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Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer?

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  Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-16 20:39 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-11-16 13:55 -0800
      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-17 05:52 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Stephen H. Fischer" <a_nani_mouse@mindspring.com> - 2016-11-16 22:16 -0800
          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-11-16 23:20 -0800
            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-23 03:49 +0000
      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-18 01:05 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> - 2016-11-17 09:45 -0900
      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-17 20:26 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-11-17 21:18 -0500
          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 02:26 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> - 2016-11-19 09:30 -0900
          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 20:28 +0000
            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 20:37 +0000
              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> - 2016-11-20 09:24 -0900
                Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 01:46 +0000
                  Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> - 2016-11-22 08:26 -0900
                    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 20:29 +0000
                      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Bill Bradshaw" <bradshaw@gci.net> - 2016-11-23 09:00 -0900
                        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-24 02:48 +0000
                        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-12-01 23:44 +0000
                          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "J. P. Gilliver (John)" <G6JPG@soft255.demon.co.uk> - 2016-12-02 10:26 +0000
                            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? dg1261 <dgREMOVE-THIS1261@cs.com> - 2016-12-03 02:05 +0000
                              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> - 2016-12-03 09:20 +0000
                            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? FromTheRafters <erratic@nomail.afraid.org> - 2016-12-03 08:26 -0500
                Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 04:46 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-17 21:01 +0000
      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "NY" <me@privacy.net> - 2016-11-17 22:12 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-18 00:39 +0000
          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "NY" <me@privacy.net> - 2016-11-18 16:36 +0000
            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 00:21 +0000
              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Reinhard Zwirner <reinhard.zwirner@t-online.de> - 2016-11-19 22:03 +0100
                Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 22:08 +0000
                  Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 22:54 +0000
                    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-20 02:31 +0000
                  Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Reinhard Zwirner <reinhard.zwirner@t-online.de> - 2016-11-20 02:26 +0100
                    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-20 02:34 +0000
                      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-11-20 03:15 -0500
                        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-11-20 08:24 -0500
                          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-11-21 01:40 -0500
                            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-11-21 10:23 -0500
                              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? FromTheRafters <erratic@nomail.afraid.org> - 2016-11-21 16:44 -0500
                        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-20 16:54 +0000
                          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-11-21 01:51 -0500
                            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 00:21 +0000
                              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 04:46 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "MJP" <KKK@KKK.NET> - 2016-11-18 21:19 +0000
      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 02:26 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 02:38 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Stephen H. Fischer" <a_nani_mouse@mindspring.com> - 2016-11-18 19:14 -0800
          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 06:15 +0000
            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Stephen H. Fischer" <a_nani_mouse@mindspring.com> - 2016-11-22 00:19 -0800
              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 15:15 +0000
                Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Stephen H. Fischer" <a_nani_mouse@mindspring.com> - 2016-11-22 10:40 -0800
                  Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? The Real Bev <bashley101@gmail.com> - 2016-11-22 11:26 -0800
                    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-11-22 14:34 -0500
                    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? "Stephen H. Fischer" <a_nani_mouse@mindspring.com> - 2016-11-22 13:03 -0800
                  Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 20:29 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 00:08 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-19 20:46 +0000
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-22 06:15 +0000
      Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-23 04:25 +0000
        Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-11-23 17:18 +0000
          Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-11-23 13:00 -0500
            Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? tlvp <mPiOsUcB.EtLlLvEp@att.net> - 2016-11-23 15:13 -0500
              Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? nospam <nospam@nospam.invalid> - 2016-11-23 16:17 -0500
    Re: Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer? Raymond Spruance III <spruancerayIII@example.com> - 2016-12-01 23:44 +0000

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#35979 — Best way to view Android GPX track offline on a Windows USGS topo map & elevation chart GPS viewer?

What's a good way to view Android GPX files offline on a decent Windows USGS
topo map GPS viewer & elevation/distance chart viewer? 

1. I created a GPX track using OSMTracker for Android freeware 
(written by Nicolas Guillaumin)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.guillaumin.android.osmtracker

2. I copied the GPX to Windows and opened online to Google Earth 
a. Google Earth: File > Open > filename.gpx

3. After viewing the track I saved the GPX as a KML file
a. Google Earth: File > Save > Save Place As > filename.kml

Now I just want  to view that track on a big computer screen in two ways:
A. In a USGS topo map
B. As an elevation/distance chart

What's a good way to view Android GPX files offline on a decent Windows USGS
topo map GPS viewer & elevation/distance chart viewer?

