| Author | Message | ||
| JJ Woden (Jj_woden)
Registered Member Username: Jj_woden Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 65.19.246.49 Rating: N/A |
Hi All I have heard that there are antennas available along with software for setting up a laptop computer for GPS navigation. I know there are complete units available as well, and I will have one of them someday, just not in the near future. Can I ask this board about pro and cons and some brand names as well? I appreciate any information and will follow leads if you just have names. Thanks for all the info on this board, and also the courtesy that everyone shows for each other. JJ | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 240 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: |
hi  both my daily driver and my bus are pc powered, and have been for about 10 years. reasons: 1) i *really* prefer the flexibility of winamp and playlists for my music. 2) i can work from the road if i have to. (i say "have to" because my home system is much much more awesome) 3) i can watch movies on it. 4) navigation. for gps navigation i use delorme street atlas and their earthmate gps. you can find the unit and the software almost anywhere for 100 bucks or so. the gps uses usb to connect to any computer that supports usb, and works fine sitting on your dashboard. after living with this for a 10,000 mile road trip across the us, with the monitor mounted right above the sun visor in my scenicruiser, i can say it rocks it also has settings to "avoid toll roads" and "avoid unimproved roads" which you will find handy... i have a lot of destinations i've put in it for convenience. i.e. lukes shop. when i was there last, i set "current location" as "end of trip" and saved the file. now, i can load that file, say "calculate route from here" and it will show me the fastest route from wherever i am, to there. you can, of course, just give it a street address. it will even talk to you if you want it to, and you can feed it your gas mileage numbers and "max length of day" and so on, and it'll schedule stops for you and the like. as my bus hasn't got an odometer or a fuel gauge, i set mine for 5mpg and "warn at 1/8th tank". i love it. basically, i get in my vehicle, i start it, and the computer boots up and autolaunches the nav system, winamp, and some other things i use regularly, and away i go. it runs off a cheapie 500w inverter i have under a seat. i'm currently tinkering with a small apc smartups, because the ups can shut down the computer, and itself, at a specified time after the power to the unit stops, so i'll be able to just get out of it and walk away if i like. i actually use it as a speedometer in both my rigs as well, since both the factory ones are wrong (gearing change on one rig, dead on the other) -dd | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 19 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 12.180.53.193 Rating: N/A |
I was at Costco and noticed the Microsoft Streets and Trips now comes with a small GPS reciever. I believe the cost was 99.00. Don't know anything about how it works, just saw it there. | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 80 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239 Rating: N/A |
Mark I bought the costco set up and it works great. I've Not been on long trips with it but it's good value in my opinion Sylverstone Are you using a full size computer??? I am I have it mounted on a slide out tray mounted on rubber right behind driver mounted in a cabinet | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Registered Member Username: Kristinsgrandpa Post Number: 279 Registered: 2-2003 Posted From: 64.24.208.122 Rating: N/A |
The Delorme can also add new roads to the database. I got my Delorme with the antenna and the program ready to install on my laptop for under $90. (a nickle) Note that in some states it is illegal to have a laptop on the dash of a motor vehicle while underway. Ed | ||
| R.J.(Bob) Evans (Bobofthenorth)
Registered Member Username: Bobofthenorth Post Number: 130 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 142.165.179.132 Rating: N/A |
I've used the MessySoft S & T setup with the GPS puck. The first one I had I mounted the puck externally & it failed after about a year. The one I have now is sensitive enough to use it with the puck thrown on the bus dash. I also use my eTrex Legend (Garmin) with the Garmin proprietary software. If I'm feeling really techie then I run the Garmin feeding something called GPSGate which pukes out as many virtual ports as you want and then I run both S & T as well as the Garmin proprietary stuff and sometimes Fugawi as well. You'll find that each different piece of software has features that are better for some situations and the mapsets included with one piece of software may have flaws that aren't visible in others. | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 135 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.107.209 Rating: N/A |
I use Microsoft Streets and Trips for a mapping program... I use an older Garmin GPS (street pilot), that has a map screen built-in, so no serious need for a PC...... however.... The Microsoft Streets and Trips program can be used with my Garmin, or with near any GPS unit, or the Microsoft Streets and Trips GPS unit. The Microsoft Streets and Trips program can be programmed with simple "comma separated value" files, easily prepared with any text editor, or downloaded from various sources! I have Walmart stores, low bridges, etc., files loaded... For under 100 bucks, you can't beat Microsoft Streets and Trips with it's included GPS. (It also sells w/out the GPS, for under $40) | ||
