Customer Reviews

TOPO! National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps, New York and New Jersey

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All information is in USGS 1:100,000 scale for road and very good hiking mapping and navigation. Its all very, very easy to learn and includes cool features to customize your maps like adding notes, showing your trails and routes, elevation profiles for hiking mountains and a 3D feature. This allows you to actually view your route as your travel in simulation at varying angles. The `Search' feature is very handy in locating just about anything you are looking for in that section/region of the map. You can zoom into five different levels of detail and print out any portion of that map. If your GPS allows you to import information, you can upload your personalized map to it. You can also import most GPS information into your computer onto the topographic maps, such as .gpx files and geocache information. TOPO! National Geographic is the best in mapping information for GPS or everyday route or hiking planning.

I had a Magellan Triton that claims you could download the maps to your Triton handheld, but that software is flawed and I had to return the Triton four times. Now that I have a Garmin, I can download info to my PC and use the National Geographic TOPO! information, but I still cannot import maps into my Garmin (just geocache information).

I bought this software because of the resolution that is available for NJ, NY,and PA. The receiver I use is a Garmin Etrex Vista. I purchased this software in the hope of creating a personalized map hard copy. One that contained my own finds out on the trail. To tell the truth I had much higher expectations. First question, big question is this product compatible with my GPS, yes...well sort of. It easily finds the GPS, and connects and quickly downloads all of the new data that I collect. But that's it. That's when you notice the trouble. First, it will import coordinates but that's all. This software will not import names of tracks or of waypoints correctly, at least I haven't found a way. Don't even think about displaying different types of way points. It also has a habit of connecting various tracks automatically so you end up with a lot of erroneous criss-crossed lines all over your map. Apparently it only likes one track at time. Also, there are absolutely no editing tools for tracks and waypoints. Moreover, it will not recognize any distinguishing characteristics of waypoints or tracks downloaded from the GPS.

The software is able to recognize GPX (garmin) files but is unable to save files in this format. This means that you can import Mapsource data files, but with the same limitations as described above. Mapsource BTW is the mapping software that comes with the Garmin GPS. And no, Mapsource cannot read the *.tpo files that this software creates. Neither can the EZGPS shareware version. And just for your information, EZGPS can also read and edit GPX files. I like the EZGPS because it has a few more editing features than Mapsource. Also the "view online" resolution is really amazing, a matter of a 100 FEET!

At any rate, I continue to search for better software, and better maps until I find one that works.