Best PC Mapping / Routing Software
Discussion
What would people recommend, I'm looking for something that I can use to plan and print-outs hoons, ideally doing adhoc routes rather than just fastest/shortest. If possible enough information to make calls on which routes would be more fun, whether than be OS style map information of Google Earth style real world data with road info overlays.
I often use Garmin's MapSource, but that is quite limited and only shows colours lines, which give no real impression of where you are and how good the road is.
AA/RAC/MapPoint/StreetMap etc. provide enough info in various aspects, but not everything I want tied together, perhaps there is a web site out there that does it, although I'd prefer to be running local software, so I can use it on a laptop.
Oh, and cheap/free would be good too
I often use Garmin's MapSource, but that is quite limited and only shows colours lines, which give no real impression of where you are and how good the road is.
AA/RAC/MapPoint/StreetMap etc. provide enough info in various aspects, but not everything I want tied together, perhaps there is a web site out there that does it, although I'd prefer to be running local software, so I can use it on a laptop.
Oh, and cheap/free would be good too
AutoRoute 2005 is what i use extensively, but I'm on the look out for something different.
Trouble with Autoroute is that the 2006 version was meant to be worse than 2005 as MS didn't licence the same maps for 2006. Not sure if 2007 is much cop.
Having said that, the maps are only bad in specific areas, for instance, Italian towns are non existent, they have 1 road and nothing more.
If it just for hooning, then utoroute should be up to the job. However, with all good routes you need to find them on the Internet first and cross reference them with Autoroute to see if they are close to what you want.
Trouble with Autoroute is that the 2006 version was meant to be worse than 2005 as MS didn't licence the same maps for 2006. Not sure if 2007 is much cop.
Having said that, the maps are only bad in specific areas, for instance, Italian towns are non existent, they have 1 road and nothing more.
If it just for hooning, then utoroute should be up to the job. However, with all good routes you need to find them on the Internet first and cross reference them with Autoroute to see if they are close to what you want.
I use Memory Map to work out my cycling routes. You buy the software with a couple of maps, then download more at a cost from the website.
Gives you ability to draw routes on a OS map, then view the route on a 3D flythrough. You can also view it on aerial photography. I think it can also upload / download to a GPS device, but I don't have any such thing to test it.
I bought the 2004 version off Ebay for 50 quid, with Dartmoor / Exmoor mapping, then downloaded 23 GB of 1:25000 1:50000 maps / satellite pics from Isohunt
The software is available as a torrent as well, but I feel OK for having bought the software. I could post some screenshots when I get home if you are interested.
Another one I am aware of is Fugawi.
Gives you ability to draw routes on a OS map, then view the route on a 3D flythrough. You can also view it on aerial photography. I think it can also upload / download to a GPS device, but I don't have any such thing to test it.
I bought the 2004 version off Ebay for 50 quid, with Dartmoor / Exmoor mapping, then downloaded 23 GB of 1:25000 1:50000 maps / satellite pics from Isohunt
The software is available as a torrent as well, but I feel OK for having bought the software. I could post some screenshots when I get home if you are interested. Another one I am aware of is Fugawi.
Matts_Zed said:
I could post some screenshots when I get home if you are interested.
That sounds very interesting, would certainly be interested in seeing some screenshows. Will it do bog standard route planning too?
I guess what I'd like ideally, would be to plot the base route for a journey, say from home to Blackpool, but rather than a fixed line on the map, be able to drag the route off the motorways and re-route via specific points and roads to customise the route at a very granular level.
Matts_Zed said:
The route drawing does not automatically follow the roads, which is just as well, because when I'm off road, nor do I.
That looks good, thanks for posting the pics, as its just the sort of thing for planning a hoon I reckon. Will the routes you plan "lock" onto a road, or is it unaware of road positions on the OS map?
Tripps said:
Matts_Zed said:
The route drawing does not automatically follow the roads, which is just as well, because when I'm off road, nor do I.
That looks good, thanks for posting the pics, as its just the sort of thing for planning a hoon I reckon. Will the routes you plan "lock" onto a road, or is it unaware of road positions on the OS map?
No - I think you have to draw it freehand. I may be wrong, because I have only really scratched the surface of what it can do. Also, I'm using the 2004 version and there is a newer version available.
You can build up a good long list of routes which will be kept on the maps as you browse over them.
Personally, I love it and find it extremely useful.
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