Question Re: Maps

[+egami]

Ok, so I am going to start looking more seriously here at purchasing a GPS soon. What considerations do I need to be aware of regarding mapping software?

 

I don't know what maps geocachers tend to use.

 

I don't really know how expensive various maps are if they don't come in a package deal.

 

I don't know what size storage I need to buy (maybe dependent on how much map data I want to load at a time).

 

I'll be a relatively casual geocacher and mostly limited to central US (midwest / great plains), but I'd like to know what considerations I should be thinking about.

 

Thanks!

[tdy49]

A few years ago I compared the maps of magellan and garmin and at the time I liked

garmins mapsource better. I had played with a friends mapsource for a while but bought

the magellan, just to compare, used it for a day and took it back. I haven't used their newer

products yet but unless magellan made great strides in their PC system my vote goes to garmin.

also i like the way you can take your downloaded tracks and waypoints and view them on google earth

with just 2 mouse clicks

[+JohnnyVegas]

I have used Magellan and Garmin sofrware. There is no perfect map software from Magellan or Garmin, the newer Magellan software is much better than there older product. THe one thing I have not really liked about Garmins topo software is the lack of street names, the Magellan topo software even includes the name of minor streets, the Garmin topo software only includes major hwy and road names.

 

As far as how much memory will you need, this depends on haw much of an area you plan to caver in a day. THis also depends on if you are using Topo of Steet software, topo software eats up a lot more memory than street software. Some GPSrs have the option of expanding the GPS memory. It does not take long to load a new map into a GPS so unless you cover a very large area in a single day most any Mapping GPS cover your needs.

 

Which software you buy kind of depends on were you are going to do your geocaching, for urban caches you would not need the topograhic detail of topo software. If you are planning on doing lots of hiking you would be better off with topo software.

 

One of the best deals on a new GPS now is the Magellan explorist 210, 22mb of mamory, multiple cache file storage, USB interface (Some older GPSr only offer a serial port) and Auto navigation with Magellans direct route software. You can find these for about $150.00 on line.

[+egami]

Thanks for the input....is there a Garmin map that contains that level of detail you mention regarding streets? Maybe something other than topo?