GPS Dongle

[Moses]

To The All Knowing

I have just seen a set using a GPS dongle and a net book and was quite impressed especially with the maps,due to advanced years I have lost my piece of paper with all the details and did not think to take photographs.
The map software was topographical and I suspect an 'in house' system.

Still it was interesting, does anyoneout there have any ideas on the best dongle and software, presently have a Zumo 660 fitted to the BMW but would like to take something diferent to the outfit just for evening planning over a few beers,not for the on road general use.(though did see a toughbook mounted on an armstrong at the dragon this year)

many thanks moses

 

[leedude03]

you may want to have a browse on this site for a bit more info, http://www.laptopgpsworld.com/software from what i have read it appears that with the influx of modern phones and gps devices there are less and less types of product for this application. hope this helps.

 

[Tomcat]

There are potentially loads of options depending on just what you want to achieve. For example, I use an Android mobile phone and tablet and have 'View Ranger' and 'OS Ordnance Survey' apps installed. With Viewranger you have the choice of several map types, including OS at 1:25k and 1:50k and you buy 'tiles' for a few pence each which are then stored on your phone or tablet for offline use. Most phones and tablets have GPS chips built in, so with Viewranger you have a GPS that uses OS mapping - brilliant! The OS app is slightly different insofar as a small subscription gives you online access to all 1:25K and 1:50K maps and you have the option to download sections to your phone or tablet for offline use. With both apps you have online access to OS maps on your Windows PC (probably also on Macs).

The phone and/or tablet option also gives you a choice of multiple other navigation apps, some of which use Open Street Maps (OSM) and cost little to purchase countries or whole continents. My favourite is called 'Scout' by Skobbler GmbH and I've used it in hire vehicles or as a pedestrian in multiple countries inc Morocco and Indochina. The maps are stored offline on your device so you don't need an internet connection.

For planning in Basecamp (or whatever) when on the move I use an old Dell 10" Netbook but I'm planning to replace it with an inexpensive Windows 10 laptop (something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014D84...lid=1TNFZY33YUTOY&coliid=I1IKKCTKRR77BX&psc=1). The netbook is small enough to easily fit in a pannier or topbox without taking much more space than a couple of T-shirts. You'll need to add a mouse for route planning - trying to use a trackpad will ruin your evening....

 

[leedude03]

Tomcat a quick question will the software (maps) you mention work with a any gps dongle that you would use in say a netbook or laptop. just asking as i may be interested in a product like this.

 

[Moses]

Hi Tomcat,

I have a Dell notebook that is looking on becoming surplus to requirements in the near future and plan to use that,which dongle do you use. The one I saw was obviously made 'in house' or heavily modified.
many thanks for the prompt reply and the information.

moses

 

[Tomcat]

TBH, I don't use a GPS dongle with the netbook, I just use it for browsing maps or planning routes. The phone and tablet that I've got both have GPS built-in (most seem to these days) so these are the devices I use for satnav navigation.

 

[leedude03]

Gotchya, so the map software may or may not work with a dongle on a netbook or a laptop. i will have to do a bit of research and see.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

To The All Knowing

I have just seen a set using a GPS dongle and a net book and was quite impressed especially with the maps,due to advanced years I have lost my piece of paper with all the details and did not think to take photographs.
The map software was topographical and I suspect an 'in house' system.

Still it was interesting, does anyoneout there have any ideas on the best dongle and software, presently have a Zumo 660 fitted to the BMW but would like to take something diferent to the outfit just for evening planning over a few beers,not for the on road general use.(though did see a toughbook mounted on an armstrong at the dragon this year)

many thanks moses

Help me out a bit with this !

You have a Zummo 660 which is a GPS device no dongle required.

You wish to be able to route plan on an evening over a beer or 2

I assume that whilst partaking in the beer or 2 you will be fairly static

Why not just use a laptop or I pad ( other tablets are available) with the internet connection in your digs with basecamp which you will have installed on the said lap top

I really do not see why a GPS dongle is required but could be missing something

 

[leedude03]

I think the only thing you are missing is, that if you are somewhere that you dont know where somewhere is (Not very likely unless in the middle of a massive open expanse like a desert or ocean) presuming you dont have a map or gps device or phone, then a gps dongle and a netbook or laptop would do the trick providing there is software available to access the dongle, and this i am as yet unsure of.

 

[RedRick Esq.]

I think the only thing you are missing is, that if you are somewhere that you dont know where somewhere is (Not very likely unless in the middle of a massive open expanse like a desert or ocean) presuming you dont have a map or gps device or phone, then a gps dongle and a netbook or laptop would do the trick providing there is software available to access the dongle, and this i am as yet unsure of.

I can see that but most s/ waitrose etc have internet access these days

Seriously if a lap top is connected to the web it is in effect a GPS device so i cannot see any reason to need a GPS dongle unless as you say you are in the middle of nowhere

 

[Schtum]

then a gps dongle and a netbook or laptop would do the trick providing there is software available to access the dongle, and this i am as yet unsure of.

In the days before I had a Streetpilot III, we navigated across France and to the South of Spain in the car, using a laptop and Microsoft Autoroute which is capable of using an NMEA signal. In fact, there's a Microsoft USB mouse especially for the purpose. I've got on somewhere....

 

[leedude03]

I can see that but most s/ waitrose etc have internet access these days

Seriously if a lap top is connected to the web it is in effect a GPS device so i cannot see any reason to need a GPS dongle unless as you say you are in the middle of nowhere

You are of course correct, and i agree, but the the op asked the question.

 

[leedude03]

In the days before I had a Streetpilot III, we navigated across France and to the South of Spain in the car, using a laptop and Microsoft Autoroute which is capable of using an NMEA signal. In fact, there's a Microsoft USB mouse especially for the purpose. I've got on somewhere....

You are correct with reference to a downloadable mapping product that will work on a laptop/netbook using a gps dongle, thank you for that. but as with all things microsoft, they seem to have ended the product (Farewell to Microsoft Autoroute - Discontinued in 2015) so unless the op would be happy using what will become outdated maps he will have to look elsewhere. Having said that, in the only scenario i could see this being used in nowerdays, i dont think the location of roads or macdonalds will alter much in the middle of an ocean or deep in an amazon rain forrest,

 

[Schtum]

You are correct with reference to a downloadable mapping product that will work on a laptop/netbook using a gps dongle, thank you for that. but as with all things microsoft, they seem to have ended the product (Farewell to Microsoft Autoroute - Discontinued in 2015) so unless the op would be happy using what will become outdated maps he will have to look elsewhere.

It depends where he is in the world. In the less developed parts, roads don't change nearly so often as they do in the overcrowded parts. However, there are several other options - Memory Map, OziExplorer or Route Buddy which is also available, if you're sensible enough to use a Mac.

 

[leedude03]

not much use for the op and his dell notebook, but I think your autoroute alternative is a good bet for him, as it will do exactly what he was asking for.

 

[Tomcat]

Found a GPS dongle

Years ago I used a GPS dongle from Haicom. It plugged into a compact flash port on a laptop (and on one of those HP personal organiser thingies that were popular at the time) although I can't remember the software that I used. Haicom though are still in business and make a variety of GPS dongles including one that plugs into a USB port. From what I recall, the dongle outputs a stream of location data in NMEA format, which is a non-proprietary standard that was (is still?) used by a variety of software packages.

http://www.haicom.com.tw/GPS_Receivers/HI-204IIIUSB/Product.aspx

I don't have any suggestions though for software...

 

[JoeBiff]

NMEA data transfer is still in use.

BUT .....

Strangest thread - and request - I've ever heard on this forum.