when buying a GPS

[jay590]

I'm looking at the garmin eTrex Venture® HC for bushwalking. I'm wondering does this come with maps for Australia or do i have to buy them seperately? If so which ones are the best and how much are they?

Jay

[jay590]

oh and one more thing. Are the coordinates they give you map coordinates or something else? and if they arnt is there a way to put them into map coordinates.

[sthughes]

Depends if you buy the unit in Australia (generally expensive) or from the US. Either way the Garmin maps of Aus are rubbish so you'll need to load your own maps. As far as I know there aren't any toppos for Australia from Garmin but thats okay because there are other options.
I use the free "Shonkymaps" software that you can download from the GPS Australia forum web site (you just have to join (for free) first). I also use "Contours Australia" which is an overlay that has much closer contour intervals than Shonky and is also free on that site. I believe you can also buy another product that is pretty similar to Shonky - but from what I've read it isn't worth it considering the price and slight improvements over Shonky.

I think when you get the unit it will be using the degrees/minitues/seconds format but it can be easily configured to spit out pretty much any type of location format. You can set it to give grid co-ordinates that work with the Tasmaps no problems at all. Just note that the different series' of Tasmaps use different datums so if you use 1:25000 as well as the national parks maps for example, you'll have to change the datum in the GPS so that the grid reference it spits out suits the particular map.

oh - just realised you are a New South Walian so you probably couldn't give a toss about Tasmaps! Maybe when you come and visit

[Penguin]

simon

Do you use Grid Datum Aus Geod '66, Aus Geod '84 or WGS 84 for 1:25,000 Tas Maps?

[Robbo]

For the older 1:25000 Tas maps its '66. For the newer maps either '84 is OK I'm lead to believe.

Robbo

[Penguin]

Where on the map does it indicate which to use?

[Robbo]

On the older 1:25000 Tas maps its on the bottom left, top of the second column of written information.

Robbo

[corvus]

G'day penguin,
On your Tas Maps 1:25000 next to the Mag Variance info is a screed which details all of the info you require .
When are you going to organise a Day/Overnighter

[Penguin]

Next month is out as every weekend has something.

Very keen to do something late November. Can the strollers cope with organisation that far ahead?

[corvus]

Just pick a date and you well may get the full crew plus extras see you then.

[Penguin]

I will put it on the ¨find a walking companion¨ section.

[corvus]

As the young ones say Cool

[sthughes]

simon

Do you use Grid Datum Aus Geod '66, Aus Geod '84 or WGS 84 for 1:25,000 Tas Maps?

No idea - whatever the map says - as has been noted it's marked on there somewhere. The parks maps like for Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair etc. run on a GDA datum not the Aus Geogrid is what I was getting at. Point being - check the map - you can't just set the GPS and use whatever map you pick up even if they all look the same and are produced by the same people!

As the young ones say Cool

[corvus]

Penguin ,
Sorry I gave you the proverbial bumsteer as the info does vary ,its under the Scale on the 1:100 000 and on the left on the 1:25 000 Maps.

[tastrax]

Here is a good link that spells out the differences in the maps

https://www.tasmap.tas.gov.au/do/page/articlesGda

[Penguin]

tkanx tastrax

Very useful link

[jay590]

thanks sthughes that makes thing alot clearer

[tasadam]

I'm looking at the garmin eTrex Venture® HC for bushwalking. I'm wondering does this come with maps for Australia or do i have to buy them seperately? If so which ones are the best and how much are they?

Jay

There have been some good replies already, but ultimately what you are asking would likely be answered best by the place you plan to purchase it from.
See if you can get one demonstrated in a store somewhere - that would be the best bet.

[flyfisher]

There are maps available for garmin gps.Some called shonky maps are available as a free download.
These can be downloaded to the gps unit. I also have Memory Map Topo which cannot be downloaded to the gps.But you can download from the gps to M.M.Topo.and you can plan tracks or routes in M.M.Topo and the download to the gps.
Another map set is Oz Topo which I think retail around $160 as opposed to M.M.Topo which costs $299

Flyfisher