Lookin for best GPS to run alongside with laptop.

[4wd_Haggis]

G'day i proberly says some where else in here but i to lazy...:o
What i am plannin to do is runa laptop with ozi explorer and want to hook up a gps to it for dual runnig. pref lappy for navi and gps screen for me to look at i i get the chance.

Wot would be the best gps for this application and where would the best place be to get it cheaper.

Thanks for any help..
Cheers dan

[Patrolman Pat]

I don't know which is best but any GPR that outputs NMEA data can be used. From what I've read there can be problems with USB to serial adapters and most new laptops don't have serial ports. I haven't had a problem with my adapter *touchwood*

FWIW I use a Magellan Meridian hooked up to a Toshiba laptop with a remote touch screen and this works well for me. I bought the GPS off Ebay with all the Oz maps loaded, plus the power and data cables for about $600, they should be a fair bit less than that now. Mine hasn't let me down yet. I don't use the inbuilt GPS maps anymore, the GPS is just a compass screen on the dash and a means to get dat to the lappy. If you don't need to look at the GPS and can leave all the navigating to a passenger a GPS mouse may be all you need in conjunction with the laptop. I don't like that as I twice had the laptop die on me during navigation runs and managed to get by with the GPS maps, albeit with some difficulty.

[kerry460]

G,,day there is a new gps available ,ex usa only? .it is gps only and links via bluetooth to pda or laptop for screen etc.apperently very good ,been told $120 us . i am looking for more info, i am told it has much better sattelite recognition . use with ozie explorer?. cheers kerry.

[Prickle]

I have a Garmin eTrex which I find is great, The GPS itself is quite cheap (i paid about $170) and it works fine with a laptop as it can output NMEA data, etc. also it can be used as a standalone gps when out on foot/bike/car and while it doesn't have maps built in, it does most things and will run for about 48hrs on a set of rechargeable AA batteries

[hillbilly123]

I use a laptop with a Bluetooth GPS and it runs perfectly. It even works in my pocket or in the glove box. I also have a Nokia phone with TOM TOM navigation on it and it runs off the same GPS. I get funny looks in a shop when I forget to turn it off and my pocket starts saying "make a U turn"
The GPS is a Globalsat and is available here
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GlobalSat-BT-338-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver-SiRF-III-V3-1-1_W0QQitemZ260098299204QQcategoryZ34290QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem
I paid $149 for mine so you will be laughing at that price.
They really do work as stated above despite some people doubting that if it cant see the sky it cant work. IT DOES. Just sometimes inside a large building or under a large tin roof it drops out
I also have a HAicom USB GPS but dont even bother with it cos if u go under a bridge it drops out
IF your laptop doesnt have bluetooth u should be able to buy a dongle for about $20 on Ebay Ive got this one
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/USB-100M-Bluetooth-Dongle-Adapter-F-PC-PDA-Mobile-IB1R_W0QQitemZ230106635435QQcategoryZ44999QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem
Works like a dream once u set it up

And if you want a good tray to put your laptop on in your fourby try this
http://www.ram-mount.com.au/a/177.html
$330 approx but rock steady if you install it right
Am using Copilot 8 for laptop and Trackranger 5
Hope this helps you

[4wd_Haggis]

Thanks everyone, plenty of info, i am lookin in to it now. I'll keep u all updated on how i am goin because i left the computer scene when i was 13 so i might be a bit simple on certain things..

Cheers

[Bucking Fox]

G'day i proberly says some where else in here but i to lazy...:o
What i am plannin to do is runa laptop with ozi explorer and want to hook up a gps to it for dual runnig. pref lappy for navi and gps screen for me to look at i i get the chance.

Wot would be the best gps for this application and where would the best place be to get it cheaper.

