On 28 Mar, 15:13, "(PeteCresswell)" <x...@y.Invalid> wrote:
> I'd like to find something to function pretty much like a topo
> map without having to carry a topo map.
>

Use a "topo" map in your GPSr?

http://www.garmin.com/garmin/cms/us/maps/onthetrailmaps

Per colinh:
>Use a "topo" map in your GPSr?

That's part of it.

The biggie, though, is how to lay out a route in - say -
GoogleEarth, and then transfer the route to the GPS.

The only GPS's I've used compute their own routes - the user
supplies a destination and the GPS computes the route from where
it is at the time to the destination.

OTOH, I'm talking a route that is totally determined by the user
and not necessarily using any path or road recognized by the
GPS's map database.
--
PeteCresswell

PeteCresswell) wrote on Mar 29, 2010:

> The only GPS's I've used compute their own routes - the user
> supplies a destination and the GPS computes the route from where
> it is at the time to the destination.
>

With Garmin's more advanced units you can specify any starting point (not
necessarily the current position), a destination and any number of 'via
points' in between. The gps will then compute a route between these points in
the order that you have specified.

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
email: mike_lane at mac dot com

in 57218 20100329 090043 Mike Lane <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>PeteCresswell) wrote on Mar 29, 2010:
>
>> The only GPS's I've used compute their own routes - the user
>> supplies a destination and the GPS computes the route from where
>> it is at the time to the destination.
>>
>
>With Garmin's more advanced units you can specify any starting point (not
>necessarily the current position), a destination and any number of 'via
>points' in between. The gps will then compute a route between these points in
>the order that you have specified.

Dunno about "Garmin's more advanced units" - my humble Nuvi 250 does all that.

Bob Martin wrote on Mar 30, 2010:

> in 57218 20100329 090043 Mike Lane <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> PeteCresswell) wrote on Mar 29, 2010:
>>
>>> The only GPS's I've used compute their own routes - the user
>>> supplies a destination and the GPS computes the route from where
>>> it is at the time to the destination.
>>>
>>
>> With Garmin's more advanced units you can specify any starting point (not
>> necessarily the current position), a destination and any number of 'via
>> points' in between. The gps will then compute a route between these points
>> in
>> the order that you have specified.
>
> Dunno about "Garmin's more advanced units" - my humble Nuvi 250 does all
that.

Yes, I remember now there was a previous thread where someone pointed out
that you can actually use multiple via points on the Nuvi 250. (The manual
implies that you can only insert 1 into the current route.)

To be useful though you really need to be able to edit and save the route if
it doesn't start from your current position.

--
Mike Lane
UK North Yorkshire
email: mike_lane at mac dot com

Per Mike Lane:
>To be useful though you really need to be able to edit and save the route if
>it doesn't start from your current position.

That's where I'm coming from: Cycling - but not always on
pavement.

To wit:

- Fire up GoogleEarth,

- Lay out the route as a GoogleEarth "Path",

- Add some comments along the path like "Look for a break in the
woods and turn into it",

- Export a file,

- Massage said file with some utility

- Upload said file into the GPS

- Somehow tell the GPS that we are starting to navigate that
path

- Have the GPS speak the comments as the device gets within
some predefined distance of a comment
--
PeteCresswell