Competition GPS Equipment

Post by **G60MAN** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:27 am

HI All,

Was wondering what GPS equipment people are running in there competition rigs as I am interested in getting involved in events like Navruns and the Outback Challenge.

Thanks
James

Post by **Luxy** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:31 am

This weekend will be my 2nd navrun I have competed in and loving it!

Im using a laptop with Ozi Explorer on it with a usb mouse gps from ebay and it works great.

I have also bought a handheld Etrex Legend too for when im out of the car, just waiting for delivery.... hopefully it gets here before the weekend!

Post by **Ruffy** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:02 pm

lap top with ozi explorer is popular

If you don't already have a lappy then PM navrun off here. Rudi will do you a good deal on a lappy or talk him about his 'in car' set up if you want it solely for navigation work.
If you want a GPS go the magellan FX324 Color. Hobzee off here is the man to talk to for one of them.

If you want to learn to navigate and enjoy navigation then go the GPS unit. If you want to follow the sheep and can't be bothered with the navigation and want the device to do all the work for you then go a computer!..

And if you want to get involved with navrun's then either PM navrun, hobzee or even myself and you'll get steered in the right direction. Get into it, you'll have a blast... What are you doing this weekend???????? Navrun in big river, you up for a drive? http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... hp?t=79147

Cheers. Good luck

Post by **GQ4.8coilcab** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:00 pm

Ruffy wrote: If you want a GPS go the magellan FX324 Color. Hobzee off here is the man to talk to for one of them.

I thought the FX series is extinct?

Post by **G60MAN** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 4:18 pm

I have friends that use there laptops. But i dont want to trash a laptop. And i already have a PDA running OZIexplorer but it has only a 3.5" screen. Is there anything out there that is a bit better. How does this sound.

7" GPS Navigation System
CPU: Samsung S3C2410A,266MHz
MEM: 64MB NANDFlash ROM,64MB SDSAM
SCREEN: 7” TFT LCD Panel, 800*480
SOUND: 1W
GPS
Communication point : COM1,4800 baud
Center frequency: 1575.42MHz
Secongary planet: 12 channels
DIMENSIONS(mm): 188W*114L*35H
WEIGHT: 453g
Software: Windows CE
Price $599

Seeya

Post by **GQ4.8coilcab** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:14 pm

G60MAN wrote:I have friends that use there laptops. But i dont want to trash a laptop. And i already have a PDA running OZIexplorer but it has only a 3.5" screen. Is there anything out there that is a bit better. How does this sound.

7" GPS Navigation System
CPU: Samsung S3C2410A,266MHz
MEM: 64MB NANDFlash ROM,64MB SDSAM
SCREEN: 7” TFT LCD Panel, 800*480
SOUND: 1W
GPS
Communication point : COM1,4800 baud
Center frequency: 1575.42MHz
Secongary planet: 12 channels
DIMENSIONS(mm): 188W*114L*35H
WEIGHT: 453g
Software: Windows CE
Price $599

Seeya

Can you run other software then the stuff that is provided. If so, sounds pretty good, much cheaper then getting one of those 12v CPU's and then a screen.

Post by **G60MAN** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 5:22 pm

It just seems to be and oversized PDA. From whati have been told it does not come with either bluetooth or WiFi but if you can run it on Windows CE 4.2 then ican't see why not....

Seeya

Post by **Pinball** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 7:08 pm

i'd check the comms options for loading up software and maps
whats it do on power loss?
Touch screen?... or require mouse/keyboard?
Don't forget Win CE is not Pocket PC 2000, so compatability with incoming PDA stuff will be an issue.

I'm guessing Ebay somewhere in the world?

Spock

Post by **G60MAN** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 10:18 pm

You use Microsoft ActiveSync to connect via USB cable and has SD slot.
OziexplorerCE version is compatible with Windows CE 4.2
I have not seen this on ebay.
I have a friend in the import business and this was offered to him from supplier.

Seeya

Post by **ROCKMUTT** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 6:35 pm

im also looking for a gps for navruns etc

i have a laptop what do i need o set this up and get it running
whats this (Ozi Explorer everyone talks about)

also anyone got pictures of how they mount laptops in there cars ?

Post by **84ZOOKSTA** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:00 pm

I run the full version of Ozi-explorer in my Sierra,

I am using a laptop with a 8Inch Touch Screen.

Cheers
Simon.

Post by **ROCKMUTT** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:12 pm

is ur laptop inside the glove box?

also i take it ozi explorer is the software does it cover offroad situations and where abouts can it be obtained from?

Post by **84ZOOKSTA** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:23 pm

The laptop is mounted behind the front passenger seat.

Ozi explorer is pretty much just an operating system, you can just load any maps in to it that you like.
In the Pic i have melway 2005 on it but when i go out bush i just click on the "find better map for this location" tab and it searches the folder with all the maps in it and loads it for me.

It can be bought just off the internet.

Simon.

Post by **MjWatt** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:10 pm

I have OziExplorer, but just looking for Australia maps... any ideas?

Post by **ausyota** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:29 pm

MjWatt wrote:I have OziExplorer, but just looking for Australia maps... any ideas?

http://www.exploroz.com/Shop/DisplayIte ... &ClassID=6

Post by **MjWatt** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:32 pm

anyone got the Etrex Legend working with OziExplorer...

