Microsoft Streets And Trip

[+NWMOhunter]

I was at Target today and saw Microsoft Streets and Trip. I think they wanted $130 for it with the GPS antenna. I have a Lowrance iFinder Hunt, but haven't found a cable to connect it to my laptop.

 

We are taking a trip here in Jan, and would like a little better direction than what the iFinder offers. I'd like to have the auto-routing and as far as I have searched, the iFinder does not offer it with the MapCreate Topo software.

 

Would the Streets and Trip be worth the purchase? (of course I found it cheaper on eBay).

[+JohnnyVegas]

You would be better off the buy the software without the GPS. I think you can get it at Costco for about $15.00 after a rebate. If 4X4 sees this thread he might know were to get a cable. You might call Lowrance and ask them about a data cable.

 

Edit to add:

 

Lowrance has a Data cable part number PC-D15 @ $34.95

 

Lowaranc Accessories

Edited December 28, 2005 by JohnnyVegas

[+user13371]

The PC-DI5 mentioned above is for an earlier (non-waterproof) iFinder. The correct cable for the waterproof models (Hunt/Pro/H2O) is PC-DI7, LEI part number 119-04. Can be had from Lowrance and many other vendors:

 

http://www.google.com/search?q=119-04+PC-DI7+ifinder+price

 

If you can plan and print out your routes beforehand (as I usually do), you really don't need the cable or the MS software. I find Google Maps and Google Earth fill most of my computer-based mapping needs these days. I even use GPS Babel to load waypoints and other data directly to my Lowrance iFinder's SD card - haven't used MapCreate in some time.

 

If you really want real-time mapping and routing on your laptop, then MS-S&T is a pretty good program - but be sure to have a navigator. I find it pretty hard to use a laptop while driving

Edited December 28, 2005 by lee_rimar

[+Indotguy]

How useful any software is is a subjective matter but I never leave home on a cache run without a Pocket Streets and Trips map of the caches on my PDA.

[+Pez Tonto]

I use S&T, but without an attached GPS. As others have mentioned, you can get a copy without the GPS for less thena $20.

 

I use it for caching maps. You can export a set of cache coordinates from GSAK and import them as pushpins in S&T. You can do the same now with Goolge earth.

 

I also use S&T to create routes for filtering caches in GSAK. That's a topic of it's own that'sbeen discussed several times, so I'll skip the details. But S&T works very well with GSAK for finding caches along a route that you are traveling.