GPS antenna for a laptop?

[Herbicidal]

Hey folks,

I could use some assistance in finding a decent to great GPS antenna ('dumb' USB version) for my laptop. I have both Delorme street maps 2008 and topo maps version 6. Honestly I'm not familiar with all the terms about satellite acquisition etc. I'm looking for something that will grab and hold onto the signal when I'm driving on trails that are in deep canyons or through the forest. Perhaps with a magnetic mount for the roof? At this time I don't want to permanently attach it to my truck.

In my searches on the internet I found this: Garmin GPS 18x USB antenna. Has anyone had experience with this unit? Do you know what the 18x means?

Thanks for your help and recommendations!

[rambrush]

Herb
I run Topo 7 on my laptop and have to use the earthmate pn-20 GPS to make the software function. Was not aware that it was possible to run it as a standalone program.
I went over to there Forum and poked around but nothing on a quick search.
DeLorme Forums – GPS, Topo & Street Mapping Software and XMap GIS
I have also ran over to
Groundspeak Forums
but did not take time to do a in depth search.
I will poke around some other of my geocaching websites and see what i can turn up.
Gary

[Herbicidal]

Thanks Gary!

I've been using my old Garmin Etrex Legend as the 'receiver' then running it's serial cable to an adapter that converts it to a USB and that plugs into my laptop. The poor little Etrex just can't hang onto the signal. A buddy I went wheelin' with this past weekend has Delorme's topo maps version 5 with an external GPS antenna (hard mount) and he never lost the signal once! Grrrrr!

Plus I have to keep feeding the Etrex batteries, so if I can get a good external antenna that is powered by the USB port I will have made definite improvements to my system. I just want to buy the right one the first time.

Maybe I need to post on Delorme's forum too.

[Herbicidal]

Here's my latest find. From what I've read so far, the SiRF III chip sets are the bomb! It's waterproof and has a magnetic base. All this and more for $36.95. Woohoo! I'm still looking but leaning strongly towards this guy.

[Herbicidal]

OK, my search is over. I just ordered the GlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver. About $45 to my door including shipping and sales tax. I can hardly wait to see how it works compared to my Etrex. Probably no comparison.

[rambrush]

I just went and researched it as well. so with this I would not need to run the seperate gps just connect the unit and go.
I have a old etrex vista serial port and the new chip set in the earthmate is so much better.
Did you see the pics in my gallery on the laptop mount I installed in mine? Sure was handy on this last road trip to Washington. edit: whoops they are missing in action time to reupload the mount pics.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by Herbicidal

OK, my search is over. I just ordered the GlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver. About $45 to my door including shipping and sales tax. I can hardly wait to see how it works compared to my Etrex. Probably no comparison.

Might want to ask sanosuke as well he was running that on his labtop checking againt my Gps in my truck. I know he used his antenna running from the Ups port and on my windshield sticked. I think i have pictures from the Detriot auto show to see the crewmax on the loaner Camry we had without factory navi.

Erik

[Herbicidal]

I received my GlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Receiver in the mail on Monday, finally had the time to get it working with my laptop. This little guy is awesome! Plugged it in, ran the setup utility, changed some settings in my DeLorme Topo and Street maps and bingo! I was getting 7 satellites while sitting in my living near a window.

I then carried the laptop outside to the backyard while holding the GPS in my hand and it was able to track me walking (@ 2mph) across the yard. Sweet! Can't wait to take it off-road.

[rambrush]

Thats sounds very promising. Much easier than keeping a gps connected to the lap top.

[SOSHeloPilot]

Hey Guys,

I got some good info from your above posts on GPS units and laptops. I was getting a bit confused though ??

I am a novice at vehicle GPS units and would love to have a portable one for my Tundra ... that is also portable and super accurate ??

Any suggestions or links to check ??? ..... I have saved my pennies and am willing to go first class on this project.

Thanks again for your posts ...

SOS
.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Originally Posted by SOSHeloPilot

Hey Guys,

I got some good info from your above posts on GPS units and laptops. I was getting a bit confused though ??

I am a novice at vehicle GPS units and would love to have a portable one for my Tundra ... that is also portable and super accurate ??

Any suggestions or links to check ??? ..... I have saved my pennies and am willing to go first class on this project.

Thanks again for your posts ...

SOS
.

if your going to get the very best buy a Z3 or z2..

