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Hello ALL:
Just curious if anyone has found software or hardware, great for folks like us who are going to do some US travels. Is there equipment out there that would list campgrounds, filling stations, etc. on major highways??
I haven't purchased equipment yet, and not sure if a laptop with software?, or what..
Any help would really be a help. We are planning trips for next spring, so time isn't critical at this time.
Ned C:
Just curious if anyone has found software or hardware, great for folks like us who are going to do some US travels. Is there equipment out there that would list campgrounds, filling stations, etc. on major highways??
I haven't purchased equipment yet, and not sure if a laptop with software?, or what..
Any help would really be a help. We are planning trips for next spring, so time isn't critical at this time.
Ned C:
Ned, many RV'ers, and others who often visit campgrounds, use Microsoft Streets and Trips, DeLorme Street Atlas, ALK CoPilot. and perhaps other software, too. Each contains large database of POIs (points of interest), but there are freely downloadable POIs that can be imported by some (not all) software. I think the combination of POIs that are already in the software program, and the POIs that you can download from various websites, should keep most users quite happy.
The current version of ALK CoPilot cannot import POIs, but the other two programs I mentioned can.
There also is some specific software for campgrounds, but I just cannot recall its name now. Anyone?
The current version of ALK CoPilot cannot import POIs, but the other two programs I mentioned can.
There also is some specific software for campgrounds, but I just cannot recall its name now. Anyone?
There is a campground specific software is called Trailer Life. I don't have any personal experience with it but I found the 2008 version for sale here:
http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=553&m=2.
http://rvbookstore.com/shop/detail.aspx?p=553&m=2.
TNKS. Larry and Marvin
Larry, yes, Trailer Life is what I had in mind, but I just couldn't recall the name. I've heard about it on more than one occasion. The beauty of a laptop computer is that you are not limited to just one program; you can install several mapping software packages, and then use each for different purpose. No program can do it all, but two or three programs can complement each other quite nicely.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marvin Hlavac
Larry, yes, Trailer Life is what I had in mind, but I just couldn't recall the name. I've heard about it on more than one occasion. The beauty of a laptop computer is that you are not limited to just one program; you can install several mapping software packages, and then use each for different purpose. No program can do it all, but two or three programs can complement each other quite nicely.
Woodalls also offers a campground directory for installation on a PC as well but I believe it maybe incorporated into S&T already.
Again Many thanks..
Ned C
Ned C
Ned, I use Trailer Life's Campground Navigator to locate campgrounds. Although it will determine routes, I use S&T for planning my route. One nice thing about the campground navigator is that you can easily see the three ratings for each campground and determine if they have the hookups you need.
pete
pete
Thanks Pete.. Looking forward to Christmas and a great deal on a PC laptop. I have a Mac, but it seems the software is PC only..
Ned C.
Ned C.
I have Streets and Trips 2008 and got the software from Brian Reynolds called Truck Stops Plus. It will give you low clearances, Flying J, Petro, Pilot and lots of other major fuel stops and mom and pop fuel stops very easy software to use and easy on the pocket book. It will only take short time to figure out S&Trips. Look up POI's (points of interest) on the internet and you will find all kinds of things and locations for camping or RVing. Got questions on any Gps feel free to submit questions on here and someone will answer you. Rukstr
There is a web site for Discovery motorhome owners (http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfolinks.htm) that has files that can be downloaded by anyone for use in DeLorme, S&T, Co-Pilot and Google Earth. There's also a downloadable text file. The information available (in individual files) includes Flying J stations, Pilot stations, state parks, Wal-Marts with and without fuel, Sams with and without fuel, Golden Corrals, Cracker Barrels, certain bridge clearances and more.
I have a motorhome and use both DeLorme and S&T (not together) and the files work great. Before I found these files, I sometimes did this when looking for certain things.
I have a motorhome and use both DeLorme and S&T (not together) and the files work great. Before I found these files, I sometimes did this when looking for certain things.
I can't thank you all enough for all the info. We both are looking forward to traveling this spring and summer. This is going to make things much easier..
Ned C:
Ned C:
Let us know how things go. I have found that part of the fun of RVing is in the planning. I have both DeLorme and S&T and plan routes in both. There are always some difference in the routes. I play with the maps, set up side trips, etc. The overlays I mentioned are very useful. I honestly don't know how often they're updated, however. I frequently use them to look for Flying J stations, Wal-Marts and Cracker Barrels. All of those are RV friendly and that's why I try to patronize them.
