Hunting Fishing Discussions

Featured Outdoor Businesses

Indian Hills Resort
Garrison, ND


Share on Facebook subscribe feed

Gps and ND trax questions

by , Posted to on 08/02/2009 10:53 PM | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 08/02/2009
Location: ND

Im looking to get a gps and i was thinkin about either the garmin 60csx or the Ifinder H20. After looking at reviews the garmin sounds better but i have heard you can get better lake contour maps for the h20 i heard that you can get 1 foot intervals for the h20 and only 5 foot intervals on the garmin. Im also interested in the nd trax chips and i was wondering how you guys liked it and how are the contour maps and depth intervals on the chip for Devils lake and sakakawea. I was also have some questions about  hand held compared to a gps on a boat i have been in a few boats with the gps built into the depth finder and  i loved it,  im getting a boat here in a bit and i was wondering if the hand held was comparable to using a built in one i know that the screen will be smaller but is there any other differences. alright thanks for your help

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/03/2009 08:57 AM | Reply #1 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/16/2007
Location: ND

Garmin:

  • eTrex Legend and Vista HCx - Small, affordable, color GPS
  • 60CSx - Waterproof, great antenna, great outdoor viewing, color
  • Oregon series - Touch Screen, tougher reading screen in bright sunlight, topo on some but nice unit.
  • Nuvi: Less battery life but very good automotive GPS. Not waterproof accept 500 series. If mostly vehicle use, great option, affordable,color.
Lowrance:
  • H20 color: Affordable, compatible with many lake options, waterproof
  • XOG: If you can find it, good crossover GPS, good automotive GPS, accepts most lake options, very affordable as being discontinued.
  • Endura: Just came out, currently not compatible with any lake software and hard to find.
NDTRAX:
NDTRAX will work in all of these units accept for the Endura series. At this time, no main lake map manufacturers are compatible yet. The Garmin is just as capable of showing 1 foot contours as a Lowrance. It is simply a function of if a map was created in 1 foot contours. For NDTRAX, some maps are 1 foot, 3 foot, and some are 5 foot as it depends on the depth of the lake. It is the same for both Garmin and Lowrance. I realize other lake mapping manufacturers may only do 1 foot for one brand or another.
Devils lake is currently in 5 foot contours and reviews have been great. There is a very good possibility it will be available in 3 foot contours in the coming months but you don't need to wait as updates through July 2010 are being offered at no additional cost. Sak isn't included for NDTRAX but NDTRAX has the most lakes minus Sak of any mapping option  which is currently 157 surveyed lakes and growing. My recommendation is to get NDTRAX for whichever GPS you decide as you have lake maps, hunting maps, road maps, and hiking and biking and more. You can always add some speciality maps like Sak if you need to.

Graph/GPS vs Graph and GPS:
It depends on how much you want to spend. Personally, I buy a really nice graph and  a good GPS. If one fails, both units aren't dead. Also, I don't need a graph in my truck but I do need a GPS, so if money is an issue, I like to buy them seperate. Pop it off the boat and on the 4 wheeler, or in the truck. Again, there is nothing wrong with having a dual unit and the really large screens are nice at times. It is hard to beat the portability and satellite lock on the modern handheld/crossover/automotive GPS units.

If you plan to get a sonar/GPS combo and plan on it being Eagle and Lowrance and are still going to get a handheld, then your handheld GPS may as well be Lowrance so you can use the same maps. Personally, I like Garmin GPS units the best but the XOG is a great compromise if you can still find one.

Hopefully others will provide input on NDTRAX.

Korey Kirschenmann (Kirsch) 
     

Phone: 701-261-9017   Email: kirschtrax@hotmail.com  Web: www.koutdoorproducts.com

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/03/2009 4:18 PM | Reply #2 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/14/2009
Location: ND
will any of the portable garmin GPS units plug into a laptop ?  I would like to view a large screen in the truck or the boat , but still be able to go portable with the hand held unit.  What ever I go with wilh needs  to be compatable with NDTRAX  .   Thanks in advance.
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/03/2009 6:25 PM | Reply #3 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/16/2007
Location: ND

Geothermal,

Most will plug into a laptop but for uploading and downloading of waypoints not to view a bigger version of what is on your GPS screen.

