Maps For Explorist 500

[+Old Sailor]

I would like to hear anyones thoughts on maps for the 500; ie: direct route and topo canada as that's where I live ( Ontario ). Looking for detail on streets and so forth.......which would you choose.

 

p.s. : love my 500

[luvlasvegas]

I'm also from Ontario. What what I gather, the topo map does not have a 'route' that can be created and does not have as much POI's as the DR ones.

 

I want to have both a DR map and Topo map of my trips loaded onto my SD card. I guess switching between the 2 isn't a big deal.

[+Old Sailor]

Ok, I've got topo that I used with my meridian marine which is now on ebay, just can't decide if I also want the direct for added features.

[+D0T-C0M]

I have both DR and Topo Canada and For canada (at least in eastern canada), topo canada is much more detailed and has much more POIs than DirectRoute. I recommend it over direct route. Of course if you want routing capabilities than you have no choice to go with direct route.

Edited July 27, 2005 by D0T-C0M

[+JohnnyVegas]

You can set up a route be entering the waypoints in the order that you want them to show up with Topo 3D, But if will not do auto route.

[+Hard Oiler]

I'm down your end of Ontario too, with an Explorist 500 and have both Topo Canada and DirectRoute NA loaded and use both. I originally had Topo Canada for my Meri Gold and got DirectRoute mainly for the US coverage not thinking I'd use the routing feature. As it turns out I use routing a lot and like the feature to get from cache to cache but then switch to Topo Canada for the actual search. Reason is that although the road coverage in this area is pretty much identical, Topo Canada has all the rivers, creeks and streams and a few other topographic features that DirectRoute doesn't. I'd been caught too many times being on the wrong side of the water - it doesn't happen much any more unless I'm caching across the border where I have to use DirectRoute.

 

There are a lot more Canadian POI's on Topo Canada (DirectRoute around here sends you to the US to fill up with gas!) - so you won't find Tim Hortons in Kingsville on DirectRoute but you will with TopoCanada and DR will have all your roads but none of your creeks/lakes except, of course, Lake Erie!

 

If you're interested in screen shots comparing them in your area send me a note.

[+Old Sailor]

Thanks everyone, I think I'll stick with topo then ......have to see how much my meridian marine sells for on ebay, then I'll think about direct.

[+Jhwk]

All right, I've seen it twice now.

 

What the heck is a "Tim Horton"?

[+Old Sailor]

It's by far the best coffee and donut shop around. Actually it was started by the retired Toronto Maple Leaf player...."Tim Horton". Now, Wendy's owns the francise.