PC Software and GPS recommendations

[f5fstop]

I have that 60csx and I agree, it pulls in signals every where and fast. That new SiRF III chip is amazing. Did you get the new software update 2.90 and the new WAAS software update 2.60; free on the Garmin site?

[ree]

FYI, I just contacted Delorme about bluetooth and usb and found out the following tidbits:

- the LT-20 (part of the bundle posted above) does not have a bluetooth adapter and that their BlueLogger is the only bluetooth choice right now.
- the BlueLogger does not support USB
- if you want an external antenna, you have to use the BlueLogger receiver
- the newer receivers are all NMEA compliant so they should work with other vendors' software if that software talks NMEA
- the delorme mapping software should work with any NMEA 0183 2.0 or higher receiver

So it sounds like you need to go all bluetooth or all USB if you want to use one of their bundles.

But, according to their sales guy statements (above) it should be possible to use the Delorme software with the Garmin 60CSx. If this actually works, I'd spend the extra money to get the better receiver and cope with the extra wires somehow.

Any chance you can verify their claims that the 6.0 Delorme software will work with the Garmin for realtime navigation????

Thanks.

[Fubar]

contact rodster he's got a pretty cool windows tablet setup running gps software. It's great to see gps info on a 8x11 screen.

The Garmin 60cs is a great handheld.

[ree]

Originally Posted by Fubar

contact rodster he's got a pretty cool windows tablet setup running gps software. It's great to see gps info on a 8x11 screen.

The Garmin 60cs is a great handheld.

I will. He went inactive on the forums just after the great Mojave Road fiasco. I'll see if he responds to PMs on either the new or old site.

[JetEyeNite]

GPS Unit:
I currently have a Holux GPSlim 236 bluetooth GPS unit under my dash board. I also ran an external antenna from the roof of my car down to under my dash board and connected it to the GPS unit. The external antenna is functioning great. I do get some signal w/o the antenna but it does disconnect from time to time.

Before this unit, I used to have a Globat Sat bluetooth unit but this one is not as good as the Holux unit. This unit had some problem finding signals from time to time. Holus is rock solid.

Software:
I used to use TeleType software. Now I use Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006.
Things I liked about TeleType over MS SNT:
1) Auto Reroute if you miss your turn
2) Estimated time of arrival is displayed

Things I like about MS SNT over TeleType
1) Does not crash like TeleType
2) Better human voice J
3) Looks better ? J

[evldave]

Originally Posted by f5fstop

I have that 60csx and I agree, it pulls in signals every where and fast. That new SiRF III chip is amazing. Did you get the new software update 2.90 and the new WAAS software update 2.60; free on the Garmin site?

No, but I will now!

[Andy C]

I use Garmin City Navigator in the car and Garmin Blue Charts on the boat - they are both excellent - I think.

I use a Garmin 276c Plus - I have never lost the signal on it, even going through the only tunnel in Florida - granted it is only about 50 yards long.

City Navigator seems to be pretty comprehensive and does the auto rerouting thing well - I think most Garmins can be connected to a PC - I used to use an Etrex in my old H2 linked to a laptop.

I wish that I had waited for the 376c though - it is equipped with XM radio and live weather radar feed that you can overlay on the base map - great for on the boat.

The thing I like the most about the 276 is that you load all the base maps onto a memory card - so I keep City Navigator on one card and Blue Charts on another - I just swap the cards out when I move from the truck to the boat.

[ree]

The Garmin 276/376 units are nice. I saw the latter one with the weather radar recently and it's pretty cool.

I'm however, avoiding these dedicated nav units since they don't make a lot of sense to me financially. These are ~850-900. I'm already planning to mount a UMPC tablet PC. I'll probably put about $1200 into one of these and have a general purpose computer at my disposal that I want to use for media, web access when on the go, picture storage and navigation. I figure if I put another $300-500 into GPS receiver+antenna and good mapping software, I've got a lot more feature for the money. Sure I won't beable to get the XM-fed radar, but that's not a dealbreaker for me.

BTW, damn you H2 Rocks (and Mike Morris too) for awakening my gadget bug and convincing me I need to do this GPS/mapping thing