At the moment deciding on your GPS system for walking involves an unsatisfactory compromise, especially if you want to walk in Europe.
Those selling GPS hardware offer a restricted range of maps, not necessarily covering the countries or scale that you want for trekking.
If you opt for a Smartphone/PDA then you have a wider choice of cheaper maps from the likes of Quo, Anquet as well as maps of the Alps from Kompass, Austrian Alpine Club, that will run on the Windows Mobile software. However you have an instrument that is not robust or waterproof.
Isn't it time we could buy a GPS with appropriate controls, rugged & water resistant with an operating system capable of using maps from all the main digital map, UK & European?
The Solution I'm working on right now (everything in place but not really tested in the field yet) is along these lines:
1. Motorola Defy http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/motorola-defy-review/ Had my eye on this since it was announced, and had one pre-ordered for a month before release. Should kill the mobile phone and gps for backup bird with one small, light and waterproof stone. And it passed my 'waterproof' test. Into a pint glass of water it went and survived it did. Installed Orux Maps.
2. Orux Maps http://www.oruxmaps.com/index_en.html Free. Allows you to use an Android phone like a traditional gps, you can store maps on the micro sd card, or use one of the online mapping services (if you have service). I'm getting my maps from Mobile atlas creator
3. Mobile Atlas Creator http://mobac.dnsalias.org/ Free. Will create stored maps for your gps phone, downloading them from the online mapping providers and storing them in a suitable format (I'm pretty sure this can be used to create gps files for 'normal' gps devices too, but not owning one, I've not really looked into it.) Including the OS maps from Bing (aka. Awesomesauce ) It is however, an absolute pain to use in terms of user interface.
4. Phone batteries get raped when gps is running, As I'm really getting this ready for a possible Continental Divide trail shot I'm playing with an external battery and solar panel to let me use it primarily, with map and compass relegated to backup. Again, not really tested in the field, but it all works
4. Phone batteries get raped when gps is running, As I'm really getting this ready for a possible Continental Divide trail shot I'm playing with an external battery and solar panel to let me use it primarily, with map and compass relegated to backup. Again, not really tested in the field, but it all works
If you're off on a longish walk, you'll meet all sorts of folks. If it was me, I'd be cautious about using phrases about batteries getting "raped". You never know - some people might take exception to it.
My point is, "You pays yer money...', and you DON'T get a choice if you have walking holidays in Europe. You get a robust unit, good battery life but a restricted range of expensive maps OR an unsuitable unit for the outdoors but a good range of cheap maps.
I can't believe it isn't feasible, & profitable for a unit to be made that has all the features of a good GPS but allows a the wide range of available cheap maps to be used on it.
Ok the unit would probably be more expensive, so those only walking in the UK would not want to buy it. But for those who do walks & treks in Europe it would open up availability to a large range of maps/ countries.
The unit would have a market in Europe where anyone doing longer treks needs access to maps from a number of countries, for example even a 5 day stretch of the E5 route entails maps from Germany, Austria & Italy.
in place but not really tested in the field yet) is along these lines: 1. Motorola Defy http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/18/motorola-defy-review/ Had my eye on this since it was announced, and had one pre-ordered for a month before release. Should kill the mobile phone and gps for backup bird with one small, light and waterproof stone. And it passed my 'waterproof' test. Into a pint glass of water it went and survived it did. Installed Orux Maps.
I'd go and start looking at whether digital mapping is available at all for many European countries, before you starting laying the blame at the GPS companies...
They want to seel as many units as possible, so it makes sense to strike deals with as many mapping authorities as possible. If they don't they're foolish.
So my guess would be that they provide mapping for those countries prepared to provide digital mapping. Some countries won't release mapping, I'd guess, or will only release to 'indigenous providers'.
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