Gps again, kinda

[Gari]

I am planning on going to Morroco this winter for a few weeks, while route planning I figured a GPS would be useful as the maps can be pretty unreliable in the more remote areas. I aim to use it mainly to identify difficult junctions and main habitations. I have 3 maps and not one of them agrees entirely with each other!!!
I haven't bought one yet but am pretty sure what I want, plus I may be able to get some mapping with it too.
Is it possible to plan a route on Google Earth/Maps, making points of interest of villages etc, and then uploading as a GPX file? if so how, as I don't normally use these things.
For info I don't really plan on using it here at home, maybe to get a fix in a white out while ski-touring
The main usage is for foreign trips really.
Thanks in advance

[Bearbonesnorm]

I think* that google and the like use kml files which can then be converted to gpx.

*Hopefully someone who knows more than me (which won't be hard) will be along shortly.

[Chew]

If you use something like bikehike you'll be able to plot your route on google maps and then save it down as a GPX route. Having a quick look at Morocco theres quite a bit of detail.

That will only give you a line on your GPS though. You'll have to source a basemap from somewhere so you can use it on the ground and workout if you are where you think you are.

We're a bit spoiled with OS maps over here, seems like its a bit of a novelty elsewhere

[Gari]

Thanks guys, I am getting a Garmin and have installed Basecamp in anticipation, it has basemap on that, would that surfice?
I plan to use it in conjunction with a paper map, just confirming the junction or whatever, is the one I am looking at as it were.
Bikehike you say? I shall pop over there now.....

[Chew]

I believe basemap is very basic. It will tell you about major roads and towns, but not much else.

You'll need some kind of map tiles/basemap to add onto your devise, or some way of cross referencing your gps output to your map. The gps will output Lon/Lat co-ordinates, but dont think they're too much use on flat paper maps.

There may be some geek somewhere that will have what you're looking for :D

[Zippy]

I think* that google and the like use kml files which can then be converted to gpx.

*Hopefully someone who knows more than me (which won't be hard) will be along shortly.

yup, something like www.gpsies.com will help you with that

[Ian]

Route can be planned in Google earth and saved as KML files, and then converted to GPX (or anything else you like) at http://www.gpsbabel.org/

[Ray Young]

Don't know how to create a link but check out www.morroco overland.com. Does a map review for you.

[Lughnasadh]

Hi Gari.

Try this website http://www.africaexpedition.de/ausrustu ... p-morocco/

They have routable osm maps of Morocco.

It us anything like the talkytoaster uk osm maps it is very easy to stick on a garmin.

I am happy to try to get a morrocan map working on the garmin tonight then let you know how to do it.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Garmin sd card containing TOPO mapping of Morocco - £23.19

http://gb.ioffer.com/i/garmin-topo-moro ... -199775826

[Gari]

Thanks again folks, appreciated. Stuart that is just the kind of thing I was after, thanks.
Fingers crossed it will happen this year, I was going last year too but work got in the way!!!
Gari