GPS Software

[Michael2]

? Does anyone make GPS software that can turn a laptop with a GPS attached to a NAVMAN style GPS Navigator (one that gives directions?)

I'm currently running Ozi Explorer on a Toughbook (virtually an in car touchscreen) and this works great for showing me where I am.

I'm wondering whether I can utilise the PC and the GPS and just buy the software to get the thing to morph into a NAVMAN or similar?

I imagine if I can get a program that will download sensis maps and be able to tell me where to go, then I can have Live mapping as well as Navigation.


Is it do-able?

[Phoenix]

I thought tomtom and programs like that were able to do that?

[aaron.miller]

There is a program called copilot live laptop which i am told will generate routes automatically like a tom tom, its about $400 from http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/travroute-copilot-live-laptop-gps-software-p-1091.html

Aaron

[grumpybastard]

I thought tomtom and programs like that were able to do that?

They dont run on laptops :(

[ajh73f]

Hi Michael2,

Being fiscally challenged, I recently purchased a program called Navelite off evilBay for a grand total of $59.00 instead of forking out the bigger bucks for Oziexplorer or Trackranger.
Check out the link below for a current price on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GPS-navigation-tracking-software-AU-map-for-PC-laptops_W0QQitemZ330118516921QQihZ014QQcategoryZ75 327QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have installed it on my laptop and it looks good but need to upgrade my old GPS receiver as it won't communicate with my laptop.

Hope this helps.

[awabbit6]

Freedrive (http://www.freedrive.co.uk/) will do navigation. It runs on a laptop and uses maps from Destinator 3 onwards - and it's free (if you have the maps);)

[sclarke]

I run Destinator data and MapMonkey as the front end...

Do a search on the net and you will find what you need....
If not PM me

[Michael2]

There is a program called copilot live laptop which i am told will generate routes automatically like a tom tom, its about $400 from http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/travroute-copilot-live-laptop-gps-software-p-1091.html

Aaron

For that kind of money I may as well buy a dedicated NAVMAN that I can use independent of the laptop.

[Michael2]

Hi Michael2,

Being fiscally challenged, I recently purchased a program called Navelite off evilBay for a grand total of $59.00 instead of forking out the bigger bucks for Oziexplorer or Trackranger.
Check out the link below for a current price on eBay.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GPS-navigation-tracking-software-AU-map-for-PC-laptops_W0QQitemZ330118516921QQihZ014QQcategoryZ75 327QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have installed it on my laptop and it looks good but need to upgrade my old GPS receiver as it won't communicate with my laptop.

Hope this helps.

Well this looks the part :), and for $50 for all 2007 Aussie Maps, it's just the price of a Melways!!!

I wonder how good the off road maps are? They've got 24/7 Tech support, so I may send them some Qs. I'll keep you posted.

[jsp]

any updates on this Ebay sourced software? Looks great! I am after something to update my mapmonkey/2005 maps setup in the rangie on a craptop!

Lots of local Adelaide roads have been made since the maps were :(

[ajh73f]

The Navelite program that I put forward IS MapMonkey. I don't know the hows or whys but it is all packaged as Navelite but the program itself is MapMonkey.
It looks ok, but JSP if you are already running MapMonkey it becomes a question of what version.
Maybe I have not been able to help as I much as I hoped:eek:

[Tusker]

Co-pilot do a laptop version.

Have an idea Destinator does too.

Regards
Max P

[Michael2]

I've sent the ebay guy some Qs:


Hi Kenneth. I'm very interested in this product. I'm currently using a touchscreen laptop connected to a GPS (nmea input) with Ozi Explorer, but I'm after the navigation features your product offers. Could you please tell me what maps are avaialable for it and whether upgrades are available online once the product has been purchased. Also where about in Melb are you if I wanted to pick up the CD? Thanks, Michael ....

I got a quick reply to this with a phone number to call. The guy on the phone couldn't tell me what maps were used and he "thought" I could load it onto more than one machine. He also didn't have any loaded up to demo if I went to purchase / pickup in person.

Since learning that it's the same as Map Monkey, I did an online search and found http://www.map-monkey.co.uk/ which seems to indicate quite a few bugs with map monkey. But I suppose doing a search of this forum could also indicate a few bugs with Land Rovers :o.

So I'd like to hear more from those with Map Monkey installed.

