GPS software

[Fazerkev]

Hey, dunno i anyone can help.
I'm looking at planning a route in Eurpoe and UK but don't have a GPS unit... and not sure about buying one.

Just want to plan a route and then see.

Are there any free (and good) routing programs out there for PC's. Preferably with compatability with GPS units, should I get one.

I have seen Googlearth does but only if you pay and then it's not compatable.
A couple of free ones I found had rough maps with only motorways and trunk roads.. I can follow signs myself without a GPS if all it can do is that

cheers
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Kev

[feef]

there aren't any routing applications out there that I know of, that are free. mainly cos they have to buy the map-data off compamnies like navteq.

better to use mapping websites such as Viamichelin to plan your route.

a
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[Fazerkev]

Cheers.. I've looked at a few.. most can't handle many "via" points and it'd be quite laborious making a route that way I reckon.. millions of waypoints needed if going eg leeds- Posrtmouth then french coast- le mans and the rest.. avoiding trunk raods..
or maybe its best to get there and then play..not been looong diatnce touring yet really

aa routeplanner.. pfft and no euro map
google- very limited
rac route planner looks good!
viamichelin.. had a glance

an others worth trying ?
ta
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Kev

[m i k e]

Like feef said there's sod all for free more or less, unless you try and find a country specific version of aarouteplanner, rac, etc. Unless you know of a way to 'acquire' software like M$'s MapPoint software

Mike
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[feef]

[BigChris]

Kev, get on the blower and email me your best offer price for software that details the entire world.

I shit you not, it saved me when I was trekking in Borneo as it got me out of 40mile deep rainforest.

[nautilus]

I don't think you can beat a good map for route planning for a bike. You get a good picture of the terrain & can visualise the whole thing betterpicking out where you need to take main roads & where there's more interesting bits heading in the right direction. Anything automated has a tendency to either miss out the interesting twisty bits & take you down main roads or or if you ask it to take minor roads it'll take you some horrendously long winded route & miss obvious good direct routes. Once you've planned the route GPS is brilliant keeping you on it & stopping you getting lost but certainly isn't the best for planning.

[feef]

[PsychoHippy]

[feef]

[Bladeloon]

Hi There,

I've just found this site during a search for advice on GPS, so you'll have to forgive me if i'm a little late, with this info

But the software I've been using for the last couple of years on trips to France, is Microsoft's Autoroute, (£30-£50 depending where you buy it, & don't necasarilly belive Ebay will be the cheapest It isn't always) which you load to your PC and you can map out routes, there is an updated version with GPS link, which cost about £100, which I belive would work with a PDA but youll need to check that, as I'm currently thinking about this route myself, as dedicated bike GPS units seem to be a bit too dear still at the moment for my liking.

Hope this helps

BL

[colin1]