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USB GPS device for laptop

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John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/31/2008 : 22:31:17

I came across this thing after installing my Maptech chartbook companion CD and "Offshore Navigaotr Lite". Why would I want to spend $400++ for a GPS system when I can spend $100 and plug this into my laptop?

Anybody have any experience with these things?

http://www.maptech.com/accessories/usbgps/index.cfm

John Russell
1999 C250 SR/WK #410
Bay Village, Ohio
Sailing Lake Erie
Don't Postpone Joy!

Edited by - John Russell on 03/31/2008 22:31:44

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 22:56:52

One of my clients is developing software for a PC where you monitor gps enabled cellphones. That device should have no problems assuming the antenna is not blocked from rx'ing a signal. (I know, it already exists, but there's more than one baker baking bread.)

We're looking for an excuse to get a new laptop, this adds to the equation.
Let's see. 2009 TV Signals will be all Digital = New portable TV/DVD player, 2009 our GPS will be 4 years old = New GPS for the cabin, Satalite Internet service (with stable platform) ... I can see our new solar panel being stretched here to power a new laptop!

Cool.

Paul

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 22:58:43

I use a bluetooth gps receiver so it is not tethered to the computer; the gps antenna needs a clear view of the sky. You can get them for about the same price. The downside of a computer vs dedicated marine gps plotter is screen visibility in sunlight (and a variety useful features, depending on model). The computer is very useful below decks; I use mine for watching movies, internet access, record keeping, et cetera in addition to its primary navigation function. In the cockpit, I have an Etrex Legend that I can connect via usb to my laptop if I choose and it provides a visual display that is clearly visible in sunlight if I have trouble with my Garmin PDA. The pda can access most garmin map products providing much more information than the Etrex, and it is fairly good in sunlight.

Where does the chart plotter come into play? On a friend's power boat! I have enough gps devices, but I love the Garmin 760C. It is very bright and very easy to use in addition to providing a wealth of useful information and easily accessed functions.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 23:01:09

Is this what you're talking about Dave?

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=WHT-BT-5&cat=GPS&cpc=GPSbsc

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 03/31/2008 : 23:44:59

You want the GPS chartplotter so you can have it at the helm during the pouring rain. I rely on my Garmin GPS498 and can not imagine a laptop substituting for it. Laptop is great for trip planning but not for actual use while at the helm, in my opinion.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 00:13:13

Mine is actually branded Palm, I got it with a previous Palm pda and TomTom mapping software. There are a number of brands, and I imagine that they all work fine, but that is a very good price.

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 08:45:22

I have a Garmin handheld GPS, and use a Garmin PC Interface Cable to connect to my laptop.

I use the laptop for trip planning and for larger images - if I'm in the cockpit and its raining or dark, I've got the GPS in my hand.

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 08:58:34

Big fan! On my C25 we had a small old laptop sitting on a swivel pedestal such that I could keep it down below or swing it around to view from the cockpit. Yes, we had a dodger to protect it mostly and then after 3 or 4 years it did pack it in. But the laptop was a leftover from my company and didn't cost me a dime. Most hand held GPS units now come with the serial port or USB port plug so that you can use them for this purpose. A fellow cruiser gave us Tsunami - a world wide chart kit - really cool.

I spoke with the president of Maptech a couple of years ago when I got my Sprint PDA Phone crackBerry combo, and they were beta testing pda software wired in with a bluetooth GPS unit back then. Now that has to be way cool. Think about it, on a C25 in a storm watching weather on one screen - surfing the web, and watching your position on another.

That being said, we have two color plotters on SV Lysistrata. One 10.5 incher that we got from a fellow on Ebay that sells factory refurbed units, and a 5 incher made by Magellan that has Charts from the Chesepeake to Maine, but that's it, they no longer support the Marine world... It's for sale...

Anyway, back to computers onboard. For years I toyed with making some sort of Nav Station on my C25. Just a board on hinges that dropped down to hold charts, dividers, etc. and a laptop plotting. We had a tiller pilot, so I would go down below and plot a course and then use the remote to adjust course and then I could see the adjustment on screen and then I would go back up top. On a sunny day, or a rainy day, it was the same. Laptops aren't bright enough like plotters for viewing in direct sunlight...

Unless you are in dense fog in a narrow channel, a plotter in the cockpit isn't a necessity. Ah, but a tiller pilot is if you want to use a 'puter down below.

Sten

DPO C25 #3220 "Zephyr", SR, FK
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - St. Augustine FL

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 09:12:42

I've been thinking that I'd like to have a fishfinder for those dark, rainy nights rather than a chartplotter. My reasoning is that the fishfinder will show the actual bottom contours where the chartplotter only shows the soundings that were made who knows how long ago. I can buy a fishfinder and this nifty little gps thing and still not spend as much as a chartplotter.

Is this flawed logic?

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 09:42:01

Now, if someone makes a USB fishfinder that could be input to software on a laptop with bluetooth GPS, ooooooh!

Laptop + software = GPS, Autopilot, Fishfinder, TV, DVD player, Stereo, Internet.

