GPS navigation for beginners: choosing a navigator, maps, programs

Guest post from my friend, hiking. Now just the marching season, and quite soon autumn, a great time for the Crimea, so that information about navigators can be very by the way.

Good day! I am Andrei Lunyachek. I do enough tourism long time ago, but the topic of GPS navigation fascinated me only a few months ago. Up to this point, everything related to magical the word “GPS” seemed to me something scary and incomprehensible. However i I quickly became convinced that there was nothing particularly difficult in this matter, and even Wrote a series of articles about navigators and navigation. And in this article I I want as simple and accessible as possible to talk about navigators and their use in tourism.

In various places in this article I will provide links to various materials (both mine and strangers) that are very good complement what you read below. These links will be quite useful because in one article it is impossible to completely light up all the necessary moments.

From the very beginning I want to clarify that I will speak exclusively about offline navigation. Situations when we, using a smartphone, We climb into the Internet and dig there in all Google and Yandex maps, I I will not consider here. First, the Internet is not everywhere. Not only in the wild, but also in the middle of a big city such that you will not have access to the Internet. Secondly, if discuss online navigation, then it will turn out to be not about navigators, and about various Internet resources.

And I want to tell you about GPS-navigators – about special devices that can make life much easier for us and help out Hard time. The conversation will go primarily about their use in the wild. Firstly, I myself prefer it hikes, not trips to cities. Secondly, in nature often there is no one to help you, and in the city you can ask the question “how go there “to any passer-by. However, GPS navigation in I will mention the city in those parts of the article where appropriate.

So, what do we need for full navigation? Us will need:

• navigator (or something that performs its functions)
• maps that can be loaded into it
• points marking objects of interest

These items are interrelated, but start with something you need. For, to better understand the characteristics of navigators (what it will be about later), first consider the information that we are in it we load, that is, we will talk about points and maps. There are more such types of navigation data, like routes (bundles of waypoints) and tracks (the path traversed by the navigator). In my opinion, for orientation they are less important than points, so on the routes and the tracks I will not stop in detail.

The content of the article

• 1 Waypoints and Points of Interest (POI)
• 2 Types of cards: vector and raster maps
• 3 Navigators and other devices used for navigation
• 4 Smartphones and tablets with a GPS receiver
• 5 Tourist navigators
• 6 Choice of the company: Garmin, Magellan or something else?
• 7 Programs installed on the computer
• 8 How to quickly master the work with the navigator?

Waypoints and Points of Interest (POI)

Although these types of points from each other are fundamentally no different points of interest (or points of interest) It is accepted to call the points included in the vector map (about maps read below), and waypoints (waypoints) – the points that you You can add to the navigator yourself.

Common to waypoints and points of interest is that you can enable the so-called navigation point. At the same time on the screen navigator will display an arrow indicating the direction in which which is this point, and the distance to this point. You it only remains to go in the right direction. Even if the path or the terrain will lead you away, glancing at the arrow, you still go where you want.

Where to get waypoints? It is best to search them on the Internet. There are even entire sites with similar points, for example, the site “Springs Crimea “(a list of similar sites, see here). Another, several a less accurate way is to mark a point on the map using one of the navigation software and save it to a file. Points can be stored in different file formats – GPX, WPT, KML. However universal a format that navigators understand and all navigation programs, is a GPX format. If you had a point in another format, then they need to be converted to GPX using any Converter programs (for example, GPSBabel).

Card types: vector and raster maps

The easiest way to explain what a raster map is. It’s simple a pixel picture is similar to a photo that makes your camera. For example, you can take a paper card (or, for example, your pencil drawing on paper) and scan it. Next, using one of the popular programs, we bind this a picture to the coordinates (for which we point at the picture of a point, whose coordinates are known to us), and then convert it to that a format that our navigator understands. That is, any graphic it’s relatively easy to turn an image into a raster map, understandable navigator.

Raster topographic map of the Carpathians in the program Locus Map

A vector map is not a picture. This is a collection of objects (streets, roads, houses, rivers, paths, etc.). And the program installed in navigator, turns this set of objects into a finished picture, which gives the screen. The minus of vector maps is that their it is quite difficult (and sometimes impossible) to do it yourself. therefore usually have to be content with what others have done. And plus is that since the vector map consists of individual objects, you can search and navigate through these to objects, and also use route guidance using available roads and paths on the map. Accordingly, often not need to have separate files with some useful points, since many points (in the form of certain objects) are already included in the vector map.

Vector map of Yalta in the program OsmAnd

Vector maps will be convenient for those traveling on cities and major roads. And for connoisseurs of wildlife more raster maps will be useful. The fact is that wildlife is better altogether depicted on topographic maps (and made on their based tourist maps). And these cards are only in raster the form.

Many maps can be downloaded for free on the Internet. Besides, raster maps are relatively easy to make yourself that allows the owner of the navigator not to depend on someone else’s “grace”, but to have on the device screen exactly what you want.

Read more about maps in my article: Maps for GPS navigators: where to get them?

