Sunday, March 18, 2012

Free MyTrails map now covers 37 states

MyTrailsJim Bensman’s free MyTrails map for Garmin receivers now covers 37 states, including the entire eastern US. Pretty cool for a project that started with just St. Louis area trails! This goes to show what one person can do, and it makes it even harder for me to understand why Garmin hasn’t put out a better trail product, given the massive amount of trail data found at Garmin Connect.

This is a transparent trail map, so it won’t block other maps enabled on your device. In the image at left from Asheville, NC’s popular Bent Creek area, some trails (gray) are on the underlying Garmin Topo US 2008 product, while others (red) only appear on MyTrails.

To get the MyTrails map, simply follow the link above and download and run the .exe files. Once they run, the map will be available in MapSource or BaseCamp. While the trails aren’t routable, it is nice to have additional information available on your GPS while out in the field.

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Garmin Rails to Trails maps

Garmin-Rails-to-TrailsGarmin has partnered with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) to offer six regional mapping packages at $9.99 a pop. You can preview coverage at RTC’s TrailLink site (which offers free .gpx downloads, BTW!). Here are links to the Garmin maps:

 

Via  Jake’s Journal

DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w review

DeLorme Earthmate PN-60wThe Delorme Earthmate PN-60w updates the PN-40 with improved battery life, expanded internal memory, activities (similar to Garmin’s profiles) and the ability to link wirelessly to other PN-60w’s and the SPOT Satellite Communicator. Power management is one of the biggest improvements, as short battery life was a common complaint about the PN-40.

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Garmin Approach S1 golf wristwatch

Garmin-Approach-S1

UPDATE: Check out my Garmin Approach S1 resource page, with links to hands on reviews and more.

Garmin has announced a Forerunner-like sportswatch for golfers, the Approach S1. Listing for $249.99, the S1 will offer golfers an easy to carry device that provides basic stats, rather than full maps of courses. S1 users will be able to display the (constantly updated) distance to the front, back and middle of greens for 14,000 preloaded courses in the US and Canada.

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TOPO Afghanistan

Topo-AfghanistanTOPO Afghanistan is being announced today by North Hollywood Cartography, an authorized Garmin MPC developer. This is actually the third-generation of the product; the first was released through GPS File Depot. The next iteration included the entire country. The newest version adds a digital elevation model for 3D viewing in BaseCamp and compatible Garmin receivers. Geographic points of interest including wadi (arroyos/dry creek beds), summits, kariz and settlements.

Sales will be through government distributors and to individuals affiliated with the ISAF or other government users.

While there are military issue GPS receivers being used in Afghanistan, I’ve been impressed by the number of comments and questions I’ve heard over the years from troops using their own standard, commercially available handheld units in the field.

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Garmin Edge 800

Garmin-Edge-800

The Garmin Edge 800 is Garmin’s latest cycling GPS, updating recent models with a touchscreen interface, and the ability to load Garmin custom maps and BirdsEye imagery. Having used both touch screen and traditional devices extensively on my mountain bike though, I’ve come to prefer the ones with buttons. It’s just easier to change screens on the fly – you quickly learn which buttons to press, so you can do this without taking your eyes off the road or trail.

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Garmin Forerunner 210

Garmin Forerunner 210 reviewThe Garmin Forerunner 210 is a new mid-range sportswatch that adds some features to the entry-level Forerunner 110, including added pace functionality. The 210 also retains the small size of its younger brother, and uses the same button-driven interface, avoiding the touch bezel often complained about on the 405 series.

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Garmin BirdsEye Select brings raster topos to Europe; US to follow?

BirdsEye-Select-DeutschlandWell, well. I think I missed the story in Waypoints when I said BirdsEye goes international. What’s new is not the international coverage; it’s the BirdsEye Select products that bring detailed raster topo imagery to Garmin handhelds.

The UK has had such imagery for awhile, and I’m not sure what all the differences are between the Garmin GB Discoverer series (which offers both 1:50K and 1:25K scale maps) and the Garmin Select product at 1:25K. Perhaps some of our friends across the pond can chime in.

What’s interesting to me though, is this bringing us closer to seeing a quality USGS topo product from Garmin. At least I’m hoping that’s the plan.

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DeLorme Earthmate PN-60

DeLorme PN-60The DeLorme Earthmate PN-60 updates the PN-40 with improved battery life, expanded internal memory, and activities (similar to Garmin’s profiles). Power management is one of the biggest improvements, as short battery life was a common complaint with the PN-40.

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Garmin chirp wireless geocaching beacon

UPDATE: Now available at Amazon and REI.com

The Garmin chirp was announced this morning — a wireless geocaching beacon designed for multi-stage caches, although it seems to cry out for other uses as well.

Slightly larger than a quarter and weighing in at 1 ounce, the chirp has a one-year battery life and a range of 32 feet. It can transmit hints or coordinates for the next stage of a cache

Wireless-enabled Garmin Dakota, Oregon and GPSMAP 62/78 series units are listed as compatible. The chirp is password protected and provides the owner with stats showing the number of visitors the chirp has recorded.

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