GPS and Google earth

[Davidtheo]

I would like to get my hands on a GPS that can record where I have been, save it and then I can put my route on Google earth but I think Google earth uses one kind of format. I would also like this GPS to have maps I can load into it so I can plot my traveling and find myself if (when) I get lost, I perfer Google maps but any kind would do as long as the maps cover areas like China, Japan and other areas and not only the USA.

Can anyone tell me a GPS that would do this, the name and model number.

[noutters]

I do it today with my Nokia cell phone, an E71. I track, record and export to Google Earth my moves with nokia's free Sports Tracker. To find my way around, you could use the built in Nokia Maps but i prefer McGuider 2009 that is imho far superior. Cheers :-)

[Davidtheo]

Thanks Noutters I'll check this out, I would have to check if the Phones works on the Chinese network too.

[tsaint]

I've used a garmin emap gps receiver often in the past and imported routes into google earth. Worked easily and well. Have used it to log path of a plane too, and had a 3d route in google earth.

[Davidtheo]

I've used a garmin emap gps receiver often in the past and imported routes into google earth. Worked easily and well. Have used it to log path of a plane too, and had a 3d route in google earth.

-tsaint (December 30, 2008, 06:42 PM)

Hi tsaint

What is the model number?

[4wd]

I've used a garmin emap gps receiver often in the past and imported routes into google earth. Worked easily and well. Have used it to log path of a plane too, and had a 3d route in google earth.

-tsaint (December 30, 2008, 06:42 PM)

Hi tsaint

What is the model number?

-Davidtheo (December 30, 2008, 07:16 PM)

Any half-way decent GPS receiver that can record a track of where you've been and that has a means of getting it on to a computer will work.

I've got a Garmin Geko 201 and have logged tracks through the USA, Australia, UK and from Helsinki to Hong Kong by train.

You can download the track data from the GPS using the free EasyGPS program and the requisite cable of course.

About the only thing you need to check on is the number of points the track log can store (eg. the Geko has 10,000 points).  A low number of points, (my previous GPS had a max of 768), and the track log starts overwriting itself.

However, before spending big on a proper GPS unit when all you want to do is log your location and get the track into Google Maps/Earth, you may want to check this out since you're in the same country

Ooppss, forgot the bit about you wanting to load maps on it - oh well, couple it up with a cheap netbook, (eg. Acer Aspire One), and use it for the mapping part.

[Davidtheo]

Let me explain this a little better.

1. I would like to record my route for example I am going to Shaoguan Over New Years I would like to record my route to Shaoguan, any locations I like in Shaoguan like shops, parks etc, etc.

2. I would like to go to Japan and Thailand, I would like a GPS where I can load these maps into the GPS when I go to these places. Some GPS I have looked at only have maps for say the USA or just the UE and not Asia.

3. I would like to load the routes and locations onto Google earth with any photos I have taken.

The following I would like but not really needed.

1. I would like to mark a location of where I would like to go on the downloaded and the GPS tell me if I need to go North, South, East or west etc,etc More details would help but not needed.

[4wd]

OK, now I understand the proposed use of it a bit better, however as you've found, there's very little in the way of software with Asia map data.

I think you're going to have to work from the reverse end, find software with the map data that you require and then find what units it can be loaded into.

After you've found what units you can load it into, then find which of those allow you to do the other points you want, (track log, POI and navigation).

After a quick Google, the only units I've found with Chinese/Japanese/Thai map data are those designed to be installed into a car.

TomTom gets the closest with map data for Hong Kong but nowhere else in Asia.

Google Maps have the best coverage but unfortunately you need net access to use them.

Personally, I'll stick with my Gecko and a paper map 

[Davidtheo]

Thanks 4WD and everyone.

I think my best bet is to go for the Nokia E71 Cell phone and the Bluetooth GPS Logger Fob or a Garmin Geko 201

[tsaint]

Hi David,
 I assume you've realised the model number - even the model - is fairly irrelevant. Maybe of interest is something I did once for Singapore for one of my first trips there. That was to search for gps coordinate listings via google for singapore (same for any city or country). I found several sites which had the data for points of interest which I could fairly easily import into my gps. An example of a site with such lists is http://www.swopnet.com/waypoints/ - that was one of many from a google search for "gps coordinates tokyo points of interest"
 It worked fairly well for me, except in the midst of tall buildings!! I also found a few sets of coordinates by finding places (relative's homes) in google earth and entering them manually.
tony

one last thing... I bought a TyTN II smartphone which has a gps built in. It came bundled with "mapking" maps and they're supposedly specialists in asian maps. I'm not recommending them, just pointing out an alternative mapsource to look at. They're at http://www.mapking.c.../eng/home/index.html or http://www.mapking.c...m/tc/home/index.html (chinese)
no, here's the last thing... have you looked at google maps for mobiles? (http://www.google.co...le/default/maps.html).

[4wd]

one last thing... I bought a TyTN II smartphone which has a gps built in. It came bundled with "mapking" maps and they're supposedly specialists in asian maps. I'm not recommending them, just pointing out an alternative mapsource to look at. They're at http://www.mapking.c.../eng/home/index.html or http://www.mapking.c...m/tc/home/index.html (chinese)
no, here's the last thing... have you looked at google maps for mobiles? (http://www.google.co...le/default/maps.html).

-tsaint (December 31, 2008, 03:11 AM)

There's also The GPSMap Project - bidirectional interaction between your GPS and Google Maps.

cGPSMapper - Create your own maps for Garmin GPS's, (note that you'll need a mapping GPS unit which the Gecko 201 is not).

[Davidtheo]

Hi tsaint How is the Office software going?

Thanks to both of you I am on my way to Shaoguan now and I will back on the 4th so I will check these out next week.

4wd I do not mind getting a mapping GPS but as I am new to all this I would need an easy to use mapping GPS.

[tsaint]

Hi tsaint How is the Office software going?

-Davidtheo (December 31, 2008, 09:31 AM)

Great thanks David... it's by far my preferred suite! Got some students on it as well, more this year.
Btw, have a great trip!

[grishconner]

I want to by new car's GPS and budget not over $300, which one is the best product? (I never use it before)
Bestsellers Car's GPS Listing from Amazon.com

[4wd]

I want to by new car's GPS and budget not over $300, which one is the best product? (I never use it before)
Bestsellers Car's GPS Listing from Amazon.com

-grishconner (January 02, 2009, 03:52 AM)

The one that gives that best features, (that you will use), map coverage and detail in the areas that you want for your selected price range.

Unless you provide a lot more detail on where you want to travel and what features you want then the only way to decide is for you to visit each manufacturers website and discover what maps are available and what the unit can do.  Or visit a store where you can play with the actual units.

Anything we could recommend is biased towards what we use the units for.

For example, I have no need of a SatNav unit, (AFAIAC it contributes to the dumbing down of the species ), however I do have a GPS that can tell me where I am, (coordinates only), but I still require a map and knowledge of how to read it to locate my position with respect to the environment.  So anything I could recommend definitely won't apply to someone who wants a unit to tell them where to go.