GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Chapter 10: Using GPS Manufacturer Mapping Software171Keeping these three rules in mind when you go map shopping, you can generallyexpect to pay anywhere from $100–$150 for a map software product froma GPS receiver manufacturer. You can easily avoid paying suggested retail formap software if you exploit the Internet for dealers offering better prices.Even if your GPS receiver doesn’t support maps, you can still use a manufacturer’smap program with your receiver to download and upload waypoints,routes, and tracks, as well as access maps on your PC. However, I find thatthe third-party products I discuss in Chapters 12 and 13 that can interfacewith GPS receivers have more features and better maps when it comes toPC use.Common GPS map software featuresHere are some of the features that all GPS receiver map software have incommon. Upload maps to GPS receivers: The main job of a mapping program onyour computer is to upload maps to your GPS receiver. The maps appearthe same on your computer and your GPS receiver screen although theGPS receiver displays smaller portions of the map than you can view onyour computer screen. (And the map won’t appear in color if yourreceiver has a monochrome display.) You use the mapping software toselect the portions of the maps that you want to upload to your GPSreceiver. (To read how to upload to your receiver, see the followingsection.) Print from and use maps on your PC: In addition to uploading maps toa GPS receiver, you can also use the map software on your PC to viewand print maps, measure distances, and plan trips. Download waypoints, routes, and tracks from GPS receivers: With GPSmapping software, you can download information that you’ve recordedwith your GPS receiver, such as waypoints, routes, and tracks. You canstore this data on your PC’s hard drive or display it as an overlay on themaps displayed on your PC. (Read how to create and use waypoints,routes, and tracks in Chapter 4.) Upload waypoints, routes, and tracks to GPS receivers: In addition todownloading GPS data, you can also upload waypoints, routes, andtracks from your PC to a GPS receiver. For example, you can plot severalwaypoint locations on the PC map and then transfer them to your GPSreceiver. View POIs: Many software packages have Points of Interest (POIs), suchas restaurants, gas stations, and geographic features shown on the mapsthat you view with your PC or GPS receiver.