Managing downloads on the PN-40

[+TurLee]

Anybody have anything to share about how you are managing your downloads to the PN-40?

 

So far, with the nasty weather and trying to make the free downloads last, I've just downloaded the area right at the cache site, so I have oddly named little spots of stuff all over the place. Now preparing for the weather to break and to have lots more outdoor time I'm ready to pay the subscription price and cover a good sized area around home base … but as I loaded up Topo 7 and started making selections it occurred to me that I really don't have any plan to keep track of what I have already downloaded.

 

Any of you have some clever naming scheme or advice on what size chunks or how in the world are you guys who have huge amounts of data keeping track of what's done and what's not?

[+TotemLake]

I started using quad names to keep track of the aerial downloads to T7. I also started using closest city names to keep track of everything cut for the PN-40, numbering them in parcels as I go along.

 

Now even though some folks cut upwards to 1GB for the PN, I have noticed a refresh lag on anything over 500MB when I'm panning so I try to keep my "chunk" size in the neighborhood of 350-400MB. The system seems to run more efficiently on the smaller chunks. That's a personal perception with no scientific timing of the refresh to back it up.

[+TurLee]

When you say "quad names" do you mean the quads have names in T7 or you give them names? Is a quad the rectangle that turns red when I click to select it? (You can tell the terminology is a bit beyond me by my use of the word "chunk".)

 

I've seen the 1GB figure and am now trying some downloads mostly just to see how many little red rectangles with all three imagery types adds up to how much. I selected a 10 by 5 grid and it came to 201MB so it looks like a 10x10 will be about right. ... Except that (This is a work in progress; I am doing this as I type) the 201MB 10x5 map package shows up on the SD card as five separate files, not as one file, so do I want to aim for 350-400MB (or 1GB) as the total for the package or as the max for any one file in the package?

 

I used Hometown 10E 5S as a file name(ten little red rectangles east by five little red rectangle east). Figuring 10x10 will be a good size that leads then to Hometown 10W 10S, Hometown 10E 10N, etc. It's gonna get unwieldy, methinks, as I go farther from home. There's gotta be a better way.

 

And no, I'm not ashamed. The cure for ignorance is education.

 

Edit: Turns out 10x10 is too big; had to go 10x9 ... and I notice now going back in to T7 that the areas I have already downloaded do show up on the map ... so maybe it isn't going to be all that tough.

Edited March 7, 2009 by TurLee

[+TotemLake]

When you say "quad names" do you mean the quads have names in T7 or you give them names? Is a quad the rectangle that turns red when I click to select it? (You can tell the terminology is a bit beyond me by my use of the word "chunk".)

 

I've seen the 1GB figure and am now trying some downloads mostly just to see how many little red rectangles with all three imagery types adds up to how much. I selected a 10 by 5 grid and it came to 201MB so it looks like a 10x10 will be about right. ... Except that (This is a work in progress; I am doing this as I type) the 201MB 10x5 map package shows up on the SD card as five separate files, not as one file, so do I want to aim for 350-400MB (or 1GB) as the total for the package or as the max for any one file in the package?

 

I used Hometown 10E 5S as a file name(ten little red rectangles east by five little red rectangle east). Figuring 10x10 will be a good size that leads then to Hometown 10W 10S, Hometown 10E 10N, etc. It's gonna get unwieldy, methinks, as I go farther from home. There's gotta be a better way.

 

And no, I'm not ashamed. The cure for ignorance is education.

 

Edit: Turns out 10x10 is too big; had to go 10x9 ... and I notice now going back in to T7 that the areas I have already downloaded do show up on the map ... so maybe it isn't going to be all that tough.

 

...and I'll add here yes, the Quad names provided on T7. When enabled, you wll see a red title for the region in the quad.

Edited March 9, 2009 by TotemLake

[+Team CowboyPapa]

FWIW, I tend to be careful and use meaningful names when saving cut files for transfer to the handheld. In so doing I treat them similar to music files where the names are systematically comprised of song title and artist's name. Consequently, when I look at the list on my PN-40 screen they are relateable to areas or locales of interest such as Kennedy Meadows or Coyote Canyon.

 

OTOH, I've found that there is no benefit in being systematic when assigning file names to the selections to be downloaded as part of the $30 annual subscription. Therefore, for this part of the process, file names such as KM1, KM2, CC1, etc. are sufficient as it doesn't matter when I'm selecting the grid on the screen for cutting.

[+TurLee]

Ah, thanks. I think a lot of my puzzlement is because I am baffled by the unfamiliar terminology; haven't a clue as to the difference between a quad and a grid, they are squares and rectangles to me.

 

I got the Quad names turned on in the Options menu; that's a big help. I had quickly abandoned my original plan and started naming areas for a town; turned out to be pretty close to those Quad names. That will make things much easier to manage. I'll tidy up some edges and stick with using the Quad names. I just needed a plan … hated that feeling that I was stumbling around in unfamiliar territory.

 

CowboyPapa, you led me to a screen I hadn't seen before … not sure what it might be used for … and that term “cutting” is one of those words that still baffles me. I click little red rectangles, download them, and transfer them to the PN-40 … I assume some part of that process is referred to as cutting a map.

 

Another question: I choose a type of image, select an area, and add it to the list, then when I choose another type of image I have to select the same area again. Is there a way to select an area once and get all three types of images without having to keep selecting the same area over again each time?

[+Team CowboyPapa]

 

CowboyPapa, you led me to a screen I hadn't seen before … not sure what it might be used for … and that term “cutting” is one of those words that still baffles me. I click little red rectangles, download them, and transfer them to the PN-40 … I assume some part of that process is referred to as cutting a map. Perhaps the nomenclature is a holdover or related to the editing operation of cutting and pasting.