| wrench (Metricwrench)
Registered Member Username: Metricwrench Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 208.54.94.30 Rating: N/A |
panasonic toughbook,CF71,CF28,CF72, Street & trip, Rikaline GPS with bluetooth, Bluetake bluetooth antenna, & Nokia BH200 headset(one on each ear(phone & street & trip)),missing nothing. wrench | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 113 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.227.251 Rating: N/A |
I bought a new DeLorme LT 20 and Road Atlas for $51 bucks on Ebay. These things pop up on Ebay all the time. The GPS works fine, and the atlas is plenty detailed. The only downside is that you gotta have the laptop. It makes a nice speedo if your coach speedo isn't accurate...like mine. DeLorme comes in production years so if you go with this, watch the year of the atlas. Mine was a 2006. They can be updated for a fee. Amazing bit of software! Easy to setup and use too. I've heard that some of the mapping software was a little prickly to use. I have not found DeLorme to be difficult to use at the level I'm using it. Really just playing because I ALWAYS know where I am. Real men just know these things. If in a bus, you could run GPS mapping software on a PC too...avoid the cost of a laptop. Have to mount the keyboard, mouse, and monitor in the drivers area, but a PC will sure run it much less expensively. Happy mapping! JR | ||
| R.J.(Bob) Evans (Bobofthenorth)
Registered Member Username: Bobofthenorth Post Number: 131 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 142.165.179.253 Rating: N/A |
John said: "The Microsoft Streets and Trips program can be used with my Garmin, or with near any GPS unit, or the Microsoft Streets and Trips GPS unit." Just be careful that the unit you buy is capable of puking out NMEA output. Not all are. Some Garmin units will only puke out Garmin proprietary format - they can't be used with MS S&T, which brings up the need for Franson GPSGate referred to in my post. If you are buying a GPS unit and want to use it with MS S&T then make sure it is capable of sending information in NMEA format. | ||
| Tom Connolly (Tomconnolly)
Registered Member Username: Tomconnolly Post Number: 46 Registered: 9-2003 Posted From: 71.98.144.67 Rating: N/A |
CoPilot Live | Laptop 10 http://www.alk.com/copilot/laptop.asp?cp_newsletter=navigator1206 After a decade of excellence, ALK continues to innovate and refine its CoPilot Laptop software to improve the user experience and push quality GPS solutions through the decade to come. | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 241 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
yes, i'm using a full size desktop cased pc. a laptop is always more expensive, and less upgradeable, than a comparable pc. -dd | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 136 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.106.89 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the additional comment, Bob! For brevity, I unintentionally left out that fairly important info..... It's so much easier to buy the MS S&T package with the GPS included, than to piece-meal it together.... but... it's possible to make it work with damned near any GPS, anyway..... I like it. It works for me, and I have very little patience getting stubborn things to work right... Cheers. | ||
| Mike Heron (Mike_in_ga)
Registered Member Username: Mike_in_ga Post Number: 5 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 68.219.131.137 Rating: N/A |
This is great information. I have a copy of MS Streets and Maps, and a good IBM Thinkpad laptop, but I wonder if the laptop screen is bright enough to see the maps and displays etc up there in the front of the bus where there is so much ambient light? Any thoughts anyone? Mike in GA | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 242 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
mike, i had to install a tinted plexi cover over my lcd for running at night because it was too bright. (i put it right above the stock sun visor in my scenicruiser) i used to use a dell laptop years ago for this, and it worked fine on the console of my van, but i much prefer a full size pc. you can run everything discussed so far on a p3/500 or so, so there's no point in spending a lot of money on a laptop, unless you already have one. -dd | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 512 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 207.30.189.113 Rating: N/A |
When we use our MS Streets & Trips in our laptop at night, we click on VIEW-MAP STYLE-ROAD MAP(NIGHT). This gives you a black background with the roads and lettering in green (similar to a radar screen). Delorme has a simlar mode with a black background and orange, red, and blue streets and white lettering. Changing to this mode requires clicking on OPTIONS-DISPLAY-HIGH-CONTRAST COLORS. Much easier on the eyes when driving at night. We have a swing out platform on the dash that puts the laptop slightly below the bus dash level (less glare during the day) and between driver and co-pilot with easy access by either. Jack | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 513 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 207.30.189.113 Rating: N/A |
Mike, We use an IBM ThinkPad laptop for our GPS. We have MS Streets & Trips and Delorme. I like some features on each, so we split screen and run both GPSs at the same time (each with their own antenna connected to a USB hub which is connected to the laptop). With our laptop mounted on the swingout platform, we rarely get any glare on the screen and on the rare occasion that does occur, we simply turm the platform slightly. Remind me to show it to you at Arcadia. Jack | ||
