Simviation Forums

Do you know what... ....

I was planning a little countryside route for this afternoon's Bike ride, and I thought to myself (as I sometimes do), let's try that Tom-Tom Sat Nav thingy which I bought ages ago and still haven't used so far...
So I charged it up from the mains, fiddled and farted about with the tap buttons on the screen trying to get the Map displayed in a reasonable size, and constantly doing something wrong, and getting dumped back to the start screen again, losing my route, and having to start all over again....whilst the battery was slowly running down.....

..so I gave up on that daft idea,..... .... and got my trusty paper map out, opened the sheet for my route, and attached it to my Tank Bag in front of me.....

SORTED!..... ...!

Moral: There's no substitute for a good, old fashioned, paper map if you want to find your way around....I reckon!.... ....!

Paul.... ...!

Nowadays I use Google maps, it's pretty much the same as paper maps. I do keep a paper map in the car, but Miami is all grids with almost all roads running NS & EW,
hard to get lost. Google is helpful also with street shots which I rely on when going to new areas or, like on this coming Thanksgiving, a friend moved, trying to find his
new place on paper would work, but Google street enables figuring out where the heck to park, which is always a problem in densely pop'd areas.

Even when driving around, think like a pilot and always plan ahead. And here in Miami, it's best to think like a fighter pilot when driving anywhere.

Apex wrote:Nowadays I use Google maps, it's pretty much the same as paper maps. I do keep a paper map in the car, but Miami is all grids with almost all roads running NS & EW,
hard to get lost. Google is helpful also with street shots which I rely on when going to new areas or, like on this coming Thanksgiving, a friend moved, trying to find his
new place on paper would work, but Google street enables figuring out where the heck to park, which is always a problem in densely pop'd areas.

Even when driving around, think like a pilot and always plan ahead. And here in Miami, it's best to think like a fighter pilot when driving anywhere.

Hello Apex....

I suppose using Google Maps are OK if you have a Laptop in the Car/Truck which can display it.....

..but we poor old Bikers obviously have problems with carting a Laptop around in our Leather Jackets, ....in the pouring rain!

My Google Map displays are lovely on my Tower Computer...but no good on the bike!... ...!

I sometimes get a computer print-out of a Google Map for my route, and then attach it under the clear plastic cover on my Tank Bag.

I may try using my Google Nexus 7 Tablet as Sat Nav...at least its got a decent size display compared to my Tom-Tom Sat Nav screen....but, as always, battery run-down is always a problem on a Bike.

'Trubble is, I've go so used to paper maps over the years, that I am addicted to them now!

Paul.... ...!

Actually, I screenshot what I need, either flat maps or street photos, on Google maps, then print out the flat map and chart out the route. The street shots
help me recognize landmarks etc, to clue me while on the road, so when driving out, I know exactly how to get there without going in circles.

It's mainly for locations that I haven't been to before or for quite a while.

Back before tech stuff, I would paper map it. Now it's a lot easier and safer this way.

An onboard GPS would be good I suppose, but I don't go to unknown locations enough to bother with it, and I'd rather be "pre" prepared than having to think
while driving.

When I'm planning a bicycle ride, especially somewhere I haven't gone before, I'll use Google Maps and turn on the Bicycle Trails Filter, and it gives me a good overview. Although I see a lot of cyclists using their Smartphones on the trails, I just can't get used to using mine. This is where I fall back on the 'old fashioned' method... I'll make a small strip chart, and write down both the major turns and mileage. I can tape that to my handlebar stem or put it in my jersey pocket, where it's out of the way.

Sometimes the old ways still work well; just like a Sectional, watch, and the MK 1 eyeball...

As much as I like old planes, old ships, old ways of travel (horses, walking, etc) I would have had a GPS implanted in me if I could have.

Back then I covered three (and some times up to five states).


Nowadays, work is a thirty minute drive.



One thing that you have to say about GPS - If you have an open sky, you can't be lost.

Sure, you may not know how to enter the address of where you want to go. But the GPS can at least show you where you are.

The trouble with all these new, fan-dangle things, is that they all rely on batteries to make the bleedin' things work...
..and most of my battery-driven stuff runs out of power long before I can get the full details that I require!

My paper Maps, together with my trusty Compass, are pretty sure to get me going in the right direction....at least!.... ...!

Paul...Buried under assorted Battery Chargers...charging up new, fan-dangle, thingies!.... ...!

Good morning all...

Paul we always carried various maps when flying. WAC Charts and Sectionals filled our Flight Bags.

When the GPS became available it was still Military and Airline Policy (Commercial) to carry the appropriate Maps for the intended flight. Why not, they were free from the company or military.

I liked to carry Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources Maps also when I was aviating.

Those maps showed old buildings and sites of which many are now in ruins.
-Hudson Bay Posts
-Logging and Mining Camps and Settlements
-Hunting and Fishing Camps
-Cottages
-Old Rail Road Stations, Hamlets, Villages
Almost all buildings that were erected in that area the map covered. The contour of the land, logging roads and fire access roads/trails, forests, ponds, rivers and lakes all showed up.

They were hard to obtain through the Military as they gave them to units which used the maps during Operational Commitments but sometimes I could scrounge a well used one...

When we used to fly ourselves (now we have a current licensed aviator with us when we decide to go flying and defy the Gods) I take along a Sectional Map, a Road Map and a Ministry of Natural Resources Map to spot things of interest from the air.

If we see something we like and there is a trail or road into it, the greatest four wheel drive vehicle ever made does it's stuff with ease. One of our trusty Land Rover's equipped with a GPS and a Map Holder with the appropriate maps gets us to our destination.

The trip make for an interesting outing with camping gear and food/drink.

So Paul that is what we do with our maps and GPS.

An interesting alternative to Satellite Navigation, for shipping, etc, in the event of signal failure.....>>>

"eLoran".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29758872

Back to the old VOR and NDB Radio Beacon navigation system used by Aircraft!

Paul....tuning to the local Shobdon NDB beacon; 426.0 KHz, on my Motor Bike, and observing the yellow needle on the gauge next to the speedometer!.... ...!

...still using my trusty paper maps.... ...!

Interesting Link Paul with some other Links on the bottom of the page.

I liked the Link about the RAF threatening to shoot down an aircraft and the other Link about the first train to arrive in 50 years.

Very interesting...

...and some more interesting stuff on the more modern eLORAN system...>>>

http://elorantechnologies.com/

I sometimes use ground-based high frequency VOR and NDB radio beacons to guide my Sim ships on water, but the line-of-sight signal is obviously limited by ground obstacles, hills, etc...
(Some of the NDB Beacons are located out at sea, eg: Outer Markers, etc).

Paul...a shining beacon in the darkness!... ..!