GPS on laptop

[Oli-dogg]

Has anyone got a laptop GPS receiver that hooks up to the laptop via USB or bluetooth? Is it a USB stick or do you need to run an external antenna via USB cable or bluetooth? What program do you use to view the maps?

Anything you can tell me about this sort of setup would be great. All I have is a laptop and was wondering if I could use it as a cheap alternative to a GPS system.

I'd like to be able to view detailed off road tracks on my laptop (either the map view or satellite photo view) on the move without a mobile internet connection, and have my current location displayed on the screen. Is this too much to ask?

[Oli-dogg]

Originally Posted by Mentasm

I use a usb GPS dongle and a 3g modem with Google earth. Works a charm, in areas there is no 3G signal just cache the maps beforehand.

Thanks Mentasm, do you have a link to the USB GPS dongle you have?

[Jeddo]

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19498

that's the one i have. it's the bees knees. love it.

[Oli-dogg]

Originally Posted by Jeddo

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.19498

that's the one i have. it's the bees knees. love it.

Hi Jeddo, I've been looking at one very much like yours on Ebay but a different brand name:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I also came across this streamlined design which has Data-Logging capability:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[Jeddo]

Originally Posted by Oli-dogg

Hi Jeddo, I've been looking at one very much like yours on Ebay but a different brand name:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWAX:IT

That's the same brand and model you nonga.
check the back of the deal extreme one... it says: "model no: BU-353".
DX offer free shipping - so you'll be saving a few $$ compared to ebay.

if i were you i'd go with the BU-353. SiRF Star III dominates over venus 6 chipset. And sure the venus 6 dongle has data logging on the USB stick... but you still need software to run it (just as you do the BU-353 one, and pretty much any s/w you use will have data logging onto your HDD (much safer than a dongle flash memory)), your laptop needs to be somewhere where it can pick up satellites (under a seat really won't hack it at all - best place is on the dash (kinda unsafe....)) and for an extra $30 i can't see the value in the extra 45 satellites it can get... because theoretically you only need 3 to get a fix, and about 7 to get accuracy down to about 1m.

there is a reason why EVERYONE uses the BU-353.

if you are worried about wires... there is a bluetooth version of it too i think... and if your laptop is oldschool, then there is a ps2 version instead of usb.

[Steve F]

Use a USB GPS, blue tooth is OK but not as reliable and needs an additional power source anyway, the USB ones draw power from the laptop. Forget google earth and 3G modems etc all additional cost, just buy Oziexplorer and get some free maps, I have a bunch pretty much covering the whole east coast and more. Works like a charm and these maps are topographical so perfect for offroad. It wont do turn by turn streetmapping though but that doesn't sound like what you want.

If anyone is interested in the free maps we may be able to get a set travelling around, so burnt to DVD posted on, copied and then posted on to the next person.

Cheers
Steve

[Steve F]

The thing I like about the maps for Oziexplorer is you easily see where a trail goes etc, Google earth is prettier but on a lot of trails all you see is the tops of trees. I guess there are advantages to both but for me I have so many oziexplorer maps (the whole country in fact) that I know I dont need to cache anything and am set to go. I'll have another look at Google maps though

Cheers
Steve