GPS

I bet you get the answer....ozie explorer
dont know my self really but its my guess thats what everyone ....well almost everyone will sayWow! am I cute
Richard

If you have, or get, blue tooth (wireless protocol) on your machine, have a look at what EMTEC and similar have just released. It is a small stand alone GPS receiver (no screen) that can be left in the glove box (on the dash is better). It will transmit the gps info via bluetooth to your laptop or PDA, no cables. There are quite a few companies starting to release these, search on 'wireless gps' in google or similar. I haven't personally seen one, but they sound great.

Hi Mrs Al(Lyn),

I am but a novice with these things but have installed Oziexplorer software after purchasing it from Exploroz. I am still learning the ropes and do not use the software to its fullest capability but it is an excellent program. I have married it to my Magellan 330 GPS and they get on well together. If fact sometimes I look for co-ordinates on a map within Oziexplorer and then drive till I find the right co-ordinates on my GPS and find my position that way. The younger ones brain is the better equipped it is for these modern day toys:-)
Cheers, Willem
Never a dull moment

How do you want to use it ?

If you are running a moving map software product like Oziexplorer or Fugawi (which both use scanned maps) on your PC then I would buy the cheapest, reliable, basic GPSr that has a data and power port.

You need to think about where you will mount the laptop and the GPSr, how you will power them and visibility of the displays underway.

Laptops are not always the easiet to mount and many people are running OziExplorerCE on a Pocket PC.

While Bluetooth GPSr sound great (no cables) they also usually have a battery life of less than 6 hours.

GPSozis a good source for power and data cables.

Hi Mrs Al,

I just use a Garmin Etrex Venture with OziExplorer for my laptop and OziExplorerCE on my recently received Pocket PC. I have all the power cables and data cables now and find the performance much better on the PDA as I had no issues in communicating between the PDA and the GPS. Performance is great, and if you want to go down that path, all you need is a basic and cheap GPS as you will then have all the required functionality with your pc or PDA. Using it with both the Hema Desert Tracks and Raster 250K maps I love it.

I am certainly still learning the OziExplorer functionality, but that is part of the fun. Just learnt how to set up routes, and now my PDA talks to me and tells me when to turn etc. It is great !Just Do It!

Go with a benefon Esc they rock :D....

Lyn, if you don't already have a laptop there are some cheaper (and better) alternatives that have been discussed before (check archives). Can give details if interested.

Bob

Hi Mrs Al,

I've just been through this process recently as well.

First I bought a Garmin eMap - This is an easy to use mapping GPS - Base map is fine for 95% of navigation needs but detail is scarce to non-existant off the beaten track... A Garmin mount with stick on Velcro to mount it on the dash mat and we're away :-) 8/10 for functionality and ease of use. Total cost about $650

Being a technology junkie, I couldn't resist the idea of moving maps on the laptop - Bought OziExplorer software for the laptop, Natmap 250k raster maps for the whole of OZ and a combined RS232/power cable for the Garmin. Great software, reasonable maps and no more hassels with batteries in the GPS. Trying to use the laptop for navigation while moving not worth the hassel though - the novelty wears off pretty quickly once the passanger refuses to sit it on their lap. Quickly gave up on the moving map idea with the laptop...

The next step was to go the whole hog and get OziexplorerCE running on an iPaq on the dashboard. finally got this up and running including a blutooth connection to the laptop as each map is 7-10MB once converted for CE so you don't fit very many on a 64 Mb RAM CARD. The extra detail on the maps
9over the GPS base map) is useful on odd occasions, but the display is harder to read at a glance and the controls are much fiddlier to use. 8.5/10 for functionality. iPaq, OziExplorer + OziCE + NATMAPS + Cables + Null Modem +64 MB SD RAM card cost about $1450 all up (on top of GPS)

My advice? Buy a mapping GPS and skip the whole OziExplorer moving map thing. It will give you 90% of the functionality at about 30% of the cost. You can put it in your pocket and take it hiking, canoeing skiing or whatever as well.

If you want to archive your trips, create new waypoints and routes etc by all means get OziExplorer and the Natmap maps, but the moving map features are overrated in my opinion...

Cheers,
Pete

Hi Mrs Al:
Just my .02 cents worth.
I have a *very* basic setup, using a Magellan 310 (cheap and nasty) which simply tells me where I am .. no base maps etc. I have it coupled to an old Toshiba lap top, and using OziExplore software can do most things.
I use it for 4WD touring, which means I am either on (or near) marked tracks and I can mark where I have been. But I agree with Pete, that moving map technology is "fun" but a bit over-rated. As I regularly travel alone, I can't sit there staring at a moving screen all the time, but it helps me check my location when I decide to stop. I still use paper maps, mainly because I have them already. I can scan them if I want to use them on the computer.
So ..
Magellan 310 - $200 off Ebay
Data Cable - $15 off Ebay
OziExplore Software - $130
Natmap Maps - $99
Safe travels
Jack

G'Day FoN,

Might pay to hold off on any decisions until September. GPS enabled mobile phones are coming. See http://www.three.com.au/index.cfm?section=Explore&pid=451&pageid=486&sid=857
for details.

Maybe a late birthday present for Saturday, Al?"Live today as if there may be no tomorrow"

Wombat