GPS through laptop

[woytovich]

I ran an ancient Toshiba 320CT Portege in my 60... it's a 10.5" screen... Windows 2000... color.

Good UltraLite Laptop. - Toshiba Portege 320CT (PA1274U-T2A) PC Notebook - Epinions.com

Works just fine hooked up to a Garmin V with Topo maps and others loaded onto the HD. I built a combo cord to power the computer and GPS and also to connect the two... GPS is mounted on a custom mount up above the rearview mirror. I have a front bullbar mounted external antenna too.

(I recently got a big Lowrance unit that speaks to me... better for the road but not as helpful in the woods as the Garmin/laptop combo.

[topcat]

I use a Garmin GPS II and a fujitsu laptop with seperate screen mounted in the front, as software i use GPS trackmaker , which u can download for free on gpstm.com

It works fine during off road navigational rallies

I like it !!

[woytovich]

Did you take the screen off of the body of the laptop? If so what did you use for a cable? I was thinking I'd like to do that to my Toshiba...

Originally Posted by topcat

I use a Garmin GPS II and a fujitsu laptop with seperate screen mounted in the front, as software i use GPS trackmaker , which u can download for free on gpstm.com

It works fine during off road navigational rallies

I like it !!

[reffug]

OK previously I ran a Garmin V in my 80. However I no longer wish to do this. I want to move my GPS to my laptop for all the previously mentioned reasons however I am not up on the latest and greatest. How does one go about hooking there Garmin ant. to their laptop? I have an old I mean really old Compaq that has windows 98 but should function perfectly for a GPS application. How do you connect the ant. to just the laptop. I already have the garmin software on this laptop so thats not a problem but the connector coming from the ant. isn't going to connect to the LT and after searching on Garmins website they weren't really any help.

Any insight you fella's might have would be appreciated.

Course this is also leading me to think I should get a new laptop to have the movie, FSM, and general truck data right there at my fingertips.

[woytovich]

Originally Posted by reffug

OK previously I ran a Garmin V in my 80. However I no longer wish to do this. I want to move my GPS to my laptop for all the previously mentioned reasons however I am not up on the latest and greatest. How does one go about hooking there Garmin ant. to their laptop? I have an old I mean really old Compaq that has windows 98 but should function perfectly for a GPS application. How do you connect the ant. to just the laptop. I already have the garmin software on this laptop so thats not a problem but the connector coming from the ant. isn't going to connect to the LT and after searching on Garmins website they weren't really any help.

Any insight you fella's might have would be appreciated.

Course this is also leading me to think I should get a new laptop to have the movie, FSM, and general truck data right there at my fingertips.

You need the GPS... the software on the laptop just displays what the GPS sends it as far as current position. I "hid" the GPS up on a mount by the rearview mirror. YOu could put it anywhere: glovebox, centerconsole... you only need access to turn it on/off (I wish I could get it to turn on/off with ignition power without needing to do it manually). Antenna to GPS, GPS to laptop....

YOu need the GPS unit in the loop...

[reffug]

Originally Posted by woytovich

You need the GPS... the software on the laptop just displays what the GPS sends it as far as current position. I "hid" the GPS up on a mount by the rearview mirror. YOu could put it anywhere: glovebox, centerconsole... you only need access to turn it on/off (I wish I could get it to turn on/off with ignition power without needing to do it manually). Antenna to GPS, GPS to laptop....

YOu need the GPS unit in the loop...

thanks thats kinda what I figured but was hoping it wasn't the case. guess I'll just hide it in the glove box or center console and work something out in that area. I H8WIRES.

[woytovich]

There are other GPS units without a screen or user interface you could use BUT you already own the V... There are plenty of options if you want to spend $$$... but like me I presume that's not your goal here.

[woytovich]

Speaking of using a Garmin V in this situation... anyone have any thoughts on getting it to power on/off with ignition power? Maybe I could just leave it on all the time (direct power) and not worry about the tiny battery drain?

[Bogo]

What ports does the laptop have? There are still GPS units available that connect to serial ports, but I'd go for a USB connected one if the laptop has a USB port. That way the laptop can power the GPS. Anyways I'd just get a cheap display-less GPS for use with the laptop. Should cost less than $90 for it and a cigarette lighter power cord if needed. Save the GPS's batteries for remote use.

[reffug]

Originally Posted by woytovich

Speaking of using a Garmin V in this situation... anyone have any thoughts on getting it to power on/off with ignition power? Maybe I could just leave it on all the time (direct power) and not worry about the tiny battery drain?

In my last 80 the V was on 24/7 and never even touched the battery power.

Course I was running dual Optima Yellow Tops.

I might look into a cheap GPS with no screen if that makes hiding it easier and the cost is doable. Not sure if the V is going to be what I want in the long run especially since I want to upgrade the laptop.

[woytovich]

I wouldn't BUY a V now but if you already have one it's fine. Buying now could get you a unit that would do Topo as well ag give you highway voice prompts (That's why I bought the Lowrance... it was for sale here at a good price AND it does voice and has topo. AFAIK most of the currect GPS units like Tom Tom etc that you see advertised do not have a topo map option.... maybe the garmins?