GPS systems for laptops

[Wild_Beast]

hi ppls,
just wondering what systems you's are running for laptop gps setups, i.e what software with what hardware? or are there packages about that a re best to stick with?
im pretty up with computers and gps ( marine) but i havnt had anything to do with vehicle set ups. my olds have one of those annoying voiced sat nav systems in there car and frankly cannot stand the stupid things. what are they like are they maps / directions , etc can u get topographical maps? and also what detail are the maps. even a few links would be good to start my read up as woulnt be purchasing for few months untill i manage to get me a laptop, but i woudl like to get the best suited system to me for $ i spend.

basically i have a GU ute (as said in my sig) and im mainly looking at it for when i do a cape trip in nex year or so and also thrown in there is a trip to vic high country. basicaly is there a lot of maps, details or info u can purchase, download, or even update maps, systems for these trips? as im into pigging and shooting aslo at other times can u plot your own courses with these systems?

any help would be great as ive google searched and all i have mainly found is items for sale and not a lot of info on them, what they do and there specs. any fav brands ppl have and also any annoying traits there systems have.

Thanks
Andrew

[roverrat]

i run oziexplorer and a garmin usb gps .. can also run from my phones inbuilt gps as well ...

edit() i removed my passenger side airbag (above glovebox) and installed a frame behind the panel and two sliders where the laptop sits

Just slides out when i need it ....

[Struth]

I run an ACER Aspire One notebook with 10Gb purely for GPS. Use Ozi Explorer and a fleebay roof top GPS receiver, has not stopped working once.

I chose the solid state drive unit so that vibrations don't affect it.

You can get them with disc drives and about 30Gb if you wanted to run music, camera storage, etc. But at the end of the day 10Gb and a couple of USB sticks is heaps.

Nice and small but easy to read and would fit great in a roomy GU.

Cheers

[RWS]

Hi Andrew,
I'm just going through same process, setting up gps, mapping software and maps with my laptop, rather than trying to explain it all I've posted some links to sites and forums below that may be helpful.

http://forum.australia4wd.com/index.php?showtopic=14456
http://www.exploroz.com/OntheRoad/Navig ... sPDAs.aspx
http://www.oziexplorer.com/

Cheers
Rob

[mule75]

i run a laptop behind the driver seat with a 10" touch screen mounted on the dash using ozi explorer and a garmin gps. i use the aust government maps and also hema maps.

it works awesome and i also have a wireless keyboard and mouse stashed in the cab so if i need to type a bit it makes it heaps easier than using the touch.

can take some pics if u want.

[coxy321]

I run an ACER Aspire One notebook with 10Gb purely for GPS. Use Ozi Explorer and a fleebay roof top GPS receiver, has not stopped working once.

I chose the solid state drive unit so that vibrations don't affect it.

You can get them with disc drives and about 30Gb if you wanted to run music, camera storage, etc. But at the end of the day 10Gb and a couple of USB sticks is heaps.

Nice and small but easy to read and would fit great in a roomy GU.

Cheers

I've actually found the platter HDD's to be pretty robust (they're only 2" dia.). We have 24 at work and havent had any HDD issues yet. We just bought a replacement one (one got knocked off ) for $330 inc. GST (160GB, 9.1", 1GB RAM).

I had an IBM/Lenovo R40, eTrex receiver and Oziexplorer setup, but i think next time i'll buy a USB GPS receiver. The reason i went with the bigger laptop is so we can watch movies/music when we go bush, and it cost me nothing (plus i have 3 spare parts units at home).

[Emo]

Oziexplorer for offroad and Igo8 PC fpr onroad. Connect a bluetooth GPS receiver to the laptop.

[Wild_Beast]

Hey, thanks guys for your info, bene very helpful
just need to get my ute back on teh road ( broken tailshaft, sheared shoc mount and tray off ofr some mods and repairs after emu creek) and then ima focus on the nav gear.

once again Thnx
Andrew

[RN]

Oziexplorer for offroad and Igo8 PC fpr onroad. Connect a bluetooth GPS receiver to the laptop.

I have a 701 ASUS eee 2G. I saw a solderless touch screen upgrade with 4 port usb hub on ebay. If that would allow me to keep the functionality of the original ie web cam then I would consider the upgrade. Have to be careful that I don't turn it into a brick in the process.

I would then load XP ( currently running Linux) and then all the GPS stuff.

They are a great unit and I took it to the USA so I could keep in contact via Skype ( preloaded)

[+dj_hansen+]

Currently going down this process at the moment...

Toughbook CF-19 (thanks boss!), oziexplorer w/ all the hema maps, chasing down Igo8, have a bluetooth/usb GPS receiver, and will prob run a 7 or 8" touch screen in the dash area and place the toughbook in a cradle either up under the glove box, or in the back somewhere.

A mate of mine has one of the $250 7" units off ebay, hacked to run OziCE and bang for buck, i dont reckon you can go past it. I used it on my Simpson trip and apart from being a-little difficult to read in direct sunlight it was awesome. Just need to seek out a 4gb non sdhc card and you can run a ton of maps

[MUD80D]

Currently going down this process at the moment...