In the meantime, I've sent the ebay guy another set of questions. As follows :


Hi Ken. I emailed you a couple of days ago & you sent me Chris' number. I spoke to Chris, but just need some extra info. I'm running a tablet pc (hence no CD drive)in the car and a laptop at home. They share a network, will I be able to load the program onto more than one laptop / tablet? Also, what maps are you supplying? (ie: destinator ....) and are these upgradable on line in the future? and if so, is there a cost for the upgrades? Also is the 24/7 tech support online or phone? If it's online is there a technician on the other end, or is it just a users forum? Thanks again, Michael.

I'll keep you posted on progress, please let's hear from those with Map Monkey.

[jsp]

I have been running map monkey for about 2 years now, and so far the only notable bug is in the destinator software, where if I am stationary at a 90 degree angle to the road, and the software shows this, it will through a route calculation error if you tell it to plan a route. If you drive 50 yards along the road so it has a bearing on which direction you are traveling it works fine, even if you are then stationary.

I am curious as Map Monkey is fine for my needs, works well on my older laptop/in dash custom touch screen in the rangie, but the latest maps I believe you can get are late 2005 or early 2006 - and certainly not 2007. I could be wrong again, but I think I read somewhere on MP3car this is because map monkey emulates destinator 3 which has been retired and maps are no longer available for it - to use later maps you need a newer version of destinator?

I am sure someone will correct me and hopefully show me where I can aquire later maps for mapmonkey ;)

[Michael2]

I just got a reply from the guy.

Hello, Yes, can you run this software on both computers. I think this software uses destinator maps. Free updates will be sent to you via mail / mail for free approximately once a year. You can send me emails if you need help.

It sounds good, so I'll probably buy it.

More info still welcome though.

[p38arover]

I saw jsp's system (G'day John) in his P38A when I was in Adelaide a few weeks back and it really is a very nice conversion. There are links to pics on the rangerovers.net forum.

Ron

[jsp]

I just got a reply from the guy.

Hello, Yes, can you run this software on both computers. I think this software uses destinator maps. Free updates will be sent to you via mail / mail for free approximately once a year. You can send me emails if you need help.

It sounds good, so I'll probably buy it.

More info still welcome though.


Hmmmmmm thats really sus......for 50 bucks you buy it and they are happy to burn a copy and post you maps free of charge for a year or two? there's nothing in it for them?? The maps are a few hundred meg so I assume they don't mean email.....

I would want to clarify that and hopefully have a decent looking website or something to back it up?

[Michael2]

Well I bought the software today. When I got home the DVD/CD drive could not read the disc :mad:.

I had gotten a disc of photos from a mate a few days ago and the frive couldn't read that either, so I suspected my DVD drive. I put in a movie - that played OK, I put in a CD-ROM - that played OK. Someone suggested the drive might be a + and the DVD a - or vice versa, and suggested I put the photo DVD on the DVD player (TV one) and the pics played there OK :(. Next I put the Navelite CD in the DVD player and it was able to read the menu :D. So at least I know the disc isn't empty. I'll have to get a mate to come over tomorrow with his laptop, log it to my network, and hope the CD plays on his.

I'll continue to keep you posted on updates.

[Michael2]

So far it's too early to decide how good it is. There was an error that had to be overcome (through a Google search) to set it up. On one laptop without all the XP updates, it would crash after about a km and have to shut down. On another laptop it seemed to run okay. I tried to download a fix so I could remove manually entered speed camera locations and that froze the program. I deleted it and reloaded, though uninstalling map monkey leaves the Destinator files, so they need to be deleted too.

The maps according to the seller are 2006-2007 updates, but there are several streets around where I live that have been here for 5+ years and don't appear on the map.

It seems to calculate routes super fast, but if you hit the fastest vs shortest route, it doesn't give you another option. It also seems to prefer winding through back streets (Booze Bus aversion mode - I'm guessing).

Overall, having navigable Australia wide maps with route planning for $50 seems a fair price, but I'm sure you can get better products for more $$$$.

Trying to load a Freeware copy of Map Monkey from the web and use the destinator maps came up with a licensing problem, where it couldn't access the maps.

I'll provide further input over the next days - fornight, as I get used to it, as it may turn out to be a lot better when I'm used driving it.

[jsp]

Trying to load a Freeware copy of Map Monkey from the web and use the destinator maps came up with a licensing problem, where it couldn't access the maps.

