GPS Personal Navigator Files PNFs    05 September 2009

 Personal Navigator  Files (PNFs), Google Earth compatible, Vista compliant

 

At DWG we have been using GPS systems, handheld and vehicle based, as an integral part of our research into new walking guide books and as the fundamental system that records the details required for our Tour & Trail Maps. For us modern GPS equipment integrated with mapping software has given us a quantum jump forward in the accuracy of recording our walking routes, and has enabled us to compile the latest ground surveys as the basis of our published maps. Our 'Walks' series of walking guide books incorporate GPS Waypoints which GPS users can program into their hand held GPS to provide Waypoint Navigation which complements our Walk Descriptions and Maps.
Now we have developed full GPS Track & Waypoint Navigation for GPS users in the form of Personal Navigator Files (PNFs).

Getting lost is never a pleasant experience. Getting lost abroad in unfamiliar territory can be most unnerving, not to say distressing. We pride ourselves on the accuracy of our Walk Descriptions; including frequent timings so that you can check your progress against the walk description, compass directions for compass users, along with detailed observations.
PNFs go one stage further by providing the actual walking route along with all the GPS Waypoints referred to in the book. These can then be downloaded into your GPS. At the start of a walking route switch on your GPS and select the PNF for that route. Your GPS will then show your progress along the walking route. The accuracy is such that if you take a wrong turning (accidentally) you will see your mistake within 20 metres as your GPS cursor leaves the Track shown on the display. No more wandering about wondering if you are on the correct route.
PNFs; Satellite Navigation for walkers!
 

For everyone with a gps unit PNFs will come as a revelation. At DWG we have walked all the routes we publish, and we can prove it through our GPS records. By making those records available in the form of PNFs you will get a new level of confidence for navigating in the territory covered by our 'Walk' guide books at Home & Abroad.
Even if you never intend to buy a GPS, or think 'Map & Compass' navigation is best (see GPS The Easy Way), you can have confidence in the accuracy of DWG guide books because you know that we are publishing PNFs which show exactly where we have been when researching a region, resulting in better accuracy of both maps and walk descriptions. At present DWG are the only people using integrated GPS as an integral part of researching walking guide books.

PNFs take quite some time to compile as we record far more information than is needed just for a walk description, and of course the GPS is recording where we have been when we go wrong. We edit out any confusing information so that the PNF shows the walking route as we describe it in the walk description.

Client Comment from Jenkin D 27.03.2007 "Excellent collection of walking books- especially useful for people with GPS and PNFs.
Having access to a GPS and PNFs for particular walks, we can now safely undertake walks which we would otherwise only have done with a guide.
We currently undertake holidays to areas where the books and PNFs are already available for. Yours sincerely J.D

Personal Navigator Files

Our thanks to our clients who have been using version 1.01-3 since September 2004, version 2.01 since January 2005, version 3.01 since January 2006, version 3.02 complete with Google Earth compatibility from August 2006 and version 4.01 from January 2008.. We have learnt a lot from your comments on the good points - Pin-Point Accuracy, and the not so good - eliminating rogue track points, need for unique waypoint names, improving the instructions on the CD. It has been a steep learning curve of the 'blood, sweat and tears' variety, but then all great technological jumps require this resilience in honing the concept into the finished product. Now with version 5.01 (October 2009) we have Windows Vista compatibility along with even more destinations, near 100% Google Earth coverage of DWG walking routes, plus waypoint files in Mapsource and GPX formats. Complementary with all DWG Walk! guide books in publication at October 2009.
"Hi David & Ros. 
My wife and I have just had a very successful walking week in the Alpujarras ably supported by your map and book. The GPS waymarks were invaluable. We are buying a house in the Alpujarras and will be making extensive use of your PNFs. Thanks for putting such useful tools together.
Kind regards Frank & Hilary K "

New for 2012 - Free GPX file downloads for all Walk! guide books

For GPS Users. Discovery Walking Guides (DWG) offer all purchasers of their ‘Walk!’ guide books the opportunity to download the GPS walking route information direct from their website free of charge. GPS files are provided in gpx file format so that the files may used with a wide range of gps software including Memory Map, Mapyx Quo, GPS Utility along with a range of smart phone/pad apps.

Each ‘Walk!’ destination is provided as a Zip file containing the gpx files. Simply go to the website, download the Zip file for your ‘Walk!’ destination to your hard drive, unzip the Zip file to see the individual gpx files, then start uploading those gpx files to your GPS or smart phone.

 The gpx file for a ‘Walk!’ walking route usually contains both the gps Waypoints for that route merged with the gps Track for that walking route, though for some walking routes only the GPS Waypoints might be included in the gpx file.

 Digital versions of Tour & Trail Maps are available from Memory Map and Mapyx Quo as well as from Discovery Walking Guides.

Go to GPX Zip File Downloads page

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