Ok have talked enough about getting some thing done, time has come to POOP or get off the pot!

I need to know what I need to get this rolling, do I need setup a website and if so need some suggestions of which one and what will work. Isse that AT COLORADO has a GPS site setup sad thing is all the work involved in it and so little traffic.

ATVCOLORADO GPS

Is this a good example or something for ideas? Are there other sites that we can look at to get some ideas to get started? Need any and all suggestions.

This is an open invitation to anyone that has an idea or is willing to help.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Cob,

I registered and will upload all the trail information that I have. Looks like a good site, easy to use format, just waiting to be discovered. Thanks for the link!

As I mentioned to Cob in a PM. The Colorado ATV site was started and then it looks like burnout or something happened. I suggested maybe do a joint deal with them so ATV Quadsquad's name gets some recognition.

I know between Deolman(local Guru), Snackman(volunteered on another post) and RedMan(Guru on another site) that we should be able to get something going.

Cob, I am not sure what you really are asking here. Are you wanting to store and access maps, tracks, links to software, maybe waypoints? All of the above? In order for all to use them some rules will need to be established. For example, I use Garmin so if I can't find a common way to share waypoints with you, my file for your use on the Magellan would be worthless. Not a big deal anymore to use a different GPS receivers and the same data – you just have to follow the rules.

I am not sure you have to start a new web site, so Gomer please jump in here. I see where other forums have up/download file areas. Surely there must be a way to do it.

Since you have people from all over I am guessing you want info for all over as well. Is that correct?

Is this some of what you are looking for?

quote:

Deolman

Well that is the main reason I need you guys for input. Guess instead of telling you, I need ask what it is that we want. Yes I would like see the trails and maps and waypoints added. The rules are a good idea they need be set so that this will work. I'm doing good to change batteries in mine let alone any thing else.

I was just worried about how much room all this is going to take up. That was reason I suggested a WEB page all it's own, am open for suggestions.

Here's my suggestion...take the GPS forum out of "Other Interests" section and make it a section of itself. Under a GPS section have a Forum named something like Tracks, Routes and Waypoints that when clicked would expand down to a listing of each state and Canada etc (this would be the place to post track, route and waypoint files). And another Forum under GPS named General GPS Talk...Tips Etc. I don't think it would be necessary to build a whole new site like the Colorada site you mentioned.

As far as making it easy to share files require all files be uploaded in GPX format. There are several free software packages (my favoriteGPSTrackMaker) that support Garmin, Magellan, and Lowrance native file formats that can be saved to GPX.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rws,

I need get ahold of GOMER get his input on this thing. He goes to bed early during the week so I have call early in the evening will try get that done tomorrow.

As far as saving files in the GPX format, unless I'm wrong, Garmin Mapsource allows you to do that. Unfortunately I'm at work and can't confirm that, but I'm fairly certain I remember that being an option under File Save As and then the pulldown for Filetype.

I tried last night to get on the ATV Colorado GPS site, but for some reason it would always time out before the logon screen would come up. I'm guessing that their server must have been having problems or something so I gave up.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rockbanger,

quote:

Originally posted by Rockbanger:
As far as saving files in the GPX format, unless I'm wrong, Garmin Mapsource allows you to do that. Unfortunately I'm at work and can't confirm that, but I'm fairly certain I remember that being an option under File Save As and then the pulldown for Filetype.

I tried last night to get on the ATV Colorado GPS site, but for some reason it would always time out before the logon screen would come up. I'm guessing that their server must have been having problems or something so I gave up.

Mapsource can read and write GPX...but does Magellan, Lowrance and the others? If a particular brand can't you'll need a third party software like GPSTrackMaker.

http://shadetreewebsites.com/gps.htm

I looked at the ATVCOLORADO GPS site and it was impressive... it was also broke, and as you mentioned, appears to be quite involved... way beyond my skill level.

I threw together a very simple example of a site in a matter of a half hour that does everything I'd ever want to see. The only issue, and I really don't consider it an issue at all, is that the users would have to email all their data for a particular trail to a single person who would then plug it into the webpage... we're talking maybe fifteen minutes a trail to make it look good.

Whomever sent the data would get their name annotated in a remarks area along with dates and such. Some ideas for type of information:
- couple of snapshots of the area
- GPX file
- Directions to trailhead
- jpg of a topo map
- links to other sites that have info on the trail
- or anything else that would add value to someone's adventure.

The web guy would then only have to cut and paste the data and link it appropriately. If we had two diff people provide data for the same trail, then add another row in the table and
make a new entry. Let the users decide what trail data they want to download and use.

We could still keep using this forum to talk about everything and just provide a link to the website where the data resides. We could offer discussions on corrections/updates/reviews etc on the trail data that we have on the site... sort of a community QA process.

I don't want to qwell any initiative towards an interactive and professionaly structured site, but we could have a repository up and running in a few days and start dumping in the trail data. Simple and easy. I'd be more than willing to do this, but it doesn't have to be me. I'm new around here and don't want to barge in like I own the place.

Jim

quote:

SnackMan

I appreciate the help, don't worry about being new. I asked for help and this means from anyone. What are the thoughts from others on what he is saying here? GOMER and I have talked and with our storage here on INFOPOP we are sure that to beable to have something of substance we need have a web page all it's own for the GPS maps and data. Yes the main part like what we have now stay here and then link to the other part.

We can't make 50 subtopics or forums within a forum. Now if there was a GPS forum, there could be 50 discussion topics, one for each state.

Wouldn't it be better with some ares to bunch them together like the MID WEST there isn't that many trails to map. Colorado and all the western states like ARIZ NEW MEXICO and CALIF have many trails and would need their own area I'm sure.

Thats probably doable. But we are reaching the point of a very long opening page. Maybe get rid of some of the other forum that have little to no traffic and then go from there.

Time for a overhaul!

I'm a web developer... That site has potential but really has some coding isues! I've really wanted to start my own site to do it right but not sure about my available time. I hve a decent domain name but not one I'm sold on. Just thinking out loud...

I created the ATVColorado.com GPS Trails Database web and will offer what ever I can to assist. As you probably know the ATVColroado Trails Database hasn't been touched in years. After I created the base for the website it seamed that everyone lost interest and no one added any trails to it. The website/database was never finished.

If there is any interest in something like that, or even bringing that one back to life please let me know.

I'm not on the boards much but you can email me at kevin.pickett@comcast.net

WELCOME

It was you that inspired the interest in me to start one here. It pained not see anyone use what you worked so hard to create. You may have just opened a can of worms for yourself.

I would like nothing more than see this thing take off. We have several knowledgeable guys here on the site and many times that willing to learn, myself included.