Navigators and other devices used for navigation

What types of devices are commonly used for navigation? Most The following are common:

• car navigators
• tourist navigators
• smartphones and tablets with GPS receiver

On car navigators usually install one of several popular programs that work only with certain cards. But to the marching navigators are presented completely different requirements. To hike you need to be ready to shove in the navigator. Anything, anything – a satellite image, some rare (perhaps old) map, in short, the best that you can dig up on the internet for a given territory. Something you might find only in paper form, and you have to scan and bind to coordinates. And so on.

To our happiness, get the maps of popular tourist regions no problem. But the point is that the marching navigator should be “omnivorous,” that is, allowed to load any card (I will clarify – a raster map, because with vector maps it’s not so it will turn out). This is very useful if you go not to the Crimea, but to jungle of Siberia or the Amazon jungle. And even if in the Crimea? Why not add to the popular travel cards something else? For example, satellite images from Google, Yandex or Bing? Or aerial photography from the Second World War? No problems! We swing that that we need, from the Internet, and download to the GPS-navigator. The programs that do this are described below.

Similar “omnivorous” have as a tourist navigators, so many programs installed on smartphones and tablets. About we will talk about these two types of devices in more detail.

Smartphones and tablets with a GPS receiver

Smartphones and tablets are very popular now. Many of them (for except the cheapest) have built-in GPS receivers that allows you to use them as GPS-navigators. For this on smartphone or tablet must be installed corresponding program. For example, a number of good programs exist for Android operating system. These programs are either free or are inexpensive, about 5-8 dollars.

Fans of maximum simplicity can advise the program. MapsWithMe. In addition to the “+” and “-” buttons, there are four more buttons. One of them brings up the menu of loading maps, where (if available Internet) you can select and download a map of the desired region, after Why use this card is already offline. The second button will allow show on the map your location. The third button opens search window for names and categories of objects included in the composition of this vector map. The fourth button allows you to mark a place on the map and save it to Bookmarks. At this opportunity programs are exhausted. Cards in the program are used vector, its own format. They are good enough for the city, but for wildlife will be weak. Other cards (except “native”) in program can not be loaded.

MapsWithMe program. Vector Map of Moscow Region

More demanding users of Android devices will do. OsmAnd program (here is the instruction). It will be useful as for pedestrians and motorists, because, using their own vector maps (by the way, very good ones), supports automatic routing (either by road or by paths) and route guidance, including voice prompts. AND all this in the absence of the Internet! To this we add the presence in the map set of points of POI, the ability to download any raster maps, waypoints, tracks, track recording, etc.

OsmAnd program. Vector map of Ukraine

Another good Android program is Locus Map. AT difference from the previous one, more like traditional tourist navigator and is used mainly with raster maps. Vector cards for her are also available, as free (rather unpretentious, to the same without POIs), and paid (probably, they are good, but I’m I did not download them). Well, you can download any raster maps.

Program Locus Map. Raster tourist map of the Carpathians

What are the pros and cons of using smartphones and tablets as navigators? Pros: a) if you already have a smartphone with GPS, you do not need to buy an additional device; b) can choose a navigation program to your taste, or even one by one use several programs; c) a large user-friendly screen. Cons: a) smartphones and tablets require more careful handling, than tourist navigators, which will be more exact, and completely waterproof; b) smart phones and tablets quickly are discharged (literally a day in continuous navigation mode), then there are not suitable for multi-day trips (if you don’t carry around Wonder charging or turn on the smartphone only occasionally).

Tourist Navigators

These devices are designed specifically for hiking in the wilderness. They are completely waterproof, which allows them to safely use in the rain and keep charge for a long time (good Batteries – about a week with the condition of active everyday use). In addition, for food use is widely common finger batteries and finger batteries, which you can take with you in any quantity.

What to look for when choosing a tourist navigator? First, find out if it supports loading maps like vector, and raster (the cheapest navigators do not know how). Secondly, does it allow loading a sufficient number of points, tracks and routes. Thirdly, what is his memory capacity (this there must be either a card or a sufficiently capacious internal memory). The screen of the navigator should be color, but its dimensions – at your discretion. The big screen is more convenient, but “eats” stronger battery

And one more important question, which we will now consider, concerns the manufacturer of the navigator. What is the company choose?

Choice of the company: Garmin, Magellan or something else?

The most famous tourist manufacturing company Navigators is Garmin. So famous that about some many other navigators and not heard. And some friends advised me to buy exactly Garmin. This, of course, good navigators. However, I thought, and bought a navigator somewhat less famous firm Magellan. Explain why.

It’s all about the cards. If you need vector maps, then buy Garmin. For him to find a vector map is not a problem, but some of them and do it yourself. Vector cards for Magellan – it’s big rare, and making them yourself is much more difficult than for Garminov.

But with the raster maps the situation in the Magellan is better. Namely they need a tourist-hiker. Let’s compare.

