Is TomTom useful for me

araf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 5

Hi guys!
I was planning to buy TomTom 6 for my newly purchased PPC (Eten G500). Then I found that TomTom does not have the map of my country Crying or Very sad

Is there any use of TomTom for me now? For example, can I import scanned maps in TomTom? Or can I define some routes on those maps and then ask Tomtom to guide me along the routes while driving?
Thanks.

mikealder · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 2:52 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum, you don't mention which country you are in? if TomTom don't cover it there may be other possibilities, but you cannot expect routing/ guidance from a map scanned in and loaded to a TomTom device, it simply won't work - Mike

araf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 5

Thanks mike.
I travel to some parts of China and some Middle East countries. There is no good digital map for them.

This is what I want to do:
1. First I'll find a good paper map of the city.
2. Scan it (as a .jpg file) and import it to the GPS software (=TomTom perhaps)
3. I'll give the coordinates of three points of the map to that software so that my map is calibrated (I mean the software will know where is the location of the map)
4. Using the stylus on my PPC, I'll ask someone to draw the routes to my destinations.
5. Then I'll put the PPC in my car and I want that software to guide me (turn left, go right) along that route.
That was the scenario in my mind. Now, can you tell me if TomTom can do this?

Oldboy · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:14 am Post subject:

Like Mike said,

Darren · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:54 am Post subject:

Software such as OziExplorer can utilise scanned maps but these lack any routing data so apart from a visual 'map' that's it. You can calculate straight line routes between waypoints but the app cannot 'see' the roads on the scanned map, knows nothing about junctions, routing restrictions, traffi flow etc.

There is mapping of China, search for Papago and KingMap but the UI is in Chinese.
_________________
Darren Griffin

araf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 5

Thank you all for your comments.

Darren · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:29 pm Post subject:

OziExplorer is available in Pc and PocketPC versions.
_________________
Darren Griffin

philpugh · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:34 pm Post subject:

Go to the OziExplorer site (www.oziexplorer.com).

There you will find evaluation copies of both the PC version and the PDA version.

You need the PC version in order to calibrate maps. You then transfer the map and the calibration info to the PDA.

You can plan a course on the PDA or PC, creating waypoints and routes.

You will need accurate maps and reference points (2 minimum, 3+ recommended).

It's nice software and well worth the shareware price tag.
_________________
Phil

kgoto · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 7:51 pm Post subject:

You might also look at GPS Tuner:

http://www.gpstuner.com/

I use it mainly for hiking, skiing, etc but I've also used it with scanned street and aerial maps for walking around a city.

jcjeffe · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 12, 2007 Posts: 17

Another company that produces software on which you can calibrate and display scanned maps is Memory Maps. Although best known for their OS maps they also supply marine and aeronautical maps. I scanned some maps I had and was able to use them with GPS after they had been calibrated.

Chris

Darren · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:35 pm Post subject:

Isn't that only 'certain' versions of Memory-Map?
_________________
Darren Griffin

araf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 5

Thank you for your suggestions.
Last night I installed the OziExplorer, both PC and CE versions. It looks fine.
But I've a problem: I couldn't get fix. It can find a lot of satellites in "view satellites" window. Also I can see the strings coming in "NMEA strings" window. But the "Sats in use" is always 0 and "Sat fix" is always NO.
Can anyone help me please?

araf · Occasional Visitor Joined: Apr 29, 2007 Posts: 5

Well, I gave up using OziExplorer. Sad

Last night I installed and used GPS Tuner (thank you kgoto Laughing

). It works alright. Just a limitation in big map files.

	PocketGPS
	Web