Hello there,
We would greatly appreciate any help on this, we just received and installed S&T 2009 in our laptop, now we would like to download POI ( ex:. FlyingJ, Walmarts, Cleareance, etc) from (http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfolinks.htm) to help us plan our trip down to Florida and because we are newb's to this we need help on the steeps to download, save and incorporate them to a route plan we already have started on S&T.
thanking you in advance
Jobock
We would greatly appreciate any help on this, we just received and installed S&T 2009 in our laptop, now we would like to download POI ( ex:. FlyingJ, Walmarts, Cleareance, etc) from (http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfolinks.htm) to help us plan our trip down to Florida and because we are newb's to this we need help on the steeps to download, save and incorporate them to a route plan we already have started on S&T.
thanking you in advance
Jobock
It is very easy to add POI in S&T. I have done it very often myself. When browsing POI web site, just search for excel file (.xls) or text files (comma separated text file).
Then in S&T, open the .est file you want to add your new POI (like a list of walmart, campground, and so on) to it. In the Data menu, choose import data wizard. Then you have to choose the file type you want to import (usually excel, text, ...). Then you may choose the country region (other if multi country).
Now you have a chance to format the data with column to separate them: name, address, latitude, longitude and so on. This step can go gracefully or not. It depends how good is the source file. If the first row of the data is the column headings in the source file, you may select this as well. If the first row has not column headings or the headings are not recognized by S&T, you will have to edit the data type for each column yourself (minimum needed is Name, Latitude, Longitude). Once done, you click finish and it will import all the records and validate them. You will see for a while how many records have been accepted and how many have been refused (you may check this carefully later by doing properties on the new pushpin dataset, under the matching tab, you should get 0 for number unmatched, if a great number did not match, the source file is not good, you may have to modify it, see below...).
This will create a new pushpins dataset that has the name of the file you imported as the dataset name. At this point, i am usually changing the default pushpins associated with the dataset (like use a tent for campground and so on. You may also import some icon bitmap that are generally available with the POI source file).
To change the pushpin icon, open the legend and overview pane. Then select the new pushpins dataset imported (that is matching the file name), right click properties, and choose a new icon under general tab, symbol.
A good place to start for POI:
http://www.poi-factory.com/
Important:
1- If the import operation went very bad, sometimes the source file format is not good for S&T. It could usually being repaired easily yourself by opening the excel or the text file, and taking care to split every information carefully in column (for a text file a column is delimited by a comma), with 1 information category in each column. Take care if one information is missing in a row to let a blank in this column category so the data import goes well later...
2- If you want to have these POI to many of your route .est files, do the same to an empty .est file and save it as a template to start your new routes later, so they will have all the POI...
Example of multiple imported POI files:
Does Streets and Trips need Legend and Overview pane?
Enjoy
Then in S&T, open the .est file you want to add your new POI (like a list of walmart, campground, and so on) to it. In the Data menu, choose import data wizard. Then you have to choose the file type you want to import (usually excel, text, ...). Then you may choose the country region (other if multi country).
Now you have a chance to format the data with column to separate them: name, address, latitude, longitude and so on. This step can go gracefully or not. It depends how good is the source file. If the first row of the data is the column headings in the source file, you may select this as well. If the first row has not column headings or the headings are not recognized by S&T, you will have to edit the data type for each column yourself (minimum needed is Name, Latitude, Longitude). Once done, you click finish and it will import all the records and validate them. You will see for a while how many records have been accepted and how many have been refused (you may check this carefully later by doing properties on the new pushpin dataset, under the matching tab, you should get 0 for number unmatched, if a great number did not match, the source file is not good, you may have to modify it, see below...).
This will create a new pushpins dataset that has the name of the file you imported as the dataset name. At this point, i am usually changing the default pushpins associated with the dataset (like use a tent for campground and so on. You may also import some icon bitmap that are generally available with the POI source file).
To change the pushpin icon, open the legend and overview pane. Then select the new pushpins dataset imported (that is matching the file name), right click properties, and choose a new icon under general tab, symbol.
A good place to start for POI:
http://www.poi-factory.com/
Important:
1- If the import operation went very bad, sometimes the source file format is not good for S&T. It could usually being repaired easily yourself by opening the excel or the text file, and taking care to split every information carefully in column (for a text file a column is delimited by a comma), with 1 information category in each column. Take care if one information is missing in a row to let a blank in this column category so the data import goes well later...
2- If you want to have these POI to many of your route .est files, do the same to an empty .est file and save it as a template to start your new routes later, so they will have all the POI...
Example of multiple imported POI files:
Does Streets and Trips need Legend and Overview pane?
Enjoy