know where she was when I finished.
I used trackr this week to track me from Yakima to Snoqualmie, and it did a great job. It took a few tries on the install; you first have to change the setting in your phone to permit it to use the GPS to track you (phone companies disable this except for 911). Once activated, it took a moment to pick up a signal, I had to drive about 400 feet before it started to track me. However, once it found me, it worked great.
I think one drawback of trackr is that you need cell phone coverage in order to send the data back to the trackr server, which could be a challenge in areas with poor coverage. However, my route from the Dalles had some obvious dead spots but the final tracked route had no gaps, so it must have filled in route between any cell phone coverage gaps.
One thing you need to know: it tracked and displayed my speed at various locations, something which would pose privacy and potential legal issues if you don't follow the speed limit, get pulled over, or get in an accident. I think you can control the data displayed to others, and you can control the identity of who sees this, but just be aware it is tracked and potentially available to others. Finally, one problem I had was the impact on batter life of my cell phone. Between the 15 second data send settings and the fact my phone would not turn off its screen during the time I had the GPS tracking on, it can eat up a cellphone battery much more quickly. However, a car charger rigged up to the battery would easily solve that problem.
Try both out, would love to hear comments about your experiences.
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