Mexico's Bicimaps vs. E32 maps?

[Moto Vaquero]

Thanks Hill Climber

[eakins]

got this update:

Mexico GPS Atlas 2013 is here.

This new version provides a response to some features being asked by a large
amount of our customers who use the map for outdoor activities such as 4x4,
motorcycling, hiking and other outdoor activities, who have asked to
increase the detail of the contour lines in order to have a better idea of
the shape of the land, as well as adding more natural points of interest to
help in off road navigation.

We have listened and developed the information our customers look for and
added it to this release. Major changes are:

• Added 20 meter (60 feet) contours for the full country
• Added a full new hydrology data set. Now the river outlines have a
very high precision and we increased the coverage in all the country.
• About 550,000 new points of interest of which 200,000 are natural ones
to support better off road navigation.
• The remainder 350,000 are increased urban POIs throughout the
country, so we now have over one million three hundred thousand POIs .
• Added street detail for 1000 cities.

With these new features and contents, this is the only full topographic and
routable GPS map available for Mexico.

Central America Integration


As a new feature, we have seamlessly integrated our Central America map, so
now travelers to that region may plan their routes and travels, fully
integrated with de Mexico map data. In Central America we also added 20
meter (60 feet) contours, allowing for a better interpretation of the land
shape for outdoor activities.

The most complete and versatile map Mexico and Central America is now at
your fingertips.
Due to the high amount of new data we are adding, the map size increased to
just over 1.5 Gb from the approximate 600 Mb that the 2012 version had.
As a customer of one of our previous versions, you may purchase this upgrade
for just $ 79.00 USD and you may get it from our webpage
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/MexicGPSAtlasEn.htm

Greetings

BiciMapas
Av. Lomas Verdes No. 58 Local 17
Col. Santa Cruz Acatlan
Naucalpan, Estado de Mexico
Mexico, CP 53150
(55) 53 60 30 65/32-96
gpsmaps@bicimapas.com.mx
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/Empresa.htm

[Moto Vaquero]

This is a nice upgrade for sure. Were there any updates to dirt roads (particularly for Baja) on 2013? I havn't made my purchase yet but don't want to waste the $$ if the small dirt roads don't show up. I do like the fact that I can put routes on the Bici maps, a big plus
Is there a way to see a sample page in Baja to see what actually shows up??

[Moto Vaquero]

This "outer darkness" is a dead zone. I would think with all the Adv riders in Mex & Baja there would be more action around here, I digress.
With all the updates, etc. since the OP started this thread, I have to go back to the original question; which is going to work better on & off road? Which shows more detail (trails, ranchitos, etc) ?

[Hill Climber]

Originally Posted by Moto Vaquero

This "outer darkness" is a dead zone. I would think with all the Adv riders in Mex & Baja there would be more action around here, I digress.
With all the updates, etc. since the OP started this thread, I have to go back to the original question; which is going to work better on & off road? Which shows more detail (trails, ranchitos, etc) ?

Cartografia GPS/Map E32, hands down. I'm using older maps of both e32 and bicimapas and much prefer e32. Someone else can chime in if there's something better out there......

[jimmex]

Omar's E32 has worked very well for me.

[booger1]

I'll be using the e32 maps over the next 2 weeks. I haven't tried the bici maps but I'll say that there is alot of detail with the e32's.

[Moto Vaquero]

This is what I'm talkin about!
Let us know how it works out Booger.
Can you lay a track over it via google earth to mapsource to garmin gps (60csx) with E-32 on it then follow it?

[DRTBYK]

Has anyone looked at the 2013 Bicimapas Mexico Atlas? It includes their Central America maps as well.

Cheers,

[CeeBee]

I bought the update to Bici maps but it didn't come with Central America - Must have to buy the new complete version and not the update. Only about $20 diff. though.

Later, Chuck

[beemer67]

I just bought the Mexico GPS Atlas 2013 as it is currently on promotion (reduced price) until the 25th. I was in contact with the supplier (in Santa Barbara, CA) which makes correspondence nice and easy and he said this years' atlas also contains Central America maps. Figured this was quite a bonus in case I head a little further south than just Mexico.

Now I am looking forward to how well the install goes.

Well everything installed easily to my main computer and my travel Netbook. Lots of detail for paved roads and will be handy to have it routable. I did notice that some of the dirt tracks I have taken, say from Aqua Prieta to Huachinera are not complete, but this has been commented on before.
The customer service from Mark Walker at World Map Source that handles the Bicimapas Maps was great and very prompt on answering any queries.

[BigDogAdventures.com]

Holy smokes what detail-----------------I've got tracks all over Baja and zoomed in on them for a look ----------most of the time the tracks were on a road or trail on the map. I was so amazed--------I switched back to my very old baja map in mapsource and it was almost useless.

