Hi Brett (et al), Firstly, this is my first post on an OSM forum, so apologies
if I get anything wrong (etiquette, format, etc.). These forums are somewhat
less sophisticated than others on which I've contributed. IMHO, you'll find
most of the data on OSM to exhibit a car-bias - it's the nature of the beast,
because that's where the interest of most contributors lie (myself included).
But there is some data of use for cyclists and walkers, which continues to grow
thanks to the efforts of contributors such as yourself. I've used the OSM data
for production of Magellan custom (detail) maps for use with my eXplorist XL,
primarily when motorcycle touring, and so have become somewhat familiar with
its content. But I recently included cycleways and pedestrian paths, based on
requests on another forum with which I'm involved. I cannot comment/help
regarding Garmin issues, but am most certainly willing to discuss the same
items at a more conceptual level - for example the display of map detail at
various zoom levels. I've been through that whole saga (although, again, based
about road-use) with the Magellan maps. I know you're adding detail yourself,
but if you find what is available on OSM to be insufficient, Brett, you might
try MapConnect at Geoscience Australia
(http://www.ga.gov.au/topographic-mapping/mapconnect.html) - I'm told their
tracks and trails enjoy better coverage than OSM, and can be downloaded in
various file formats (I use *.shp for vector maps).
As for contours, I abandoned them because they slowed down my GPSr
dramatically, but you, of course, will have a greater need for them on foot.
Newer devices than my XL (circa 2006) might cater for that type of data more
adequately. If you're looking for an alternative to tethering your iPhone, some
of the SIM providers offer good prepaid data plans, but consider the
performance of the network (Telstra, Optus, etc.) before proceeding. I use
Amaysim (Optus network) - 10GB for $100 is valid for 12mths - with a wireless
hotspot modem FWIW. Anyway, good luck with your mapping. Get in touch if you
think there might be something with which I might be able to assist.
Cheers,Paul.
Message: 5
Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:15:09 +1030
From: Brett Russell brussell...@live.com.au
To: OSM Australia mailing list talk-au@openstreetmap.org
Subject: [talk-au] Introduction Brett Russell (Ent)
Message-ID: snt130-w2492c0f89b65e336d14557af...@phx.gbl
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hi All
First the hardware
PC = ASUS NX90 (I7) running Windows Home Premium 64 bit version.
GPS = Garmin 62s
Phone = iPhone
Software
Ok, I have just installed the java development kit. This must be a different
version to the Java I installed to get JOSM working. Now when I type java in
any directory it is acknowledge. So thanks guys progress has been made.
I have downloaded mkgmap before and it appears to at least be there when I
run java mkgmap. So me thinks I have the basics there.
splitter-r200 is downloaded
Purpose
I am a bushwalking in Tasssie and have been using Garmins maps and have
become rather dissatisfied with them. They have good detail on lakes but
nothing on walking tracks and the mountains are in the wrong place and even
have the wrong names. Shonky is missing detail but was a great freebie.
I am getting into more off track walking so I am hoping to use OSM to develop
maps. A key feature missing from Garmin Maps (tracks aside) is land use such
as clearings/heath. It is remarkably easy from the satellite maps to spot
potential camp sites so be great to mark them for looking at on the ground.
I have been playing with the IMG file for Tasmania from OSM website, both
routable and standard and like what I see but they are optimised for vehicles
with foot tracks not showing unto at the 300 metre scale is zoomed to. As do
mountains. This means you are navigating at the micro level when these
features should be at the macro level. Huts is another item that needs to
show up on macro level.
At the moment I have Contour 5M on my Garmin and load it over OSM. This is a
reasonable solution but looking for a more elegant one. Especially one that
will enable me to use Garmin Basecamp at homebase with contours. Hence
lookimg to combine contours with OSM. I hear someone say, cyclemap. They
are rather non existent for Tassie and also very slow to update. Also on
website bombarded me with requests for donations I gave up downloading
anything.
I have tried my iPhone running various app that use tiles and honestly the
vector mapping system kills tiles. The vector data is up-to-date while tiles
can be weeks behind and massive download sizes at the finer scales. Tiles
seem to me rather paper based logic while vector is jet age. Now time to dig
I foxhole and hide from the flame throwers.
Because the map data is so basic for Tassie I am
