gps/navigator for laptop

[wozapinin]

just got myself a laptop and would like to use it as gps/navigator when travelling, around town and 4wd tracks. What do you recon?:D

[alien]

just got myself a laptop and would like to use it as gps/navigator when travelling, around town and 4wd tracks. What do you recon?:D

Top idea:)

Was given a HP Mini (Note book lap top) for Chrissy with a AV Labs blue tooth GPS :D
Going to have my maps on SD cards so just swap as needed.
Also put Rave onto a USB stick so have access to it if needed.
Even found a inverter in the package:D,just have to work out all the mounts ect.

Where do plan to mount yours?

[wozapinin]

googled av labs gps and looks good. Makes sense having wireless, maybe velcro to dash? What maps to use?

[setsuna]

I am going down the laptop path also.
did you end up finding anything good??

will let you know if I find anything interesting in my search!!

David

[wozapinin]

seems the oziexplorer is the go. Will take the UBD maps for around cities and country towns as well as 4wd trek maps. Check this site;

Official OziExplorer Web Site - GPS Mapping Software for Tracking and Navigation. Supports Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance and GPS (http://www.oziexplorer.com/)

:D

[setsuna]

yeah seems like its the mose flexable.
though the interface looks somewhat.. dated.
I also wouldn't mind testing out OZTopo. seems to be quite good also.

my GPS should be in later this week, so hopefully can get testing!!

David

[incisor]

if you hunt around there is a thing called freedrive that will do talking street navigation. works well tho hard to find all the bits of sofware you to get it running..

[wozapinin]

here's a site i found looking for freedrive, from the same mob. This was originally road runner but due to obvious copyrite changed it to ride runner;

CarPC & Car Infotainment Solutions, with GPS Navigator, In-Car Entertainment and Driving Utilities that will make your driving experience unique (http://www.nisuautomotive.com/index.html)

I'm far from CP savy so a bit tecnological for this black duck. Looks like a download to turn your laptop into a "carputer" as they call it. Might try it and see if i can work it out.:D

[wozapinin]

here's another site with simple, free, gps;
BSGPS (http://www.bettersoftware.co.uk/BSGPS/bsgps.aspx)

[timaus13]

OK Folks I am currently running an Old Idirect from Repco Gps with sensis maps for everyday around Tasmania.

To follow and track my progress in a live as it is happening way I am using an old Aspire 5710G laptop with only 1 meg ram and Ozi Explorer software and Hema maps in conjunction with a Garmin GPSMAp60.

I connect an external GPS arial to the gps and conect to the laptop using usb.

I use Google MV to download small Maps of the areas I intend to visit and so far all is working well.

I use Ozi Explorer in live view so I can C exactly were I am at all times.

Loving it. :-)

Gadgets AKA Tim

[HangOver]

FWIW I use OziExplorer when off road and garmin for PC when on road using my car-pc thingy and touchscreen in the rangie.

For day to day use I get a PDA through work so I use OzExplorer and Garmin on that too.
I couldn't not have GPS.

[rapserv]

I'm using a 10"HP notebook with garmin gps and oziexplorer using the Hema 4wd maps.. works well.
I have also installed a 7" gps system into the dash which also includes radio, dvd player, digital tv and bluetooth phone connection. I have always been a die hard user of tomtom for turn by turn voice navigation but since installing this unit into the dash I have been using iGo (iGo8 actually).... terrific program .. can't see myself going back to tomtom.
...dave

[rapserv]

for anyone who may be interested heres a pic of the in-dash gps.
fun job trying to install a 2x din height unit into a 1.5 din height bay :(

[Rokkitt]

Hi,

Cool a thread I can add too...:) Carputers - now thats something I got quite into, amazing what can be done.
Freedrive is an app that allows you to run "Destinator" - yet another GPS app, as most of if not all of the main stream apps are designed to run on WinCE; Freedrive allows the use of these GPS apps on a "proper" Windows computer (I ran Destinator - not sure about others) - this in turn works in conjunction with other software such as "Centrafuse" to give an easy to use front end with a huge amount of possibilities.
Centrafuse | A Whole New Way (http://www.centrafuse.com/CentrafuseAuto.aspx)
Sorry gettin carried away - back to the original post; laptops are an excellent solution, you can have more than one software package for town and country, store all the maps you need and then take it inside at the end of the day and upload your track info...:)
Note: just had a look at the Centrafuse site and it has all changed quite a bit but there are lots of alternative packages available - some for free.
Rokkitt

[Stewie]

for anyone who may be interested heres a pic of the in-dash gps.
fun job trying to install a 2x din height unit into a 1.5 din height bay :(

Nice work. Is that a complete head unit (like seen at http://cgi.ebay.com.au/1025A-EONON-7-LCD-IN-DASH-TV-MONITOR-CAR-GPS-NAVI-DVD_W0QQitemZ400107159689QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Car _Parts_Accessories?hash=item5d283ec089) or is it just the screen?

I'm toying up with which way to go with a carputer .....:-
Complete double din head unit (like the one above)
Laptop
or one of these that another AULRO member has recommended.
DealExtreme: $101.17 5.0" LCD 372MHz CPU Windows CE 5.0 Bluetooth + GPS Navigator w/FM Transmitter + 2GB Maps SD (http://dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.23569)

Your thoughts?

regards Stewie.