Laptop Based GPS Software options?

[PHXtaco]

gahi, I am using the BU-353 and it has worked out quite well. I have a windows laptop with NG Topo and Delorme Street Atlas. However... I can only have one program at a time using the GPS antenna-- both will programs will run, just one has to go without GPS data. The refresh rate on the BU-353 is significantly slower (guessing a couple seconds versus 1 second) than hooking up the lap top directly to my Garmin handhelds. But I am willing to sacrifice a lower refresh speed to be able to have to deal with just one cable from the computer to the antenna outside as opposed to having one cable from laptop to handheld gps, a second cable from the hand held to a power source, and then a third cable from the handheld to an external antenna.

I also will attest that the BU-353, Garmin II+ and GPSmap 60CSX receive a significantly degraded signal in the vehicle as opposes to outside of the vehicle or attached to an external antenna.

 

[craig]

gahi, I am using the BU-353 and it has worked out quite well. I have a windows laptop with NG Topo and Delorme Street Atlas. However... I can only have one program at a time using the GPS antenna-- both will programs will run, just one has to go without GPS data.

This is true of any GPS. You need to use a utility like GPSGate to run two pieces of software on top of one GPS.

 

[gahi]

my BU-353 showed up today, running a trial of GPSGate, (Xport doesnt send garmin emulated signal, or work with windows 64 bit.) GpsGate isn't working with the latest release of Google Earth yet.

everything is working with nRoute. I havn't gone anywhere with it yet, but just messing around with it, it seems like it will be ok.

 

[gahi]

Night display mode. It automatically switches according to the sunrise/sunset data for the current location.

 

[fire931]

baaahhhh! this stuff is to confusing for me...

 

[deserteagle56]

Satellites up in sky. thumbdrive under metal roof roof. no see satellite .
Big potato.
Nuvi no see sky. nuvi no track satellite.

Exactly! I noticed a substantial boost in the performance of my Nuvi once I connected it to an external antenna, especially when used in my van. It never gets "confused" any more the way it used to. Those antennas are so cheap - and so inconspicuous - that to me its a no-brainer. Now I mount the Nuvi up against the roof of my rigs where it is out of the hot sun and away from prying eyes - and there's no where near the reflections on the screen, making it a lot more visible.

 

[gahi]

baaahhhh! this stuff is to confusing for me...

I'm not totally sold on it yet either.. Thus the quest for the cheapest available setup that'll work. I dont like the idea of trying to mount my laptop somewhere thats usable, but out of the way. I can rig up some contraption, or spend $200 + on a ram mount, but will the vibrations be too much for the hard drive? I dont know. I could mount the computer somewhere and run a remote screen, but then I'm getting into spending a good chunk of $$$.

 

[fire931]

yea i've been torn on what to do.. try to get the laptop into the truck somehow and use it for everything, or get a garmin gps and load it with the topo maps and use my phone to record a "track" of where i've been for later amusement..

 

[gahi]

wont the garmin gps record tracks?

 

[fire931]

not sure.. if it does then thats news to me.. i used to have one of their "cheap" gps units but got rid of it awhile back when i quit traveling for work. maybe some of the nicer units will do it...

 

[AxeAngel]

Okay so after much help from everyone on here this is what I did:

GlobalSat Bu-353
Delorme TOPO
Delorme Street Atlas
Garmin nRoute

On a dedicated laptop used only for mapping/navigation and for mp3/movies.

Total cost for software for $45
Globalsat Antenna $30
Laptop I'm debating to use an old dell inspiron or the new HP netbook i bought.

Netbook way will be $250 all in, laptop way will be $75 total cost.

Once i play around with it all, i will post my findings. If anyone has tips to share I would appreciate them.

-Sam

 

[Peter_n_Margaret]

Mapping / GPS software

http://www.oziexplorer.com/
Biased, I admit it, but this is the best GPS / mapping software.

Cheers,
Peter

 

[1leglance]

after running various laptops for a number of years on horrible washboards I can say that my worries about harddrives is now nil
I love the little Acer netbook I am using, the only downside is when running Ozi Explorer & Delorme Topo the refresh can be a bit slow (not much really) when I want to zoom and move around looking for things.

All in all I will never go back from a netbook setup since I also get all the benefits of having a pc with me

 

[gahi]

after running various laptops for a number of years on horrible washboards I can say that my worries about harddrives is now nil
I love the little Acer netbook I am using, the only downside is when running Ozi Explorer & Delorme Topo the refresh can be a bit slow (not much really) when I want to zoom and move around looking for things.

All in all I will never go back from a netbook setup since I also get all the benefits of having a pc with me

Thanks, thats good to hear. What kind of mounting system are you using?

 

[PHXtaco]

I have had no problems with a regular hard drive handling the washboard roads—though I have had 2 computers fail in the last 8 years. The first (a Dell) failed at the solder joints on the motherboard where the external power cable connected. The second one (a Quantex) failed again at the solder joints on the mother board, but this time it was where the video cable went in—I am running an in-dash monitor. Then again my lap top sits loose under the seat, so that probably had a lot to do with it. I think if you have a good mount—and make sure any cables plugged into the computer are stabilized, you should be fine.

The other I will add, is after having an in-dash monitor, while it is nice to have the computer out of the way, the small screen has been a pain, and now wish I had gone with a netbook.