Description:

New routes have one major drawback: You have to look at every corner on the map. With the help of satellite navigation and the appropriate software you can make orientation. An overview.


After nine years in the Swabian my orientation is still difficult areas in the state. Too many curves and branches for an aurora. Not to mention the names of places all over – between Bempflingen, Erkenbrechtsweiler Owen and I will never find me cope. Good thing there are colleagues who are familiar. For example, Holzwarth verified by the service department, which I recently branched his home track of Stuttgart was down to Lake Constance. If he drove them to me – I had to change direction in 1435 never found back home. And retrace the trip alone? Unthinkable. Later than the third crossing, I would be greased to nowhere. Guaranteed.

Of course I would have to draw the route in good old custom on a map. But in 2002 is the magic word satellite navigation in short GPS (Global Positioning System). Nothing really new has to be, Die-note. Right. But mid because GPS makes everyday sense, what one and gave recently at desert expeditions, Antarctica crossings or on the high seas, the orientation leads one day in each transfer any road the nearest McDonald’s or from the Alps to Andalusia. In principle there is an appropriate device – put simply – and rightly around the world. And hence on Uli’s home track.

How does this work? Actually quite simple. A GPS receiver – almost all popular devices are made by Garmin – is under the open sky with up to twelve satellites in combination, four of them meet for the device in addition to countless other functions to its exact position at about 15 meters (measured and shown can determine longitude and latitude) as well as any other place.Now programmed to a GPS device with coordinates of the target, is said to be at or just out along the desired route. This is done with simpler equipment by an arrow; more comfortable (and expensive) GPS receivers also have a map on the display called a “basemap”, on which the driving distance is highlighted. This “Basemap” – or basic card – already includes the road network of Europe (freeways, highways and rural roads, cities, borders, rivers). Another advantage: you are always informed about his current location.

With the help of Garmin’s maps CD-ROMs (MapSource) can this basemap expanded almost arbitrarily, so that for example side sections and merged it into cities to the desired street and if necessary information about hotels, restaurants, et cetera is supplied (see the sidebar “Software”). Set limits only the relevant partially low storage capacity of the GPS devices (see device list).Who wants to load more MapSource map data should be aware of his field goal in mind and know that you can take to save a few accurate maps and sections. A good map is therefore still in the luggage. Simply because the lack of MapSource on the PC and on the Basemap BiIdschirm the display of the GPS receiver contours lines or curved lines are only hinted at.

A GPS device does not automatically the desired target, however but must – be programmed – as already mentioned. You can leave all devices that have a basemap-map display, enter a desired location on the keyboard directly into a GPS receiver and thus lead to it. Two units – the Garmin GPS V and the Garmin Street Pilot III – also have a “auto-routing function” (see equipment list).Another possibility is that the input of the coordinates of longitude and latitude of the target.

To make sense and above all fun all this technology makes but only with the appropriate software and with a little preliminary work on a home computer: keyword routing. On a map on the screen the desired route is traced with the mouse. Each branch or any street intersection will be marked with a single click and automatically saved as a so-called “waypoint”. The sum of the waypoints will now be combined into one route, and finally transferred to the GPS receiver mounted on the handlebars and then only to be activated.

In practice it is next to a powerful Windows machine (not an Apple-McIntosh), directed to the appropriate software. Depending on the needs or purpose are “QV” (Touratech), “Softtraxx” (gps24) or “Fugawi” in question. Next you need to create a route a map that already loaded in either digitized form of a CD-ROM into the PC or at QV and Fugawi than conventional map sheet that has a system of coordinates, can be scanned.

With all of these programs can be, for example the take over with the help of the Motorcycle Tour Planner prepared routes and any information contained therein fixed routes and then convert it into a GPS device for the human-readable format. Those who meet these regions, does not require additional maps.

After a tour can analyze the distance traveled at home and archive. By connecting the GPS receiver back to the PC, with the help of programs such as height profiles can be created or you can read along with many other tour dates, for example how fast you were traveling on the individual stages. Learning the programs with their diverse ways however requires a little patience. Especially GPS beginners need time to get behind the classification of satellite navigation. Is the penny but fell just once, to program and use appears simple and understandable.

Despite all the technology – without a map and without enough batteries, in case the recipient is not connected to the electrical system, one should not break up into totally unknown territory. If the signal reception in the dense forest only very weakly or did you put in the planning of the monitor when several closely spaced branches to a waypoint inaccurate, you can do the same as ever.

Oh yes, last weekend I actually drove the home track of colleagues Uli Holzwarth. Alone and without a map – but satellite-supported. Because at least 250 kilometers from Stuttgart down to Lake Constance – a terrain in which I would normally keep to almost every branch and look at map and signs must. This time was enough only a quick glance at the arrow and continuously adapted to the map on the display of the GPS receiver to take the right path.All without searching and questioning.