| Author | Message | ||
     Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 153 Registered: 09-2002 |
Looking for an affordable GPS unit to use with my laptop. I would prefer to find it used on Ebay or such. | ||
| Britt Easterly (Britt) Member Username: Britt Post Number: 59 Registered: 09-2002 |
Garmin 12 works very well. If you get one there is a company that makes the interface cable on ebay. | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 661 Registered: 02-2002 |
I'm seriously considering the new Delorme Earthmate USB. I think it's around 100 bucks. Glenn | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 156 Registered: 02-2003 |
I've used Delorme Units, Magellan units, and Garmin units. For my money, the Garmin GPS units are the best. I've been over the reasons why several times (check archives) but it's what I choose to run. Not to slam Glenn, but I find the Delorme units, or other units without displays, practically useless. Units that can't take external antennas don't make my list either. You should be able to find a Garmin 12 or GPS III for not too much money. -P | ||
| BW (Bwallace35) Member Username: Bwallace35 Post Number: 68 Registered: 07-2002 |
Laptop GPS. Why did an image of a GPS wearing a G-string just enter my mind? Geesh. I'm not getting laid enough. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2280 Registered: 02-2002 |
Britt, The regular Garmin 12 doesn't have an external antenna port, you have to step up to the Garmin 12XL to get it. But, once you have that price jump, it's hard not to justify getting a different Garmin, one that has map-capabilities. Aaron, Most GPS units are NMEA-compliant, which is what you need. Just double-check on their own website (ie, http://www.garmin.com/ ). Next, decide if you want to just put the unit on the dash, or, if you want an external antenna on the vehicle. If you want to have an external antenna, then that will eliminate some of the choices (such as eTrex). I agree with Perrone, I like Garmin. I've even got two Trimbles sitting here on my desk, survey grade ones, and I'd take my Garmin over them for any use other than survey work. Driving, hiking, etc., the Garmin is more practical. Good luck.... -L | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 664 Registered: 02-2002 |
Does Garmin make laptop GPS receivers like the Earthmate? I have an old (PIII 500Mhz)super slim Sony Laptop that is now retired from work and now on Internet surfing in the toilet duties.  I would like to mount that in the disco one of these days and hook a gps receiver to it. I didn't know garmin made something similar, hence the Delorme recommendation. Glenn | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2281 Registered: 02-2002 |
Glenn, Any GPS unit that says that it is "NMEA compliant" will have the capability of being plugged into a computer, and used with a software program (such as Delorme). For example, my Garmin came with a serial-port cable, through which I can download topos into the unit, and use it all by itself. If I wanted to drag the laptop along, though, I can fire up StreetAtlas, and let my Garmin feed the location data right into the computer as I scoot down the highway, so I can see where I'm at in the DeLorme software. As Perrone said, the Delorme GPS units are handicapped.... I like Delorme's software, but, their GPS units don't have a display of their own... you HAVE to plug them into a computer to use them. If you get a Garmin instead, then you have a stand-alone GPS that you could also use with a computer if you want. True, the Delorme units are cheaper, but, not THAT much cheaper.... It's definitely worth spending a little more, IMHO, and have something that can work w/o the computer. IMHO, FWIW..... -L | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 157 Registered: 02-2003 |
Glenn, All you need to do is mount the laptop, stick a garmin unit on the dash, and connect it to the serial port. Get some good mapping software (Delorme StreetAtlas) running on the laptop and you're all set. I wouldn't give you a dollar for a GPS unit that fit in a laptop, and I'd give you only a dollar for the ones that you fit a palm-pilot to. The mapping software is ~$75, cable for ~$25, GPS for maybe $125 and you're good to go. I don't know why people have become so infatuated with the Delorme USB unit. They've been making serial versions of that same thing for at least 8 years and they've always been crap. I was so pissed off I spent my money on it, I actually threw it out and bought a Magellan 315. Worked great in the BMW, worked like crap in the RR. -P | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 665 Registered: 02-2002 |
Ahhh... you learn something new everyday... Thanks Les. BTW, did Dave sell the (my) S1? I almost cried when I checked his website and did not find it there anymore.  Glenn | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2282 Registered: 02-2002 |
Yep, the Series I found a home..... But, he's got some other vehicles there right now that I'd rather have.... one of the BOB trucks would be nice, IMHO.... -L | ||
| Glenn Guinto (Glenn) Senior Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 666 Registered: 02-2002 |
Yeah, I noticed the BOB trucks as well, but what on earth or who the hell is BOB? Glenn Oh, thanks as well for the info P! | ||
| Britt Easterly (Britt) Member Username: Britt Post Number: 60 Registered: 09-2002 |
Leslie, What I did was use the unit as the antenna. I connected it to the serial port of the laptop and used software to monitor my position. | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 158 Registered: 09-2002 |
All right take me through the basics. You are saying buy garmin I get that. Now I think you mean buy a stand alone unit and it will have the capabilities to use my laptop as a monitor is that correct? Can the laptop control the functions as well. Then I think you mean get some street software and the GPS will use that as display. Please instruct I am new to the GPS I just have an older IBM that I would like to use. So please put a list of what you think I should look at purchasing. I am trusting you guys to steer me to good stuff affordably priced. | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 162 Registered: 02-2003 |
Ok, Here's what I've been doing for about 5 years now. 1 Laptop with StreetAtlas software 2 Standalone GPS Unit 3 Cable that connects GPS to computer and 12v ligher plug 4 External Antenna (optional) Now, the External antenna gets mounted and connected to the antenna socket on the Garmin unit. The Garmin gets turned on, and I generally set it to display road speed and time to destination. The cable from the GPS is connected to a lighter plug, and the serial port of the laptop. I turn on the laptop, start the software, and have moving map. The laptop and the GPS unit act completely independently. So you can alternate screen on the GPS unit in the normal way, and you get use the laptop in any number of ways. So essentially you're looking at the GPS unit, laptop, antenna, and software. That's it. -P | ||
| J. Michael McCaig (Lrover) New Member Username: Lrover Post Number: 9 Registered: 01-2003 |
I use a Garmine streetpilot III+ GPS which are getting fairly reasonable on ebay these days. I bought the serial cable so the GPS will plug into the serial port of my laptop. I can plot real time tracking using MapTech Terrain Navigator software. Great software that uses actual USGS maps and interfaces easily with the GPS (basically tell it what kind it is and tell it to connect). It will either record my track and waypoints for later reference, or just show me where I am at the moment on the trail. Mike | ||
| Tony DiFranco (Nhrover) Member Username: Nhrover Post Number: 65 Registered: 11-2002 |
the delorme program will accept almost any GPS out there. I would get a nice garmine and connect it to the laptop. When you need a handheld you will have it. and when in the truck the laptop is much easier to read. -Tony | ||
| Aaron Richardet (Draaronr) Member Username: Draaronr Post Number: 161 Registered: 09-2002 |
thanks. |