Viewing NDTRAX:
If all you want to do is pull up the map and look at it on the PC, I do have a Garmin MapSource version which shows an overview map in MapSource (not as detailed as it is a preview) and you can download trails, tracks and upload etc. Using this version, a hunter can also send the NDTRAX map along with City Navigator and other Garmin maps to a data card to be uploaded together.

Real-Time Viewing:
3 programs I know of that interface with GPS units are MapSource, OziExplorer, or Fugawi. All 3 of these programs can interface with a Garmin GPS and show progress realtime but the program needs to have and be able to understand the GPS map. I already have a MapSource version and many years ago made OziExplorer maps which do what you are asking about. Although I have never attempted to use NDTRAX for realtime navigation, it should be theoretically possible using MapSource as long as your Garmin supports real-time tracking. It was referred to as NMEA in the past. The only downside is I have all my maps broken up into 4 segments or more. For instance for ND it is:

NDTRAX - Land
NDTRAX - Road
NDTRAX - Detail
NDTRAX - Water

I believe you would be able to see your progress against any of these 4 individual maps but do not believe you would see the combined map set.  I have not used this feature in a very long time. When I get caught up on a few other projects, I can do some testing on this. PM me if you are interested in the RealTime connection of Garmin - PC. If you are just looking to view the map on the PC, buy NDTRAX Garmin MapSource and then use this lto oad NDTRAX to a memory card to insert into your GPS.

Most people opt for the simple approach of having me put the map on a card.

Korey Kirschenmann (Kirsch) 
     

Phone: 701-261-9017   Email: kirschtrax@hotmail.com  Web: www.koutdoorproducts.com

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/04/2009 09:03 AM | Reply #4 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/25/2004
Location: ND
Korey, I have a Garmin rhino 520. Can NDTRAX be used with this unit? The 520 does not have the micro SD card insert like the 520HCX. I have the US Topo MapSource, can NDTRAX be loaded through a usb connection like MapSource? 
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/04/2009 09:27 AM | Reply #5 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/07/2002
Location: ND
Parker,

I also have a Rino 520 without the SD card slot and just purchased the NDTRAX and MTTRAX from Korey and they work great, very easy to upload through USB.
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/04/2009 10:09 AM | Reply #6 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 10/25/2004
Location: ND
Swilks, thats great! thanks! Do you have Topo maps as well? Or do you know if I will be able to overlay one over the other? That would be really nice.
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/04/2009 10:11 AM | Reply #7 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/16/2007
Location: ND
Yes they can be loaded via MapSource alone or they can be loaded with the other Garmin maps such topo, city select, etc. Due to the layer where topo resides you may have issues having both mapsets on the GPS at one time but typically it works fine if you want to do this. 

Garmin MapSource is a choice when ordering from the website for loading into Garmins without a memory card or users who wish to have my maps merge with other Garmin maps. The only catch is amount of memory on the unit. 

NDTRAX has 4 main components to it:

Memory Requirements: 
Land = 3.9MB
Water = 1.4 MB
Detail = 1.9 MB
Roads = 11.3 MB

So, to load the whole program you need 19MB of free space. You can choose any of these but if space is an issue Land and Detail for hunting and Water and Detail for fishing are about the minimum.

Swilks mentioned Montana. Minnesota and Montana  even have bigger memory requirements. Montana is listed below.

Memory Requirements: 
Land = 3.5 MB
Water = 6.6 MB
Detail = 6.8 MB
These are usually the most basic features and total around 17MB and again any of the components above or below can be chosen in any combination via MapSource.

