What Maps and Mapping Software do you use?

[StinkyPete]

I suspect many of us are travel junkies, and I certainly love pouring over maps while dreaming of bike and 4WD adventures, particularly when I'm grounded.   It might be helpful to others to list the maps and mapping software that we are using, so here's my list.

Google Maps
OziExplorer on both my desktop and tablet, loaded with more maps than I can poke a stick at, including the entire set of Aussie Hema road and 4WD maps
Garmin Basecamp (I'm still learning to use this, which allows routes to be planned on the computer and transfered onto my GPS)
WikiCamps Australia loaded on my tablet for free and low cost camping.   https://www.wikicamps.com.au/
Garmin 590 Motorcycle GPS is my constant companion on the bike
Hema HN7 is my GPS in the 4WD, which has the full set of Hema "paper" maps for moving map navigation
Camps Australia Wide map and camping book
Hema Road and 4WD Atlas
Selection of the "Outback Travellers Guide Tracks"  http://www.outbacktravellers.com.au/
Bear's Australian Motorcycle Atlas, which is a convenient size, but I find the print too small and don't use it much.
Several folders full of road, state, local and 4WD maps which I've collected over the years

When travelling I always carry paper maps as well as my GPS.

[richo]

 . I try and follow someone who knows where they are going.  When we get lost it is a rest stop

[alans1100]

TomTom MyDrive - can plan and transfer routes to TomTom GPS
Google Maps - Satellite view to assist above route planning
TomTom Rider 450/Go 600 GPSs - can do it all on here but the PC screen is easier.

Tyre To Travel - still working out this one. Came free with the Rider 450 http://www.tyretotravel.com/
Sometimes Google Earth
Sometimes Map Code because TomTom GPS will accept their location coding
http://www.mapcode.com/index.html?iso3=310&ifrom=getcoords&mapcode=8GKP.8M5&xx=132.314559&yy=-31.826835

Used to use Whereis until they changed the format a few years ago https://www.whereis.com/

Gave up paper maps a long time ago though there are still some in the junk room somewhere.
Readers Digest Australian map book - falling apart due to age
I have an Australian national park camping guide somewhere in the junk room
Western Australia Travel map book - still in car under driver seat and not used since 2010.

[Yorkie]

Garmin Basecamp will give different routes depending on type of vehicle input

[alans1100]

Garmin Basecamp will give different routes depending on type of vehicle input

I can do that with the TomTom MyDrive as it's designed to be used with all their car and bike GPSs

[ppopeye]

I wouldnt have thought of myself as a travel junkie but I think the cap does fit.


I use a variety of maps and mapping.
Google maps is used to plan trips and have starred  general travels and bike trips on it. I use it as I would have used paper maps.
Ibiker. Is an app that I use to record all my trips. Is is based in the UK but I find it works for me. Just find Australia on the world map and then look for the trip list.
Tom Tom rider GPS on the bike.
Mudmaps. General maps and 4wd maps.
Hema road atlas in the car.
Wikicamps when I remember to use it.
Also have files of maps that I look at and trim occassionally.

[ST2UP]

MudMaps 3 is our most commonly used....it has a variety of maps downloaded onto the iPad (Dashmounted) and the iPhone.

We have Raster, VicMaps, NSW LMPI, VMS, Rooftop maps all in the devices.....also carry the Hema A3 book for a broad look then a paper map of targeted area I.e Vic Highcountry/Fraser Is etc.

 

[Shiney]

I don't have a GPS on the bike so just use apps on the phone...

Google Maps
MetroView

(This works 99% of the time)

[Biggles]

Google Maps and GPS (routes loaded manually usually, saving ambiguities).
Great to see a true map addicts' collection.   

[Old Steve]

I tend to have a good look at a road map before I leave, and then use hardware en route - I look for signposts showing the name of towns I want to pass through.

I like richo's way too!

[Williamson]

Google Maps is always a good start for my trip planning. 

And there's Driving Route Planner http://www.drivingrouteplanner.com/?message=Thank+you+for+using+DrivingRoutePlanner%2C+enjoy+your+trip, good for plotting the shortest route via multiple destinations.

Then there's the GPS (TomTom - on the bike, Navman - in the car) when on the road.

Paper maps are also packed for most long distant rides or drives.  When riding, I like to fold and put 'em in the tank bag window.  But too many folds, results in too many tears.  Cartoscope have a very good series of maps for NSW and VIC, and because they are FREE, it doesn't matter if they tear, you get another.

I have an old Hema Motorcycle Touring Atlas, pretty useless for me now as the scale is too small for my eyes. 