Toughbook CF-19 (thanks boss!), oziexplorer w/ all the hema maps, chasing down Igo8, have a bluetooth/usb GPS receiver, and will prob run a 7 or 8" touch screen in the dash area and place the toughbook in a cradle either up under the glove box, or in the back somewhere.

A mate of mine has one of the $250 7" units off ebay, hacked to run OziCE and bang for buck, i dont reckon you can go past it. I used it on my Simpson trip and apart from being a-little difficult to read in direct sunlight it was awesome. Just need to seek out a 4gb non sdhc card and you can run a ton of maps

I also have a tougbook CF-29 touch screen works well even better being water proof

[GU-ish]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

[KiwiBacon]

Are bluetooth GPS any good?

Mainly for the ability to work with both laptops and cellphones.

[bundyrulz]

G'day WB,

Check out Memory Map. I have used Ozi Explorer before changing to Memory Map and found it to be an all inclusive package. Purchase the map software and you get maps for the region you want and 3D world (these cost extra with Ozi). Turn it on and if gps receiver picking satellites, it is up and running.
I use a Acer Aspire 9" computer. It has 160gb HDD and have not had any probs.
I have a GU as well, PM me your email, I will send you pics of my set up. I have tried to post them here before but no luck.

Bundyrulz

[RN]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

[coxy321]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

Probably doesn't have a passenger-side airbag fitted, which would leave a nice little cavity in the dash there.

[roverrat]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

Probably doesn't have a passenger-side airbag fitted, which would leave a nice little cavity in the dash there.

it does .. thats where mine is

[bakerboy]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

Probably doesn't have a passenger-side airbag fitted, which would leave a nice little cavity in the dash there.

it does .. thats where mine is

so you removed your passangers airbag for the laptop to fit in?

if so...epic fail sir, epic fail

[jessie928]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

Probably doesn't have a passenger-side airbag fitted, which would leave a nice little cavity in the dash there.

it does .. thats where mine is

so you removed your passangers airbag for the laptop to fit in?

if so...epic fail sir, epic fail

i dont understand why its an epic fail?
you can buy the same car without the passanger airbag in anycase.

Jes

[RN]

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

Probably doesn't have a passenger-side airbag fitted, which would leave a nice little cavity in the dash there.

it does .. thats where mine is

so you removed your passangers airbag for the laptop to fit in?

if so...epic fail sir, epic fail

i dont understand why its an epic fail?
you can buy the same car without the passanger airbag in anycase.

Jes

Understand , but as the SRS airbag is a major safety feature and to delete it just sounds wrong. It would result in a defect for sure. Same goes for those who remove the padded wheel and and replace it with a sports steering wheels with little or know padding and lots of shiny / metal.

Reverse engineering.

[Struth]

G'day WB,

Check out Memory Map. I have used Ozi Explorer before changing to Memory Map and found it to be an all inclusive package. Purchase the map software and you get maps for the region you want and 3D world (these cost extra with Ozi). Turn it on and if gps receiver picking satellites, it is up and running.
I use a Acer Aspire 9" computer. It has 160gb HDD and have not had any probs.
I have a GU as well, PM me your email, I will send you pics of my set up. I have tried to post them here before but no luck.

Bundyrulz

I have looked at Memory Map, and it looks good, what advantages do you reckon it has over Ozi and how much did it cost.

Ozi only cost me $139 and you can put it on as many computers as you like.

But I am interested to know if M/Map has all the features of Ozi,

Cheers

[coxy321]

got a dell mini 9, will be running ozi explorer as soon as i get around to buying it. got a GPS recivier of ebay was about 50bux works good.

have a GU, will be making a slide for it that comes out where the airbag usually use above the glovebox.

You don't dismantle the Airbag do you???

That's a defect in the making.

Probably doesn't have a passenger-side airbag fitted, which would leave a nice little cavity in the dash there.

it does .. thats where mine is

so you removed your passangers airbag for the laptop to fit in?

if so...epic fail sir, epic fail

No, no, no. Wrong.

The car probably NEVER HAD an airbag fitted in the first place. A lot of the older and lower spec models never had passenger side air bags. So by doing this, you are just utilising an otherwise wasted space (ie. where the airbag assembly would normally be if it was actually fitted in the first place).

[fester2au]

They are not necessarily lower spec or that old. The passenger airbag in GU's , even ST's, up till at least 2004 (haven't owned a newer one) was a $2,000 option with ABS brakes so there are a significant number of GU's running around without passenger airbags and it's a common mod to remove the panel or hinge it and turn the cavity inside into a second glovebox or storage compartment.

Great place to store a laptop of course.

[coxy321]

Would it be fair to also say that the chances of a ute having airbags is also uncommon?

[fester2au]

Would it be fair to also say that the chances of a ute having airbags is also uncommon?

It would be fair..