Redbull, I use Nat. Geo's Topo app for Ca. on my Netbook. It uses scans of the actual hi res topo maps, so yes you can get apps with topo maps (is that what you're asking?). You can see my setup in the build link in my signature.

Phil...
Check out Avenza (who makes a GIS to Illustrator plugin). They just announced a geospatial PDF viewer for the iOS platforms (iPhone, iPad & iTouch). This would essentially allow the display of geoPDFs as the map background to a GPS enabled iPad/iPhone. I have yet to do much experimenting with GeoPDF output but this new app will possibly get you going with the possibility of creating your own trip maps with selectable layers for waypoints, notes, side routes etc... all with an overlaid gps signal...

http://www.avenza.com/news/2010/07/1...-app-apple-ios
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />

Phil:

You might check this: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/TrimbleOutdoors.aspx

For a different application, I am looking at a Trimble with ARCPad to feed an ARCView system and stumbled on the above link...

I have TomTom on the Iphone 3Gs. A regular TomTom One car GPS.

The TomTom iphone is a battery killer. I always have mine plugged in. Recently in Dallas on a biz trip it would not refresh fast enough at 70 mph ( I was not driving ) and we missed a few exits. Bottom line it's about useless unless you keep it facing the sky thru the windshield so you need their $100 mount. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> Now with that said it was the first generation of the software, I've upgraded since then but have not tested. My phone became hot to the touch after a hour of TomTom use. I held it over the AC vent !

On the flip side the TomTom one works flawlessly but like you mentioned the whole multi-device thing is a pain especially for travel.

I've tried many TOPO type maps for the Iphone www.topomapsapp.com and the Yosemite map by EarthRover.org
They take a while to lock on without cell coverage but work.
However they lack more advance features a full fledged unit like my Garmin 60Cx unit. As far as confidence factor I have way more confidence in the Garmin than any Iphone app.

THE MAIN PROBLEM WITH ALL CURRENT SMART PHONES IS THEY DON'T SUPPORT WAAS. Sorry for the yelling but I was PO'ed when I found that out. Without WAAS your pretty much hosed without cell reception. Even with cell tower reception you need a few towers to do triangularization math. Most places off the beaten path will only get one tower so that goes out the window fast.

For now the Iphone is a neat toy and a nice backup. I don't trust it enough for serious use but is nice while traveling.
The built in google map can get you where you need to go without paying for the TomTom software in the city. Plus my Garmin will lock on inside my house !






<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

My experience with pre waas gps was an accuracy of about 100' radius of error, or about 30m. With waas, that went down by a factor of about 10. This was with a 12 channel receiver, so you could get a lot of satellites, but non waas is not all that bad. I was able to find Ellicot's Rock with an old Magellan pre waas before Clinton turned SA off, and that's a 12" diameter rock on the vertical bank of the West Fork of the Chatooga river on the NC/GA state line, set there by a surveyor in the late 1700's/early 1800's.

Sorry there, by "App" that does topo maps I am referring to the smartphone (iPhone) only GPS applications.

My phone (Palm Pre) with Google Maps is currently telling me I'm over a mile from where I am. It's either the only cell tower in town, or perhaps the center of this small town. In the city, it works great. I can walk along the sidewalk and it is extremely accurate. I don't know that I would trust a cell phone's GPS outside of the multiple tower aGPS zone.

Another question about the iPhone GPS: Doesn't it require a data connection to actually get the maps? I believe I read that only the TomTom app actually stores maps on the unit. It also costs nearly as much as a standalone GPS.

Phil, my 4.3" Nuvi 255W was stolen a couple weeks ago. I just replaced it with the newer 5" Nuvi 1490T. I had some luck getting the Topo maps into the Nuvi 255 before it was turned into someone's crack money. I'm hoping to do the same with the 1490. Found this thread of info: http://www.gpsdiscussion.com/garmin-gps/7086-garmin-nuvi-1490t-topo-maps.html

The 1490's large screen and topo maps would be a great trail GPS.

Not the two I mentioned. If I can't download the maps I don't buy.

As far as Pre-WAAS it worked great outdoors a ON FOOT ! Not so much at 70mph <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

MotionX GPS and TopoMaps

Well, I sprung for the TomTom. I've ran it two mornings on the way to work, and it does seem to work just fine, considering my mount hasn't come yet, and I've got the phone laid just forward of the shifter, below the center stack.

Won't be able to test it properly till I get my mount, and bolt it to a RAM arm. I do have some news on that front though - it is very difficult (almost impossible) to find things that will work with the Otterbox on the Iphone. I don't intend to take it off except to clean now and then, so it's important for me that things work with it. I found a nice mount that the phone (and case) will clip into, and then mount to a RAM mount. Crappy website, but it looks like a great product... http://stores.intuitwebsites.com/hstrial-eGeneralMerch/-strse-508/SlipGrip-RAM-Holder-4/Detail.bok We'll see when it comes? I'll update.

Still haven't decided on an offroad app yet... might have to stick with the old Legend for that. We'll see...

Cool. Hope it works out for you. if it doesn't fit, RAM makes a ton of general grip mounts that should work. You've tried GPScity.ca and GPScentral.ca already?

I am trying to avoid a generic gripper type mount if I can. The one I've ordered is very similar to the clip holster that the otterbox came with, except that it has a RAM ball mounted to the back of it. It *looks* like the ticket, but I haven't got it in hand yet...