BajaNomad

Backcountry Navigator? better off with Caltopo?

caj13 - 6-11-2021 at 06:50 AM

I've asked about BCN in the past, JZ is the expert here. So i bought an android tablet I will be using as my primary navigation system in my side by side, trucks, bus etc. i was planning on putting BCN on it, based on what i had heard about it. Primarily i want to be able to download maps onto the tablet, and use it as a GPS - off line - without cell coverage etc.

So in reading about BCN, it seems they changed map sources lately, and alot of people are not particularly happy with them.

So now, in my limited research it looks like CalTopo might be the way to go, 20 bucks a year, good reviews, lots of features. i used Caltopo expensively when I was tracking the fires in my area last summer, and it worked great.

so I'm thinking - its probably a better option right now - for my expected uses, than BCN is. Am I missing anything?

thanks

JZ - 6-11-2021 at 07:05 AM

I use the satellite images not the topo's. Takes a lot more data though.

I spent a weekend and downloaded all of Baja at maximum resolution. Almost 100G. Put it on a Micro SD. Then copied it to my laptop so I could load up other memory cards. Run it on my tablet and a couple phones. It's sweet for offloading or being out on the water. Overlay it with about 300 way points and 50 tracks organized by sections of Baja.

Started with topo maps. As you can download all of Baja for offline use with a couple Gigs of data. Satellite images are next level though.




[Edited on 6-11-2021 by JZ]

bajaric - 6-11-2021 at 10:23 AM

caj13 or JZ, are you saying that Caltopo for Baja can be downloaded for offline use with a GPS enabled tablet? I did not know that. Would it have all the "layers"? (7.5 contour, hybrid satellite, etc.)

The avezna (sp?) app was mentioned here, this is a scan of the new Baja Atlas that can be loaded on a GPS enabled tablet. The app looks like it is easier to read than the paper atlas.

The new atlas is OK, there are a few errors but mostly in extremely remote areas. This is true of all maps of Baja; I have not seen one yet that is accurate everywhere. Road conditions change, new roads go in, places go out of business and are re opened with a new name, etc.



[Edited on 6-11-2021 by bajaric]

David K - 6-11-2021 at 10:43 AM

Ric, please make a list of Atlas errors and send to me. I have already begun one for the next edition. In most cases, the errors were on the base map from Mexico they used. Benchmark can change bad map data or add new details. It is a pleasure that they want to improve the map whenever possible.

JZ - 6-11-2021 at 10:52 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaric  
caj13 or JZ, are you saying that Caltopo for Baja can be downloaded for offline use with a GPS enabled tablet? I did not know that.



Yes.

caj13 - 6-11-2021 at 12:50 PM

JZ is right, they just started offering that, with a 20 buck a year subscription. I worked with CalTopo a long time ago when we were doing Gap Analysis for California I believe, they have certainly grown up since then.

PaulW - 6-11-2021 at 03:46 PM

I put digital Atlas on my phone. Can I move it to my tablet or buy another download?

John Harper - 6-11-2021 at 04:33 PM

I just printed off some maps from CalTopo for my two upcoming backpack/flyfish trips. Very nice quality and free. But.....

As caj13 and I discussed today, some "lakes" shown on Sierra topo maps are actually meadows, as I've crossed a few. So, never expect what you might expect.

John

geoffff - 6-11-2021 at 08:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ  
I spent a weekend and downloaded all of Baja at maximum resolution. Almost 100G. Put it on a Micro SD. Then copied it to my laptop so I could load up other memory cards. Run it on my tablet and a couple phones. It's sweet for offloading or being out on the water. Overlay it with about 300 way points and 50 tracks organized by sections of Baja. [Edited on 6-11-2021 by JZ]


Nice! That's how I roll too.

Except I'm using a 512 GB micro SD these days. Not just Baja.

[Edited on 6-12-2021 by geoffff]

geoffff - 6-11-2021 at 09:06 PM

Like Backcountry Navigator, Gaia GPS also dropped Caltopo.

Gaia GPS has tried to roll their own topo map equivalents. They now have their own INEGI Mexico layer, but it is embarrassingly bad.


example of Gaia GPS's new INEGI layer:



same area as above, in CalTopo:



BajaMama - 6-12-2021 at 07:41 AM

We like Gaia too. Use it on an old GPS enabled iPad.

caj13 - 6-12-2021 at 09:28 AM

I suspect when CalTopo chose to go to a subscription / download model, they became direct competitors with BCN & GAIA. So I'm sure they either demanded big money from BCN & Gaia for using their data, or cut them off. Their real value is the topo data base, and its more complete and accurate than others!

David K - 6-12-2021 at 10:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by PaulW  
I put digital Atlas on my phone. Can I move it to my tablet or buy another download?


I sent your question to Benchmark.
Have you checked the Avenza menu for help?

https://www.avenzamaps.com/maps/1250162/baja-california-atla...

https://www.avenzamaps.com/help/tutorials/

https://support.avenzamaps.com/hc/en-us