Laptop Based GPS Software options?
- Thread starter gahi
- Start date
x32792
Adventurer
GlobalSat ND-100S USB GPS Receiver
Above is the "little brother" of the larger BU-353 USB GPS puck with cable. To read the full specifications, see link below:
http://www.semsons.com/glbuusbgpsre2.html (no affiliation or recommendation to buy from this company)
Feature
USB 2.0 interface
Build-in SiRF Star III GPS chip
Support SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS and RTCM)
Support Microsoft® Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7TM
Support Macintosh OS 8/9/10.X, RedHat 7.3 / 8.0 / 9.0
Of personal interests to me is the compatibility with MacIntosh. I've written GlobalSat Technical Support to ask if the GlobalSat ND-100S or larger BU-353 USB GPS Receiver will display real time GPS location using Garmin-BaseCamp and Garmin maps running on my MacBook Pro?
I wlll, of course, share GlobalSat response.
John
Above is the "little brother" of the larger BU-353 USB GPS puck with cable. To read the full specifications, see link below:
http://www.semsons.com/glbuusbgpsre2.html (no affiliation or recommendation to buy from this company)
Feature
USB 2.0 interface
Build-in SiRF Star III GPS chip
Support SBAS (WAAS, EGNOS and RTCM)
Support Microsoft® Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7TM
Support Macintosh OS 8/9/10.X, RedHat 7.3 / 8.0 / 9.0
Of personal interests to me is the compatibility with MacIntosh. I've written GlobalSat Technical Support to ask if the GlobalSat ND-100S or larger BU-353 USB GPS Receiver will display real time GPS location using Garmin-BaseCamp and Garmin maps running on my MacBook Pro?
I wlll, of course, share GlobalSat response.
John
Antichrist
Expedition Leader
I've been using the Delorme products for about 10 years and quite like them.
I don't buy every upgrade, but usually every 3 years or so. My laptop is really old (2002) so until I get a new laptop I probably won't get a new version, every new release tends to be more bloated.
I don't buy every upgrade, but usually every 3 years or so. My laptop is really old (2002) so until I get a new laptop I probably won't get a new version, every new release tends to be more bloated.
x32792
Adventurer
GlobalSat ND-100S USB GPS Receiver
GlobalSat Tech Support has responded and informs me most of their GPS Receivers will work with NMEA compatible programs. They also recommended I look at the newer and smaller GlobalSat ND-100S USB GPS Receiver. There is a MacIntosh Driver download for the ND-100S on their website.
Will the GlobalSat ND-100S USB GPS Receiver work with Mac-Garmin BaseCamp mapping software to display your real time GPS location on a MacBook Pro? I have no idea....And if GlobSat knows, they aren't telling.
GlobalSat Tech Support has responded and informs me most of their GPS Receivers will work with NMEA compatible programs. They also recommended I look at the newer and smaller GlobalSat ND-100S USB GPS Receiver. There is a MacIntosh Driver download for the ND-100S on their website.
Will the GlobalSat ND-100S USB GPS Receiver work with Mac-Garmin BaseCamp mapping software to display your real time GPS location on a MacBook Pro? I have no idea....And if GlobSat knows, they aren't telling.
dzzz
™
Why would you want a laptop attached usb under a metal roof? Bluetooth USB work fine if the desire is to remove the cord. The tradeoff is managing batteries rather than a cord.
Generally, xport may be needed with Garmin as a receiver or program. Everyone else is standardized. I have four or five receiver and they all worked without much effort.
Buying the best software is what requires some study. That why many of us map geeks run multiple programs.
Generally, xport may be needed with Garmin as a receiver or program. Everyone else is standardized. I have four or five receiver and they all worked without much effort.
Buying the best software is what requires some study. That why many of us map geeks run multiple programs.
CanuckMariner/Nomad
Love having fun 😊 in the 🌞 by the ⛵ and the ⏳
There is a ton of things to consider, some of which have been mentioned here on this thread.
Bottom line is how much do you want to spend, how steep a learning curve do you want or can handle, how much more software do you want to buy, learn, handle while you are driving.
* Note: GPS is not meant as a replacement to paper maps, paper maps always work, just need to learn how to navigate first.
I chose a Garmin, one of or the largest manufacturer and well known, easy servicing, warranty, easy to use/learn, etc. I bought mine used on eBay, cheaper and got extra stuff with it for less $.
If you want to add maps, make sure the GPS can handle it and you can get or have a larger memory card (SD, xSD, etc.) start with one that handle at least 2GB if not 4GB.
Mine came with city navigation software for N. America. I added topo for all of W. Canada, W. USA and W. MX. All fit on my 2GB card and topo was free from
www.miscjunk.org and www.gpsdepot.com. Listed by state and Garmin compatible and upgradeable.
I always select the city navigator software/data first and then the topo maps I want. That way I can get voice routeing turns as well as seeing the topo. If I have a way point like a camp-site on my topo, I can merely select it and touch go and it will tell me where to turn even though the topo is not voice routeing.
My only draw back in my system (due to age of my GPS) is I can not enter or get lat/long or elevation [only off topo maps]). I solve this problem by using Garmin's free but no longer upgradable nor supported software nRoute. But it works just fine for me.
I use the GPS antenna with the GPS I bought and simple connect the GPS to my Acer Aspire One and the antenna sends my location to the nRoute software. I get instant speed, elevation, lat/long, voice routing etc. I can enter lat/long, create way points, tracks, etc.
A very effective, versatile and inexpensive solution to my problem and perhaps yours as well. I get around western North America very well with this software, even in Mexico, cities, Barrancas Del Cobre, and the larger and more confusing cities in the USA like LA, Denver, Phoenix, etc.
If you need more info, help, questions, email me as per my profile.
