mister pooh
11-03-2009, 13:12
Hi there! Before I bought this mapping software I got a lot of good info from folks on the board, and I said I would give it a little review. I got the software with the Delorme PN-30 GPS, but it can be bought as a standalone DVD. Here's the review:
Name mister pooh
Age 40
Product Delorme Topo USA 8.0
MSRP $99.95 with $40 in "Map Dollars" included.
Experience: I've worked with mapping software and GPS units professionally for about 12 years, first as a Quartermaster (navigation specialist) in the Navy and now as a full time student majoring in Geographic Information Systems and interning as a GIS analyst. I'm also a fairly decent orienteer.
Similar Products Used: When I lived in Seattle I bought and used the National Geographic Topo! Washington state series software, which I liked a lot. My only problem with it is the cost (~$100 for NC and SC alone), so I was looking for a cheaper solution. I like printable software because I already spend too much money on paper maps and atlases because I'm a map junkie :)
My main purpose for the software is to print usable trail maps, which for me means good topographic data, a scale and a north arrow with declination. The Topo USA software does all of this. The software on the DVD includes Delorme created vector based data with the ability to scale the contour lines to 5 ft intervals. The included data is pretty good, a little better than the printed Delorme state atlases for those used to them.
You can also download scans of the actual USGS 24k topo maps, but there is a catch: you have to pay 30 cents per 3 square kilometer chunk. You can also download aerial photos, satellite imagery and nautical charts at various pricing. The software comes with $40 worth of credit ("Map Dollars") for download, or you can pay $30 per year and download as much info as you want. You keep the data that you download. The download is pretty fast, and the USGS info I printed looked just like the regular 24K topo. You can also layer the Delorme data that is on the disk over the scanned data, as well as stuff you create.
The included software has some trail data, including the entire AT and shelters. You can also import data in gpx format, which is great. You can download a lot of trails from places like backpacker.com, easytrail.com, redtrail.com etc. The software also comes with road data and the ability to make routes similar to Google Maps. I haven't played with that feature much yet. You can use trail data and lines you draw yourself to make elevation profiles, and print them at the bottom of the maps you create or separately. You can also create routing data for figuring out stops and getting "turn by turn" directions for trails.
For the GPS user, the software is made to be used with the Delorme Earthmate GPS's, but some features are still usable with other brands. While you can only download maps, waypoints, tracks and routes you create directly to Earthmates, you can export waypoints, tracks and routes as gpx files, which you can use in most units. One word of caution, you have to export waypoint files and track files separately in the program. You can then merge this info in another program like TopoFusion or by hand in Notepad if you're good with XML :)
Ease of Use- This software is a bit tricky to use. It's got a lot of features, but the interface is really complicated. I kept the users guide opened in a pdf window for the first few days of use, and referred to it a lot. There is also a lot of support on Delorme's user forum http://forum.delorme.com/ . I will say Nat'l Geo Topo! is easier to use, but I've gotten used to a lot of Topo USA's quirks over the last 4 days of playing with it off and on.
Conclusion- If the idea of being able to print your own hiking maps appeals to you, Topo USA 8.0 is a great buy if you're able to put the time into learning its features. I went out on Sunday with my fiance on her first hike(!) with a map printed on the Nat'l Geo 8" x 11" waterproof paper and taught her some basic map and compass use with no problems either creating the map, printing it or using it in the field.
More info at http://www.delorme.com/
Thanks for reading, and if I can answer any questions it would be my pleasure!
Name mister pooh
Age 40
Product Delorme Topo USA 8.0
MSRP $99.95 with $40 in "Map Dollars" included.
Experience: I've worked with mapping software and GPS units professionally for about 12 years, first as a Quartermaster (navigation specialist) in the Navy and now as a full time student majoring in Geographic Information Systems and interning as a GIS analyst. I'm also a fairly decent orienteer.
Similar Products Used: When I lived in Seattle I bought and used the National Geographic Topo! Washington state series software, which I liked a lot. My only problem with it is the cost (~$100 for NC and SC alone), so I was looking for a cheaper solution. I like printable software because I already spend too much money on paper maps and atlases because I'm a map junkie :)
My main purpose for the software is to print usable trail maps, which for me means good topographic data, a scale and a north arrow with declination. The Topo USA software does all of this. The software on the DVD includes Delorme created vector based data with the ability to scale the contour lines to 5 ft intervals. The included data is pretty good, a little better than the printed Delorme state atlases for those used to them.
You can also download scans of the actual USGS 24k topo maps, but there is a catch: you have to pay 30 cents per 3 square kilometer chunk. You can also download aerial photos, satellite imagery and nautical charts at various pricing. The software comes with $40 worth of credit ("Map Dollars") for download, or you can pay $30 per year and download as much info as you want. You keep the data that you download. The download is pretty fast, and the USGS info I printed looked just like the regular 24K topo. You can also layer the Delorme data that is on the disk over the scanned data, as well as stuff you create.
The included software has some trail data, including the entire AT and shelters. You can also import data in gpx format, which is great. You can download a lot of trails from places like backpacker.com, easytrail.com, redtrail.com etc. The software also comes with road data and the ability to make routes similar to Google Maps. I haven't played with that feature much yet. You can use trail data and lines you draw yourself to make elevation profiles, and print them at the bottom of the maps you create or separately. You can also create routing data for figuring out stops and getting "turn by turn" directions for trails.
For the GPS user, the software is made to be used with the Delorme Earthmate GPS's, but some features are still usable with other brands. While you can only download maps, waypoints, tracks and routes you create directly to Earthmates, you can export waypoints, tracks and routes as gpx files, which you can use in most units. One word of caution, you have to export waypoint files and track files separately in the program. You can then merge this info in another program like TopoFusion or by hand in Notepad if you're good with XML :)
Ease of Use- This software is a bit tricky to use. It's got a lot of features, but the interface is really complicated. I kept the users guide opened in a pdf window for the first few days of use, and referred to it a lot. There is also a lot of support on Delorme's user forum http://forum.delorme.com/ . I will say Nat'l Geo Topo! is easier to use, but I've gotten used to a lot of Topo USA's quirks over the last 4 days of playing with it off and on.
Conclusion- If the idea of being able to print your own hiking maps appeals to you, Topo USA 8.0 is a great buy if you're able to put the time into learning its features. I went out on Sunday with my fiance on her first hike(!) with a map printed on the Nat'l Geo 8" x 11" waterproof paper and taught her some basic map and compass use with no problems either creating the map, printing it or using it in the field.
More info at http://www.delorme.com/
Thanks for reading, and if I can answer any questions it would be my pleasure!