In addition if you want more information:
MT Roads (available in West, and East sections) = 13 MB   
Land Parcels (Parcel Lines - 3 areas to choose West, Central, and East) = 16.7 MB
Ownership Parcel Names (Ownership of each parcel - 3 areas to choose West, Central and East) =16.3 MB

Korey Kirschenmann (Kirsch) 
     

Phone: 701-261-9017   Email: kirschtrax@hotmail.com  Web: www.koutdoorproducts.com

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 08/04/2009 10:20 AM | Reply #8 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/16/2007
Location: ND
parker503, one more comment is when you buy NDTRAX and you load it, if you have enough memory, loading it should be fine. However, there is a possibility you will have layer issues when a topo line intersects a solid land mass like a PLOTS ground. If you do experience layer issues, I can work with you to build a custom NDTRAX version to better work with your version of topo.  There are 62 layers on a Garmin GPS. It is hard to know what layer to put things on as all map manufacturers do things differently. Most map manufacturers as I tend to go towards the high end so other maps don't cover our maps. I can lower my layer settings if there are issues and build you a new map if my stuff is overlaying the topo lines.

Topo, NDTRAX, roads, etc is a lot to see on a small Rino screen but it can be done.

Korey Kirschenmann (Kirsch) 
     

Phone: 701-261-9017   Email: kirschtrax@hotmail.com  Web: www.koutdoorproducts.com

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/04/2009 4:57 PM | Reply #9 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/27/2009
Location: ND
any chance the ND trax will or might soon be compatable with the bushnell onix 400???
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/04/2009 5:12 PM | Reply #10 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND

Garmin GPS 76CSX floats!

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/04/2009 9:09 PM | Reply #11 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/30/2006
Location: ND

I have NDTRAX right now in my H20,  how do i get land ownership to show up.  Do you actually have names of private land ownership on the screen??

One Big Ass Mistake America !

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/04/2009 10:59 PM | Reply #12 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 01/09/2002
Location: ND
dieseldog Said:

I have NDTRAX right now in my H20,  how do i get land ownership to show up.  Do you actually have names of private land ownership on the screen??


It is there only as being able to differentiate between private lands, PLOTS, and the various state and federal ownerships.  At least that's all I have noticed in the areas I hunt although I think PLAT info may be a part of future renditions as the keepers of the PLAT data become more tech savvy.


Just in case anyone has missed my previous posts on ND Trax, I love the product for my style of hunting!  And to top it off, I have had nothing but absolutely positive experiences with the fella running the show.  Korey has been absolutely fantastic to work with on getting what I need.

At this point, the only improvement I can offer as a suggestion to him (outside of providing me a color unit for ease on eye strain) is to add markers for where the big deer are in a given year.  Yeah, I know, I am not an easy customer to appease. 
“Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it.” ~ Mark Twain
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/05/2009 10:50 AM | Reply #13 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/30/2006
Location: ND
Ownership Parcel Names (Ownership of each parcel - 3 areas to choose West, Central and East) =16.3 MB
What does this mean then?  Just curious cause that would be awesome to have landowners names on it.  I have the MT and ND chips and must say they are awesome.  Everything has been accurate so far also.  When i was in MT there was about a 200 acre chunk of private right in the middle of the national forest and sure sheet it was marked out on my gps.  Otherwise it would have been hard to know that it was private.

One Big Ass Mistake America !

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/05/2009 6:05 PM | Reply #14 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 07/27/2009
Location: ND
still cant find out of it will work with the onix?
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/05/2009 7:55 PM | Reply #15 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: MN
I am a huge fan of the NDTRAX and MNTRAX chips. Not only do they have the usefull paripheral info as your disscusing but I find the city streets are very good for a chip with such crossover capabilitys. They just recently updated the MNTRAX for enhanced rods too.

A question for Kirsch on the GPS Garmin maps on the laptop deal. The Garmin N-Route program has the ability to track the user live on the map on a laptop or whatever, while using your Garmin GPS as the receiver...ok...my question is will TRAX maps and or Garmin Inland Lakes maps apear on this format too, as an overlay?

I have never tried it, but I'm thinking theoreticaly it may? What is your call on that?

