Acer, windows 7, looking for NA topo and back road maps/software. Help!

[cody c]

Hello, as per the title, could anyone point me to decent cheap or free software?
Im looking for topo maps mostly for BC and Alberta, but western NA would be good. If I had backroad maps that would be a bonus too.

Right now I have an Acer Aspire, and am planning to buy a USB gps antenna. But I though I should look at software and reccomendations before going any further.

Please excuse me if this has been covered before, Im a bit new to this forum, and am not the best with software.

I do spend a bit of time on IH8MUD, have a couple of moddified landcruisers that I like to work on. The Acer will go in my 80.

Thanks!

[evldave]

Probably the best you can do price/value wise is a copy of Delorme Topo. There are a lot of apps out there, but for US/Canada coverage, decent backroad coverage and not horrible on price, that would be my recommendation.

Right now Topo is going for $99, but I frequently see it on sale for $70. It also has the option to buy an annual data package for $30 that allows you to download satellite and other mapping products. Really, not as detailed/complicated as OziExplorer or other solutions, but easily the cheapest for the broad coverage and ease of use.

[cody c]

I had a local cruiserhead come over and drop some software on the Acer last night (freebie). He uses the software on his setup (garmins nroute etc.)

Ill be using the globalsat bu-353 antenna/puck which will run around $40 at gps city, I asked the tech on the phone and he said it will talk to garmin's software.

Im going to build a mount for it and maybe post some pics later.

[CanuckMariner]

Search for Cody's (Cody_c) build on this section as I gave him links to free software/topos for a Garmin setup.