Thanks for any help..
Cheers dan

I used one of these when we were doing the Navrun series and couldn't fault them. Mounted on the roof and hooked up to the laptop. Worked perfectly.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-USB-GPS-Mouse-Receiver-32-Channels-for-Laptop-PC_W0QQitemZ190095066774QQcategoryZ34290QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[4wd_Haggis]

I used one of these when we were doing the Navrun series and couldn't fault them. Mounted on the roof and hooked up to the laptop. Worked perfectly.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/New-USB-GPS-Mouse-Receiver-32-Channels-for-Laptop-PC_W0QQitemZ190095066774QQcategoryZ34290QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

yeh cheers mate a mate of mine recomenned the mouse to. For the price aswell it is a cheap alternative.

[hillbilly123]

If you use a bluetooth one you dont need to run a cable anywhere and it does actually pick up the signal best of all. Also the Sirf III chipset is noted to be the best as well.

[Bucking Fox]

If you use a bluetooth one you dont need to run a cable anywhere and it does actually pick up the signal best of all. Also the Sirf III chipset is noted to be the best as well.

That's OK if your laptop has Bluetooth. A lot of older ones don't.

[4wd_Haggis]

That's OK if your laptop has Bluetooth. A lot of older ones don't.

yes that is exactly wot i have to. I didn't think it neccesary to fork out for a lappy just to run maps..... Plus the one i got if it was knock off i wouldn't bother cryin i could trade in a pencil and lined note pad to get another lol...
2g is okay fpr a lappy if u use it else wher ebut solely for what i am gonna use it for is just for maps the computer can warm up with the car and away we go...

[djd2]

I thought you could buy a blue tooth usb port and plug it into the side of your computer.Forgive me if I am wrong.

[djd2]

Just wondering if this would be a good receiver to purchase, as I was thinking being that small I could put it on top of the snorkel and run it into the passenger seat.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mini-GPS-Receiver-FREE-Shipping-Software-USB-Cable_W0QQitemZ280096856885QQcategoryZ34290QQrdZ1Q QcmdZViewItem

[Bucking Fox]

I thought you could buy a blue tooth usb port and plug it into the side of your computer.Forgive me if I am wrong.

You probably can but you have to bear in mind where the USB ports are on your lappy and is whatever's sticking out of them likely to get bounced around and knocked out.

When we did the navruns we found that the most reliable combo was a lappy, USB GPS (partly because this also gets it's power from the lappy as well) and a proper 12V power supply/adapter. We initially used an inverter but found it was just one more connection that could come loose and cause the computer to lose power at the most critical moment. On the whole the simpler the setup, the better it was.

I am sure that other people will give other ideas but the above was based on our experience (oh and we only competed for the one year and we came second for the series so it must have worked OK).

[4wd_Haggis]

You probably can but you have to bear in mind where the USB ports are on your lappy and is whatever's sticking out of them likely to get bounced around and knocked out.

When we did the navruns we found that the most reliable combo was a lappy, USB GPS (partly because this also gets it's power from the lappy as well) and a proper 12V power supply/adapter. We initially used an inverter but found it was just one more connection that could come loose and cause the computer to lose power at the most critical moment. On the whole the simpler the setup, the better it was.

I am sure that other people will give other ideas but the above was based on our experience (oh and we only competed for the one year and we came second for the series so it must have worked OK).

Yes i am likin ur thinkin B fox.... If u done the navs runs which am lookin into doin, i think it will be best for me to do similar on my budget. I have no sponsors yet and the free lappy which only has 6gig hd. well which is prob enough due to it storin maps but could do with a ram upgrade so a wee bit quicker.

But if u found that the gps to lappy is the way to go especially after all the bouncin around ( i have leaf allround lux). Then it seems to be the obvious way to go..i know the gps mouse is cheaper but it will not give another screen readin that a hand held gps would do.

[hillbilly123]

A bluetooth Dongle is about $20 on Ebay at present and if you buy a usb GPS receiver try to get one with a SIRF III chipset. By far the best and most sensitve.
I have both and prefer the blutooth cos it even works in the glovebox