GPS with laptop
- Thread starter robwalker
- Start date
ADVNTURR
I worry when rattles stop
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
Rob,
I recently purchased the DeLorme Street Atlas 2007 with their LT-20 USB GPS receiver. I also now have their Topo USA 6.0 which I am running on a Lenovo T43 Laptop which I am powering with a power inverter. So far I am fairly pleased with it and my laptop has been doing alright, although I honestly haven't used it a ton. With the Street Atlas you can get it to give you directions from where you are to whatever address you choose and you can set way-points to force a certain route if you want and it can give you audible directions if you want. It will auto correct if you get off-track, it also has the ability to accept voice commands although I haven't tried it
As for the Laptop, it seems to be happiest in the passenger seat in all honesty, I think the cushion in the seat takes out most of the vibrations and it doesn't trip the anti-shock very often (or at least not enough for me to notice since I can't exactly look at it all the time while driving). I've been thinking about making a mount for it, but I'm not sure that I want to anymore because even having a passenger hold it seems to affect the anti-shock more so I can't imagine what a solid mount would do. If you are going to do a semi-permanent mount I don't think I'd do it on an expensive w/ an expensive laptop.
The ability to save routes, track elevation, check speed (good if you haven't recalibrated for your bigger tires), and save trails and such is really useful and pretty darn cool in my opinion.
The Streets software and GPS is about $99 and then the TOPO software I think is $150 for the entire US on a DVD or they sell the East coast and West coast separately for I think about half the price.
Hope that helps.
I recently purchased the DeLorme Street Atlas 2007 with their LT-20 USB GPS receiver. I also now have their Topo USA 6.0 which I am running on a Lenovo T43 Laptop which I am powering with a power inverter. So far I am fairly pleased with it and my laptop has been doing alright, although I honestly haven't used it a ton. With the Street Atlas you can get it to give you directions from where you are to whatever address you choose and you can set way-points to force a certain route if you want and it can give you audible directions if you want. It will auto correct if you get off-track, it also has the ability to accept voice commands although I haven't tried it
As for the Laptop, it seems to be happiest in the passenger seat in all honesty, I think the cushion in the seat takes out most of the vibrations and it doesn't trip the anti-shock very often (or at least not enough for me to notice since I can't exactly look at it all the time while driving). I've been thinking about making a mount for it, but I'm not sure that I want to anymore because even having a passenger hold it seems to affect the anti-shock more so I can't imagine what a solid mount would do. If you are going to do a semi-permanent mount I don't think I'd do it on an expensive w/ an expensive laptop.
The ability to save routes, track elevation, check speed (good if you haven't recalibrated for your bigger tires), and save trails and such is really useful and pretty darn cool in my opinion.
The Streets software and GPS is about $99 and then the TOPO software I think is $150 for the entire US on a DVD or they sell the East coast and West coast separately for I think about half the price.
Hope that helps.
riverfever
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Woodland Park, Colorado
Nice to see you in red with only one post. :yelclap:
This topic has been covered quite a bit and there's some good stuff in the archives. If you use the search function near the top right of the screen and type in "laptop" or "gps*" you'll find good info. Our search engine is good but it only recognizes 4 characters. Since gps is only 3, put an asterisk at the end and it'll find it.
I run a Garmin V with N Route software on my laptop. I have a simple mount system made from aluminum angle. It works real smoothly. I did it so I could mark waypoints and enter data from each days fishing. It's also nice for my better half to be able to watch a DVD while we're on the road or in camp. It'll be nice this summer too when I can write my grad school papers on the road and then find a coffee shop or whatever with internet access to email papers or go to class chat. I don't really wheel so the dust and rough ride isn't a concern. Another guy on here (JEONLYEP) runs the same mount and he wheels pretty hard and hasn't had any issues. I'll try and find a link for you.
-river
This topic has been covered quite a bit and there's some good stuff in the archives. If you use the search function near the top right of the screen and type in "laptop" or "gps*" you'll find good info. Our search engine is good but it only recognizes 4 characters. Since gps is only 3, put an asterisk at the end and it'll find it.