We could trawl while staying on course while below (add a webcam on the bow) watch the view, Watch a DVD while tuned into Weather TV, change coarse, and watch them bite all while staying dry

Nearly forgot: Add system monitor software and view the electical data, speed, depth, wind etc. Way cool!

Paul

Edited by - britinusa on 04/01/2008 09:42:57

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 10:12:02

Has someone spent a little too much time in the cyberworld??????

Edited by - on

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 11:35:09

For what it is worth(which isn't much) I am planning on buying a GPS receiver for my laptop as well. I have the NOAA charts and the SeaClear 2 software that I bought for $12.

With a GPS, it will plot my boats position directly on the NOAA chart. I have been looking for some kind of display that will work better in sunlight that I can connect to the computers VGA or S video port. What I would really like is a flat panel, weatherproof that I can mount next to my depthfinder(currently non functioning) on the cockpit bulkhead. I don't think they are of the utmost quality but I have seen GPS recievers on Ebay for quite cheap.

Edited by - on

KenDavis
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 12:58:29

I've thought about a laptop as a ships computer. I would run Sea Clear II
and add an AIS receiver to show all commercial traffic

for a laptop I want something like that "one laptop perchild" thing.
it is waterproof, runs on a flash drive so has very low power consumption.
search on XO laptop.

ebay has them for around $300, the receivers are about $200-300

Edited by - on

SCnewbie
Navigator

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166 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 13:02:38

That is pretty cool. Do you know how well it would run Seaclear?

Edited by - on

KenDavis
1st Mate

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USA
69 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 17:01:47

good question. I believe the XO is running a version of LINUX.
Any linux experts care to chime in?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 04/01/2008 : 20:47:30

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 Think about it, on a C25 in a storm watching weather on one screen - surfing the web, and watching your position on another.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I can almost do all you mentioned. With my GPSMAP 378 I have a GPS Chartplotter with XM Satelitte Weather so I can watch the weather and my position while listening to XM Radio. If I add the Sonar option I could see what was going on beneath the waves.

I can use my laptop to surf the web although if I was in a storm I'd probably be surfing the waves instead of the web.

Edited by - on

ilnadi
Captain

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452 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2008 : 07:51:06

if you have not done so, check out [url="http://gpsinformation.net/"]these guys[/url]. They have good info and I have not to date found them to have any hidden agenda. They do review USB GPS receivers.

If you ARE going to use a laptop, you need the GPS antenna to be away from the laptop (most of them have their main clock frequency in the middle of the GPS band). Whether it is the antenna or the receiver that is moved does not matter. This is on top of any effort to give the antenna blue-sky access.

For a 25-foot boat, I'd have a hard time giving up my hand-held. As Paul said, eventually one seems to converge on a laptop with enough digital technologies coming on board (do everything ok, don't do anything too well). When you do not need the best of any one thing but want everything, get a laptop with accessories.

BTW, the XO Laptops is a charity (at least I think so, please do not dash my dreams about the basic goodness of humanity)

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2008 : 12:28:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by John Russell
 I've been thinking that I'd like to have a fishfinder for those dark, rainy nights rather than a chartplotter. My reasoning is that the fishfinder will show the actual bottom contours where the chartplotter only shows the soundings that were made who knows how long ago. I can buy a fishfinder and this nifty little gps thing and still not spend as much as a chartplotter.

Is this flawed logic?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">John... The flaw might be in your expectations. A fishfinder doesn't exactly show "contours"--it shows a constantly scrolling graph of the depths that it measures over time--sorta like a temperature plot. If your boat is moving at a similar constant speed, the graph represents a fairly accurate plot of the contour that has passed under you, but not what's coming or what's off to either side. Most of them will also give you an idea of the hardness of the bottom, although that's subject to interpretation. They'll also show you the water temp.

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2008 : 13:20:34

So, what you're saying is that I'd be able to discern a gradually rising bottom but that big rock I see on the display would only explain the loud bang I just heard? The transduce can't be mounted in some kind of forward looking configuration?

Edited by - John Russell on 04/03/2008 13:21:49

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2008 : 14:13:11

Not if you want accurate depths. (The angle will just make everything "deeper".) You're looking for a commercial scanning sonar.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/03/2008 14:14:12

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2008 : 14:53:58

There are non-commercial price, performance, and quality models of dual sensor down and forward fish finders, but caveats like scrolling speed et al still apply.

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johnsonp
Admiral

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USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 04/03/2008 : 23:26:04

These pictures were taken in direct sunlight.

Just finished installing a monitior on the pedistal.
The computer is below at the nav station.
I use Navman GPS Bluetooth.

Have a lot of choices of what I want to display.

Some menu selections.

I'm waiting for a Raymarine SeaTalk cable and interface board to complete the job.
The main advantage to me is I do not have to ware glasses to read the screen and everything is recorded on the Laptop and I can have a updated ETA for the Queen.

Having the speaker turned on loud and monitor at the helm, my brother won't run the boat into a wingwall.
My backup is ASUS R2H and the chart book.

paulj

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2008 : 08:54:00

Sweet, Paul... Touch screen?

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/04/2008 08:54:38

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 04/04/2008 : 14:34:58

Really cool. Wonder how I could attach all that to my tiller? I'm guessing the cost total comes pretty close to the cost of my boat.

Edited by - on

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