I really like larger scale maps, much easier to read.  I would like to get a 1:1 scale map of Australia, just imagine the level of detail and how easy it would be to read.

There might be a problem folding and getting into the tank bag though ...........

 

[Brock]

I have the Garmin suite and Oziexplorer, I have garmin in the BT50 and Bike, as well as Hema and the Mazda gps in the 50.

I take pictures from Google earth, and calibrate them in Ozi explorer, the copy the maps and cal filed to the SD card (into the Hema maps folder) . That gives ne nice sat photo maps so you can see exactly where you are when off road.

Calibrating maps can take a lot of time, as you have to print your GE pic, then find 3 or 4 points (or even more if you can) , then find those points again on GE and read the lat/long. When you have your co-ordinates, you need to open up Ozi, load the map you want to calibrate. Now locate the points on the picture (one at a time) and enter the lat/long not forgetting to change the settings for southern hemisphere ( West and south)

[Biggles]

I take pictures from Google earth, and calibrate them in Ozi explorer, the copy the maps and cal filed to the SD card (into the Hema maps folder) . That gives ne nice sat photo maps so you can see exactly where you are when off road.

Calibrating maps can take a lot of time, as you have to print your GE pic, then find 3 or 4 points (or even more if you can) , then find those points again on GE and read the lat/long. When you have your co-ordinates, you need to open up Ozi, load the map you want to calibrate. Now locate the points on the picture (one at a time) and enter the lat/long not forgetting to change the settings for southern hemisphere ( West and south)

Strewth!  So you brew your own then!?     

[Brock]

Brew my own ??

To a certain extent, its no good for the Garmin units, but great for the Hema Navigator in the 4x4.

Hi res mapping is hard to find for off road, 1:25000 just doesnt help much.

[Biggles]

Brew my own ??

OK, "draw your own" then.  Or "produce your own".

[Bodø Glimt]

Google Maps is always a good start for my trip planning. 

Paper maps are also packed for most long distant rides or drives.  When riding, I like to fold and put 'em in the tank bag window.  But too many folds, results in too many tears.

I really like larger scale maps, much easier to read.  I would like to get a 1:1 scale map of Australia, just imagine the level of detail and how easy it would be to read.

There might be a problem folding and getting into the tank bag though ...........

 

This is pretty much me, minus the tank bags.  Also I carry my tablet which has google maps on it.

[Gadget]

Google Maps is always a good start for my trip planning. 

Paper maps are also packed for most long distant rides or drives.  When riding, I like to fold and put 'em in the tank bag window.  But too many folds, results in too many tears.

I really like larger scale maps, much easier to read.  I would like to get a 1:1 scale map of Australia, just imagine the level of detail and how easy it would be to read.

There might be a problem folding and getting into the tank bag though ...........

 

This is pretty much me, minus the tank bags.  Also I carry my tablet which has google maps on it.

I used my Samsung Note 8 Tablet in the top of the Tank Bag With Google maps and DigiHUD Pro in a split screen.
DigiHUD isca GPS Speedo.
The 8 inch size made it easier to read.
I simultaneously had Google maps on the phone via Bluetooth for the spoken directions.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[tj189]

I found TYRE to quiet good for some time, however they have progressed onto MYRoute https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/home there is of course money involved and that is explained on their website.  This program is getting better and better as it is cloud based and will work off your mobile phone as well as the PC.  Do your planning on the big PC, log in to your phone with the app installed there as well and it will be there for you to use.  Added to this they also have in progress a gps program that will run off the phone as well, it is like a one stop shop.
If you pay for the program the planning part allows for comparisons across three different maps, googlemaps, Here and Tom Tom so you can see the differences.  it allows sharing your planned route with other riders and...... probably need to have a good read of the website above.

[alans1100]

I found TYRE to quiet good for some time,

I don't find it that user friendly. I've given log in info for TomTom's MyDrive so routes can be transferred to the GPS but nothing ever gets sent over. Glad I never had to pay for it myself (maybe I did) as it came with the Rider 450. Every now and then I have a play with it and maybe one day I might get it to work.

[tj189]

I found TYRE to quiet good for some time,

I don't find it that user friendly. I've given log in info for TomTom's MyDrive so routes can be transferred to the GPS but nothing ever gets sent over. Glad I never had to pay for it myself (maybe I did) as it came with the Rider 450. Every now and then I have a play with it and maybe one day I might get it to work.

Would suggest not using TomTom MyDrive but you can do the same with MyRoute App.  Like starting to use any new software there is a learning curve, e.g. been using Basecamp for some time and still learning but don't particularly like it :-) They are continually updating MyRoute App so user friendliness may get better