Just inherited a new laptop - now what ?

[Icewalker]

So I just inherited an IBM T42 running XP - doesn't seem to be a bad laptop at all. My original intention was to either do a Carputer or something along the lines of a 276 or equivalent. But since the laptop was a freebie and since I'm tight - I decided to go with the laptop and GPs antenna - so the questions I have are ........

What antenna? I've seen the "earthmate" advertized at around $80, the GPS-18 at around $100 and ones manufactured by a company called Holux? on Amazon for ~$60 does anyone have any personal experience with any of them - as long as they are WAAS aren't they all about the same? Also does anyone make a USB antenna along the lines of the Garmin GA29?

Also has anyone come across any weather tracking software - so that the laptop would also act as a real time weather tracker like the Garmin 396?

Finally - as long as the antenna etc is WAAS I should be able to use say the earthmate antenna with any GPS software correct.

TIA

Jeff

 

[BajaTaco]

Jeff, congrats on the new machine. It will be a useful tool for your travels :ylsmoke:

I am just getting into the mobile computing myself. When you say "antenna" I am assuming you mean "receiver". Because a GPSR (global positioning system receiver) can often times use an external antenna for better reception. The latest and greatest "WAAS" GPSR's are ones that have the "SirfStar III" chipset in them, which by many accounts and reviews I have read, has faster satellite acquisition times and can hold a lock on the signals more effectively. So you may want to try and get one of those if you see a deal on one. I just purchased a bluetooth GPSR with the Sirfstar III at ErgoGeek for $69 with free shipping. I'll be using it in the next few days, so will report on how it does.

Weather tracking: As far as I know, you will either need to get that from a satellite service like XM Weather, which is very expensive to subscribe to ($99/mo), or you will need a wireless PC card that allows you to have an mobile internet connection on your laptop (basically most places you can get a digital cell phone signal) which is also pretty pricey ($60/mo or so).

As far as GPSR compatibility, you will need to check the software you intend to use. Most will accept any GPSR that uses a NMEA connection.

I just got a notebook/tablet machine and have loaded some moving map software on it and will be starting to try it out this week on a trip. I also got a wireless PC card, so I will try using the weather maps and live traffic maps too. This should come in handy on the upcoming arctic trip.

For my auto-nav software, I am trying to decide between CoPilot Live Laptop 10, and DeLorme Street Atlas Plus 2007. I don't have either one yet, but will be testing a friend's CoPilot soon, so I will report on what it is like. The CoPilot has a very cool "LIVE" feature to it.

 

[RoundOut]

SirfStarIII - sweet find!

BajaTaco - Great find on the BT2 GPSR. I was looking for one of those with the charger included, but the best price I saw was about 20 higher than that. I ordered one.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I have also come into a freebie old lap top. I have a Garmin GPSV and the Map software it came with. I run an external mag mount antenna (Maxrad I think is the manufacture). It usualy hase me listed between 8-20ft accuracy.

Anybody have comment on its functionality feeding the laptop and the Mapsource software?

 

[BajaTaco]

BajaTaco - Great find on the BT2 GPSR. I was looking for one of those with the charger included, but the best price I saw was about 20 higher than that. I ordered one.

Yea, it's a good deal. It comes with a 120v charger, a 12V charger, and a USB connection so you can use it wired if you want. Consequently, this is my first post from the road - I'm in the right seat traveling down the highway in AZ. Pretty cool!

GR, I haven't used the mapsource software as a moving map, but I imagine it will work. Have you tried it yet?

 

[ArchaeoTaco]

swing arm mount

I'm not sure what you guys are using for a laptop mount, but I saw that DeLorme just came out with a nice looking swing arm mount that screws into the floorboard:

Not a bad price, either

 

[RedDog]

I'm virtually days away from the purchase of my first notebook as I examine the choices, and it's a decision I make partly on the desire to take it's use away from home and into the Jeep on outdoor adventures. My home Mac is due for replacement and mobility factor is very much a priority in it's replacement.

I'm not remotely clear on how people are online at a campsite in the back country but I intend to learn. I expect to be trolling these related threads as I do so.

 

[01001010]

I was doing a search and came across this thread. When I saw the thread title, this was the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Yea, it's a good deal. It comes with a 120v charger, a 12V charger, and a USB connection so you can use it wired if you want. Consequently, this is my first post from the road - I'm in the right seat traveling down the highway in AZ. Pretty cool!

GR, I haven't used the mapsource software as a moving map, but I imagine it will work. Have you tried it yet?

Funny this came back to the top. I pretty well didn't mess with the lap top till recently. It had an Old Version of NT on it set up for a long defunct Network and it wouldn't support the USB. I couldn't do much with it.

I happened to be given a new in the box copy of 2000Pro a few weeks ago. So I got everything up and running and it works quite well. My only beef, and it may be me, Is while the GPS always keeps the direction you are moving to the top of the screen the computer only shows North to the top. Makes in not as nice to make a quick glance to see whats coming up next. It may be a setting but I just haven't played with it yet to find out despite already logging about 700 miles using it.

Next project is trying to figure out how to mount a laptop in a 1st Gen 2 Door 4Runner with a 5 speed. Its rather narrow and since it is a 2 door I can't restrict the passenger seats flip and slide feature. That may be corrected soone with a 1Uz and Auto if this wrecked SC400 I'm looking at Pans out LOL

 

[Tucson T4R]

I'm not sure what software your using but most will give you the option of dispaying "North up" or "Track up". It sounds like you would prefer the Track up display.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I'm not sure what software your using but most will give you the option of dispaying "North up" or "Track up". It sounds like you would prefer the Track up display.

Well I thought I could upgrade my older version to this new version thinking the new version would have those features. Now I can't live track at all. Normally there is a tab marked "GPS" On there you hit start tracking. It would show speed, direction etc. Map would put your current location on it.

This version does not have the GPS tab at all. I can upload and down load maps, waypoints so I know it talks to it so it is not a communications issue.