I wanted to do 2 things.
1. Check for easier turn by turn route creation tools (ideally something integrated with OziExplorer)
2. Figure an easy way to create index maps of regions I can’t currently find.
Well, I tried out a tool that looked promising called ITNConv which is reputed to be similar to GPSBabel. It actually outputs OziExplorer route files, which is nice, and is integrated with Google maps. However, it doens’t generate enough points to create a path along a route to create a route. In fact, its routing functionality seemed to me to be pretty similar to OziExplorer itself. So, for my use, I didn’t really find any reason to continue with it. For turn by turn route creation, the best free method still seems to be GMapToGPX check out THIS post for more info. Below is a screenshot of the editor component of the application.
Here is some information on ITNConv.
Here is the homepage [translated into English].
Creating OziExplorer index maps was actually more successful. I tried first an application called GoogleOzi which works OK, but isn’t 100% there. I was only using the shareware version granted, however many times, creating images from the maps didn’t get the selected area like it was supposed to, or various other problems — slowness and the navigation is very unfriendly. Here is a screen-shot of a selected area (the green rectangle) in Microsoft live maps, and another screenshot of the output jpeg file which is supposed to be of only the selected area… Not very functional, and pretty frustrating…
My next try was with an application I like better called GoogleMV. This is shareware, but the free version (currently 2 .9.4.9 of the program) works well. The downside is that Google seems to like to BLOCK the URL when downloading LOTS of image sets. According to Nikolay Serebrennikov (I think the programmer), the newest registered version can avoid the IP blocking by Google, but I have not registered yet, and can’t give any advice to the status of that claim. I did seem to get the application to work very well. Here are some screen-shots, followed by some index maps for OziExplorer of the Western USA.
Live maps is supported for registered users as well, if Google maps is too restrictive for your tastes.
Some OziExplorer Index maps created with GoogleMV:
- South Dakota Road map from Google
- Western USA Terrain map from Google
- Small Wyoming and South Dakota Terrain map from Google
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