Electronic map of Greece?

Mike Lane wrote:
> On Wed, 5 Dec 2007 05:11:26 +0000, CrazyCam wrote
> (in article ):
>
>> Hi there.
>>
>> My wife and I are planning a visit to Greece in 08, and I'd really like
>> to find a decent electronic map of Greece.
>>
>> (Yes, I have driven in Greece previously, and don't like the local
>> custom of pasting adverts over the street signs.)
>>
>> I actually bought Micro$oft Autoroute 2007, and it's bloody hopeless for
>> Greece. It seems quite good for Athens, but <shrug> we don't want to do
>> Athens anyway.
>>
>> Are there any good maps out there?
>>
>> If need be, I'd buy a GPS (car-type) but only if it has good mapping.
>>
>> Alternatively, if I can find a raster map showing most of the roads, I
>> could use OziExplorer, and navigate that way.
>>
>
> I don't know if this would be any good to you.
> http://www.elsinga.net/map_greece.html
>
Thanks for the suggestion, Mike.

Unfortunately, I keep bumping into the same catch22 deal.

You need to have bought the hardware or software before you can look at
the map.

Until I can look at the map, I won't buy the hardware/software, having
been ripped off with Autoroute already.

Still, I suppose that maybe getting a wee bit lost occasionally, might
just be part of the experience of a holiday in Greece.

regards,
CrazyCam
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:09:10 +0000, CrazyCam wrote
(in article ):

> Mike Lane wrote:
>>
>> I don't know if this would be any good to you.
>> http://www.elsinga.net/map_greece.html
>>
> Thanks for the suggestion, Mike.
>
> Unfortunately, I keep bumping into the same catch22 deal.
>
> You need to have bought the hardware or software before you can look at
> the map.
>
> Until I can look at the map, I won't buy the hardware/software, having
> been ripped off with Autoroute already.
>
> Still, I suppose that maybe getting a wee bit lost occasionally, might
> just be part of the experience of a holiday in Greece.
>

OK, well I'll tell you what I do in Greece.

When driving I don't really bother much with GPS. If I'm in my own car I have
a Garmin StreetPilot with the City Navigator (Europe) maps installed. These
are not very much use in Greece generally except Athens (and oddly enough in
Patras which was useful to find the ferry port). Other than that one simply
has the so-called base map which only shows main roads and really just gives
one reassurance that one is heading in the right direction.

Otherwise when walking (or in a rented car) I rely on paper maps which are
really far more reliable and informative than anything else. The best maps
are unquestionably produced by Anavasi : (http://www.mountains.gr/en/)
Unfortunately they don't yet cover the whole country but the coverage is
improving year by year. They are extremely accurate and use a local map datum
and grid system. I use a very basic Garmin hand held unit which I can set up
to the Greek grid. This gives me a read out which I can use to pin-point my
position on the map. (This sounds very complicated but really isn't). I
won't bore you with more details but please get in touch if you would like to
know any more.

--
Mike Lane (UK North Yorkshire)
To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

"Mike Lane" wrote:

Hello Mike,

> The best maps are unquestionably produced by Anavasi

that's my oppinion too. That are really very good maps.

> use a local map datum and grid system.

Since a longer period of time there is shown an alternative grid than
the Greek grid. Small inconspicuous crosses mark the WGS84 grid. The
relevant values are shown on the outskirts. So it's easy to calibrate
the map.

If you buy a map on CD the calibration file for the standard programs is
delivered inside.

CU, Ohm.
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:30:00 +0000, Ohm Krieger wrote
(in article ):

> "Mike Lane" wrote:
>
> Hello Mike,
>
>> The best maps are unquestionably produced by Anavasi
>
> that's my oppinion too. That are really very good maps.
>
>> use a local map datum and grid system.
>
> Since a longer period of time there is shown an alternative grid than
> the Greek grid. Small inconspicuous crosses mark the WGS84 grid. The
> relevant values are shown on the outskirts. So it's easy to calibrate
> the map.
>

Yes I know that but they are quite inconspicuous as you say, and also rather
widely spaced so I find it quite difficult to interpolate between them. It's
much easier I find, to set up a user grid on your Garmin and use the Greek
grid instead. Some (but not all) the Anavasi sheets give instructions on how
to do this. Once you have done this the scale factors are stored on the unit
and it's easy to switch between the Greek grid and WGS84 or (in my case) the
British OS grid when you travel between different countries.