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]

#35980

On 11/16/2016 12:39 PM, Raymond Spruance III wrote:
> What's a good way to view Android GPX files offline on a decent Windows USGS
> topo map GPS viewer & elevation/distance chart viewer?
>
> 1. I created a GPX track using OSMTracker for Android freeware
> (written by Nicolas Guillaumin)
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.guillaumin.android.osmtracker
>
> 2. I copied the GPX to Windows and opened online to Google Earth
> a. Google Earth: File > Open > filename.gpx
>
> 3. After viewing the track I saved the GPX as a KML file
> a. Google Earth: File > Save > Save Place As > filename.kml
>
> Now I just want  to view that track on a big computer screen in two ways:
> A. In a USGS topo map
> B. As an elevation/distance chart
>
> What's a good way to view Android GPX files offline on a decent Windows USGS
> topo map GPS viewer & elevation/distance chart viewer?

You can suck in both .gpx and .kml files with google earth, but you'll 
have to edit the .gpx file to get rid of the name (title?) field near 
the top, otherwise the names of the points take up too much space. 
Definite drawbacks, especially for things like resort skiing where there 
are multiple tracks through each area. I didn't splurge for the OSMAND 
topo maps, and I don't think GE offers that option.

Still, quick and dirty.



-- 
Cheers, Bev
   "If you like to stand on your head and spit pickles in the snow, on the
    Internet there are at least three other people just like you."
                                               - Langston James Goree VI

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#35983

On Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:55:18 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> You can suck in both .gpx and .kml files with google earth, but you'll 
> have to edit the .gpx file to get rid of the name (title?) field near 
> the top, otherwise the names of the points take up too much space. 
> Definite drawbacks, especially for things like resort skiing where there 
> are multiple tracks through each area. I didn't splurge for the OSMAND 
> topo maps, and I don't think GE offers that option.

Hi Bev,
Thanks for that suggestion but I don't see how it helps.
The file is already in Google Earth (that's how I created the KML).
Google Earth "can" be made to be topographic, but it's a pain.
I can't figure out how to get Google Earth to give an elevation versus
distance chart either.

Plus, AFAIK, Google Earth is only online (right?).

So, Google Earth fails on ALL counts:
a. USGS topo map overlay
b. Elevation versus distance chart
c. It's not offline

There must be a good offline USGS topo map program on Windows though. 
Must be. 
But what?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#35984

While it is $$ ExpertGPS is the mapping program I use sometimes use with my 
Delorme PN-60 GPS. GPX is it's native format and both topo and other 
backgrounds are available (Automatic download from the Internet, free).

http://expertgps.com/

SHF

"Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message
news:o0jgim$sfg$1@news.mixmin.net...
> On Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:55:18 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>
>> You can suck in both .gpx and .kml files with google earth, but you'll
>> have to edit the .gpx file to get rid of the name (title?) field near
>> the top, otherwise the names of the points take up too much space.
>> Definite drawbacks, especially for things like resort skiing where there
>> are multiple tracks through each area. I didn't splurge for the OSMAND
>> topo maps, and I don't think GE offers that option.
>
> Hi Bev,
> Thanks for that suggestion but I don't see how it helps.
> The file is already in Google Earth (that's how I created the KML).
> Google Earth "can" be made to be topographic, but it's a pain.
> I can't figure out how to get Google Earth to give an elevation versus
> distance chart either.
>
> Plus, AFAIK, Google Earth is only online (right?).
>
> So, Google Earth fails on ALL counts:
> a. USGS topo map overlay
> b. Elevation versus distance chart
> c. It's not offline
>
> There must be a good offline USGS topo map program on Windows though.
> Must be.
> But what?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#35985

On 11/16/2016 10:16 PM, Stephen H. Fischer wrote:
> While it is $$ ExpertGPS is the mapping program I use sometimes use with my
> Delorme PN-60 GPS. GPX is it's native format and both topo and other
> backgrounds are available (Automatic download from the Internet, free).
>
> http://expertgps.com/
>
> SHF
>
> "Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message
> news:o0jgim$sfg$1@news.mixmin.net...
>> On Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:55:18 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:
>>
>>> You can suck in both .gpx and .kml files with google earth, but you'll
>>> have to edit the .gpx file to get rid of the name (title?) field near
>>> the top, otherwise the names of the points take up too much space.
>>> Definite drawbacks, especially for things like resort skiing where there
>>> are multiple tracks through each area. I didn't splurge for the OSMAND
>>> topo maps, and I don't think GE offers that option.
>>
>> Hi Bev,
>> Thanks for that suggestion but I don't see how it helps.