Ive got it working with EasyGPS (no realtime). Im jsut about to order the maps from the above link, but i just need to make sure that I can get real time from my laptop hooked into my Etrex Legend with OziExploer.

Post by **84ZOOKSTA** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 9:35 pm

I own an Etrex (the yellow one) and i was using it with Ozi explorer before i got the roof mounted Mouse style one and it worked fine, but since the etrex does not have an external antenna you do need to give it a clear view of the sky.

Cheers
Simon

Post by **festy** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 10:31 pm

MjWatt wrote:I have OziExplorer, but just looking for Australia maps... any ideas?

you can download free topo maps from http://www.gpsaustralia.net/

Post by **MQSWBUTE** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 1:16 am

Im using a laptop with Ozi Explorer on it with a usb mouse gps from ebay and it works great

simple terms on seting this up

buy a cheap laptop (2nd hand)

buy a NMEA gps reciever with usb

install the ozi program
install in the gps reciver driver (cd you get with ya reciever)
u can use your laptop
or u can also buy a lsc touch screen which plugs into ur lappy and u use a pen on the touch screen in stead of the mouse

we put this setup into a patrol it cost $200 for the laptop $100 for the gps receiver
and about $150 for a 400w inverter to run the lappy off it the reason why we use a inverter and not the 12v power supple is for power spike reasons

buy the gear set it up if you need maps speak to rudi he can set you up with most maps that u would need

rudi is a top bloke he knows his stuff

if you want anymore info from me the way i have our setup or anything about maps pm me or rudi

cheers
justin

Post by **GQ4.8coilcab** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 8:06 am

bit off the topic, I have some maps that are not on CD yet, how do you scan them on use them in ozi explorer??

Post by **stuee** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:41 am

84ZOOKSTA wrote:I run the full version of Ozi-explorer in my Sierra,

I am using a laptop with a 8Inch Touch Screen.

Cheers
Simon.

How do you find the touch screen handles offroad driving (ie vibrations dust etc). Thinking of doing a similar thing in my car but was looking at the lilliput screens. Where did you source yours from?

Post by **dogbreath_48** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 10:51 am

MjWatt wrote:anyone got the Etrex Legend working with OziExplorer...

Ive got it working with EasyGPS (no realtime). Im jsut about to order the maps from the above link, but i just need to make sure that I can get real time from my laptop hooked into my Etrex Legend with OziExploer.

My legend works with Ozi. You need to change the data mode on the GPS is all (no biggie).

Post by **festy** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 11:48 am

No need to change the interface protocol on a legend - Ozi can do moving map with the Garmin protocol.
in the COM configuration tab, tick the box 'Use PVT instead of NMEA for Garmin'. That way you won't have to keep swapping protocols when transferring waypoints and tracks to and from the GPS.

Post by **84ZOOKSTA** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:20 pm

I have made a extra bracket for the touch screen as the plastic one that comes with it is piss weak.

The screen had been in there for 6 months now and has no signs of fatigue and seems to be holding up well.

I got the screen off ebay.

Cheers
Simon..

Post by **dogbreath_48** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 4:59 pm

I know the minimum system requirments for Ozi. but realistically what's the minimum you'd want to be running to get a useful loading time for the big image files?

Post by **nicbeer** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 6:05 pm

dogbreath_48 wrote:I know the minimum system requirments for Ozi. but realistically what's the minimum you'd want to be running to get a useful loading time for the big image files?

I am running ozi on a P2 233 laptop with 64mb ram. runs ok, i have a 2gb image that i run on there.

Nic

Post by **Nev62** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:35 pm

GQ4.8coilcab wrote:bit off the topic, I have some maps that are not on CD yet, how do you scan them on use them in ozi explorer??

I scan topo maps. Once done all you have to do is click on file and then load and caliberate map image. Then use the ozf plugin to transfer it to a PDA (if your using one).

Post by **Drafty** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:36 pm

You said possibly an OBC, you will find that most of the above gear would not survive the conditions. Keep it simple FX34 of similar. For Navruns the above will be fine.

Post by **The Fish** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:36 pm

As Joe said laptops etc. are not ideal for the OBC. I don't think they would stand up to the conditions entcountered in the OBC. Also mapping software wouldn't be very helpful as all the nav stages are held on private property with little or no tracks.

As far as GPS's go the Magellan FX324 is a fairly common proven choice and now Garmin is producing something to rival them.

The 2006 and 2010 in either grey scale or colour. I used a 2010 grey scale GPS at this years OBC and found it to be incredible and after the last nav stage of the week I was still learning extra functions on it.

I would highly recommend the 2006 or 2010 but definately try and find the extra coin for the colour versions.

Cheers

Post by **Pinball** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:40 pm

G60MAN wrote:You use Microsoft ActiveSync to connect via USB cable and has SD slot.
OziexplorerCE version is compatible with Windows CE 4.2
I have not seen this on ebay.
I have a friend in the import business and this was offered to him from supplier.

Seeya

i'd be damn tempted then, my 7" unit is 5k retail, probably a bit more upmarket, but for the purpose i don't think you'd notice and on ce4.2 you get a bit better range of software/hardware compatabilities.

Spock

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