An der Bordeira de Norte
GPS Daten der Wanderwege   10.80 EUR   available in stock

Cape Verde
Boa Vista, Maio, Santo Antao, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente
Hiking and Trekking

GPS Data on CD-Rom
a supplement for the use of our maps and guides

Lucete Fortes
Dr. Pitt Reitmaier

8cm Minidisk in stabiler Plastikhülle

 
 


You get the complete GPS-Routes of Boa Vista, Maio, Santo Antão, São Nicolau and São Vicente jointly with a top-quality programme for upload and download on a Mini-CD Rom.
This will improve your orientation considerably.

GPS for Hiking - an introduction

"GPS" stands for Global Positioning System and allows precise orientation worldwide by use of satelllite signals.
All you need is a portable receiver, the size of an (older) cellular phone. The device does not only help you to find your routes. It also writes a track of your itinerary, calculates distances, speed and time elapsed to the next target.

Routes, Tracks and Waypoints are stored in the internal memory and eventually downloaded to uploaded from your computer via serial or USB cable. Almost all GPS programmes for PC allow to use a mapfile as a background.

The Precision was greatly improved after the "Clinton-Act" a few years ago and nowadays is perfectly sufficient for hikers. Before, the random error, brought in by the US-Army as the exclusive owner of the sattelite system, was a permanent noisance.

Hikes can keep their "Signposts in a pocket" with a precison of plus / minus 10 m.

As we had to take thousands of GPS waypoints when producing our hiking-maps, we felt challenged to edit a data-set for our clients. Feedback by users is very positive. GPS is understood as a real help due to the co-incidence with our maps and guidebook texts.

But there must be space for a word of warning:

Like aircraft pilots, hikers should never rely on one only system of navigation! Electronic devices are easily destroyed when falling down or their batteries go dry.

Map, Compass and Guidebook are paramount!

Never use GPS as the only navigation system !
 
 

handheld GPS receiver

Examples:
GARMIN® GPS 12,
a heavy duty device, perfect in function and reliabilty at a reasonable price.
Smaller, nicer and a bit more expensive with the same functionability is the GARMIN® eTrex Summit

GPS Receivers

Fishermen, sports sailors and hunters are the traditional purchasers of handheld receivers. Accordingly, the devices are quite resistant and waterproof. One finds the best selection in outdoor- und sailing shops.
Top models compete with rapidly growing features like uploadable maps and huge memory.
Simpler models are not less usefull and much more economic.

Devices with built in maps and compass are much more expensive and do not offer real advantages for remote places like Cape Verde. In any case you have to take a paper map and a compass with you - and if it is only for the moment when the batteries of the all-in-on multipurpose high tech device are gone.

For trekking in Cape Verde we recommend simple but reliable receivers with the following minimal features:
:

  • 12 Satelliten
  • at least 500 Wegpunkte
  • at least  10 Routen
  • Computer interface
  • Compatibility of receiver, computer, software and data!

 

 
  GPS Programmes for PC
The easiest way to put waypoints, tracks and routes in the GPS receiver is via the computer-interface. It also allows to store data recorded in the field in files. We have some experience with different GARMIN Receivers and the following programmes and give practical hints ánd answer FAQs.

ant.gif (8593 bytes) TRACKMAKER® is an excellend shareware developped by Odilon Ferreira Junior and our favourite for up- and downloading of GPS-Data. Odilon has authorized us to distribute his software on our CD-Rom so that everyone working with it has a good programme for data transfer at hand.  The only precondition he puts for the use of his programme is signing a declaration not use it for any purpose detremenatal for nature and environment. Please take it serious!
Trackmaker works with a variety of more than 100 GPS-Receivers made by Garmin®, Lowrance®, Magellan®, MRL® and   Brunton/Silva® .
We never came across any other programme of similar speed an quality in the data transfer with such a variety of makes.
A big hug and "Thank You" to Brasil!

There are programms for Apple, palmtops and organizers available but we have no experience with those.

®  registered trademarks of firms mentioned

 

GPS Data on CD-Rom

The latest Version contains a directory per every one of the islands preferred by hikers, covered by our maps:

BV complete data of Boa Vista
MA complete data of Maio
SA

complete data of Santo Antão
PL_all.gmt  tracks in the district of Paúl
RG_all.gmt  tracks in the district of Rª Grande
PN_all.gmt  tracks in the district of Porto Novo

SN complete data of São Nicolau
ST complete data of Santigao
SV complete data of São Vicente
Trackmak Programmw GPS Trackmaker ready for installation
 
   

You find all data in two formats:

  1. *.xls   MS Excel spreadsheets
  2. *.gtm data-files for  TRACKMAKER
     

Excel-spreadsheets are used for printing out lists and manual data-entry and editing.

You must not own a laptop or take one to the field to make use of the CD-Rom and a GPS receiver. Chose what you need at home and upload it before travelling!

Example Table::

316

Route

Copyright: Reitmaier Fortes

Waypoint
Designation
North
South
°
´
East
West
°
´

SUL101

VOQUIN LOJA

N

16

58.882

W

25

11.912

SUL009

PEDRA JORGE

N

16

59.069

W

25

11.657

SUL008

LISPENSE CHAFARI

N

16

59.585

W

25

12.434

BORD01

Pedra negra

N

16

59.914

W

25

12.887

BORD02

Subida

N

17

00.004

W

25

13.084

BORD03

Pe Tome

N

17

00.369

W

25

13.429

BORD04

Tampa Tome

N

17

00.859

W

25

13.744

BORD05

-

N

17

01.157

W

25

14.098

BORD06

-

N

17

01.448

W

25

14.090

BORD07

-

N

17

01.839

W

25

14.021

BORD08

Bons Sonhos

N

17

02.276

W

25

13.964

NORT16

BORDEIRA NORTE

N

17

02.437

W

25

13.888

 
 


Download
Example Data of Route 316.
You receive a file called Example.gtm for use with GPS-Trackmaker.

Enjoy and have fun!

 

 
  updated: 28.12.2005