Lets Talk GPS
-
PolarisMike
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:50 pm
Lets Talk GPS
Was thinking about installing some sort of GPS on my sled. Anyone on here done this? I have seen where some companies have a loaded memory card for different areas that you just insert into your gps and it shows all the snowmobile trails in Wisconsin. So lets see what you guys have for mounting brackets, gps, software etc to do this. Thanks!
Mike I have a hand held GPS that I take with me. It has tracking on it so I can clear it when I leave and record where I have gone. It also records time moving, time stopped, top speed and elevation. If for some reason I need to find my way back I can use the reecorded information to find my way back, I can also download the recorded data to a computer and create a map from it. When I was looking into this last year, although I could find a few pieces of software that claimed they had snowmobile trails on them, when it came down to it they did not. In fact I couldn't find any software that actually had this for Wisconsin. If you have actually seen software like this I would be interested in knowing about it.
Having the GPS seemed like a great idea when I got it last year. If I was to do it again I wouldn't. It wasn't till after I had it that I realized how good the signage is on the trails, and between the signs and the maps the need of a GPS is questionable. I've put thousands of miles on riding around Oconto, Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas counties and can't say that as long as I had a map and an understanding of where the towns were in the area that a GPS would have done me any good. The other thing that you might want to consider is that the trails that are on private land can change from year to year and getting updated maps could be a problem.
Having the GPS seemed like a great idea when I got it last year. If I was to do it again I wouldn't. It wasn't till after I had it that I realized how good the signage is on the trails, and between the signs and the maps the need of a GPS is questionable. I've put thousands of miles on riding around Oconto, Forest, Langlade, Oneida and Vilas counties and can't say that as long as I had a map and an understanding of where the towns were in the area that a GPS would have done me any good. The other thing that you might want to consider is that the trails that are on private land can change from year to year and getting updated maps could be a problem.
I use a [URL="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CS ... B000CSQRYS"]Garmin GPSmap 76CSX[/URL] and I just bungee it to my handlebars. It works really great. It has all sorts of maps that you can buy and download: Roads & Recreation, Topo Maps, U.S. Recreational Lakes with Fishing Hot Spots. And it does the tracks/bread crumbs too. One of these days, I'm going post my GPS trail maps.
The nice thing about the tracks, is that you can see corners and turns coming up, which really helps in areas that could use more signage. And that's one reason I like to ride what I groom. Because it's a different perspective from a rider point of view, versus a groomer point of view. For one, you're going a little bit faster and you're not sitting up as high.
I tried some snowmobile trail map software from U.S. Trail Maps and it was just terrible. I loaded the software onto my brand new top of the line Dell computer, and the software was just sluggish. It wouldn't run worth a flip. Very slow and cumbersome. And it was their "pro version" and cost like $130. But not only was it slow and cumbersome, the trails were WRONG too!! So, I probably wouldn't trust their memory cards either.
As previously stated by Toolman. The trails are constantly changing. There some trails on private land that change almost every year due to logging and even some on public land too.
I will try to get some of my tracks posted and perhaps my GPS data itself.
When I rode yesterday, I didn't take my GPS. But I figured what the heck, I've already made this loop twice this year, and within the last couple of weeks. But as you know, yesterday morning everything was WHITE and there were no groomer tracks or snowmobile tracks in front of me. I ended up getting 'off trail' twice by missing turns that should probably be marked a little better. And I know I wasn't the only one, because I saw another track where the same person went off the trail at both the same places I did.
But when I rode that with the GPS on my handlebars, that didn't happen.
The nice thing about the tracks, is that you can see corners and turns coming up, which really helps in areas that could use more signage. And that's one reason I like to ride what I groom. Because it's a different perspective from a rider point of view, versus a groomer point of view. For one, you're going a little bit faster and you're not sitting up as high.
I tried some snowmobile trail map software from U.S. Trail Maps and it was just terrible. I loaded the software onto my brand new top of the line Dell computer, and the software was just sluggish. It wouldn't run worth a flip. Very slow and cumbersome. And it was their "pro version" and cost like $130. But not only was it slow and cumbersome, the trails were WRONG too!! So, I probably wouldn't trust their memory cards either.
As previously stated by Toolman. The trails are constantly changing. There some trails on private land that change almost every year due to logging and even some on public land too.
I will try to get some of my tracks posted and perhaps my GPS data itself.
When I rode yesterday, I didn't take my GPS. But I figured what the heck, I've already made this loop twice this year, and within the last couple of weeks. But as you know, yesterday morning everything was WHITE and there were no groomer tracks or snowmobile tracks in front of me. I ended up getting 'off trail' twice by missing turns that should probably be marked a little better. And I know I wasn't the only one, because I saw another track where the same person went off the trail at both the same places I did.
But when I rode that with the GPS on my handlebars, that didn't happen.
[QUOTE=Johnnie;7248]A snowmobiler stopped at the bar this year, who had a hand held GPS unit with all the WI snowmobile trails on it. The little I looked at it, it seemed impressive.[/QUOTE]
I'd like to find out more about that, from what I have seen and the samples that I was given from several software companies the snowmobile trails were basically non exsistant. I had seen on a bulletin board last year that there were some people who had put together maps of the trails by riding them and mapping them. I remember one person saying he had all of northern WI mapped. Anyway, if you see anything like that again, please ask if they bought it! If so I would love to know where.
I'd like to find out more about that, from what I have seen and the samples that I was given from several software companies the snowmobile trails were basically non exsistant. I had seen on a bulletin board last year that there were some people who had put together maps of the trails by riding them and mapping them. I remember one person saying he had all of northern WI mapped. Anyway, if you see anything like that again, please ask if they bought it! If so I would love to know where.
-
PolarisMike
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:50 pm
Thanks for the replies guys. The one I saw was the U.S. trailmaps. It is on an SD card and you can get one for Wisconsin. I thought they had one for Wisconsin/U.P. ,, but I don't see it on the site. It is [Link Remove] and you go to the products section and it says Magellan snowmobile and then there is another snowmobile one that I believe works for Garmin also, but only certain units. Is this the same one you were talking about Jim? I agree, with trails changing a recent map is the best way, I just thought it would be cool to route new areas that I am not that familiar with, plus it would be a nice backup to the paper maps. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Yes. That's the same company I was talking about. It looks like they don't offer the software (I bought) any longer. That's one of the reasons I removed the link. I didn't want a link to what I felt was a product that wasn't up to par. I'm sure for the most part, the MAJOR trails are right, but there were parts that were wrong. But I guess the electronic maps are just like the paper maps-- they should be used as GUIDE. Because I think even some of the paper maps are wrong too! That's why I like following my GPS tracks. They are RIGHT ON! :thumbup:
I just got off the phone with Eric from U.S. Trail Maps. You know they are based out of Weston, WI. I probably should of called them back in 2005 when I had problems with their software, instead of just now. But I figured I should be fair, and give them a call, and let them know I was telling people about my bad experience with their software, and give them a chance to defend their product(s). Eric did say they had some performance problems when the software first came out with the first version (which I had). He did say, they had some performance updates for that. He also said they are working on a new updated Trail Plan software that should be out within a month. He also said that the SD memory cards work with Magellan GPS's ONLY. I guess they've got a 'partnership' with them. The Trail Plan software, however will work with Garmin GPS's. I also invited Eric to our little snow covered corner of the world wide web. And I may even try the new updated product, when it becomes available.