It may not :-(  Since the windows version of software is generally 
better than the linux version, I kind of assumed that there was topo 
info there.

I want GE to show me the speed at every point, which requires a .gpx 
file.  To get the points and labels small enough to not block things, 
the directional points turn to unhelpful squares.  Perhaps the paid 
version is better, but

>> The file is already in Google Earth (that's how I created the KML).
>> Google Earth "can" be made to be topographic, but it's a pain.
>> I can't figure out how to get Google Earth to give an elevation versus
>> distance chart either.
>>
>> Plus, AFAIK, Google Earth is only online (right?).

I don't know, I just about never shut off the network on my desktop. 
The android version of GE is less than satisfactory.

>> So, Google Earth fails on ALL counts:
>> a. USGS topo map overlay
>> b. Elevation versus distance chart
>> c. It's not offline
>>
>> There must be a good offline USGS topo map program on Windows though.
>> Must be.
>> But what?

I hope somebody answers.

-- 
Cheers, Bev
    When cryptography is outlawed, only outlaws will
    qwertzuio asdfghjk pyxcvbnml      -- M. O'Dorney

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#36172

On Wed, 16 Nov 2016 23:20:28 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

>>> Plus, AFAIK, Google Earth is only online (right?).
> 
> I don't know, I just about never shut off the network on my desktop. 
> The android version of GE is less than satisfactory.

Hi Bev,
You may have a cable connection but my antenna is miles away from the
nearest repeater, where I get my Internet access over the air.

In addition to my relatively slow Internet speeds, I don't want my personal
data spread to the Internet when it doesn't have to be.

So, while Google Earth *does* have a solution to the original constraints,
it doesn't meet *one* of those constraints, which is being offline.
(Caltopo.com also has a solution that works online.)

Luckily, Bill Bradshaw proposed a solution to the original problem, which
essentially is to use GPSBabel offline to convert the GPX track to an
OziExplorer track and then to load USGS maps into OziExplorer, and then to
view the track on the USGS maps using OziExplorer.

This works fine, so I wrote up an explicit step-by-step howto (and posted it
as a response to the OP) so that everyone can follow in my footsteps.

I also wrote up how you can use Google Earth with Topo maps, which has the
disadvantage of being online, but which has the advantage of showing your
tracks on a 3D background!

https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/how-to-add-usgs-topographic-maps-to-google-earth/

1. Download the entire USA USGS topographic map for Google Earth:
   Go to http://www.earthpoint.us/TopoMap.aspx
   Press the "View on Google Earth" button
   This will Download "EarthPointTopoMap_024802.kml"
   Save as: /tmp/EarthPointTopoMap_024802.kml

2. Load the USA USGS topographic map into Google Earth:
   GoogleEarth: File > Open > /tmp/EarthPointTopoMap_024802.kml
   GoogleEarth: View > Sidebar

3. Select the Earth Point Topo Map USGS Quandrangles:
   GoogleEarth: Places > Earth Point Topo Map > USGS Quadrangles

4. You can convert from GPX to KML by loading & saveing from Google Earth:
   Google Earth: File > Open > MyTrack.gpx
   Google Earth: File > Save Track As > MyTrack.kml

5. Overlay your track on top of the Google Earth USGS topographical map:
   GoogleEarth: File > Open > MyTrack.kml

6. Right click on the track path & select "Show Elevation Profile"

Here's that for the first mile of my last hike off trail in the mountains.
http://i.cubeupload.com/ich49q.jpg

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#36004

On Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:55:18 -0800, The Real Bev wrote:

> You can suck in both .gpx and .kml files with google earth, but you'll 
> have to edit the .gpx file to get rid of the name (title?) field near 
> the top, otherwise the names of the points take up too much space.

Thanks for that advice. 

My main problem with Google Earth is that it's online.


> Definite drawbacks, especially for things like resort skiing where there 
> are multiple tracks through each area. I didn't splurge for the OSMAND 
> topo maps, and I don't think GE offers that option.

Just for the record, this is how to overlay USGS topo maps on Google Earth:

How to Add USGS Topographic Maps to Google Earth
https://www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/how-to-add-usgs-topographic-maps-to-google-earth/

But even with the USGS overlays, it's still online.
The main goal is a free offline USGS map track display on Windows.

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#35992

I am assuming you are in the US.  I use a pay program called OziExplorer.  I 
might for online check out http://caltopo.com/ and 
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/.

