~Toughbooktalk~

I've started a search for adding maps to the Toughbook using this link for Garmin:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Adding- ... -Oregon-4/

Canada: http://www.openmapchest.org/maps/canada
USA: http://www.openmapchest.org/maps/united-states

Ignore the ads on the web pages, and look at the bottom for bit torrent downloads
Looks like you can also register and use a direct download

I'd like to see if we (me and you) download the zipped files, can then use the maps in a mapping program on Toughbooks. I'm starting with OPNcpn on a Linux install: http://opencpn.org/ocpn/
The mapping might NOT be supported in OPNcpn, but I'm still going to start here:
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/chart_formats

You might want to use Windows for OPNcpn, or for instance, FoxtrotGPS in Linux. Of course there are many more out there. Please try and report back here. Here is a quote from the first link which motivated me to give a try:

"No longer do we have to rely on corporations, cartographers, or national
institutions to generation mapping data when they get around to it - you can use your own GPS to add information to a map. And chances are people in your area have already done some of it for you. Future Instructables will demonstrate how you can contribute (if you would like) to this resource by updating the map yourself using your GPS. Above are two examples - the first is an OpenStreetMap loaded on my GPS unit that shows not only the roads, but the trails. It clearly shows a Geocache on a trail through the area. The second is Garmin's "Topo Canada" which is similar to "There be Dragons Here" with a cache somewhere in it. I would be left to discover a trail in the area by "Hit and miss".

I see that it's OpenStreetMap (OSM) formatted for Garmin I presume. I've yet to download the 1.1GB file. On Linux, that's already been an easy option on several mapping programs like FoxtrotGPS. In the "linux gps map software" thread I detailed how to extract OSM files to use in the excellent GPS program "navit".

I don't own a Garmin but would love to see how this works out on one of those devices.

Thanks for the post. I'll have to give Navit another look. One year ago I played around with it while downloading OSM for Foxtrot, but did not get very far. I found the article referenced interesting and thought I'd post it. I have a Garmin handheld, but have not used it much lately. I'm more inclined to try something like you mention with a Toughbook.

Navit is not the easiest software to setup, but I'll gladly help if you have any questions.

kode-niner wrote:Navit is not the easiest software to setup, but I'll gladly help if you have any questions.

Just off the line with Left Coast talking about this and other things. I'm going to take a closer look at Navit, and see how it goes, and appreciate the help if needed. I'll search for your post(s) and give it a go. Best regards, Cleve

Going to start (or add onto) a thread in Linux regarding this map stuff...