What will it take to turn laptop into GPS?

Thraxeh · 2nd April 2007, 5:42 PM

My dad has an old laptop thats unused. So i thought maybe turn it into a car computer.

What do i need to get to have a GPS system running on a laptop ? It has USB.

djkai · 2nd April 2007, 5:54 PM

If its got a usb port than you can get a GPS receiver with a usb link which can be found on ebay for around the $100 or even cheaper if lucky and software... id prefer tom tom but i only use it on PDAs so im not 100% on that but i do know that Destinator works on PC so yeh!

If you've got bluetooth there are the same receivers with bluetooth connectivity or SDIO GPS receivers which go into a SD slot

Edit: Just make sure the lappy fits the software specs aswell!

Thraxeh · 2nd April 2007, 6:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djkai

Edit: Just make sure the lappy fits the software specs aswell!

how demanding is the software ? the laptop is 500mhz, with 256meg of ram

djkai · 2nd April 2007, 6:05 PM

Minimum System Requirements DesktopPC:

* CPU: AMD/Intel® Processor (300 MHz or faster)
* Operating System: Windows® 98/98SE/Me/NT/2000/XP
* Memory: 128 MB RAM (or more)
* Free space on hard drive for installation: minimum 500 MB
* CD-ROM: 4 x drive (or more)

Off the site itself. I wasn't expecting the specs to be much anyways seeing that it runs on handhelds aswell so looks like your in luck!

Thraxeh · 2nd April 2007, 6:15 PM

awesome, thanks for that.

I might give that ago

DionM · 3rd April 2007, 2:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thraxeh

how demanding is the software ? the laptop is 500mhz, with 256meg of ram

Should run fine.

I have used an old 500MHz/256MB/Win2k laptop to run Oziexplorer (www.oziexplorer.com) talking to a BT GPS (with a BT USB thumb in the laptop) running NatMap 1:250k Raster Maps overlaid (http://www.ga.gov.au/nmd/products/maps/raster250k/).

Worked fine! Biggest drama was holding onto the lappie as we were 4WDing. I now run OziexplorerCE with the same maps on a PDA, it affixes to the windscreen with a mount.

Note on the GA site they talk about a P4 2.0GHz for the premium maps, but I don't think you need that, as I run the premium maps on my PDA. Premium maps are just bigger files.

THELTD · 3rd April 2007, 8:16 AM

Google: "mapmonkey"

Thraxeh · 3rd April 2007, 3:47 PM

my idea is to have the laptop under one of the seats, and i'm getting a small 5" or 7" LCD in the front connected to composite out of the laptop.

Any ideas on where to find free maps if there are any ? That seems to be the main thing bringing the price of this project up.

Thraxeh · 3rd April 2007, 3:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DionM

I have used an old 500MHz/256MB/Win2k laptop to run Oziexplorer (www.oziexplorer.com) talking to a BT GPS (with a BT USB thumb in the laptop) running NatMap 1:250k Raster Maps overlaid (http://www.ga.gov.au/nmd/products/maps/raster250k/).

how much are the maps ? i cant find a price anywhere on the website.

2nd April 2007, 5:42 PM	#1
Thraxeh Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sydney Australia NSW Posts: 3,595	What will it take to turn laptop into GPS? My dad has an old laptop thats unused. So i thought maybe turn it into a car computer. What do i need to get to have a GPS system running on a laptop ? It has USB.

2nd April 2007, 5:54 PM	#2
djkai Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 45	If its got a usb port than you can get a GPS receiver with a usb link which can be found on ebay for around the $100 or even cheaper if lucky and software... id prefer tom tom but i only use it on PDAs so im not 100% on that but i do know that Destinator works on PC so yeh! If you've got bluetooth there are the same receivers with bluetooth connectivity or SDIO GPS receivers which go into a SD slot Edit: Just make sure the lappy fits the software specs aswell!

2nd April 2007, 6:05 PM	#4
djkai Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 45	Minimum System Requirements DesktopPC: * CPU: AMD/Intel® Processor (300 MHz or faster) * Operating System: Windows® 98/98SE/Me/NT/2000/XP * Memory: 128 MB RAM (or more) * Free space on hard drive for installation: minimum 500 MB * CD-ROM: 4 x drive (or more) Off the site itself. I wasn't expecting the specs to be much anyways seeing that it runs on handhelds aswell so looks like your in luck!

2nd April 2007, 6:15 PM	#5
Thraxeh Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sydney Australia NSW Posts: 3,595	awesome, thanks for that. I might give that ago

3rd April 2007, 8:16 AM	#7
THELTD Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 575	Google: "mapmonkey"

3rd April 2007, 3:47 PM	#8
Thraxeh Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sydney Australia NSW Posts: 3,595	my idea is to have the laptop under one of the seats, and i'm getting a small 5" or 7" LCD in the front connected to composite out of the laptop. Any ideas on where to find free maps if there are any ? That seems to be the main thing bringing the price of this project up.