Good luck!:costumed-smiley-007
- What GPS do you have already or are thinking of getting, type, manufacturer, etc.
- What do you want to use it for, cities, travel, off road, etc.
- What is available near you to keep costs down, servicing, asking questions, etc.
- What is available (maps, topos, software, cables, memory, accessories, etc.) for your choice above,
- How much are you will to spend on everything, etc.
- Ease of use, understanding, robustness, ruggedness, etc.
- raster versus vector maps
- custom versus your maps, downloadable, etc.
- The list goes on and Chris can you fill you in when you read the OJ article.
Bottom line is how much do you want to spend, how steep a learning curve do you want or can handle, how much more software do you want to buy, learn, handle while you are driving.
* Note: GPS is not meant as a replacement to paper maps, paper maps always work, just need to learn how to navigate first.
I chose a Garmin, one of or the largest manufacturer and well known, easy servicing, warranty, easy to use/learn, etc. I bought mine used on eBay, cheaper and got extra stuff with it for less $.
If you want to add maps, make sure the GPS can handle it and you can get or have a larger memory card (SD, xSD, etc.) start with one that handle at least 2GB if not 4GB.
Mine came with city navigation software for N. America. I added topo for all of W. Canada, W. USA and W. MX. All fit on my 2GB card and topo was free from
www.miscjunk.org and www.gpsdepot.com. Listed by state and Garmin compatible and upgradeable.
I always select the city navigator software/data first and then the topo maps I want. That way I can get voice routeing turns as well as seeing the topo. If I have a way point like a camp-site on my topo, I can merely select it and touch go and it will tell me where to turn even though the topo is not voice routeing.
My only draw back in my system (due to age of my GPS) is I can not enter or get lat/long or elevation [only off topo maps]). I solve this problem by using Garmin's free but no longer upgradable nor supported software nRoute. But it works just fine for me.
I use the GPS antenna with the GPS I bought and simple connect the GPS to my Acer Aspire One and the antenna sends my location to the nRoute software. I get instant speed, elevation, lat/long, voice routing etc. I can enter lat/long, create way points, tracks, etc.
A very effective, versatile and inexpensive solution to my problem and perhaps yours as well. I get around western North America very well with this software, even in Mexico, cities, Barrancas Del Cobre, and the larger and more confusing cities in the USA like LA, Denver, Phoenix, etc.
If you need more info, help, questions, email me as per my profile.
Good luck!:costumed-smiley-007
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I use, and my company uses Delorme Topo to navigate areas without roads prior to building High Tension Power Lines.
By the way I have a PN-40 that will work with and co-exist with your laptop using the same software above.
Works awesome, especially in Geo Caching because of seeing the topo and guess where it might be prior to finding.
By the way I have a PN-40 that will work with and co-exist with your laptop using the same software above.
Works awesome, especially in Geo Caching because of seeing the topo and guess where it might be prior to finding.
x32792
Adventurer
Search for the Holy Grail
Thumb drive, bluetooth or cable, metal or fiberglas top...Small potatoes.
I had never owned a GPS until recently when I decided to run the eastern portion of Trans America Trail. I went with a Mac based Garmin Nuvi 1490T because I'm a long time Mac User and Garmin is a big name. The Nuvi worked well on major paved roads, but on dirt and gravel when forced to recalculate it malfunctioned. And sometimes for no apparent reason, it just lost its mind.
Regardless of cost, which operating system you're running or how many map sets you have, finding an almost goof-proof GPS navigational system is turning out to be very much like the search for the Holy Grail.
Thumb drive, bluetooth or cable, metal or fiberglas top...Small potatoes.
I had never owned a GPS until recently when I decided to run the eastern portion of Trans America Trail. I went with a Mac based Garmin Nuvi 1490T because I'm a long time Mac User and Garmin is a big name. The Nuvi worked well on major paved roads, but on dirt and gravel when forced to recalculate it malfunctioned. And sometimes for no apparent reason, it just lost its mind.
Regardless of cost, which operating system you're running or how many map sets you have, finding an almost goof-proof GPS navigational system is turning out to be very much like the search for the Holy Grail.
x32792
Adventurer
Don,
I haven't had any problem with my Nuvi tracking satellites and want to believe a puck (with or without a cord) or a thumbdrive GPS receiver in a netbook on my dash would work just as well.
John
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gahi
Adventurer
Scratch that, apparently Xport does not work with 64-bit systems. so:
Mapsource
nRoute
BU-353
GpsGate
I really wish that the Xport worked in 64-bit. Has anyone gotten it to? It seems like a pretty basic and clean program. Plus its free. GpsGate is $40
CanuckMariner/Nomad
Love having fun 😊 in the 🌞 by the ⛵ and the ⏳
My Garmin system, so far (touch wood), has been fool/goof proof. The only problem I have is all the infrastructure changes near or in big towns/cities as I have not updated the City Navigator software in some time. My fibreglass and also my metal roof in both trucks have no problem reading the signal through them. Depending on the antenna/GPS position, it should get eh satellite signals. Put it near the top, by the rear view mirror where the glass meets the metal/fibreglass roof. I used a RAM clamp to mount mine on the rear view mirror stem. Works great! :costumed-smiley-007
dzzz
™
A gps antenna is getting no signal through a metal roof. It's "seeing" the satellites at an angle out the windows. The gps software with a poor fix will "snap" the vehicle icon to the road as long as it assumes your still traveling down a road. It's a design choice by the software engineer as to the tradeoff between accuracy and keeping the user happy.
If that's good enough for the use and users, fine. But complaining about gps systems while ignoring the fundamentals doesn't make a lot of sense.
If that's good enough for the use and users, fine. But complaining about gps systems while ignoring the fundamentals doesn't make a lot of sense.