--
Mike Lane (UK North Yorkshire)
To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

Mike Lane wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:30:00 +0000, Ohm Krieger wrote
> (in article ):
>
>> "Mike Lane" wrote:
>>
>> Hello Mike,
>>
>>> The best maps are unquestionably produced by Anavasi
>> that's my oppinion too. That are really very good maps.
>>
>>> use a local map datum and grid system.
>> Since a longer period of time there is shown an alternative grid than
>> the Greek grid. Small inconspicuous crosses mark the WGS84 grid. The
>> relevant values are shown on the outskirts. So it's easy to calibrate
>> the map.
>>
>
> Yes I know that but they are quite inconspicuous as you say, and also rather
> widely spaced so I find it quite difficult to interpolate between them. It's
> much easier I find, to set up a user grid on your Garmin and use the Greek
> grid instead. Some (but not all) the Anavasi sheets give instructions on how
> to do this. Once you have done this the scale factors are stored on the unit
> and it's easy to switch between the Greek grid and WGS84 or (in my case) the
> British OS grid when you travel between different countries.
>

I think what Ohm was getting at was that if I bought the CD version of
their maps, I could calibrate them fairly easily to use with the likes
of OziExplorer.

OTOH, I can see your method of using the paper map with the GPS set to
the Greek grid, also makes sense.

Thank you both for your input.

It looks like the simplest method for me will be working off the paper
maps, and maybe take my wee E-Trex in my pocket.

The laptop can stay in Sydney, and, unless I see a really good car-nav
system in Greece, I'll manage without.

regards,
CrazyCam
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:11:31 +0000, CrazyCam wrote
(in article ):

> It looks like the simplest method for me will be working off the paper
> maps, and maybe take my wee E-Trex in my pocket.
>
> The laptop can stay in Sydney, and, unless I see a really good car-nav
> system in Greece, I'll manage without.

That sounds much the best plan to me, I'd definitely take the E-Trex though.
I doubt if you'll find anything available in Greece; satnav doesn't seem to
have caught on there at all - presumably because of the lack of any decent
mapping.

In fact it always seems to me a minor miracle that proper maps of any kind
are becoming available in Greece. Up to a few years ago the *only* accurate
maps were controlled by the military and simply unavailable to the general
public, presumably for fear that they might fall into the hands of a foreign
national from you-know-where .

--
Mike Lane (UK North Yorkshire)
To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

Mike Lane wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:11:31 +0000, CrazyCam wrote
> (in article ):
>
>> It looks like the simplest method for me will be working off the paper
>> maps, and maybe take my wee E-Trex in my pocket.
>>
>> The laptop can stay in Sydney, and, unless I see a really good car-nav
>> system in Greece, I'll manage without.
>
> That sounds much the best plan to me, I'd definitely take the E-Trex though.
> I doubt if you'll find anything available in Greece; satnav doesn't seem to
> have caught on there at all - presumably because of the lack of any decent
> mapping.
>
> In fact it always seems to me a minor miracle that proper maps of any kind
> are becoming available in Greece. Up to a few years ago the *only* accurate
> maps were controlled by the military and simply unavailable to the general
> public, presumably for fear that they might fall into the hands of a foreign
> national from you-know-where .
>

I know this is a bit OT, but I used to be fairly serious about playing
with Micro$oft Flight Sim, and was totally amazed at the add-on scenery,
terrain and airfields that were available for Greece. The detail and
accuracy were simply stunning.