[Herbicidal]

Originally Posted by SOSHeloPilot

Hey Guys,

I got some good info from your above posts on GPS units and laptops. I was getting a bit confused though ??

I am a novice at vehicle GPS units and would love to have a portable one for my Tundra ... that is also portable and super accurate ??

Any suggestions or links to check ??? ..... I have saved my pennies and am willing to go first class on this project.

Thanks again for your posts ...

SOS
.

I'm pretty much a rookie at this as well. I started with a free reconditioned Garmin Etrex Legend. It's very small and so is the screen. I love to go 4 wheelin and dealing with the paper maps is so the 90's! After one outing in particular and having paper maps and the Etrex Legend with it's too small screen and getting lost and constantly losing connection with the satellites, I decided upon getting a laptop. This way I could use it for other things besides GPS navigation and I can now read the screen!!! I also bought a 500w inverter that plugs into one of the power ports in my Tundra, then I plug the laptop into it.

I found an inexpensive laptop at Best Buy. It's an Everex Stepnote NC1501. It has a nice wide screen and the best part is that it fits perfectly between my two front captains seats. It rests partially on the transmission tunnel hump and is securely wedged between the seats. I had zero problems with it moving around while on my last run. I was going to look into buy a Ram mount, they make very cool in vehicle mounts for laptops and so forth, but I really don't need one at this time.

I bought for about $80, DeLorme's Topo version 6 and Street Atlas 2008. I then used the Etrex for only navigation by placing it in a suction cup mount to the windshield. However, it only has a serial cable out and I had to buy a serial to USB adapter and then plug the USB into the laptop as it doesn't have any serial ports. In this configuration I still had to feed the Etrex 'AA' batteries and it's older technology doesn't allow it to track very well in narrow canyons and tree covered trails.

I started researching a better alternative and discovered the 'puck' style 'dumb' GPS antenna's. I'm not up on all the latest GPS techno speak, but it seems that SiRFIII and WAAS are important for good tracking. I spent some time reading through DeLormes forums and found out the unit that I ended up buying received great reviews and had both SiRFIII and WAAS capabilities. For $45 shipped to my door I figured it was worth a shot. I have yet to take it on the road, but by how fast it picked up multiple satellites while inside my house, it is a VAST improvement over the Etrex's tracking abilities. Granted you need a screen to view, but for me, the laptop works great.

There a tons of different options from full on installs in your dash, to the laptop GPS antenna combo and then to the hand-helds. You really need to decide what you want to do with your system and do you want it portable from one vehicle to another. Obviously I'm not taking my laptop on any hikes, but I could take the Etrex if I really needed something. It would do in a pinch. I'll toss the laptop in the truck and take a picture and post it so you can see how I have it set up. Again, this works for me you may have other needs.

I hope this helps.

[Herbicidal]

As far as some links, here's one for DeLormes forums.
Here's one from Wikipedia SiRF star III.
This link will keep you busy for awhile!

But whatever you end up buying, get out there and enjoy it!

Here's a couple of pictures:


The GPS antenna is just resting on the dash for this picture. I'll do something more creative with the USB cable eventually.


Different angle. The top of the laptop is wedged against the lower edge of the dash. The bottom is resting on the tranny tunnel hump and it's wedged snugly between the seats. It just fits perfectly!

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Yea nice setup Sano used his labtop on the 2007 Camry rented for the 2007 Detriot auto show to see the upcoming 2007 Toyota Crewmax that made it's first showing.

This is his setup


I've had navi a wile now since 2006 and My unit is a aviz Z1 which is a Hdd harddrive based Navigation server . The system was pretty advanced for the time period having voice access to navi and music with voice tagging from Gracenotes.I payed a mint but the system was totally worth every penny and dime..

[rambrush]

My laptop does sit on a ram mount, its very adjustable and very easy to install. I have another mount off of it that holds my Delorme earthmate PN-20 GPS unit. As I am into Hiking, Geocaching and backcountry exploration I needed something pretty portable. I use Delorme topo 7.0 and also there gis pro mapping software. But Herbs antenna setup would get me to the area and then I could bring out the portable GPS.
So decide what your main use is going to be and go in that direction. My 1st GPS was almost a grand for a small handheld unit, now days they are very reasonible. Most topo maps are 1:24 scale and Garmin maps that I have seen don't cover that but Delorme maps do. So do your homework 1st.