Anquet Maps Offer
Anquet are back again providing an amazing deal on mapping for the Open12 and Open24. For meager sum of £20 they will provide all of the electronic mapping needed for the event.
The great advantage with this, is that we will supply a waypoint file which will place the exact locations of all the controls on the maps. Anyone who has plotted countless controls in an event will know what a mind numbing task this can be.
Anquet will provide 1:25000 and 1:50000 ordnance survey mapping of the entire area used on each event, they will also provide 1m photo mapping from which you will be able to see path's, tracks and bald headed men not marked on the OS maps.
What next?
OK before we go much further it has to be said ideally you need a broadband connection to download the maps, it is possible with dial-up but you might cheese off those wanting to use the phone. Next you need to download the software you can find it on the Anquet Mapserver Website, just follow the instructions here
If you already have the Anquet Mapping software installed, its worth checking you have the latest version. As earlier versions did not allow for downloading of maps. The current version is 6.2.1 you can find out which version you have by going to Help and clicking ABOUT.
Even with the free GB overview map you will be able to Open the sample Anquet database file we have created. It lists the previous Open5 events and ideas for locations in the future. To open this just click on the link below, when it comes up with Save - save the file in a location you can find again, the best place would be the new "Anquet Maps Databases" folder created in your "My Documents" folder. Go in to Anquet - click file - open - and select the "Open5 Event Locations" file.
Open5 locations - Anquet Waypoint File click here
You probably have a screen looking like the one above depending on which maps you have on your computer. Ideally you need to have the "data explorer" and "tree view" so you can see which databases you have open. If they are not click on View and data explorer / tree view respectively.
So how do I get the maps?
Well once you have the Anquet up and running, it might be worth buying some OS maps of your local area. Again follow the instructions on the Anquet website - its pretty easy and you will be very surprised for what you can get for £10.
In the week before the Open12 and Open24 Anquet will place on their server the maps required for these events. You will be able to find them under TOOLS - MAP MANAGER - MAP STORE tab - Select the Anquet Favorite Map Bundles from the drop down list - Open Adventure will appear in the box below. However this will not be there until the dates below and then the maps will only be available online for 3 days.
Open12 - 23 to 25th June
Open24 - 21 to 23rd July
Click on the map - ADD to BASKET - then go to the BASKET tab - ensure the maps are in the box and click BUY - then you have to cough up the £20. You will then be able to download the maps for the event to your PC.
Any other tips
We will only put MTB controls on locations that can be identified on a 1:50000 map however for any foot / paddling stages you will need to print out 1:25000 maps. We personally find it useful to print the maps and just run a fluorescent highlighter over the control location before laminating otherwise it can sometimes be tricky to see control locations on a busy map.
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