Mac-based GPS Advise?

[overLand_Cruiser]

I have a big trip coming up in July and I will need GPS. I was thinking about buying the popular Garmin 276C, but I starting thinking about equipping my MacBook for GPS instead since I'll be bringing it along anyway. This is where I need some help.

My budget is <$500, which is about the cost of the 276C. I have put together a preliminary list of things I will need to get this to work, but don't necessarily know how they will work or where to get them. So far I have:

• MacBook-friendly laptop stand
• USB(?) GPS receiver
• GPS Mapping Software
• 12V power adapter

Of course, the primary requirement the ability to plot trails via waypoints/coordinates while off-road. Turn-by-turn is not critical but would be nice. Does that type of software exist for Macs?

Any advise or product recommendations from those with some experience would be greatly appreciated!

thanks!

 

[jesusgatos]

Garmin Mac software

 

[gjackson]

:sombrero:

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=391770&postcount=3

cheers

 

[overLand_Cruiser]

thanks guys, I'll start looking into those. What about laptop stands and signal receivers? Is it really just as simple as installing the software, plugging in a GPS receiver?

 

[alosix]

When I was working up the Mac Mini for the M725, I stumbled across this..


http://www.routebuddy.com/index.html

specs looked good, but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Jason

 

[overLand_Cruiser]

this mount looks pretty good...i like the screen stabilizer feature. Any one tried one of these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Car-Laptop-Moun...6|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

 

[ChuckB]

I have been looking for some of the same information regarding Macs and GPS. I just downloaded the demo for RouteBuddy and it looks pretty interesting. Thanks for the link!

 

[overLand_Cruiser]

interesting indeed.

So when if I plug a basic hand held GPS unit into my computer via USB, I can track live, real-time data on my computer essentially using the hand held GPS as an antenna? Is that correct?

Part two to this question:
If that is the case, I am looking at these two garmin units:

• GPSMAP® 60CSx
• eTrex Vista® HCx

On paper these two units are basically the same, except the HCx has almost twice the battery life and is more compact. It would seem then, that it would be the obvious choice. Is the 60CSx really worth the extra bones??

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do?cID=145&compareProduct=8703&compareProduct=310

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Subscribed

 

[ChuckB]

interesting indeed.

So when if I plug a basic hand held GPS unit into my computer via USB, I can track live, real-time data on my computer essentially using the hand held GPS as an antenna? Is that correct?

Part two to this question:
If that is the case, I am looking at these two garmin units:

• GPSMAP® 60CSx
• eTrex Vista® HCx

On paper these two units are basically the same, except the HCx has almost twice the battery life and is more compact. It would seem then, that it would be the obvious choice. Is the 60CSx really worth the extra bones??

https://buy.garmin.com/shop/compare.do?cID=145&compareProduct=8703&compareProduct=310

I hooked my eTrex Vista C up to my 12" powerbook last night running the RouteBuddy demo and it easily found my location on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, HI. However, the demo only provides detailed street info for Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Their website is pretty extensive and there is also a forum associated with it.

I'm seriously thinking about downloading the full version.

 

[overLand_Cruiser]

I hooked my eTrex Vista C up to my 12" powerbook last night running the RouteBuddy demo and it easily found my location on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, HI. However, the demo only provides detailed street info for Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Their website is pretty extensive and there is also a forum associated with it.

I'm seriously thinking about downloading the full version.

if you do, i'd love to hear a review!

 

[Count Fred]

I've been running a mac mini in my Land Cruiser for a couple years now. GPS support is poor. RouteBuddy looks like it has promise, but they've been promising an in-car interface that has never materialized. If you have a macbook and aren't using an in-dash touchscreen then you won't be doing anything while driving so this may not be a big issue.

My biggest needs, while driving, are to change the zoom level. RouteBuddy's buttons are very small, but I discovered a way to make their icons larger so I can do that while driving. See the picture below.

The method of entering a destination and generating a route is not designed for real-time in car use. Even using it on a touchscreen while stopped before leaving on a trip is frustrating. If I don't create a route on my laptop and transfer it over to the mini in the car before leaving, I don't bother and just use the real-time map.

Visibility of the map in RouteBuddy is also not great, lots of roads are white, with black borders, and on a white background this can be very hard to use as a realtime map while driving. Until they create a better color scheme, or allow for custom map colors, I cannot really recommend RouteBuddy as a good, while driving solution.

My hardware is a GlobalSat BU-535, so just a USB based GPS antenna, no other screen but the mac mini's.

Recently, since I want to start running Overland Navigator (a PC only application), I've installed Parallels and TinyXP. I only have a Core Solo Mac mini, but it seems to work just fine emulating windows. I've also started to run iGuidance under Windows since the GPS antenna cannot be shared between Mac and Windows applications (as far as I know.) iGuidance is much more pleasant to use than RouteBuddy. It is also significantly more visible while driving. I did have it crash on me during the most recent trip however. Crash and not restart. I have some leads on a permanent fix for it however, but that was frustrating to have happen in the middle of nowhere in the Oregon desert.

Just my thoughts,
JFS III

 

[lostworldexpedition]

Threadjacking ahead, I apologize...

I've been running a mac mini in my Land Cruiser for a couple years now. GPS support is poor.......
My hardware is a GlobalSat BU-535, so just a USB based GPS antenna, no other screen but the mac mini's.

JFS III

Jack, could you possibly (please) start a thread with some pics of your Mini set-up and maybe even the rest of your 80 build... I am very curious. I thought about doing the same, but I did not want a Mini without a solid state drive...

Sorry for the Jack Gehn.

 

[ChuckB]

Threadjacking ahead, I apologize...


Jack, could you possibly (please) start a thread with some pics of your Mini set-up and maybe even the rest of your 80 build... I am very curious. I thought about doing the same, but I did not want a Mini without a solid state drive...

Sorry for the Jack Gehn.

x2 and thanks for the input!

 

[Count Fred]

Well I need to hose down the Cruiser after the most recent trip, so I'll try to do it with my camera, and take pictures of stuff as I go through it. Hopefully I'll have a thread going by the end of the weekend.

Cheers,
JFS III