GPS and Hardware/ Software questions

[dave_lucas]

I know nothing about GPS hardware and software so I was hoping that you guys could school me as to what I should do here

For Christmas my wife got me a GPS and software and I am not sure if I should keep it or get a different setup. My wife wanted to get me a different software and GPS but did not have time so she picked up one locally so I would have something to open.

Here is the GPS
http://www.garmin.com/products/gps18/

The software is
Garmin Mapsource United states topo 1:100,000

So this leads me to my questions.

Hardware

1. The GPS 18 requires a laptop but I am not sure if I want a laptop in the Discovery with me at all time so that might limit my use to long trips and off-road only with the GPS 18 as I can not see having a laptop in my discovery all of the time. Are there any decent GPS systems that do not require a laptop in the $600 range? I have been looking at a few but I am not sure they will be any better than my E-Trex.
http://www.garmin.com/products/iQue3200/
http://www.garmin.com/products/quest/

2. If I do decide that using a laptop would work for me should I keep this unit or is there a better unit out there for use with a laptop such as the following one?
http://www.delorme.com/earthmate/


Software

1. Do I need this software package for a GPS or do the GPS system already come with the software loaded in them?

2. Is this software going to be of use for off-road trips or just getting around towns?


3. My wife mentioned that there is more detailed mapping software but she did not have time to order it. What scale should I be looking for?

4. Who makes decent map software and do you have to buy it or can you download it from somewhere?

Thank you all for your help

 

[JeffM]

Hi Dave - I can't answer 1. Mainly because I wanted to have my laptop in the truck so that I can do other things such as downloading pictures from the digital camera etc. There are certainly some excellent GPS's in the $600 range. It really depends what you are after - however for ruggedness and simlicity I would stick with the etrex. BTW the guy first person to do the explorers grand slam used the E-trex exclusively.

2. There doesn't seem to be much to choose between what you have and the earthmate - the earthmate is just yellow

3. FWIW I'd go for 1:50k

4. Fugawi - this stuff kicks ass.

Hope that helps

Jeff

 

[Andrew Homan]

Dave I'm no expert on GPS but found the best thing for it is use it and learn all the features. the best way to learn it is to start geo caching (not sure if I spelled that right) My wife and I along with the dogs did several until we were both good at it and trusted the machine. having a lap top is even better in a vehicle but certainly not needed on foot. I have the topo programs and just down loaded it but still haven't used it. I think we tend to get the most sophisticated things we can and never use them to their potential. My Magellan is top of the line (or was) and I wll never use it to full potential. fWIW

 

[Iron Boots]

I run the Mapsouce with my Garmin legend....I also have a ton of Maptec stuff...the maps are detailed but you can't run realtime on it very easily.

 

[vabiro]

Dave,

I have been using a sensor similar to the Garmin GPS 18 with the Fugawi programme that Jeff mentioned. What is gives is a very flexible platform, that will allow you to import everything from the free Topographical maps from the US Geological Service to the aerial photos and satellite images from a variety of sources.

To answer your questions one and two together, you may want to consider the Microsoft Streets and Trips package that includes the GPS receiver. MS S&T is a great navigation and trip planning tool, and the bundle gives you the GPS receiver you would need anyway.

As Jeff and I mentioned Fugawi is a great product and my choice. The programme itself, as well as the maps that they sell are great.

Regarding the scale of the maps, I would recommend 1:50k for off road and 1:250k or 100k for highway-type navigation.

Hope this helps.

Victor

 

[RoverDisco98]

I don't due any foot trailing so the GPS/Laptop combo works best for me. Currently using the Garmin E-Trex unit with an older Compaq notebook. Software for trails, unmarked and back roads I use National Geo's Backroads Explorer and Delorme Topo. I forget which one but I did have to but additional state/area maps to get the real detail. Both work well with the E-Trex and provide live positional updates. For road trips and directions I use Microsoft's Streets and Trips. The only complaints I have is that one of the three software products requires a different interface setup on the E-Trex than the other two. Also the E-Trex does not have a an external antenna nor the capability to add one. As a result I lost signal a few time when there was heavy tree cover.
Found a Laptop car mount on Ebay that works very well (no drilling) and is easily removed. Got windshied mount and data/power cable for the E-Trex also form Ebay.


Frank

 

[vabiro]

...
Found a Laptop car mount on Ebay that works very well (no drilling) and is easily removed. ...

Good point Frank,

I have been using it while sitting on the passenger seat for the past year, and have found that I spend way too much time reaching over to stop the the thing sliding around.

As a result I bought a Jotto Mount, but not the "no hole" model.

I just got it, so I haven't had a chance to install it yet, but I think that this is something that anyone that wants to use a notebook in their Disco. You can remove the post when not using the notebook in about 1 minute.

Cheers
Victor

 

[marc olivares]

hey guys, about the Fugawi software,

it's a tracking software, correct? that means that you still need a map software as well? right? something like the usgs state packages?

so if your running a laptop config. you would need the USGS map software, the Fugawi tracker software, a laptop GPS card and antenae?
and the benefit of this would be that you would be able to track your progress in real time on a USGS map on your laptop?

sorry, like Dave, i'm a novice at this GPS/software shit. give me a 1:24k map and a compass any day... or until at least until i learn the new stuff...

 

[Rover Puppy]

Conratulations on your Christmas presents

I use Garmin Mapsource software. The thing I like best about the Mapsource products is that they can all be used together. I can have a map up and with one mouse click switch the view between US TOPO Mapsource software and City Navigator Mapsource software. I can see the streets in City Navigator and US TOPO helps me negotiate areas when the streets end and I need more detailed TOPO info.

As a recent example, by looking in advance at both versions, I was able to see that I needed to be directly west of where the streets ended and directly north of a specific lake. The streets were only visible on the City software, and the tiny lake was visible only on the TOPO software.

I do not use my laptop when I?m driving even though my hardware and software are capable. If I have enough time in advance and know where I need to be, I use my various Mapsource programs to plot coordinates and then transfer the coordinates to one of my Garmin units.

My Garmin GPS and software products are a great help for me when I?m traveling in congested areas where I?m unfamiliar with the streets. However, I?ve kind of come to the conclusion that when I?m ?offroad? and attempting to focus on my GPS and location, I tend to miss the awesome beauty of the scenery and decrease the joy and freedom of being outdoors.

Most times I think life was much better when all we had were paper maps

Good Luck and Have Fun! Jamie

p.s. Garmin hardware and software tech support is awesome. They'll teach you way more than the manuals ever will and can assist you in making your software work best for you. Your products are capable of doing way more than the manuals tell you. Another valuable plus about Garmin is they are quick to release software patches.

 

[bri]

I had nearly the same question as you marc.

I use Etrex Vista primarily for hiking. It has no road navigation capability built in so you would have to plug it in to a laptop. Since my primary focus is getting topos onto the Etrex, I use the TOPO! software from Garmin and then I use National Geo US and CO 1:24000 for route planning. It works OK, if you are able to plan your entire road trip on your laptop prior to departing and would would excellent if you had road nav software on your laptop and brought it with.