Garmin has two raster map formats: KMZ and JNX. KMZ format has a limit: the total volume of all cards of this format, located on the navigator can not exceed 32 MB, while maps may consist of no more than 100 fragments 1024×1024 pixels. That is, in the case of the five-centered map we get a piece of about 80×80 km, which is not always the case enough

Unlike KMZ, a JNX format map can be any size and consist of five layers. That’s just when you create a map you need indicate which map should be shown on which layer, since The Garmin Navigator does not understand this. And the main drawback JNX format is that its free use blocked by the manufacturer. Garmin created it in order for owners of navigators for a fee to download satellite images from the site of the company. Therefore, for free using the JNX format, you need to “conjure” with the firmware navigator.

Unlike the Garmins, Magellan raster maps (RMP format) have no restrictions. They can be of any size and consist of any number of layers. Can be loaded into the navigator a lot of cards (as much as fit in his memory), and he figure out which card to show when. Navigator will dock the cards, overlay them and do everything for you to see on the screen the most appropriate at the moment card.

Therefore, I liked the Magellans more than Garmins, especially that the other parameters are not inferior.

My navigator is Magellan eXplorist GC. On the screen – topographic map of Kharkiv region

As for the tourist navigators of other companies, their I highly recommend not to buy. For one simple reason: you rather just don’t find maps for them. Or you will not find the program, capable of making maps for these navigators.

Programs installed on the computer

For the full use of the navigator you need to have on computer some programs. They will help prepare for the upcoming campaign, and after its termination process navigation data.

The most important programs can be considered as those that produce manufacturers for their navigators. For Garmin is a program BaseCamp, for Magellan – Vantage Point software. With their help you can import and export data from the navigator to computer and back. In addition, these programs support basic functions work with maps, points, tracks and routes, allowing process data on your computer.

If their capabilities seem to you a little, then you need to install more “serious” programs that have more functions for navigation data processing. Most popular The navigation and mapping program is OziExplorer. Its disadvantage is that it is paid, but there is a plus – on the Internet you can find a lot of useful information on working with this program. Not want to pay – use less popular, but free program OkMap, which has about the same functions.

The SAS Planet program is very convenient for working with online maps. Using it, you can quickly switch between multiple various online maps: Google, Yandex, satellite imagery, topographic maps, etc. Thanks to this, you can quickly View the position of a point or track on multiple maps. The variety of map sources is its main advantage. The program allows you to save the desired pieces of online maps on computer, and also supports the basic functions of working with points and tracks.

In order to make the maps of the format you need, Mobile Atlas Creator is extremely convenient. She allows download the necessary parts of various online maps and convert them in required formats: RMP for Magellan, KMZ for Garmin, a number formats for Android and iPhone, as well as the format for OziExplorer. Working with the program is very simple: you select the desired one in its menu. online source, select the desired area on the map with the mouse, mark birds with the desired zoom levels (which allows you to create layered cards), choose the format you want and get your map, ready to be loaded into the navigator.

The program interface Mobile Atlas Creator

Since navigation data may occur in different formats, you may need a converter program. Despite That a number of conversion functions are built into some of the already of the reviewed programs, I will advise you to install a small but useful program GPSBabel. She can do a lot: convert data from one format to another, trim and glue tracks, Turn points, tracks and routes into each other. Program supports all major formats: universal GPX format, Google Earth program formats (KML and KMZ), program formats OziExplorer (WPT, PLT and RTE) and a number of less popular formats.

How to quickly master the work with the navigator?

Consider the necessary actions beginner example. Let’s say you want to wander with the navigator in the Mountain Crimea. Then you need take the following steps:

• buy a navigator
• figure out how to use it
• download the necessary maps from the Internet (in our case, the Crimea) and Download them to the navigator.

Independent production of cards, we postpone for later. Novice better to start using ready-made maps.

Let’s say you bought a Magellan navigator. Then you direct the path to the site of Dmitry Kalinin (also known as Paganel). Read the instructions written by Dmitry to the navigator Magellan eXplorist 310. Next, read the instructions for the program Vantage Point and Install it on your computer. Downloading the maps prepared by Dmitry for Magellan navigators and load them into the navigator. Everything! Can go to the Crimea!

If you have a smartphone or tablet on Android, then install on it the program OsmAnd or Locus Map. Unfortunately, quality instructions to these programs, no one wrote, but a couple of articles average scall on the Internet can be found. A card for these programs (both of Crimea and other regions) you can download on this page.

As for Garmin navigators, I’m not particularly faced. But since they are very popular, you can easily find on the Internet a lot of information on the use of these navigators. And you need maps for Garminov you can find on one of these resources.

The next step after you have mastered the navigator and successfully used the downloaded maps – learn how to make cards on their own. And here you can help a simple program Mobile Atlas Creator. We read a short manual on it. And after that, if there is desire and necessity, you can learn more complex ways creating maps involving the use of other programs.

This is my overview of everything related to GPS navigation, can be considered complete. More information you can get it if you read my articles about maps and navigation. In these articles I describe not only navigators, but also provide links for download various topographic maps.

In addition, you can ask questions directly in the comments to This article, and I, as far as my knowledge and capabilities, will try to answer them.

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