Laptop GPS Sensor

If you're interested in rolling your own with GPS, there are a lot of GPS modules available, some for less than $15 (that's without a case). Look at eBay, and on Tinde. Most speak the NMEA protocol, with some supporting more advanced and compact binary protocols (that still amount to spitting out position/velocity fixes periodically).

It's not the GPS data, but what you do with it -- that simple matter of software... That's where the fun starts!

You might hint as to what you want to do -- we might be able to provide you with more specific leads/hints.

Not sure what I want to do with it. Just thought for a few $$ it might be a nice addition to my NetBook.

From your post I gather that it is not going to act like a nuvi. Is there a site to go to that would show me what to expect? Am I going to get a track similar to my unit, with streets, turn instructions, etc?

TIA

There are even gps modules available for arduino boards which could make for interesting electronics projects.
http://www.adafruit.com/products/1272

That device is like having the nuvi hardware without any of the nuvi software. It provides a stream of gps data to your laptop, you'll need some software to make use of it. For example, Delorme Street Atlas is a mapping program for a pc that can make your laptop work somewhat like a giant nuvi if you have a GPS 18x attached.

I had to look up the Garmin the OP is asking about.
At about $ 80.00 at GPS city it is a ridicolous price.

Years ago I used what is called a USB GPS mouse. I used it with a chart program on my laptop for navigation on water. That is what I used then a GPS mouse. All it is is a GPS receiver and works with many programs on a laptop, such as Microsoft Streets & Trips.

On eBay for under $ 30.00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-mouse-U-blox-Microchip-USB-GPS-Rec...

Think of it as the cable box attached to a TV. It doesn't do anything but receive signals from one source and make them available to another device so you can see what's been received. All the puck does is receive the radio signal from the satellites and convert it to a digital signal that can be used by another device.

I got it now. My next question to myself is? Why bother? If I didn't have a nuvi, then this might and only might be an alternative, though not a good one when you have to buy the software, too. Entry level nuvi's cost less than the combo, and then I wouldn't have all the help that I get here ...

I have seen Delorme set few years ago. It was mounted in RV using laptop with maps that come as set with this GPS. Connection through USB (if I remember correctly).

Nice thing about it was big screen (15" laptop) and planning route was much easier than on dedicated GPS. And that was about all on plus side.

Negatives:
- you need a laptop.
- you need mount for laptop near driver seat - so practically good for truck or RV not passenger cars;
- if laptop has shiny glass screen reflections will make screen unreadable;
- in some states you can get ticket for having running computer in drivers view area (same as TV);
- you should buy laptop with SSD drive as regular drives are not keen of shaking and vibrations during driving. SSD cost way more than old HDD;
- you will need power supply for laptop that works from 12V outlet or converter that makes 120V for regular power supply;
- you need a way to easily take whole system down and hide when you are leaving car.

In short after one longer trip with laptop in his RV this guy never used this system again but bought dedicated GPS, even if back then it was more expensive than Delorme set.

you can get Delorme for 49.95 that includes GPS Receiver & software. The software includes a Phone directory. It works great with a laptop because if you use a earpiece & microphone you can hear the directions & ask it questions, like where am I, next turn, next stop, etc. Also you can use as many via's to make sure where you want to go along the route. The web site is http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?sect.... One other thing that's very important to me I put it in the back seat so I can't look at it because when I look at I tend to go in that direction, but with being able to talk to it I can get the info in my ear.

A number of years back, both Delorme and Microsoft Streets and Trips offered a bundle package of their software and a USB GPS receiver. I bought the equivalent of this package: http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtdItemDetail.jsp?ite... at the time and thought it was wonderful. The big laptop screen let me arrange the display with a Nuvi-like zoomed in turn by turn display on the left half of the screen, and a zoomed-out area map on the right side of the screen.

The downside was it had to sit on the passenger seat, and almost needed a copilot to operate it while I was driving. With a cellular air-card attached, I had real-time data and web searches, too. That was my first foray into automotive GPS navigation and it was great on road trips where I could have my wife drive and I ran the computer. For a $50 or $60 package price for GPS receiver and the software, it was really affordable.

I eventually bought a Nuvi and now use a smartphone for live data. If you're interested in playing with a netbook/laptop solution, your best bet is to look at the bundle packages from Delorme or Microsoft.

This type of unit is a sensor designed to be used with a laptop or other computer running some type of software. The company I worked for installed them in their fleet vehicles to keep track of employees. They were wired to an on board computer which had no driver interface.

If you are planning to use the 18X PC (serial) or USB versions, make sure the device and software you plan to use it with will accept data in the proprietary Garmin format. Only the 18X LCV (bare wire) model provides output in both Garmin and standard NMEA 0183 formats. The 18X LVC must be hard wired to a connector or directly to the receiving device.

In the late 1990’s, before the introduction of vehicle mounted GPS receivers, I used a Garmin GPS V handheld with DeLorme’s Street Atlas mapping software running on a laptop in my van. The GPS V had an output that fed raw satellite data similar to the way the 18X works. I replaced the cumbersome rig when the Nuvi’s became popular and used it mainly for marine use after that.

In general, the stand-alone devices from companies like Garmin and TomTom are probably better choice for on-road use, especially if your usage model can take real advantage of the traffic feeds they offer - and the laptop can definitely present some space issues in many cases.

On the other hand, MS Streets & Trips and DeLorme Street Atlas offer a few advantages that may make them a worthwhile option - again depending upon your personal usage model. For example, I like to do advance planning for a cross-country trip using Streets and Trips, and then use my TomTom when actually on the road. For my routine daily driving, I find that the TomTom is a better choice than a laptop.

- Tom -

Streets & Trips had a package deal also I believe, but have no idea the price nowadays. S&T also gives voice commands when routing.