[Xastir] Xastir Map Timings

[hasan schiers]

Thanks to Ryan, KB0JQO, I have Debian and Xastir (latest CVS) up and
running. Overall, Wow! I'll make more comments in another post.  Mapping is
slow.

Machine: Intel Celeron 412 w. 256 mb RAM, ATI Rage 128 video pci

I have downloaded all of Iowa *.shp files to use locally. I am comparing the
local map files on the hard disk to loading the tiger maps via 256k bps dsl.

Type        Description/Area               Time to Display from Map
Bookmark:

SHP        Eastern 2/3 of Iowa > Ogden/Ames/DesMoines    :30 zoom 371
Tiger                                        ditto
:09 zoom 371

SHP        Ogden/Ames/DesMoines > N8PSB-4                    :30 zoom 388
Tiger                                        ditto
:09 zoom 388

SHP        AN/PSB-4 > Central Iowa Narrow                        :48 zoom
506
Tiger                                        ditto
:08 zoom 506

SHP        Central Iowa Narrow > Eastern 2/3 of Iowa            3:30 zoom
1143
Tiger                                        ditto
:19   zoom 1143

The descriptions may not help, that is why I put the Zoom value at the end.
That shows the area covered (I'm guessing). I also did all the timings by
switching from the same map to the same destination map when making the
comparisons. In other words, the starting place was always the same.

I was very surprised to find that it took way longer to load the local maps
from the hd than it did going out over the internet. The Tiger maps look
great. The shp maps are ...well...not as pleasing.

Any recommendation for maps that I can use locally from the hard disk that
will load relatively quickly, that still "look good"...I know it's
subjective, but while we aren't art experts we generally agree on what we
like.

Anything I can do to speed maps up (local hd maps)? Be specific, I'm just
scratching the surface with Xastir.

73,

...hasan, N0AN