I've got one track over El Mano pass Southwest of Canon De Guadeloupe (Baja) that I only know of one person to ever try that remote route---------his track was shown right on a road or trail-------like I said amazing.

No auto routing the only drawback-------I can lay out routes but they will have to be point to point.
I agree-----------be nice to have the autorouting maps too.
But --------when in Mexico I avoid the cities like the plaque ----and that's where they would be most handy I would think.

Jilioins of POI's.

I don't really need the topo lines and really don't want them on my gps screen----but my 276C has the ability to turn off topo lines----------or as least it does with garmins topo maps.

Now----------I just need to go-------------calling my buddy "Dingleweeds"

Lucky turd-------lives right down close to the border.

BigDog

[eakins]

Originally Posted by Hill Climber

Cartografia GPS/Map E32, hands down. I'm using older maps of both e32 and bicimapas and much prefer e32. Someone else can chime in if there's something better out there......

i disagree. all depends on how you use it.

since it's routable, Bicimaps is extremely usefull for those that are traveling the mainland and sticking to paved and primary dirt roads ie those visiting colonial cities and such and need to find the way through.
if you've ever driven through cities on the mainland you'll understand why routing is essential. i have and my gps was the only way i would have gotten though places. things are not organized nor labeled like in the US. funky 1 way streets are everywhere and roads don't go straight through. more than a few times i ended down an unknown street and need out to the next city. even pre-planning the route on a computer and then transferring to the gps didn't fly down on the ground. with auto-routing, i would select the road or next area over i needed to go on the gps and start moving. auto-routing and auto-recalculating got me through. E32 would not have been the choice here.
the 2013 Bicimaps is extremely packed with roads now.

on the other hand there were times i was riding remote dirt roads and there was no detail on Bicimaps but E32 did show the way. for Baja yes E32 is ideal if you would only choose 1. for the mainland savvy travelers have both loaded & choose Bicimaps if only choosing 1.

[eakins]

Originally Posted by DRTBYK

Has anyone looked at the 2013 Bicimapas Mexico Atlas? It includes their Central America maps as well.

Cheers,

you have to buy CA maps separate from Mexico.
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/LatAm_Eng.htm
http://www.bicimapas.com.mx/MexicGPSAtlasEn.htm
if you are planning a US to Panama run this winter then these 2 packages would be the ultimate for your GPS.

[Hill Climber]

Originally Posted by eakins

i disagree. all depends on how you use it.

since it's routable, Bicimaps is extremely usefull for those that are traveling the mainland and sticking to paved and primary dirt roads ie those visiting colonial cities and such and need to find the way through.
if you've ever driven through cities on the mainland you'll understand why routing is essential. i have and my gps was the only way i would have gotten though places. things are not organized nor labeled like in the US. funky 1 way streets are everywhere and roads don't go straight through. more than a few times i ended down an unknown street and need out to the next city. even pre-planning the route on a computer and then transferring to the gps didn't fly down on the ground. with auto-routing, i would select the road or next area over i needed to go on the gps and start moving. auto-routing and auto-recalculating got me through. E32 would not have been the choice here.
the 2013 Bicimaps is extremely packed with roads now.

on the other hand there were times i was riding remote dirt roads and there was no detail on Bicimaps but E32 did show the way. for Baja yes E32 is ideal if you would only choose 1. for the mainland savvy travelers have both loaded & choose Bicimaps if only choosing 1.

My apologies... I should've mentioned that I was referring to the Baja only in endorsing e32 map. e32 is my favourite map riding offroad as well as planning and laying a track (not a route) down to transfer to my 60CSx. Before finalizing the track, I always cross reference the track to a bicimapas map to compare as well as google earth to verify accuracy too.
I haven't travelled the mainland since 2004 (didn't have gps in those days !!) so can't speak to the detail and accuracy there. Paper maps and compass was the order of the day then!!!!! Maybe it's time to upgrade my bicimapas to the latest map, as I do use it on occasion.

I have Garmins latest City Navigator on a Nuvi which includes Mexico. Recently it did an excellent job finding my way through Mexicalli and Ensenada (again, Baja). All highways travelled were very accurate in upper Northern Baja. The 60CSx has the topo maps on it which I brought out when I was tracking down a remote pit during the last Baja 1000. (One can never have enough gps units, you know )

I'm curious as to what gps you're using with bicimapas and e32. Routing on my 60CSx sucks............ that's when I bring out the Nuvi. Bigger screen and voice prompts help in heavy traffic.


Looks like the best option is to purchase both (or three) and have the best of all worlds It's what works for me!!


I'm interested in BigDogs comment with his 276C having the ability to turn off topo lines. Maybe it's time to add another gps to my inventory.

Cheers