Low Cost GPS Receiver and Moving Map PC Software Reviews
by Joe Mehaffey and Jack Yeazel
Revised: 20 June, 2000 (Corrected for SA elimination and other details)
Quoted prices are US$
VECTOR-MAP SOFTWARE
Delorme Street Atlas 7.0 (SA7) is a $25 upgrade from SA6,
(or about $50 otherwise.) Two CD ROMs of SA7 have new enhancements which add substantial
utility to the program. (See:
Street Atlas 7 -Review)
Address to address directions are not for just the current city, but for the whole USA. That is, the
quickest route from 1 Beacon Street, MA. (02111) to 1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA (94111)
is quickly calculated. In this version, ZIP codes aren't required. These routepoints are "spoken" as
you drive along giving several "warnings" approaching each routepoint.
Waypoints with NAMES and stored tracks can be downloaded and displayed on SA7. However,
routes downloaded to SA7 do not show any lines connecting the routepoints. An example of how
G7ToWin can distinguish between a mixture of downloaded waypoints and routepoints (with lines
drawn between routepoints) is shown (HERE).
Draw Object "Text Notes" and "Place Notes" (waypoints created by SA7) containing Lat/Long
with the first 6 note characters are shown in the Names list; and the first 16 note characters are
shown in Comments when uploaded to the Garmin receivers . Uploading "Map Notes" results in
no recognizable names or comments in the Garmin receivers. Routes can also be uploaded to
Garmin and Lowrance receivers and to later model Magellan receivers. (Consult Delorme or
Magellan for specific model compatibility.)
Automatic Pan, logging, tracking are now supported. Points of Interest include restaurants, hotels,
gas stations, Radio Station Listings along your travel route, etc. Edit Roads allows you to specify
roads one-way, no-left-turn, etc. Palm Pilot PDA is now supported in consort with a main
computer.
All Delorme maps can be printed. Waypoints, routes, and tracks downloaded to Delorme maps will
also be shown on the prints.
Precision Mapping 3.02 (PM3) with GPS Link 3.01 GPS software (GPS Link 3.01 is free
download from HERE): (This program also comes bundled with the Eagle Explorer Ver. 1.4
including cables for $300). Up until SA4 came out, PM2 was the best low cost moving map
software available. Now PM3 is a vector map program that surpasses SA4 in features and
compatibility. The software provides total USA road coverage from the most up to date data base
available in inexpensive maps. PM3 is able to up/download waypoints and tracks from the Eagle
Explorer, Ver. 1.4. but only waypoints from the Garmins. Apparently PM3 is the only vector-map
program we have that recognizes the EE Simulator Mode.
A real time track plot is displayed by up to 200 large red dots with a large real time heading arrow
(the same size as SA4), but it only displays eight unique headings. Waypoints retrieved from the
receiver are nicely displayed with names, and retrieved receiver tracks have a wide "marker pen"
appearance. A sky view of the satellites is the best we have seen.
The maps in PM3, however, have less vector resolution than SA4/5, ME2, and Vista. About 10%
of the two vector "curves" in SA4/5 and Vista are single vector "curves" in PM3. The basic "PM3"
maps can be printed, but the GPS-mode "Link" maps cannot be printed. Other features available
in PM3 aren't available with GPS Link.
The software package works well and is very intuitive. A Search function allows location by Zip
code, Area and Exchange code, and Place Names. You do not have to have an on line CD ROM
drive with PM3, since individual states can be loaded to the HD. It DOES work with Magellan's
NMEA 0183 data stream on both the GPS 3000 and 4000 as well as the Garmin and Eagle
products the
most compatibility of all the vector maps we have reviewed.
Microsoft AutoRoute 5.0 (AR5) for Europe (a separate version for the UK): It has maps
for most of Europe with a number of interesting features. In addition, it provides automated route
planning, an interface for GPS input, and a "find a town" feature among others. It provides
information on campsites, museums, and other points of interest. It even has a foreign language
phrase book and photos of a number of landmarks and tourist attractions.
The major missing item with AR5 is GOOD MAPS, especially the city maps. Unlike Map-N-Go
(USA), there are no auxiliary city maps provided. Only the major highway routes and a few other
streets are shown on the AR5 city maps. Even the city streets shown are not usually named. By
comparison with the AR5, the Delorme SA4 and ME2, and Precision Mapping products have
almost every town with a name shown if you expand the map. AR5 maps fail to name most
smaller villages. Also, AR5 maps are often in error by 500 meters making use for city navigation a
challenge.
The AR5's "Find a route from city A to city B" feature worked very well. It will call your attention
to tourist attractions a specified maximum distance off your track which will be a nice feature for
first time visitors to Europe. The route feature permits a from/to with any number of intermediate
cities so you can plan your itinerary with personal interests in mind.
See:
Autoroute 5 GPS Compatible Moving Map Software -Review
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