Also GPSBabel is a useful program, https://www.gpsbabel.org/.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska

"Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message 
news:o0ig5s$huv$1@news.mixmin.net...
> What's a good way to view Android GPX files offline on a decent Windows 
> USGS
> topo map GPS viewer & elevation/distance chart viewer?
>
> 1. I created a GPX track using OSMTracker for Android freeware
> (written by Nicolas Guillaumin)
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.guillaumin.android.osmtracker
>
> 2. I copied the GPX to Windows and opened online to Google Earth
> a. Google Earth: File > Open > filename.gpx
>
> 3. After viewing the track I saved the GPX as a KML file
> a. Google Earth: File > Save > Save Place As > filename.kml
>
> Now I just want  to view that track on a big computer screen in two ways:
> A. In a USGS topo map
> B. As an elevation/distance chart
>
> What's a good way to view Android GPX files offline on a decent Windows 
> USGS
> topo map GPS viewer & elevation/distance chart viewer? 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#35994

On Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:45:53 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

> I am assuming you are in the US. 
Yes. Sorry for not being clear that I'm in the USA.

Here is a result from using your suggest (see details below):
https://s21.postimg.org/4zlerem53/caltopo.jpg

> I use a pay program called OziExplorer.  

I only need it a couple of times, so I was hoping there was freeware USGS 
Topo Map software on Windows. Certainly such things exist on Android but the 
screen on Android is too tiny.

> Also GPSBabel is a useful program, https://www.gpsbabel.org/.

I installed GPSBabel, and I agree that it is a nice free software for 
conversion so that other map programs handle the GPX file. 

> I might for online check out http://caltopo.com/ 

I am surprised if there isn't an offline USGS topo map program (which is why 
I asked) but as a workaround, I went to caltopo just now.

1. I saved a GPX track using OSMTracker freeware on Android
2. I went to http://caltopo.com on Windows
3. I imported the gpx file using
Caltopo: Import > Browser > filename.gpx > Import
4. It didn't automatically zoom to fit so I manually zoomed to fit
5. It took so long (many minutes) that I eventually gave up

Too bad, as I was hoping to see a nice track on a USGS topo map. 

> and https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/.

1. I saved a GPX track using OSMTracker freeware on Android
2. I went to the suggested National Map Viewer at
https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/
3. I manually zoomed in to the area of interest (hoping that would help)
4. I clicked everywhere but do not see yet how to import a track

So I went back to the Caltopo tab, which after about 15 minutes, finally 
showed a map again instead of blank space. 

It is so slow as to be unusable, but I kept at it. 
Finally, after an interminable wait, I *was* able to see the track overlaid 
on a USGS topographic map!

https://s21.postimg.org/4zlerem53/caltopo.jpg

Caltopo is nice! What it shows is (almost) perfect, in fact. 

It showed in as much detail as I wanted to zoom to, the track against the 
USGS Topo contour lines. 

So, the great news is that Caltopo does solve one of the three problems:
1. Shows a GPX track on a USGS topo map for free

But it doesn't do the other two things as far as I can tell:
2. Shows an elevation/distance profile (it does "terrain stats" though)
3. Works offline

But if that's all that is available on Windows, I'll use it.

I was just hoping there was at least one free (offline) USGS topo map viewer 
on Windows (since there are plenty on Android) that imported tracks.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36006

On Thu, 17 Nov 2016 20:26:25 -0000 (UTC), Raymond Spruance III wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:45:53 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
> 
>> I am assuming you are in the US. 
> Yes. Sorry for not being clear that I'm in the USA.

In the vague general area of Santa Cruz, unless I'm mistaken. Or? 

Cheers, -- tlvp
-- 
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36030

On Thu, 17 Nov 2016 21:18:04 -0500, tlvp wrote:

> In the vague general area of Santa Cruz, unless I'm mistaken.

Loma Prieta.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36056

There is a trial/demo version of OziExplorer that will do what you want,
http://www.oziexplorer.com/.  It will take a learning curve.

Use gpsbabel so save a version of your track to a Ozi plt file.
Install and open OziExplorer.
Under the "Map" menu bar item open a "Blank Map."
Select the "Load" button and then select from the pulldown menu "Load Track
from File."  Load the track file you converted to plt.
Under the "View" menu bar option select "Tracks" from the pulldown menu
which will give you a pulldown menu containing "Tracks Profile."
Now you will have available all the information you want.

I tried find a simple offline program but was unable to.  I believe the
OziExplorer demo version does not have an expiration date.

Good Luck!