Thanks,
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson ~ ~ ><,sUMo,> ~ ><CD
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/07/2009 1:43 PM | Reply #16 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
I bought NDtrax and havent used it much yet. Only complaint, which I have discussed with Korey, is there isnt a way to view the data in a single map on my computer. I would like to be able to do this to 'pre scout' potential hunting areas before I go driving. Much better to look at a 22" screen than my the little 3" one on my GPS.
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/07/2009 8:29 PM | Reply #17 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 12/16/2001
Location: MN
Not with the chip, but you could with the DVD version.
Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson ~ ~ ><,sUMo,> ~ ><CD
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/07/2009 8:34 PM | Reply #18 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 02/03/2004
Location: ND
I have the DVD version, I can view one map at a time but they are pretty much meaningless unless all combined into one picture. Any suggestions?
Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/13/2009 01:31 AM | Reply #19 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 03/16/2007
Location: ND

Not sure how I missed this thread as I watch the different forums pretty closely.

DieselDog: The actual name of the land owner only shows up on the Montana (MTTRAX) version which you indicate you have. 

All you need to do is zoom in on a parcel of land and about about .3 mile zoom the parcel boundaries show up and the owner's name will be right in the center. If it is not showing up, my guess is you have a Lowrance GPS. If so, go into your categories, and turn on the Category that says "Other POIs" and they should appear. If this isn't it, give me a call 701-261-9017.

For ND, MN, and WY, this type of ownership data is not available in the format I need to add it in mass for the entire state. However, for ND, there are a few counties who have the data and I do plan to add those for NDTRAX 2010.

For ND, MN, and WY, instead of being able to show the owner of private land, if you have a version produced after August, as you zoom in again to about .3 miles depending on your detail setting, every section line will appear, and in the center of the section of land, there is an 8 digit number. For instance it might look like 15706410. The first 3 numbers are the Township (157), the next 3 are the range (064) and the last is the section number (10). With this information, you can cross-reference this with a county PLAT and find out who owns the land. This was a highly requested feature and a reason it was added still in the 2009 instead of waiting until 2010.

Rooster22: No it will not work in a Bushnell Onix. Every GPS has their own unique format and the biggest markets for outdoor GPS units are Garmin and Lowrance at this time. If this changes, I will look into other GPS units. I support Garmin and Lowrance and you can see more about the specific models at www.koutdoorproducts.com

BackWater: Actually, Mapsource also has NMEA capabilities to track the user real-time as well. As you mentioned, I do have a NDTRAX - MapSource version but for many reasons the ND map up into 7 layers. There are tremendous benefits to doing this but the negative as Lycanthrope mentions is that you can only see one layer in MapSource at a time. Although some programs work well in MapSource, MapSource was not designed to be an advanced PC look up tool. It is designed mainly as a tool to transfer maps and data from and to the GPS.  I am looking at the possibility of adding PC compatability similar to what Lyncanthrope mentions as an add-on for next year, but this is still in a research phase. As I find out more, I will reply back to the forum. It would probably be called something like NDTRAX - PC.

Thanks for all the feedback.

 

Korey Kirschenmann (Kirsch) 
     

Phone: 701-261-9017   Email: kirschtrax@hotmail.com  Web: www.koutdoorproducts.com

Re: Gps and ND trax questions
by on 12/13/2009 11:51 AM | Reply #20 | "Quote" | "Quick Reply" |

Joined: 11/30/2006
Location: ND
thanks Korey I do have a lowrance and i will have to go in and turn other poi on as that would be an awesome feature to use.  thanks alot and i love this product. keep up the good work

One Big Ass Mistake America !

Posted By:
Posted On: 08/02/2009 10:53 PM
1736 Views, 22 Comments

Tags: gps, trax, questions, h20, garmin, looking, lake, contour, maps, 60csx
More Tags: H20, nd trax chips, Devils lake, Garmin 60CSx Handheld GPS Receiver, nd trax chips, GPS, Human Interest
Region: North Dakota

Categories: General > Outdoor Equipment and Gear
Rate This ForumTopic
  • Currently 1/5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

1/5 (1 votes cast)

You must be signed in to comment on this topic