Digital Maps on your PC and in your GPS

What's the difference and Why do I need both?

Many people who purchase a GPS expect to see a map on the GPS screen and are very disappointed to find that the comes with little more than a basemap. The big question then is can I get maps in my GPS and how do I transfer my routes & trails to the unit?

It's all very confusing; let's see if we can help by explaining in simple terms where both Maps for your PC & GPS fit in the equation.

If the UK GPS user had a wish list; it would be to have a GPS that would allow us to have a full OS map in the screen and then be able to see any routes or trails overlaid on the on-screen map. Then of course we would want to be able to create Waypoints & Routes on some clever software on our PC's and transfer the data to the GPS easily, and finally we would want to be able to access routes , trails and Geocaches from Internet sites like Walkingworld, Geocaching.com or Google Earth and upload them to the GPS too - it's not too much to ask is it?

Where are we up to now? Well I think we're almost there with one final obstacle to resolve; let me explain.

Most good GPS units now offer access to OS mapping at both 50k & 25k scale (generally on plug & play SD cards) - we think of these maps as Maps for your GPS - more info on OS maps for GPS is available on our GPS Information Page.

Its pretty standard now for a GPS to come with a USB cable in the box allowing easy superfast transfer of date from PC to GPS - many GPS are now Geocaching friendly offering direct transfer of caches from Geocaching.com to the GPS, wireless cache sharing and the latest option is for an inbuilt camera for the geotagging of images to caches.

There's plenty of good Digital Mapping Software about like Anquet, Memory-Map and Quo that allows the user to route plan on the PC and then easily transfer using the GPS cable direct to the GPS for use in the field - this type of software is thought of as Maps on your PC

GPS users who surf the Internet will would be amazed at the amount GPS friendly information there is out there on the net for walkers and cyclists. Sites like Walkingworld offer thousands of walks with clear directions and GPS files, a growing trend is for Route sharing sites without the safety checks you might expect from Walkingworld but at no cost.

Many companies only supply GPS files in the universal GPS format .gpx.files if you think you might want to download routes & files from the Internet then make sure the software you buy easily communicate with the maximum number of file formats - Quo for instance will communicate in 103 different file formats

However the one issue that is unresolved for the handheld outdoors GPS user; with a few exceptions (users who use mobile devices) we have to purchase our maps twice. Once for the PC for route planning,printing of maps and to easily transfer data to a GPS, and then again to have a map in our GPS - effectively buying our maps twice and paying copyright fees to Ordnance Survey twice. Alas until OS take a more reasonable attitude to this issue we are stuck with the Status Quo.

Making Choices?

Most walkers tend to prefer a handheld GPS because it offers the widest choice of GPS features, are easy to use, and allow the user to easily transfer waypoints, routes,and tracks to and from their PC using clever Digital Mapping Software like Anquet, Memory-Map and Quo

However this type of software does not allow you to transfer maps to the GPS unit, for that you will need Maps for your GPS. This is a huge area of growth with most GPS manufacturers offering a wide catalog of worldwide digital maps many including Points of Interest data & Turn by Turn directions.

The end result of this is that to get the maximum from a handheld unit you will need both Digital Maps (for route planning ect) and the map of your choice for the GPS.

There is one option to get round buying your maps twice and that is to consider using a Pocket PC with an integrated GPS, many of these systems when combined with mobile software applications offered by most good mapping software systems like Anquet, Memory-Map and Quo allow you to transfer not only GPS data like routes but the map and deliver auto navigation software and voice prompts.

This type of GPS offers less GPS features than a handheld GPS, few are waterproof, and there can be questions over battery life in the field but can offer the holy grail a full OS map in the screen.

Our advice therefore is to think about how your intended use of GPS combines and supports your outdoor use, if your use is mainly on the hill with occasional use in car then a handheld GPS is most appropriate. However if a full OS map on screen is your priority and you're not too worried about the GPS features then a PND may fit the bill. One thing you can be sure of is whichever hardware you choose you will need Maps on your PC.

When buying digital mapping you need to decide on the features you need and make sure that the operation of the system is reasonably priced and user-friendly.

The big issue is affordability; once again this is down to copyright issues. Here in the UK if we had the choice I'm sure we would all prefer to use Explorer Maps at 25k scale alas copyright fees reflect this popularity.

On the whole the cost of 50k or Landranger mapping is very reasonable, so when making choices we recommend you purchase whole GB in 50k mapping (cost from £100 to £200) and then just purchase the 25k mapping for your favorite walking area (whole GB is possible but prohibitive appox £1800)

When it comes to choosing between the different mapping software houses the issues are not the maps as they are all offering the same OS mapping content; the issues are around usability, cost and easy access to the most popular 25k mapping.

The most cost effective way to access the 25k Explorer mapping you require is to download it in small chunks direct to your PC from the suppliers website. How you access this mapping is key

Research cost before deciding which system you plump for as mapping prices vary widely; all mapping companies pay their licence fees by the sq kilometer so you can compare prices between mapping companies by checking out the price quoted per sqk