<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska

"Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message 
news:o0l3ph$4ga$1@news.mixmin.net...
> On Thu, 17 Nov 2016 09:45:53 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
>
>> I am assuming you are in the US.
> Yes. Sorry for not being clear that I'm in the USA.
>
> Here is a result from using your suggest (see details below):
> https://s21.postimg.org/4zlerem53/caltopo.jpg
>
>> I use a pay program called OziExplorer.
>
> I only need it a couple of times, so I was hoping there was freeware USGS
> Topo Map software on Windows. Certainly such things exist on Android but 
> the
> screen on Android is too tiny.
>
>> Also GPSBabel is a useful program, https://www.gpsbabel.org/.
>
> I installed GPSBabel, and I agree that it is a nice free software for
> conversion so that other map programs handle the GPX file.
>
>> I might for online check out http://caltopo.com/
>
> I am surprised if there isn't an offline USGS topo map program (which is 
> why
> I asked) but as a workaround, I went to caltopo just now.
>
> 1. I saved a GPX track using OSMTracker freeware on Android
> 2. I went to http://caltopo.com on Windows
> 3. I imported the gpx file using
> Caltopo: Import > Browser > filename.gpx > Import
> 4. It didn't automatically zoom to fit so I manually zoomed to fit
> 5. It took so long (many minutes) that I eventually gave up
>
> Too bad, as I was hoping to see a nice track on a USGS topo map.
>
>> and https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/.
>
> 1. I saved a GPX track using OSMTracker freeware on Android
> 2. I went to the suggested National Map Viewer at
> https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/
> 3. I manually zoomed in to the area of interest (hoping that would help)
> 4. I clicked everywhere but do not see yet how to import a track
>
> So I went back to the Caltopo tab, which after about 15 minutes, finally
> showed a map again instead of blank space.
>
> It is so slow as to be unusable, but I kept at it.
> Finally, after an interminable wait, I *was* able to see the track 
> overlaid
> on a USGS topographic map!
>
> https://s21.postimg.org/4zlerem53/caltopo.jpg
>
> Caltopo is nice! What it shows is (almost) perfect, in fact.
>
> It showed in as much detail as I wanted to zoom to, the track against the
> USGS Topo contour lines.
>
> So, the great news is that Caltopo does solve one of the three problems:
> 1. Shows a GPX track on a USGS topo map for free
>
> But it doesn't do the other two things as far as I can tell:
> 2. Shows an elevation/distance profile (it does "terrain stats" though)
> 3. Works offline
>
> But if that's all that is available on Windows, I'll use it.
>
> I was just hoping there was at least one free (offline) USGS topo map 
> viewer
> on Windows (since there are plenty on Android) that imported tracks. 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36061

On Sat, 19 Nov 2016 09:30:02 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

> I tried find a simple offline program but was unable to. 

I tried also to find a simple free offline USGS map viewer that viewed
tracks, but was shocked to find it not obvious for Windows.

I'm pretty sure it must exist (since it exists for mobile devices) though.

> There is a trial/demo version of OziExplorer that will do what you want,
> http://www.oziexplorer.com/.  It will take a learning curve.

Thanks for that suggestion of OziExplorer for viewing track profiles
*offline*.

Google Earth viewed track elevation profiles, but it was only online that
Google Earth is, so, it's nice to have this offline method of viewing track
profiles.

Here is the installation executable I used to test the process you suggest:
http://www.oziexplorer3.com/eng/downloads/395/oziexp_setup.exe

It uses a weird demo/trialware model:
The demo version: 
        Only allows maps in BMP image format to be loaded
        Only loads maps in WGS84 datum
The trial version:
        No saving or loading of Waypoints, Events, Tracks etc
        No saving of map as an image file
        Will close down after 1 hour of running (must be restarted)

Notice the "trial" version says it can't load tracks, so, only the demo
version might be useful for the stated purpose.
 
> Use gpsbabel so save a version of your track to a Ozi plt file.

1. I started gpsbabel & pressed the "input" section "Filenames" button.
2. I browsed to the Android OSMTracker GPX file named "file.gpx".
3. In the "output" section, I selected the "OziExplorer" format.
4. GpsBabel forced me to choose a file name, so I chose "file.plt".
5. When I pressed GPSbabel "OK", it said it was successful:
C:\> gpsbabel -w -r -t -i gpx -f C:/tmp/file.gpx -o ozi -F C:/tmp/file.plt
Translation successful

> Install and open OziExplorer.
> Under the "Map" menu bar item open a "Blank Map."
> Select the "Load" button and then select from the pulldown menu "Load Track
> from File."  Load the track file you converted to plt.
> Under the "View" menu bar option select "Tracks" from the pulldown menu
> which will give you a pulldown menu containing "Tracks Profile."
> Now you will have available all the information you want.