Let me know if you need help with that ;)

[Michael2]

Hi JSP, any advise on that would be appreciated. At the moment it's not an issue as the system seems to run, but I fear that as map monkey gets more patches and updates, I won't be able to download them without affecting access to maps.

Also if anyone here has Destinator 6, then please let me know. I'd like to see whether your version has a more updated map for my area than mine does. Roads built in the last 5 years in Bayswater North don't appear on my maps, but the vendor assures me they are 2006/07 maps.

Thanks in advance.

[Michael2]

... It seems to calculate routes super fast, but if you hit the fastest vs shortest route, it doesn't give you another option...

Well the fastest way to anywhere in the North West according to this is through the Tanami Desert. The fastest way to anything East of Melbourne is always through Warburton & Walhalla!!

At least if you choose an alternate route it will recalculate on the go in <3 secs.

Does anyone else running Destinator or MM (Map Monkey) get this problem? Is the one-eyed route calculation a Destinator or a MM issue?

Thanks.

[jsp]

well this is my issue, as map monkey I think is based on destinator 3 - and maps for that version stopped I believe in 2005. I could be wrong though ;) Hence I was awaiting on this with baited breath!

[Michael2]

This was his reply about the maps :


The maps supplied was released in Sept06 and stated as 2007 version according to our supplier. I have tested the software and streets / suburb built in 2006 were found with full detail (e.g. Point Cook area). Please let me know which street is not showing and I will let my suppplier know see if he can contact the system development people regardind that and include it in the next update.

The more I play with it though, the more frustrating it's problems become, losing the GPS :mad:, placing a speed camera over my home location :mad::mad:, not being able to calculate shortest vs fastest route :mad::mad::mad: ....

I've emailed these concerns to the vendor, and asked that there be some fix or a refund. Will keep you posted.

[Blknight.aus]

since my old gps died I have a copy of copilot live you can have it does what your after but the maps are old, if you want to fork out for the update fill your boots but for info the maps in my version of copilot got me through all of the garage sales in wodonga and knew where my new house was in ipswich.

If you want to play with it as a try before you buy let me know..

IF you dont want it after you try it ID like it back

[ajh73f]

Well I am now feeling guilty for suggesting this!!:(
I haven't had any issues with mine so far, but I don't use it for day to day stuff, only for weekends away etc.:confused:
I hope that you get looked after by the supplier. Keep us posted on how it goes.
Thanks.

[Michael2]

Well today I figured that I could change from fastest to shortest route by going through the set up menu, the soft button on screen brings up a notification that it's changing mode, but doesn't. Maybe changing to a different skin will fix that.

On the way home, MM had trouble loading up :mad: but that may have been a com port glitch with the GPS. I hate it how the PC thinks the GPS is a mouse sometimes and jumps the mouse all over the screen. Then it locks up the comm port :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: It did the same on Ozi Exp and left me looking for a hard to find track in the country for over an hour. (It went through private property - hence hard to find).

I'll see what other glitches can be worked out in the next few days.

Incidently, the license on the maps does state that they are a 2006 edition, so it may not be the vendors description, as much as the map suppliers product description.

[divastar]

? Does anyone make GPS software that can turn a laptop with a GPS attached to a NAVMAN style GPS Navigator (one that gives directions?)

I'm currently running Ozi Explorer on a Toughbook (virtually an in car touchscreen) and this works great for showing me where I am.

I'm wondering whether I can utilise the PC and the GPS and just buy the software to get the thing to morph into a NAVMAN or similar?

I imagine if I can get a program that will download sensis maps and be able to tell me where to go, then I can have Live mapping as well as Navigation.


Is it do-able?
Hi,

Recently i bought GPS Software from ebay & That works really gr8. It got Latest full australia & new zealand map with speedcamera & redlight alert. The price is very resonable too. The seller got really outstanding & satisfying sevice. Here is the link: GPS SOFTWARE : Laptop/PC/Notebook : 2009 AU & NZ MAP - eBay, Other Mobile Accessories, Mobile Accessories, Phones. (end time 27-May-09 22:28:50 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320372617309&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT)
You guys should check it out.

Cheers

[miky]

Search is your friend :)

nRoute (http://www.aulro.com/afvb/communications-car-audio-electronics/73807-nroute-does-anyone-use.html)