And this was at the same time as a couple of pommie anoraks were in jail
in Greece for taking photos of either an aircraft, or a military
airfield, can't remember which.

regards,
CrazyCam
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

CrazyCam wrote:
> Mike Lane wrote:
>> On Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:11:31 +0000, CrazyCam wrote
>> (in article ):
>>
>>> It looks like the simplest method for me will be working off the
>>> paper maps, and maybe take my wee E-Trex in my pocket.
>>>
>>> The laptop can stay in Sydney, and, unless I see a really good
>>> car-nav system in Greece, I'll manage without.
>>
>> That sounds much the best plan to me, I'd definitely take the E-Trex
>> though. I doubt if you'll find anything available in Greece; satnav
>> doesn't seem to have caught on there at all - presumably because of
>> the lack of any decent mapping.
>>
>> In fact it always seems to me a minor miracle that proper maps of any
>> kind are becoming available in Greece. Up to a few years ago the
>> *only* accurate maps were controlled by the military and simply
>> unavailable to the general public, presumably for fear that they might
>> fall into the hands of a foreign national from you-know-where .
>>
>
> I know this is a bit OT, but I used to be fairly serious about playing
> with Micro$oft Flight Sim, and was totally amazed at the add-on scenery,
> terrain and airfields that were available for Greece. The detail and
> accuracy were simply stunning.
>
> And this was at the same time as a couple of pommie anoraks were in jail
> in Greece for taking photos of either an aircraft, or a military
> airfield, can't remember which.
>
> regards,
> CrazyCam
I lived in greece for 5 years and found that the only reliable way to
get around was to use a paper map. I know that things change over time
but personally I would still use a paper map at the moment.
I now live back in the UK and am a taxi driver and use GPS sometimes but
I find it unreliablable at times so still use maps, I like to know where
I am being sent by the gps and sometimes find it to be wrong. I still
depend on my maps and knowledge!
Stuart Hudson
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:30:07 +0000, Stuart wrote
(in article ):

> I lived in greece for 5 years and found that the only reliable way to
> get around was to use a paper map. I know that things change over time
> but personally I would still use a paper map at the moment.
> I now live back in the UK and am a taxi driver and use GPS sometimes but
> I find it unreliablable at times so still use maps, I like to know where
> I am being sent by the gps and sometimes find it to be wrong. I still
> depend on my maps and knowledge!

It's not a question of using either one or the other. I normally carry both
paper maps and a GPS when travelling anywhere, since each has its strengths
and weaknesses.

I agree that a paper map has great advantages; it has an enormous amount of
detail and is easier to use to plan routes. However it's still quite possible
to get lost using one since one often has no way of finding one's exact
position on the map. That's where the GPS comes in. Used together they are
unbeatable.

When driving long distances abroad I like to plan my route in advance using a
paper map and then transfer that route onto my GPS system. I can then relax
on the journey, allowing my GPS to guide me along my preferred route.

--
Mike Lane (UK North Yorkshire)
To contact me replace invalid with mike underscore lane
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece? 

If you need simple maps for your Garmin GPS go at:
http://mapdekode.iol.gr/
For mobile phones if supported take a look at:
http://www.moonphases.info/category.asp?catid=33
you can download a trial version for your vacation and if you like you can
buy it

You can use this link to print the map of the location that you want:
http://www.openstreetmap.org/

Some maps you can found in torrent sites like http://thepiratebay.org/ that
shared from other users but I don't know what type are or if is legal or
not.

I hope to help you

"CrazyCam" wrote in message

> Hi there.
>
> My wife and I are planning a visit to Greece in 08, and I'd really like to
> find a decent electronic map of Greece.
>
> (Yes, I have driven in Greece previously, and don't like the local custom
> of pasting adverts over the street signs.)
>
> I actually bought Micro$oft Autoroute 2007, and it's bloody hopeless for
> Greece. It seems quite good for Athens, but <shrug> we don't want to do
> Athens anyway.
>
> Are there any good maps out there?
>
> If need be, I'd buy a GPS (car-type) but only if it has good mapping.
>
> Alternatively, if I can find a raster map showing most of the roads, I
> could use OziExplorer, and navigate that way.
>
> regards,
> CrazyCam
>
 >> Stay informed about: Electronic map of Greece?