1. I downloaded oziexp_setup.exe version 3.95
2. In my start menu, I put the resulting desktop OziExplorer.lnk &
OziExplorer Trial.lnk shortcuts.
3. I started the trial version (OziExpTrial.exe).
4. I clicked OziExpTrial: Map > Blank Map
5. I clicked OziExpTrial: Load > Load Track From File > file.plt
6. That displayed the familiar track on the blank map 
7. I clicked OziExpTrial: View > Track > Track Profile
8. That track profile had choices of 
x-axis: Distance or time
y-axis: Altitude or speed

After setting the defaults to USA units, here is a resulting view of those
tracks in OziExplorer Trial just now!
http://i.cubeupload.com/ewOAzl.jpg

Thanks for coming up with the *ONLY KNOWN METHOD* of viewing a GPS track
elevation profile using Windows offline freeware!

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36062

On Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:28:34 -0000 (UTC), Raymond Spruance III wrote:

> Notice the "trial" version says it can't load tracks, so, only the demo
> version might be useful for the stated purpose.

The trial version loaded my track just fine, so, it's pretty confusing what
oziExplorer version does what.

Anyway, do you know if I can load a free USGS map into OziExplorer?

I only hike in one area, so, about 4 to 8 USGS quadrangles would be all I'd
ever need to view the tracks on top of the USGS 1:24000 map backgrounds.

Do you think oziExplorer Trial can load a USGS map?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36091

I pretty sure you can otherwise you could not test the demo.  You can try it 
by going to the following site:

https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/

Download one of the USGS maps you need.  It will come down as a 
georeferenced PDF.  (You can also look at this file with Adobe Reader.)

You then need to go back to the OziExplorer site and download 
http://www.oziexplorer3.com/utils/image_convert.zip.
This program will convert your PDF file to a Tiff file you can open and 
calibrate in OziExplorer.
Startup OziExplorer and select "File" from the menu bar and then select 
"Load and Calibrate Map Image."
I am going to let you figure the rest out from Ozi help.  Search help for 
"calibrate" and it should be first item that will explain how to calibrate 
the map.

Let me know how it goes.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska

"Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message 
news:o0qd5i$8hl$1@news.mixmin.net...
> On Sat, 19 Nov 2016 20:28:34 -0000 (UTC), Raymond Spruance III wrote:
>
>> Notice the "trial" version says it can't load tracks, so, only the demo
>> version might be useful for the stated purpose.
>
> The trial version loaded my track just fine, so, it's pretty confusing 
> what
> oziExplorer version does what.
>
> Anyway, do you know if I can load a free USGS map into OziExplorer?
>
> I only hike in one area, so, about 4 to 8 USGS quadrangles would be all 
> I'd
> ever need to view the tracks on top of the USGS 1:24000 map backgrounds.
>
> Do you think oziExplorer Trial can load a USGS map? 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36130

On Sun, 20 Nov 2016 09:24:30 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

> I pretty sure you can otherwise you could not test the demo.  
> You can try it by going to the following site:
> https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/

Since I always want to help everyone while anyone helps, me, here's what I
did if people want to follow along to view, on Windows, their mobile phone
tracks on an offline USGS Topo map.

1. Go to the USGS map site https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/
2. At top left, press "Download Maps".
3. This will show in the right pane a map of the United States.
4. Left mouse drag your desired location to the center of that map.
5. Click the + (zoom) 7 or 8 times (re-center as needed) to see quadrangles.
6. It's simplest if you zoom until you have only the desired 1 or 2
quadrangles in view.
7. In the left sidebar, click the blue "Find Products" button.
7. In the left sidebar "US Topo Available Products" section, click on
"results".
8. In the left sidebar, scroll until you see the desired quadrangle.
9. Once you find the desired quadrangle, right click its "Download" button.
10. Choose to "Save Link As" so as to download the ~30MB PDF file.

> Download one of the USGS maps you need.  It will come down as a 
> georeferenced PDF.  (You can also look at this file with Adobe Reader.)

These ~30MB PDFs are fancy (as viewed in Adobe Reader, anyway). 
But, what does it mean to be a "georeferenced PDF?"

> You then need to go back to the OziExplorer site and download 
> http://www.oziexplorer3.com/utils/image_convert.zip.

It created an "image_convert" directory, containing an executable named
"imageConvertOzi.exe".

Is the necessary format "just" a TIF? 

By that, I mean can I use Irfanview to convert the PDF to a TIF?
Or must I use the OziExplorer converter to convert the PDF to a TIF?

