Favorite GPS Hardware and Software?

[jacobfreeman]

I am just trying to gather some information on what is you guys favorite GPS reciever and software.. I am planning on tracking my GPS routes on backwoods adventures. I am also using windows 7 and plan on building a laptop mount in my XJ.


Thanks guys!

 

[AxeAngel]

Globalsat BU-353. Delorme topo and delorme streetatlas.

-Sam

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

As my travel budget's highest expense is fuel, I try to keep everything else inexpensive, simple (KISS) and widely available and used as well as supported (not only by manufacturer but also users).

As a result, I use a Garmin GPS (modified StreetPilot 320c - alarm is set for proximity to local repeaters), with Garmin software (Mapsource, nRoute [no longer supported but easy to use], Basemap for 3D mapping) as well as www.miscjunk.org and www.gpsdepot.com for free topography maps (Garmin compatible of course) for all of Western Canada and USA. I was fortunate enough to get a freebie topo maps set of Mexico from a friend in Mexico that has most streets and trails.

This set up along with a Jeniko Netbook tray ($40), makes for a simple easy and very flexible set up. I found 12V aux plug adapters for all my electrical apps (Acer Aspire One, camera battery charger, etc.) so my inverter is along for just in case.

Acer has all my maps, music, videos, pdf manuals, etc. on it as well as making phone calls through it and chats, I have a comm centre! :costumed-smiley-007

 

[BriansFJ]

Delorme Topo software with a generic (I think globalsat?) GPS puck. Does everything I need...:smiley_drive:

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

OziExplorer.

OziExplorer. Best in the business.
http://www.oziexplorer.com/

Cheers,
Peter

 

[1leglance]

Laptop mount by jeniko for only $50, like it better than any ram mount I have seen
puck by globalsat 353 usb model from semsons.com I think $40 to your door
delorme topo 9 for auto routing and trip planning, does a pretty good job if I tell it to stay with dirt roads
oziexplorer for using the old usgs maps with all the killer historical info, free maps from datagateway.gov, pick them by county and download, super simple once you have done it a few times. Also you can get aireal photo maps and other cool stuff

I have been using a laptop in my 4wds for few years now and love it, currently running an acer aspire one with 10in screen, and keep pdf service manuals, historical stuff from the web on the area I am going, music, movies and so much more with me. Plus I can download pics off my memory cards, write up trip notes in the momemt and more.

The whole setup can be done for under $500 and you get a killer setup that is portable and theft proof (easy to take in the house)

 

[nvprospector]

Mounted eepc with a GlobalSat BU-353 receiver running OziExplorer and a Delorme PN-40 for backup and out of vehicle scooting.

For maps I use the teraserver plug-in for ozi along with scanned historic maps.

For satellite images, I use GoogleOzi software then I use Ozi’s map merge software to make a map file. Ozi has a plug-in for internet maps it is I don’t need to download and cache that many satellite images. It is easier to make a satellite image of the area I am in.

 

[rambrush]

I use the Delorme LT-40 and laptop with Delorme Topo 9 in the truck. Then a Delorme PN-40 for hiking and geocaching etc. My PN-20 is a back up only now.
I also use Nat Geo topo 4 for some map work.

 

[esh]

We're lucky to have many choices out there. When I started Terrain Navigator was the only game in town for 7.5' mapping.

I run an Itronix ruggedized tablet with a Garmin 60csx and TOPO! (kind of locked into that with the investment in maps), but also am interested in Overland Navigator and Ozi.

ON has a cool feature of displaying APRS objects if you are into HAM radio stuff.

Ozi has ultimate flexibility, and a couple Android apps can now take Ozi maps.

If I were doing a new setup right now, I would look for a rugged tablet with greater storage capacity (laptops for mapping are a bit wasteful, space wise). I would probably get a Garmin 62 as it has custom map overlay ability and the newer geocache features that the Oregons have, plus I like physical buttons. But I would still waffle between a few different software packages, and have Google Earth loaded for their KML file ability (lots of resources online tend to use KML as an export format).

I use exclusively RAM mounts ubolted to a tube I bent to the contours of my dash, but admit their laptop mount isn't that impressive (they make a sweet mount exclusively for my Itronix tablet though!). My method keeps everything infinitely adjustable across the width of the dash and up off the floor out of the way.

 

[targa88]

Laptop mount by jeniko for only $50, like it better than any ram mount I have seen
puck by globalsat 353 usb model from semsons.com

...Plus I can download pics off my memory cards, write up trip notes in the momemt and more.

The whole setup can be done for under $500 and you get a killer setup that is portable and theft proof (easy to take in the house)

Lance,
Similar set-up. Actually I think you were the one who put me onto the Jeniko (better bang for the buck then Ram in my mind).
Garmin/Mapsource/Nroute are fine for the time being.
Would like to investigate Oziexplorer.
The only thing I had to add was Franson GPSGate emulator to operate the Bu353 GPS puck

 

[gjackson]

Garmin GPS Map 276C and MacGPS Pro.

With a little Google Earth on the side for planning. And Garmin RoadTrip for loading maps on the GPS.

cheers