60 CSx Which maps and what software?

[cbro]

hi Guys,

I'm sure this has probably been said 1000 times before on this forum, but I can't seem to find the response, and I'm getting more and more confused.

I have a GPSMAP 60CSx.

1. I would like to put maps onto it so that when I go hiking the screen looks the same (or similar) to the topo maps we all grew up walking with.


2. I would like to create a map of a kayak race i'm doing, and mark in the shallow water and channel markers. This does not need to be acutally recognised by the GPS, but just visual changes on the screen when the water depth changes. (It's a long race in the dark!)

3. I would like to be able to use it in the car as a navigator if possible.

So my question to those who know is... What software can I get for free that is going to do the job, what software is worth investing in, and can I create my own maps/change existing ones to show detail that I need.

Thanks!
Christie.

[Michael]

Hi cbro

Free software? hmm, not sure!
Bought software, OziExplorer, no contest. http://www.oziexplorer.com/
Some free maps are available for Ozi. Otherwise, to view the traditional topos we grew up with in Ozi you have 2 choices:
a) scan your old maps, open the digital image with Ozi & calibrate it. Several A4 scans require merging to create the equivalent of an original topo.
b) buy profesionally scanned & calibrated maps from:
http://www.maptrax.com.au/

In answer to your points:
1. You cannot put those maps on a GPS60CSx.
a) You can buy & load the Garmin City Navigator maps
http://www.gpsaustralia.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=54_97&products_id=270
b) You can download the free Shonky Map (see http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2525) or the Tracks4Aust maps
http://www.gpsaustralia.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=159&products_id=390

2. You would need to create waypoints either by:
a) paddling the course in advance & marking each point in the GPS
b) or by viewing a map of the area in Ozi & creating waypoints then tranferring to the GPS
c) or buy
http://www.gpsaustralia.net/shop/product_info.php?cPath=54_97&products_id=278

3. http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=32

regards Michael

[stevez]

You've picked the right GPS receiver to do what you want.

For topo maps, I'd recommend Shonky maps (free download).
For in-car navigation, you'll be up for spending a bit of $$ (maybe $300 or more) for the commercial Garmin maps. You do get street by street routing with this, etc., but no voice prompts. I don't have these maps in my 60CSx, but I have seen it in operation. Works well.

For your water navigation requirements, Shonky maps will almost certainly have the waterways you are interested in. You'll have to add waypoints to indicate where your navigation hazards are yourself though.
The Shonky maps are based on the maps found here :- http://mapconnect.ga.gov.au/MapConnect/imf.jsp?site=MapConnect&accept_agreement=on

[Michael]

Hi cbro
Just out of interest, what sort of kayak race? & where?
River?
Whitewater?
Esturary?
Tidal?
Coastal?
Are the channel markers you mentioned navigation marks for large vessels? In which case they would be shown on most good maps/charts.

regards Michael

[cbro]

Thanks for the response, much clearer! :mighty

The kayak race is 111km, from Windsor to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury (yes, the hawkesbury classic). It starts as a river, but ends up about a 1km wide with big mud flats, which are very slow to pass over if they are under water. So the point of the GPS is to map them, and then avoid them (you can lose about 3kmh of boat speed in shallow water which is alot if your only doing 10kmh.) The race starts in the afternoon on a saturday arvo, and I expect to finish just before dawn on the sunday, so it's dark pretty much the whole time, and therefore much harder to see where the river is going. the Maps aren't crash hot, and every bend looks the same after about 8 hours, so it's quite advantagous to have a GPS telling you where you are! I will be able to paddle the river before the race. We break it up into 30km stages and train on them in the lead up. So can probably put tracks in then. I've done a couple of times before, so know the race, it's really only the last 40km that i want the GPS for, because of the mangroves and fatigue. I'm hoping the Blue charts go up river to about Wisemans ferry.

The second race is on the Murray river. It's 404km over 5 days. I won't have any chance to paddle it before the race (as i live in syd) so any maps of if telling me where i am are good too. Each 8hr stage is in daylight so that's a bonus, but it would still be good to know where i'm going!

Oh, and the channel markers are standard pole or bouy type. I would put them in as waypoints.

Can't think of anything else.

Oh, i spend quite a bit of time on esturarys around Sydney/Pittwater and as far south as Jervis and as far north as bundaberg QLD, so perhaps those Bluecharts aren't such a bad idea...

[VKC1SR]

I agree with the other comments.
Shonky Maps and OziExplorer are the go.
OziExplorer is well worth the investment.

I also run Navigator V7 for the routing bits and pieces.
What can I say?? Works a treat.
So what if you don't get some spanky voice telling you which way to go.
The CSX has enough different sound files that you will ones to alert you when you need to turn etc.
All comes down to how loud you have a car radio in the end.

All good fun!

[JohnMclean]

I agree with the other comments.
Shonky Maps and OziExplorer are the go.
OziExplorer is well worth the investment.

I also run Navigator V7 for the routing bits and pieces.
What can I say?? Works a treat.
So what if you don't get some spanky voice telling you which way to go.
The CSX has enough different sound files that you will ones to alert you when you need to turn etc.
All comes down to how loud you have a car radio in the end.

All good fun!

Ive been playing around with shonky and oziexplorer for the last few hours and i'll be buggered if I can workout how to make it work! Been searching and cant find anything conclusive to say that it actually works, im getting the impression its just for garmins?

NB: I am a gps newbie.

[Michael]

Ive been playing around with shonky and oziexplorer for the last few hours and i'll be buggered if I can workout how to make it work! Been searching and cant find anything conclusive to say that it actually works, im getting the impression its just for garmins?

Hi John
Shonky is just for Garmins, you can view/use it on a PC with Garmin Mapsource. It is a vector map system.

OziExplorer is a different type of navigation software that uses raster maps. See:
http://www.oziexplorer.com/

regards Michael

[Nicko]

John Mclean what are you trying to run ShonkyMaps on?

[Nev]

If you really want to use these with OziExplorer they can be converted with a bit of effort on your part.
See: http://www.gpsaustralia.net/forums/showpost.php?p=18718&postcount=107

Neville