> This program will convert your PDF file to a Tiff file you can open and 
> calibrate in OziExplorer.

This is the command that was actually run, I think:
c:\> gdal_translate -of GTiff -co COMPRESS=LZW -co "TFW=YES"
"C:\tmp\usgs.pdf" "C:\tmp\ozi_converted\usgs.tif"

It seems to have created a ~30MB TIF file.

> Startup OziExplorer and select "File" from the menu bar and then select 
> "Load and Calibrate Map Image."

1. I downloaded oziexp_setup.exe version 3.95 from
   http://www.oziexplorer.com/.
2. In my start menu, I put the resulting desktop OziExplorer.lnk 
   and the OziExplorer Trial.lnk shortcuts.
3. I started the trial version (OziExpTrial.exe).
4. I clicked OziExpTrial: File > Load & Calibrate Map Image

> I am going to let you figure the rest out from Ozi help.  Search help for 
> "calibrate" and it should be first item that will explain how to calibrate 
> the map.
> 
> Let me know how it goes.

OK. That's how far I got on your instructions, which were pretty good.
I'll see if I can figure out this calibration stuff.

Then I will see if I can overlay the track on the calibrated stuff.

Then we will have a success for everyone to view tracks in USGS maps on
Windows offline, for free.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36156

The registered version will use the following.  I do not know if the 
demo/trial will use all these formats.

BMP - Not recommended but is the only format supported in the shareware/demo 
version. No compression so image files are large. Image must be fully loaded 
into RAM.

The formats below can only be used in the registered version of OziExplorer.

TIF - The TIF format has many different variations and compression schemes 
which can be used. This format allows paging from disk so is efficient on 
memory usage.

  a.. LZW compression - Gives good compression of maps and images.
  b.. Packbits compression - Gives good compression of raster maps with 
solid colors but does not compress self scanned images very well.
This is the recommended standard image format to use if the larger file 
sizes when using packbits compression is not of concern.

24bit Color TIFF files can be used and are paged from disk as the 8bit color 
TIFF images are. (Please note that 24bit Planar TIFF images are fully loaded 
into RAM, for large images the amount of RAM required can be a factor in 
whether the images can be used or not.)

PNG - This format gives good compression but the image must be decompressed 
and fully loaded into memory (it cannot be paged from disk). This is the 
preferred "non-paging" format to use. (8bit or 24bit color images are 
supported)

ECW - Highly compressed format. This format allows paging from disk so is 
efficient on memory usage. Images can also be loaded from ECW image 
servers - see Importing ECW help for details.

SID - Highly compressed format. This format allows paging from disk so is 
efficient on memory usage.

JPG - Provides excellent compression but it is slow to load and the fully 
uncompressed image must be loaded into Memory (non-paging), not recommended 
for use with large images.

JP2 -  JP2000 is a format which gives good compression.  If the JP2 file is 
supplied with a (.j2w) file, OziExplorer can use it for geo-referencing.

You use Irfanview to convert the tif to one of these formats and see if the 
demo or trial version will open it.

I had forgotten that you could use Irfanview to open a pdf and save to other 
formats.  There is probably no reason not to do it this way as long as you 
learn how calibrate because you may lose any georeference information in the 
USGS file.

Looks like you are well on your way.  Next comes stitching your USGS maps 
into one big map.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska

"Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message 
news:o10813$su2$1@news.mixmin.net...
> On Sun, 20 Nov 2016 09:24:30 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
>
>> I pretty sure you can otherwise you could not test the demo.
>> You can try it by going to the following site:
>> https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/
>
> Since I always want to help everyone while anyone helps, me, here's what I
> did if people want to follow along to view, on Windows, their mobile phone
> tracks on an offline USGS Topo map.
>
> 1. Go to the USGS map site https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/launch/
> 2. At top left, press "Download Maps".
> 3. This will show in the right pane a map of the United States.
> 4. Left mouse drag your desired location to the center of that map.
> 5. Click the + (zoom) 7 or 8 times (re-center as needed) to see 
> quadrangles.
> 6. It's simplest if you zoom until you have only the desired 1 or 2
> quadrangles in view.
> 7. In the left sidebar, click the blue "Find Products" button.
> 7. In the left sidebar "US Topo Available Products" section, click on
> "results".
> 8. In the left sidebar, scroll until you see the desired quadrangle.
> 9. Once you find the desired quadrangle, right click its "Download" 
> button.
> 10. Choose to "Save Link As" so as to download the ~30MB PDF file.
>
>> Download one of the USGS maps you need.  It will come down as a
>> georeferenced PDF.  (You can also look at this file with Adobe Reader.)
>
> These ~30MB PDFs are fancy (as viewed in Adobe Reader, anyway).
> But, what does it mean to be a "georeferenced PDF?"
>
>> You then need to go back to the OziExplorer site and download
>> http://www.oziexplorer3.com/utils/image_convert.zip.
>
> It created an "image_convert" directory, containing an executable named
> "imageConvertOzi.exe".
>
> Is the necessary format "just" a TIF?
>
> By that, I mean can I use Irfanview to convert the PDF to a TIF?
> Or must I use the OziExplorer converter to convert the PDF to a TIF?
>
>> This program will convert your PDF file to a Tiff file you can open and
>> calibrate in OziExplorer.
>
> This is the command that was actually run, I think:
> c:\> gdal_translate -of GTiff -co COMPRESS=LZW -co "TFW=YES"
> "C:\tmp\usgs.pdf" "C:\tmp\ozi_converted\usgs.tif"
>
> It seems to have created a ~30MB TIF file.
>
>> Startup OziExplorer and select "File" from the menu bar and then select
>> "Load and Calibrate Map Image."
>
> 1. I downloaded oziexp_setup.exe version 3.95 from
>   http://www.oziexplorer.com/.
> 2. In my start menu, I put the resulting desktop OziExplorer.lnk
>   and the OziExplorer Trial.lnk shortcuts.
> 3. I started the trial version (OziExpTrial.exe).
> 4. I clicked OziExpTrial: File > Load & Calibrate Map Image
>
>> I am going to let you figure the rest out from Ozi help.  Search help for
>> "calibrate" and it should be first item that will explain how to 
>> calibrate
>> the map.
>>
>> Let me know how it goes.
>
> OK. That's how far I got on your instructions, which were pretty good.
> I'll see if I can figure out this calibration stuff.
>
> Then I will see if I can overlay the track on the calibrated stuff.
>
> Then we will have a success for everyone to view tracks in USGS maps on
> Windows offline, for free. 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36164

On Tue, 22 Nov 2016 08:26:22 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

> Looks like you are well on your way.  Next comes stitching your USGS maps 
> into one big map.

Thanks for your help because your advice was instrumental in getting ALL of
us a freeware method to view tracks on USGS maps offline in Windows.

I think the way I'll stitch two maps together is to convert both to TIF and
then just edit the TIF with any photo editor. 

That way, I have one map, and not two.

Is that the standard method?

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36186

That is what I do.  I use a pay program called Panavue and sometimes stitch 
as many as 9 maps together.  You just crop the borders off the sides you are 
going to stitch together and go for it.
-- 
<Bill>

Brought to you from Anchorage, Alaska

"Raymond Spruance III" <spruancerayIII@example.com> wrote in message 
news:o129s5$n71$2@news.mixmin.net...
> On Tue, 22 Nov 2016 08:26:22 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:
>
>> Looks like you are well on your way.  Next comes stitching your USGS maps
>> into one big map.
>
> Thanks for your help because your advice was instrumental in getting ALL 
> of
> us a freeware method to view tracks on USGS maps offline in Windows.
>
> I think the way I'll stitch two maps together is to convert both to TIF 
> and
> then just edit the TIF with any photo editor.
>
> That way, I have one map, and not two.
>
> Is that the standard method?
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> https://www.avast.com/antivirus
> 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#36202

On Wed, 23 Nov 2016 09:00:48 -0900, Bill Bradshaw wrote:

> That is what I do.  I use a pay program called Panavue and sometimes stitch 
> as many as 9 maps together.  You just crop the borders off the sides you are 
> going to stitch together and go for it.

Thanks for confirming that the method of stitching two maps together is to
just put the two images together before importing and calibrating into
oziExplorer Trial.

Seems to me the six corners would be the calibration points, i.e., the four
corners on the outside and the two corners that were stitched.

I can easily use Irfanview or Paint.NET freeware to do the editing, so,
that's not a problem. 

Thanks for all your advice, because your suggestions were instrumental in
solving what turned out to be a surprisingly difficult search for Windows
offline freeware that did three things:
a. Viewed tracks, 
b. On USGS maps, 
c. And viewed elevation profiles

The only thing Google Earth does that oziExplorer doesn't do is it's 3D
(which is kind of neat when following tracks) but other than the 3D,
oziExplorer matches Google Earth in everything we discussed here.

Thanks for helping me help myself, and everyone else at the same time.
That's how Usenet is supposed to work.

If anyone wants to know the solution, I posted it, in detail, as a response
to the original post. Improvements are always welcome.

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