GPS - mouse or CF card GPS

a CF card is for the hand helds like ipacs etc. You can use a GPS mouse. Most are USB and if you have a modern laptop with USB ports then it will be fine. You can also use a GPS and get a data cable to suit. If you don't plan on using the GPS on it's own standalone then go the mouse as it is cheaper!!

Leroy

Even using the iPaq I prefer to use an alternative to a CF GPS.

I use a 2 Gig CF Card in my iPaq for storing maps and use a bluetooth GPS.

If your laptop is bluetooth capable I'd go with a bluetooth GPS "mouse" in preference to all others. Mine (Haicom) will run for about 15 hours without needing a charge and charges off a cig lighter plug or mains.

Dave

Hi Sharyn M,

Dependiong on what (how old??) your laptop is!

If you are running Win98 try to avoid a USB mouse. Get a serial version!
(while people are having much success with Win98 and USB (devices) they are not the best match!
(Better still...now would be a good excuse to upgrade to WinXP!)

If you have a modern lappy, (and hence WinXP) then a GPS 'mouse' wouldbe your best option!

I would use a CF GPS, for the reason already mentioned...reception!

the better option would be a Bluetooth GPS (only if you use WinXP!)

wireless, and generally better... something like the "Globalsat BT338" is a very good chipset GPS, and possibly one of the best!??
....will keep you happy for much longer than a generic mouse GPS!

Anyone that complains of handheld GPS sattelite lock troubles can only be using a Garmin!

If I could take a (easy to see in one shot) photo of my Meridian, squeezed between my PC monitor and tower, bookshelf containing all the other peripherals... printers, routers, cable modem....cables (what a mess!) all the windows have heavy drapes, and only give about a 5degree view of the sky to the south, nothing to the north (lot of walls!) and 2 degrees to the west (between the fence, house next door and the roof) and 1 degree to the east that's totally obscured by the PC tower emitting all kinds of EMF????

6 out of 11 sats... tracking 5 at full noise, 1 is on and off at about 1/3rd maximum!
The external antenna(mounted on the window sill) will hike that up to 8-9 sats at full bore!

:))

Morning all,

Thankyou for your informative suggestions, it has given me a better idea of where I should start. (laptop is 8 months old by the way) Lucky for me member John R was kind enough to drop around this morning and give me a demonstration of his setup. After some discussion have decided to go with the "mouse" to begin with, being the cheaper option, then I can educate myself and upgrade later if need be.

Regards,
Sharyn.