I run a Garmin V with N Route software on my laptop. I have a simple mount system made from aluminum angle. It works real smoothly. I did it so I could mark waypoints and enter data from each days fishing. It's also nice for my better half to be able to watch a DVD while we're on the road or in camp. It'll be nice this summer too when I can write my grad school papers on the road and then find a coffee shop or whatever with internet access to email papers or go to class chat. I don't really wheel so the dust and rough ride isn't a concern. Another guy on here (JEONLYEP) runs the same mount and he wheels pretty hard and hasn't had any issues. I'll try and find a link for you.
-river
riverfever
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Woodland Park, Colorado
azdesertrhino
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Tucson, Az
I run a Magellan Sporttrak Pro tied in to a Panasonic Toughbook. I run oziexplorer software and a lilliput screen on my dashboard. Works out excellent!!
The computer rides in the floorboard behind the backseat. Haven't had any problems with it!
atriot:
The computer rides in the floorboard behind the backseat. Haven't had any problems with it!
atriot:Ahhh...now I understand why I didn't see anything when I searched for "GPS". :laugh: I knew at least one person here was using GPS on a laptop!
I am involved in Search and Rescue here in Washington and I've got to get my system set up with topo maps and if I can find a way to do it, squirt out APRS data as well.
I'll dig through the other posts, and I'm sure I'll find helpful info.
As far as a laptop mount, 'm not a big fan of the Jotto Desk stuff. The Sheriff's Department has made some mounts for the XJsthat they run here. When they surplus the old one's I'll try and scoop one up. I really need something to hold the laptop and a two way radio head. If I find a better solution, I'll post some pics and details.
Thanks for all your help!
Rob in Seattle
I am involved in Search and Rescue here in Washington and I've got to get my system set up with topo maps and if I can find a way to do it, squirt out APRS data as well.
I'll dig through the other posts, and I'm sure I'll find helpful info.
As far as a laptop mount, 'm not a big fan of the Jotto Desk stuff. The Sheriff's Department has made some mounts for the XJsthat they run here. When they surplus the old one's I'll try and scoop one up. I really need something to hold the laptop and a two way radio head. If I find a better solution, I'll post some pics and details.
Thanks for all your help!
Rob in Seattle
azdesertrhino
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Tucson, Az
I use the USGS topo maps in conjunction with Oziexplorer. I can download the maps for free. It really is a good system for my application.
Matthew Currie
NAXJA Member #760
- Location
- Vermont, land of big clay
I don't use it routinely, because of space, battery and screen brightness issues, but I have a Garmin GPS12 with the serial connector, and it works smoothly with my laptop using Microsoft Streets and Trips.
Ivan
I Jeep, therefore, I am..
- Location
- Greensboro, Ga
I have a similiar set up to Matthew's, butI use Delorme's TOPO USA software. The set of cables I use also provide power to the gps, and I have an inverter to power the laptop, so GPS and Laptop batteries are of little concern. Works really well, but it the laptop and cables do clutter things up a bit. I mainly use this if I'm offroading in unfamiliar areas.....
My ultimate plan it to mount a laptop docking station under my seat, that inturn would be mounted on a breadboard type of pull out drawer for easy access. That would remove the laptop off my seat, and everything else as follow, could be permanently mounted....
I would also use a foldable keyboard that I could tuck away when not in use, use a wireless air mouse such as those made by Gyration, so I don't need a mouse pad. And lastly, I would utilize a removable 9" monitor that I could mount on my dash. All this of course hardwired into place.
The docking statiion set up allows me to keep the mouse, foldable keyboard, and monitor permanently mounted....and I'd still have a great GPS system but without the clutter. With this set up I could also pull up to Wifi hotspots and websurf from my XJ.... how nerdy is that? :roll:
My ultimate plan it to mount a laptop docking station under my seat, that inturn would be mounted on a breadboard type of pull out drawer for easy access. That would remove the laptop off my seat, and everything else as follow, could be permanently mounted....
I would also use a foldable keyboard that I could tuck away when not in use, use a wireless air mouse such as those made by Gyration, so I don't need a mouse pad. And lastly, I would utilize a removable 9" monitor that I could mount on my dash. All this of course hardwired into place.
The docking statiion set up allows me to keep the mouse, foldable keyboard, and monitor permanently mounted....and I'd still have a great GPS system but without the clutter. With this set up I could also pull up to Wifi hotspots and websurf from my XJ.... how nerdy is that? :roll:
