Canal Aware GPS systems

[Chris J W]

Hiya,

 

What's the latest with 'canal aware' GPS units and integration with maps/route planners?

 

One major reason for wanting one is for 1) my safety - if I breakdown, have an emergency etc, I can tell someone EXACTLY where I am and 2) to also let my family feel a bit more 'secure' for me whilst I'm out and about.

 

I suppose integration with maps/planners is a useful add-on (especialy when wandering around towns I've never been to!)

[NB Willawaw]

Generally you will know roughly where you are at all times and a quick glance at the Nicholsons or whichever map

you use will give you the nearest bridge reference.

If you really want to go hi-tech, you can connect a GPS head to a laptop loaded with memory map software which will

show you the Ordnance Survey maps and your location on them.

I played with these for a while, but found them a bit superfluous - I just use this set-up for tidal trips now and load the

British Admiralty charts instead.

[Tim]

I've got a 'Road Angel 7000' with memory map. You load in the relavent 1:50,000 OS sections and it plots your route and gives you all sorts of stats if you're that way inclined.

[Graham Davis]

If you just want to know where exactly you are, then a simple Garmin Etrex or Geko can be set up to give a 10 figure OS map reference.

 

I use a Geko for rally marshalling, just in this way. I can then plot the reference onto the map, which can be perfect in the middle of a Welsh forest. Also useful if we have to call down the Air Ambulance as they always ask for a map ref.