 

10-4, that terminology, cutting, is confounding all too often. Yes, you are correct that it is the process of selecting the squares, specifying the Zoom Levels, and saving the result to a new file.

 

Another question: I choose a type of image, select an area, and add it to the list, then when I choose another type of image I have to select the same area again. Is there a way to select an area once and get all three types of images without having to keep selecting the same area over again each time?

OK, I am guessing a little here, however. Initially, I felt the same in that it was safer to keep the areas of the imagery elements the same. That is, when cutting a combination of Sat 10, USGS 3DTQ and DOQQ, I kept the grid, or square, selection identical for all three.

 

However, in the fullness of time, I'm not so sure anymore. I don't really use the Sat 10, so for expanding an area previously cut, I downloaded some more CDOQQ and recut, but still included the Sat 10 as I still had it. In so doing, the CDOQQ is a larger area with more squares and consequently overlaps the Sat 10. AFAIK, that works.

 

Remember, Trial and Error are your friends. Not to waste a lot of time, you might cut with 2 x 2 of one overlaid with a 4 x 2 of the another and transfer to your -40 to see what you get. If that works, recut with the larger area of interest. If not, recut individually for each differently shaped area. You will just have more map files.

[+TurLee]

You've nailed exactly what I've been doing; identical selections of all three image types. Thanks to TotemLake's tip about the quad names it is now easy to keep track of what I'm doing and when I go to the map set-up screen that you led me to, it displays a list of meaningful names of nearby towns.

 

I was vaguely aware of the existence of the zoom level options but was just using the default settings. Through a little experimentation I just discovered that I had never actually even seen the Sat 10 pictures on my unit because I was never zoomed out that far. Going through the list and turning on only one type at a time I found that the only one I really use is the Color DOQQ, since I really only use the unit to zero in on the cache site, not for road navigation, and I don't do any long wilderness hikes.

 

It appears there is some overlap in the zoom levels at the default settings and I'm not sure how the unit decides which picture to display (I don't think I've seen the other DOQQ pictures either); maybe that has something to do with “draw layers”, another term about which I am clueless.

 

Anyway, it looks like with some trial and error experimentation I can probably fiddle with the zoom levels and only transfer the parts I actually use to the SD card and will probably be able to fit a much larger area onto the card. Since I've already downloaded a lot of my local area I can just go back and recut the maps to suit my needs. (I used a form of “cut” in a sentence … see, I'm trainable.)

 

This truly is a serious tool, huh?

 

Edit: One more question (or two). Why, on the Map Setup screen under Data Management, is there the option to uncheck the individual map sections? Why would I want to do that?

Edited March 11, 2009 by TurLee

[+Team CowboyPapa]

This truly is a serious tool, huh?

 

Edit: One more question (or two). Why, on the Map Setup screen under Data Management, is there the option to uncheck the individual map sections? Why would I want to do that?

10-4, Sat 10 are best at Zoom Level 10 - 12 and I don't find that too usable.

Same deal with the aerial photo imagery.

Now that the color is available, I don't use the B & W, and I prefer the color at ZL 12 - 16.

Additionally, I like to use the USGS 3DTQs at ZL 12 - 14.

 

And how I manage that is your question of the day.

So, assume that I've cut the following at those Zoom Levels andin the Data Layering screen I have them checked and listed in this order:

SAT10 ZL 10 - 12

USGS ZL 12 - 14

COLOR DOQQ ZL 14 - 16

TOPO USA 7 ZL 7 - 17

 

and all are checked, so starting at ZL 8 and zooming in, I see:

TOPO USA 7 ZL 8 - 9

SAT10 ZL 10 - 12

USGS ZL 13 - 14

COLOR DOQQ ZL 15 - 16

TOPO USA 7 ZL 17

 

and if I uncheck SAT 10:

TOPO USA 7 ZL 8 - 11

USGS ZL 12 - 14

COLOR DOQQ ZL 15 - 16

TOPO USA 7 ZL 17

 

and leaving all checked but swapping the list order so COLOR has priority over USGS:

TOPO USA 7 ZL 8 - 9

SAT10 ZL 10 - 12

USGS ZL 13

COLOR DOQQ ZL 14 - 16

TOPO USA 7 ZL 17

 

Draw layers: Tune in tomorrow, same station, same time

Edited March 11, 2009 by Team CowboyPapa

[+Team CowboyPapa]

embra,

 

Material for the Wiki?

[+HodorTheHero]

Before your warranty goes out, i suggest reading the PN Forms. When it first came out it had some battery and reception problems. it was actually my Christmas gift gone WRONG!

[+Team CowboyPapa]

....maybe that has something to do with “draw layers”, another term about which I am clueless.

Regardless of the intervening, off-topic, mini-rant, I'll offer a suggestion that will introduce the "draw layer."

 

1. With your PN-40, go to the "Track" page and turn recording ON.

2. Go for a walk around the block and record some Waypoints by pressing the key with the push pin symbol and saving them.

3. Back home, go to the "Track" page and Save track.

4. Connect to your PC and transfer track and waypoints to Topo 7.

5. I preparation to "cut" a new map, select the squares to encompass the track and waypoints.

6. In "Options", deselect, or uncheck, all options except "Draw Layer" and use a generous Zoom Level selection, 12 - 17, perhaps.

7. Delete the recorded track and waypoints from your PN-40.

8. Save Draw Layer and then transfer back to your PN-40.

9. The track and waypoints will now be displayed over your typical topo map, or photo imagery of the area in which you walked.

10. The waypoints and track will not show on their respective pages as they are no longer individual objects but embedded in the "Draw Layer."

 

Now, that wasn't so steep, was it?