Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565
 
| I might try this. It looks like a great interface for navigation and the data sets are much more reasonable than the competition!
$40 for the software, $40 per data set (size dependent, ie California is 3 sets). map data is 1:250k, 1:100k, 1:24k, equivalent to TOPO!
http://spatialminds.com/
from a post on expeditionportal.com
" Originally Posted by dzzz View Post
I'll add a question too. How does this compare to topo USA?
I'll take a stab at this. I had Delorme Topo (2007 version I believe) for my Toughbook before Overland Navigator became available. Now that I have OJ, I don't even have it loaded. Once Craig has all the maps available for all the states, I think Topo is going to be in real trouble. Delorme has tried to make the software a 'jack of all trades" in my opinion, and added ton's of features I have no interest in at all. This makes setup and usage of basic functions overly complicated. Many features are not intuitive at all. The one advantage I think Topo does have over other map programs is their database for searching for named places/landmarks. Unfortunately for Topo, the excessive "feature-palooza" they have going on has caused everything to be pretty much menu format, which would be a nightmare trying to use on the move in a vehicle. Zooming, panning, etc. all require precise mouse clicks to interact with, not at all compatible with a codriver trying to interact with a laptop while on the move on alternative corregated roads or 1+ trails. This is where Overland Navigator reigns suppreme...the moving map format. I am just overwhelmed with how intuitive the front end interface is on Overland Navigator. Nice big buttons for fat fingers on a touchscreen bouncing down a corrugated road. Buttons all disappear when you arent' touching the screen or the mouse isn't moving, so you can see all the terrain features, and no screen space is taken up by "fluff". I love how panning works. just touch the screen and scan, then it automatically snaps back in a few seconds after you stop. you also have the choice of staying in panning mode. Once configured, the gps will auto connect as soon as you have a signal..and that is any standard serial nmea signal, which is 90% of the GPS units out there. if you lose a connection (say during repeated hibernation), a quick touch of the gps button on the screen revitalizes the gps signal.
Overland Navigator "seems" to be pretty resource friendly as well. I'm running mine with other apps, with no issues on my machine. Using a com port splitter program (I have xport), I have dedicated coms for overland navigator and my street navigation software (Iguidance), which I can run both concurrently sharing the same gps feed, and bounce back and forth on street versus topo moving maps all day long. Thats pretty much what day trail riders and expo travelers need. Perfect situational awareness. Intuitive moving map so I can use orienteering to validate my route off road is all I need. Topo is probably the better tool if you are doing trail/off road PLANNING, but once you leave the pavement, Overland Navigator is the hands down winner.
I know that Craig is working on some nice to have features based on beta tester requests. I can't wait to see how he can make the software even better. I'm stuck in Iraq right now, but can't wait to get back and take my Rover out with Overland Navigator and start trail riding with moving map. How cool is that?" |
Overland Navigator software
