GPS Units / Sat Nav Software & Laptops

[mel]

Am I asking the impossible ?

What I'm after is a standalone GPS that can be used independantly against a normal map and for emergency grid references when out in the middle of nowhere (calling in air ambulances and things) but because I'm a tight git and always like to get multiple use out of things I also want to be able to plug in into my laptop and combine it with some "Routemaster" type software on a decent sized screen and move it between cars etc. The ideal would be to have a large scale map displaying a little flashing blip showing present location constantly upgraded and giving directions to location, accurate speed would be nice, oh yes and its got to cover all of Europe, be easy to use and set up, be with me by Thursday, and be cheap. Any ideas ?

[Dave Marett]

I think I'm right in saying that Autoroute Express has got gps support - I've never used it, (I've got "routeplanner" on my psion instead)so can't say how easy it is to use - but I'm sure you can use it as a "moving map" display. Regarding which gps to get, I've got a garmin (an oldish gps 2+)and I think they're regarded as one of the better brands, prices start at about £100

[northernboy]

The standalone I use is a Garmin Etrex. It's probably a good idea to get one of the models with a compass in, as mine needs yp to be moving to get a direction, which is annoying when I'm lost in my bike in the woods.

They support all the necessary standards, so any software package which supports GPS should work.

Anyone got any idea how I actually attach my GPS to my powerbook, and tell the software to do something with it, though?

[moreymach]

Sony Streetmate is what you want .. I think its been discontinued now but you should still be able to find it on ebay. If I remember right is gave full voice direction sat nav from the laptop and included a GPS receiver for about £140..

Just looked and one on ebay right now and teh bid is at £32 !! almost fancy it myself

Edited to say sorry didnt read your post properly !! the Street Mate is not a stand alone receiver and only works with a laptop.. still rather good value though

>> Edited by moreymach on Monday 9th December 11:03

[mel]

Streetmate looks like a good bit of kit but isn't flexible enough for me, I'm currently looking at:
Magellan GPS310 (about £100)
Laptop connection lead (about £20)
Route 66 Europe 2003 Pro (about £40)
Anyone used these ? Inparticular the software and know good it is ?

[aprisa]

We use Autoroute and Ordnance Survey Navigator which both work with my Garmin GPS, neither give voice commands but work fine as a visual guide as long as you don't mind appearing to be driving alongside the motorway sometimes on high Magnifications.
Autoroute 2000 which is separate CD's for UK and Europe gives a much smoother progrees on screen, 2001 and 2002 are a litle jerky. If this had Voice then it would be brilliant.
You do have to keep the GPS right up near rhe screen or you lose reception so bear in mind the shape of your Dash!
Nick

[ATG]

I use a pretty old GPS (Magellan 3000) for hill walking and plug it int0 the serial port of my laptop that runs Msft Autoroute. OS grid refs in the hills, moving maps in the car. Works pretty well, though looking at the laptop while driving is a non-starter.

As long as your GPS supports the NMEA comms standard you'll be laughing. It is lo-tech ... 9600 baud and simple text based long/lat position messages. It is more or less compatible with RS232, so you can plug it into your PC's serial port and pretty much expect it to work first time. Tell autoroute which serial port to look at, make sure the GPS is broadcasting NMEA messages (probably need to (a) turn this feature on, (b) set the baud rate, (c) select the NMEA message types to broadcast) ... and as soon as the GPS gets a lock, Autoroute will hop to the right bit of the map.

p.s. As APRISA suggests, getting the GPS's antenna to work properly inside a car can be a big issue. In my case I've bought an extrenal antenna kit and fitted the antenna to the underside of the Chim's boot lid. The fibre glass panel doesn't seem to impede the satellites' signals at all, whereas the roof panel in the cabin blocked it completely.

>> Edited by ATG on Monday 9th December 12:04

[Dave Marett]

aprisa said: You do have to keep the GPS right up near rhe screen or you lose reception so bear in mind the shape of your Dash!
Nick

---

One of the reasons I bought my garmin gps2+ was that you could plug an external aerial on a cable into it - you can buy amplifed mag-mount aerials that are supposed to be fantastic, I never got round to that as it works fine as it is sat next to the handbrake in the Griffith - something to do with being in a fibreglass convertible!

I think generally most gps are as good as each other, but garmin seems to be the market leader.


edited to say to ATG - what you doing driving around with the roof on for anyway? (cool place to put the antenna though)


>> Edited by Dave Marett on Monday 9th December 12:13