The Most Basic of Questions- Laptop and Software

[kjp1969]

I already have a Garmin Streetpilot I5 that works well for roads and city use. But I'd like to step up to something that will do topo, altitude, lat/long readout and generally give me a bigger and more useful display. I don't want to spend a bunch of money for a new unit. And here's the thing: I have 3 laptops- one new, one 2 years old, and one 6 years old, the latter just gathering dust.

Can I simply load up software on one of them, plug in a USB antenna, strap the whole thing into the passenger seat and go? Topo USA is cheap enough ($50, western states) and seems to have all the detail I'll need.

Garmin also has software that seems to do the same thing. Does anyone have a preference for one or the other?

Is it feasible to simply use a laptop as a really big GPS- one that functions like a standalone unit with a big honking screen?

I know I'm light years behind some of you guys, but I couldn't quickly find answers to this stuff. Thanks in advance.

 

[TheRoadie]

Sure. A last generation Delorme LT20 USB receiver will be a cheap input device. The Topo USA maps don't contain as many funky old trails and annotations as the USGS maps you can run on the laptop from various sources, but it depends on your knowledge of the area and what paper maps you carry.

I have down-rev Topo USA software and an LT20 you can have cheaper than you'll find on Ebay. PM me if interested.

You do need some decent disk space available to run any Topo software without the CD in the drive.

 

[granitex1]

I run an old dell with Mapsource as the topo. Mapsourse is the one that came with me E-Trax but is has all of the little trails to explore. For surface streets I use microsoft streets, more of like a big you are here map with a mooving red dot.

I have found that using a mount makes reading the screen a lot easier than having it on the passanger seat.

 

[jayshapiro]

South America

OK, same question - but for Central / South America.

I have a Panasonic Toughbook with the GPS receiver built in, so I don't think the Garmin software will work (since I'm not connecting to a Garmin device)

Any hints?

Thanks,
Jay.

PS - I use CoPilot Live Laptop 11 now for surface streets and am moderately happy with it. No trails though...

 

[PhulesAU]

For store bought mounts you might look at JottoDesk.

 

[1leglance]

The best laptop mount for the money that I have seen is the www.jeniko.com
I love mine and have beat the crap out of it, lots of miles and a number of different laptops on it all for $60!
Very clean and well built mount.

I love my current Toshiba and I have run a number of programs on it..
Currently I like the Delorme topo software since it does topo and some city stuff.

 

[cjmitchell5]

www.jeniko.com

Hey, I know, I'm gonna open a store but we're only going to sell laptop mounts and nitrous oxide stuff. (Maybe there's a hot key on your laptop that injects the N2O) We're going to add "worm farms" soon!

 

[soonenough]

Haha yea that is a really random combination of products

 

[PhulesAU]

Isn't that what they term " Eclectic"?

 

[kjp1969]

I've since abandoned the idea. The last two trips I've taken have resulted in pounds of dust inside the truck. It's been a pain enough to vacuum out the stereo and gps. I don't want to think about a laptop screen and keyboard, even a beater one. Maybe if you wired up a remote 7" screen and dustproof keyboard and kept the laptop in some sort of cabinet, but for that kind of trouble and money, I'll just get a better GPS.

 

[granitex1]

I use mine with the garmin software without having it hooked up to the garmin GPS. Have never had a problem using it in that manner.

OK, same question - but for Central / South America.

I have a Panasonic Toughbook with the GPS receiver built in, so I don't think the Garmin software will work (since I'm not connecting to a Garmin device)

 

[ntsqd]

I've since abandoned the idea. The last two trips I've taken have resulted in pounds of dust inside the truck. It's been a pain enough to vacuum out the stereo and gps. I don't want to think about a laptop screen and keyboard, even a beater one. Maybe if you wired up a remote 7" screen and dustproof keyboard and kept the laptop in some sort of cabinet, but for that kind of trouble and money, I'll just get a better GPS.

I did this with a $200 LT and it does work fairly well. I also did the passenger seat thing and my GF got kinda tired of having it in her lap.
Were I going to pursue this I'd be looking to find a used Toughbook rather than going to the trouble of remote mounting etc.
In my searching around for a replacement for my Lowrance antenna I ran into a recommendation for Gilsson GPS antennas. Perhaps they can be convinced to make a USB antenna?