GPS for Laptops. What options and Where to get?

draaronr

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
4,068
0
48
wilmington, nc
What are best options for antenna, software, and other need to know information. What are the differences in software. What else will i need. Also are the laptop speeds needed to make it run efficiently?
 

rmuller

Well-known member
Apr 28, 2004
4,452
1
Northern NJ
www.njlr.org
Delorme: http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/ has some laptop GPS's.. they also have their Topo software.. I have yet to try it, but it looks pretty nice.. i currently have a palm m505 + magellean companion, and hardly use it at all.. i think i just need more memory, and to mount it someplace good. So thats a nice thing about the laptop, is you'll be able to fit all the maps on there without a problem.

I'd also be inclined to say that processor speed of your laptop isn't extremely important.. almost anything made within the last 5-6 years should be adequate to run the software.. just make sure you have a USB port or Bluetooth.
 

Jamooche

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
528
0
Boston
www.jamilabbasy.com
I recommend getting any standard GPS unit (I have the Garmin GPS V) and then hooking a laptop to it. I currently use the MapSource software that came with it for mapping and creating track logs. This way you can use any topo software you like. The benefit of having a stand alone unit is that you can use it without a laptop. I find it a nice to know how soon an exit is coming up on the highway. I use my GPS with a Dell laptop with a 15" screen. It works well, but the laptop is a bit big. I plan on replacing it with a small sony or Fujitsu with a 10" screen. It's just really uncomfortable if you have a passenger, so I don't use it if I have one.

Hope that helps a bit.

Jamil
 

draaronr

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
4,068
0
48
wilmington, nc
I just really didn't want to have to go to the expense of the standalone unit. I see the antennaes on ebay for around $90 bucks all the time. What is good software to get if I go this route, I would use it mostly to offroad and get to these destinations.
 
W

wei

Guest
I am using the pole mounted Garmin GPS 17N antenna and built in receiver. The unit is connected to my laptop via a serial interface. For software, I am using the Garmin Mapsource software on a P4 1.8MHz Compaq laptop.

Prior to this, I had a Garmine eTrex Legend GPS unit connected to the same laptop. This setup didn't work for me because the GPS antenna didn't have a full view of the sky and kept losing satellites. The other problem with the Legend is the fact that I had to run 12V power to the unit from the cigarette lighter socket.

I prefer the GPS 17N much better. It was maintenance free and very straightforward to install.
 
A

AndrewClarke

Guest
I bought a new "GPS mouse" on eBay a couple months ago. Here it is although they sold it me for $63 for some reason: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4668&item=5700012261 . It didn't come with any software to speak of, but it works fine and I'm happy with it. I then went into Best Buy to look at the software they were selling, and they had teh Delorme Earthmate WITH the Delorme software ($50 software, don't remember which one) for $90 after rebate. I don't know if they still have that deal going on but that's a really good deal.

The cool thing about the Delorme too is that it has a Bluetooth option so you can upgrade to that later if you feel like it.

Regarding software, I asked the same question when I got mine and didn't get any definitive responses right away. I bought two packages:

1. National Geographic Backroads Explorer. This is a good package. It comes with 1:100000 maps for the whole country and then you can buy 1:24,000 on a state-by-state basis. I don't have that yet. The nationwide package comes on 17 CDs which you can't seem to just install to the HD because of some lame copy protection scheme I guess but other than that it's full-featured and I like it.

2. Microsoft Streets & Trips 2004. I paid $20 after rebate for this so I figured why not. Welll, I'd have to say that it probably wasn't worth the $20. All the streets in my area seem to be shifted south by a few metres so it looks like I'm off-roading through peoples' houses when I'm driving down the road. Not a big annoyance but not great either. Also, it doesn't do voice prompts telling me where to turn, and it doesn't automatically re-route me when I miss a turn. Basically, it's a decent mapping app for $20, but the integration with a GPS seems like an afterthought. I should have kept the $20 and just put it towards "real" street mapping software which I'm still going to have to get anyway since the MS product doesn't cut it for me.

- Andrew.
 

Leslie

Well-known member
Apr 28, 2004
3,473
0
52
Kingsport TN
What is your end use? Are you wanting to use it for getting from X location in City A to Y location in City B? Mostly on-road use? Or are you wanting to use it in conjunction with topography? Are you wanting to see your location on a topo map, recording routes of off-road trails that aren't on the maps? What kind of detail do you need? Do you need something on the order of what you would see on a 1:100,000 scale map? A 1:50,000 scale map? Or do you need something as detailed as a 1:24,000 scale map? Do you want to create your own maps? Do you want to use it over aerial photography? What's your budget? Do you want an easy-to-use interface, or can you handle using software that isn't intuitive?



I know, a helluva lot of questions. But there's a plethora of different ways to skin this cat: DeLorme, Fugawi, ESRI, Trimble, Garmin, Nat. Geo., Magellan, etc. etc., lots of different choices, depending on your needs. Lemme know what your goals/desires/limitations are, and I'll try to help.......


-L
 

stansell

Well-known member
Jun 14, 2004
364
0
51
Norfolk, VA
almost related to this thread...any good suggestions for how to mount a laptop efficiently in the car. I wouldn't be adverse to having my garmin hooked up to the laptop, but if the laptop is sitting on my passenger seat, it doesn't do me much good. Probably should have started a different thread....
 
W

wei

Guest
I am using a RAM tray and arm. The arm is attached to a custom 1" OD metal pipe that is attached to the seat base. You can buy seat mounts from RAM, but i thought they were too expensive and got too much in the way.
 

Attachments

  • ram.jpg
    ram.jpg
    111.4 KB · Views: 110