Which GPS receiver and software to use with laptop?

[steve.lorimer]

Hi folks

I'm leaving soon for an 18 month trip around Africa :wings: and will have a laptop mounted in the cab, which I will use for music, navigation etc.

I'm looking for help in deciding which GPS receiver to use? My assumption is that USB is the way to go, with an external antenna. Anyone have some advice for me please?

Also, what software should I use for realtime navigation?

I'm going to use the Tracks4Africa and Wanderlust GPS waypoints, which use mapsource (from Garmin).

Therefore it will be necessary to interface with mapsource.

Thanks
Steve
www.overafrica.org

 

[gjackson]

I would recommend the Garmin 276c. It has a descent sized screen for nav while driving and you can load the T4A maps into it with a memory card. And it is USB. The battery pack sometimes causes problems, but if you run power from the vehicle that will not be an issue.

cheers

 

[steve.lorimer]

Screen not necessary

Hi Graham

Thanks for your response.

I'm not sure a screen is necessary, as I will have the laptop's screen.

What I'm looking for (I think) is just a GPS receiver which can plug into my laptop's USB socket, providing a GPS signal which software on the laptop can use to pinpoint my position on a map in realtime.

Is something like this available?

Thanks
Steve

 

[articulate]

Yes. Here's one.

I know Lance (1leglance) has used one of these, and possibly still does. At any rate, you are right, you don't need a receiver with a screen if you're going to be running software on a laptop anyway.

 

[steve.lorimer]

Software to use?

Aha! Thanks Mark! (Cool website btw)

Do you know what software Lance uses by any chance? (I'll pm him too)

Alternately, can someone recommend any software that will interface with mapsource?

Thanks
Steve

 

[steve.lorimer]

Mapsource IS the software!

Hmmmm... pays to RTFM!

Mapsource has a realtime mode, so I can just interface directly... so now just to get the receiver!

Thanks everyone.

 

[articulate]

Hmmmm... pays to RTFM!

:clapsmile

I know what that feels like.