| JJ Woden (Jj_woden)
Registered Member Username: Jj_woden Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 65.19.246.49 Rating: N/A |
Thank you for all the information. I found an old DeLorme serial port receiver and software that I can try. It is old and is not being used by anybody so I do not feel I am infringing on any copy or distribution laws. And it is an old copy that I will only try and get a newer version later. Thanks again, guys. Someday next spring I will even actually use it in a real bus. JJ | ||
| Roderick W. Chandler (Rod)
Registered Member Username: Rod Post Number: 27 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.30.188.128 Rating: N/A |
I have used the MS Streets and trips with GPS and found that the Co-ordinates are not correct. If you do not need the numbers then it works great for travel on highways and streets. I pre fer the Delorme Road atlas with the LT20 GPS. It recalculates the route for you if you make a wrong turn and will talk to you if you need it. The MS program will tell you that you are off route but will not recalculate automatically. | ||
| R.J.(Bob) Evans (Bobofthenorth)
Registered Member Username: Bobofthenorth Post Number: 136 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 142.165.179.139 Rating: N/A |
No matter what system you are using the important thing to remember is that they are not perfect. I know from hard experience that S & T will try to route you over some bunny trails unless you check Freeways only. And the mapsets are not always right. We pulled into Lake Havasu a few years ago from the north on 95. S & T told me to make a right turn onto McCulloch but there isn't a ramp there & it doesn't look like there ever will be one. Another favorite beef I have with S & T mapsets is that they have been degrading the resolution on them for the last couple of versions. The last two times I have upgraded I have lost additional street level detail in western Canada. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 515 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 207.30.189.36 Rating: N/A |
"No matter what system you are using the important thing to remember is that they are not perfect." All GPS programs are only as good as the data base they use. An example: Several years ago, the old railroad tracks were removed north of Arcadia, FL and that became the north bound 2 lanes of US 17. Because the change has not been made in the data base that Delorme uses, it shows you on the railroad tracks (which are still on their map) and the voice prompt constantly tells you "off route, recalcutaing" and trys to direct you back to what is now the southbound lanes of US 17. I think how precise your location is shown is partly due to how many satelittes your antenna is receiving signals from. Ours seems to vary from a low of 3-4 to a high of 9-10 sartelittes. Jack | ||
| R.J.(Bob) Evans (Bobofthenorth)
Registered Member Username: Bobofthenorth Post Number: 137 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 142.165.179.208 Rating: N/A |
The recalc algorithms in those situations aren't always perfect either. I know S & T sometimes shows a spaghetti bowl path when it thinks it needs to do a recalc for a situation like Jack describes. The recalc in that situation will often involve off ramps and doubling back over your track & it can take a while for the stupid thing to figure out that you are actually still on course or it may require a reload of the software for it to figure it out. I find all of the mapping software great for figuring out distances ahead of time, use it for speed and location on the road and it MAY help if you get off course. Its just good to remember that it was built by a human being and is subject to all that implies. I also use the Garmin topo mapsets for offroad travel and some of them show unbelievable detail. | ||
| Robert & Debra White (Rob_n_deb)
Registered Member Username: Rob_n_deb Post Number: 6 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.3.193.158 Rating: N/A |
JJ, What I have learned with my personal use with GPS mapping programs. Is they will tell you EXACTLEY where you are, it’s been my life Saver, I for one do get lost easily, My excuse is I have a bad case of CRS !!,,,lol This is what I use on my lap top computer for GPS navigation, I use Delorme street atlas, Pro = has streets that the other don’t! Con = Will some time put you on a road that is no More then a dirt trail,,, where a pick up truck Would not fit,,,much less a bus. Microsoft Streets and Trips, Pro = same as above... Con = same as above... The Altina’s wireless Bluetooth GPS Receiver Pro = no need for hard wire,, can remove by picking it up, Easy stow away. www.Altina.com.tw Threes so much you can use a good mapping program for You can optimize your trip, you can list all the cities you Want to visit, locate fuel stops, rest area’s, Camp grounds and the list goes on, track Mileage, Read all you can before you buy it has many uses, Like they said not all Mapping soft ware are Compatible with all GPS device, Good luck, Rob n Deb | ||
| sylverstone (Sylverstone_pd4501864)
Registered Member Username: Sylverstone_pd4501864 Post Number: 244 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 216.173.223.253 Rating: N/A |
rob n deb, there's a setting to turn off that problem... check "avoid unimproved roads". that did lead to a fun adventure on my last major road trip though -dd |
