Uggghhh... where did Google maps go?

WGA Member Joined: 2007-12-27 Posts: 342 Location: Wausau

Ok - I'm really disappointed that google maps is no longer used for the maps on groundspeak. Not only are these maps less accurate than google earth but there's also no distance meter on the maps. Oh, and the satellite map does not go to a very high resolution.

I'm willing to "complain" to the right people, but to rub salt in the wound, I can't figure out where the "feedback" section at groundspeak is.

If someone can point me in the direction where I can most effectively communicate this feedback I'd like to do that.

Ugggh.

Thanks, guys.

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 5:39 pm

As an alternative, there is some activity going on in the GC forums regarding how to return the Google map functionality as a work-around. We tried giving it a whirl, and now have Google maps back, in addition to faster-loading Mapquest etc. maps that were recently brought in. But you need to be comfortable with Firefox, Greasemonkey, and using Scripts that run on Greasemonkey (think they've now identified a Chrome route, too). Lastly, when downloading the scripts, be sure to only download the script using the small button on the upper right-hand side of the download page, or you'll end up downloading a bunch of junk that will try to install itself on your browser....... Evil or Very Mad

Bottom line, read through the thread first.

Bottom bottom line: caveat emptor

Bottom bottom bottom line: If it works, great! If you end up with a mess, someone hijacked our account and put this post in here.....we were never here...... Twisted Evil

If you're still reading this, then you might want to give it a whirl!

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=290741&hl=feedback&st=0

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:03 pm

Using the first script link in the thread (Geocaching.com extra map layers), we end up with the following map options:
Google,
Google aerial,
Google hybrid,
Google terrain,
(Swedish-sourced maps that don't seem to work and can likely be removed if you know how to edit the scripts: Eniro, Eniro aerial, Eniro nautical),
Bing,
Bing aerial,
MapQuest,
CloudMade,
MapQuest Aerial,
OpenStreetMap,
OpenCycleMap,
My Topo

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 6:08 pm

worked 4 me

Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 7:04 pm

Nice! Works great in Google Chrome as well. So much nicer then the other maps for sure!!

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 12:57 am

Workin great for me too!

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 6:12 am

Thank you for the info! Works awesome on Chrome.

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 7:02 am

Thanks HP2 I have always liked firefox better. I now changed my default browser to that. I have so many map options now including two aerial views. Most times change is good but in this case I want my old maps.

Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:49 am

Ok im happy again Smile

thanks for sharing the knowledge.

WGA Member Joined: 2007-12-27 Posts: 342 Location: Wausau

Wow, thanks for the help! I ended up using http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/125926 for chrome which gets me the maps but still no distance legend. I'll see if I can work on that. The google maps API is pretty easy to use. But this is a step in the right direction ..... for now.

Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:17 pm

Perfect!!!

Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:52 pm

GetMeOutdoors wrote:

but still no distance legend.

Try this => http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/126456

Found that it works on Firefox, SeaMonkey, and Chrome.

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:18 am

Need to do a geocache today because I'm filling in my calendar. But there's just so much snow! Trying to figure out this feature. I use firefox as my browser but you need to download the maps? From where?

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:06 am

HP, you kinda led the pack on this. I've seen it on other sites but do you know a walkthrough for this?

If noone knows, I'll have to go to my local tech guy (where's CJ)

Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 10:38 am

OK, I am probably going to REALLY regret writing this up, but here goes. For all steps, just take the default choices for installation dialogs.

Step 0 - You MUST be running Firefox for this to work, and it would be beneficial to be running at least version 10 or higher. I believe there is a solution out there for Chrome, but I won't cover that here. You can pick up Firefox at

www.firefox.com

Step 1 - Once you get Firefox up and running, you need to install Greasemonkey. Greasemonkey is an addon that lets you run various scripts that use Javascript to "modify" webpages. Actually it just modifies what you see. The underlying website is not affected. You get this at

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/greasemonkey/

Note that you must have Javascript enabled in Firefox for this to work, so if you are one of those paranoid folks who have all scripts disabled, it won't function properly. After you have installed the addon, you should see a little monkey icon on the navigation tool bar, and it should be BROWN. If it is GRAY, GM is disabled. Just click the monkey to enable if needed.

Step 2 - Click the following link, which should install the map modification script

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/125949

This should install itself. Hit the INSTALL button near the top of the page.

Step 3 - If you want the distance legend, this is a second script

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/126456

Hit the INSTALL button near the top of the page.

And don't forget that you still have many other options. The regular Google Maps links are still on the cache pages, and GSAK has several macros for exporting to Google maps. Just use what works for you.