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How can I get Offline Mapping Software?


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I am having Trouble with a program I downloaded. I wanted to get a replacement for an old program I had on a very old computer. Yes I dont move very fast in technological advancement, but my last computer to bite the dust, was from 2003, and had a program called Microsoft Streets and Trips 2002 for windows.

 

It was an awesome program as I could measure distances, even put radiuses in it. And it worked offline. Well I guess everything has its time to die and I went to turn it on one day and no response to the monitor, keyboard, or mouse. I mean even hitting caps lock did not light up the lights on the keyboard, nor the lasermouse lit up.

 

I reset it several times then I was stupid and picked up the computer on one side a few inches and let it drop thinking that giving it a 'mechanics touch' would get some results. Well it did get results... a bright blue flash from the back and a smell of burnt 'Idontknowwhat'

 

I had a friend give me a new computer because he got lucky and found a brand new computer in our small town's recycle pile, and everything works perfectly so he gave me his other project computer that works fairly well.

 

It still has Win XP, like my old one, and I tried to install my map program CD rom but it was a part of the package that came with my old computer and it also needed the Computer package CD which I lost long ago.

 

So I started doing a search for free offline mapping software, and everything was pointing to Open Street Maps. I went there and it even had an option to download an entire state but was able to check off some areas to narrow it down to my regional area (Southern IL and Metro East St Louis)

 

IT came with a file download called OSM_Generic_Windows, but when I go to open it, it has unrecognizeable files. I even redownloaded Easy_GPS and tried loading it onto there, and even transfering it into my GPS with all no luck of retreiving the map I downloaded.

 

Does anyone know that program and can anyone help me out with what else I need to do to get what I need.

 

Or is there any other free mapping software that is not too complicated. either I can operate on my computer of even Topo maps that I can load into my computer... ( I used to have that Garmin Topo Maps program on my computer (it took 3 CDs and lost them in a move)) Maybe there is a version of that I can get a hold of?

 

Thank you

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I believe you need to have Mapsource installed from a CD like Topo 2008, or other Garmin mapping product, before you can install/update to the latest version of 6.16.3. Garmin does not support Mapsource anymore by the way. BaseCamp as alandb noted is a good alternative.

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There's a well-documented workaround to the need for a previous version - something about a free download of some Garmin "training software", or somesuch - and a little googling will find the details.

 

I still use MapSource - when I use Windows at all - because I've heard BaseCamp is slow and bloated. That, plus I'm loath to install anything from Garmin unless I really absolutely have to. Long story. MapSource is fine, nay excellent, for displaying maps on the PC.

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While Mapsource or Basecamp will do some of what the OP requests, neither perform all of the functions he mentions (radius display, for example). And I agree that compared to Mapsource, Basecamp is slow.

 

The OP doesn't say that the software needs to be free of cost, so perhaps something like Fugawi would work for him? http://www.fugawi.com/web/index-us.htm

I haven't looked at it for a number of years, but at the time, it was a very capable product, and managed NMEA input from a GPS very nicely as well.

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I do not find any speed issues with Basecamp. People need to be careful that they are not basing their opinions on old versions and outdated information. The current version of Basecamp is very functional, fast and simple to use.

 

As far as I can tell, both Mapsource and Basecamp will do what the OP requires.

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While Mapsource or Basecamp will do some of what the OP requests, neither perform all of the functions he mentions (radius display, for example).

 

Both programs do radius display.....

BaseCamp displays a radius around a waypoints? Where is that found?

Right click on the waypoint and open the dialog window, and enter in a proximity distance.

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While Mapsource or Basecamp will do some of what the OP requests, neither perform all of the functions he mentions (radius display, for example).

 

Both programs do radius display.....

BaseCamp displays a radius around a waypoints? Where is that found?

Right click on the waypoint and open the dialog window, and enter in a proximity distance.

? Right clicking a waypoint shows

. Open

. Send to

. Find nearest places

. Begin measurement

etc etc

but nothing that provides a spot to enter a 'proximity distance' that would produce circles around a waypoint.

 

Then again, as they abandoned those of us with little XP netbooks that are so handy for this sport, perhaps it is a version issue? Some of us will never make it past 4.2.5.

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Then again, as they abandoned those of us with little XP netbooks that are so handy for this sport, perhaps it is a version issue? Some of us will never make it past 4.2.5.

 

No, sorry, but all versions and well back into Mapsource, proximity with circles have been a feature.

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Then again, as they abandoned those of us with little XP netbooks that are so handy for this sport, perhaps it is a version issue? Some of us will never make it past 4.2.5.

 

No, sorry, but all versions and well back into Mapsource, proximity with circles have been a feature.

 

Windows 10 runs on a small netbook, basecamp runs on w10.

You need to adapt the video output.

See the YT to make your computer believe you have a high res screen

 

Edit: while installing W10 it will ask you to keep your personal files. If selection was yes, all your data is there.

Edited by splashy
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While Mapsource or Basecamp will do some of what the OP requests, neither perform all of the functions he mentions (radius display, for example).

 

Both programs do radius display.....

BaseCamp displays a radius around a waypoints? Where is that found?

Right click on the waypoint and open the dialog window, and enter in a proximity distance.

(running to check)

Ah, but only for waypoints, not geocaches. Pity.

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