USB GPS mouse

Submitted: Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 01:30
ThreadID: 67097 Views:4493 Replies:10 FollowUps:7
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I am considering getting one of these but know little about them
other than what I have read in sales pitch....I guess that answers most of my questions other than

What brand / models do people find most reliable?

I notice with one of them (BU-353) is stated the Datum default is WGS84 as the new Natmap 2008 are GDA94. do these have the ability to be changed in their software?

Are they stable with VISTA?

Thanks in advance
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Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:17

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:17
Graeme,

I had lots of problems with a Bluetooth GPS attached to my laptop and it buggered a trip for me. So I went down to GPS Oz and bought two USB "mice" in case of future failure.

It just sits on the dashboard and performs faultlessly. I still have the backup though, as relatively cheap back up.

Give them a ring and they will sell you a good one. You can get them on eBay a bit cheaper, but at GPS Oz, you can be assured of getting a good brand.

Mine is called a BU-353.

Willie.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:45

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:45
you can get one in the EO Shop, pretty competitively priced, I got mine here on special.
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:46

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:46
I mean a globalsat BU-353 like Willie mentions above
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Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:37

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:37
A USB Mouse should suit your needs very well.
I have one I use with the Laptop when using it in place of the PDA.
There is nothing that should go wrong with them unless you have problems with USB port configuration on your laptop.

You could also consider a Bluetooth mouse.
I use a GlobalSat BT-338 bluetooth mouse and it works faultlessly.
The only "problem" here is that you need bluetooth on the laptop for it to synchronise with.

The only problem I ever had was trying to use a USB/Com port adaptor for my older Laptop and serial port GPSS mouse, which gave me nothing but grief. I ditched it and bought a GPSS mouse.

Don't concern yourself with the Datum default. WGS84 and GDA94 give the same results in accuracy and are interchangeable.

Bill

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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:40

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:40
Bloody spell check added an extra S on to GPS.
That's a new one:-)

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Reply By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:47

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 07:47
Hi Graeme
I went through the same process a number of months ago. The problem then was that I had a Garmin GPS mouse, but would take a very long time (sometimes up to a couple minutes) to acquire a signal and start moving maps on Ozi.
The main reason that I like the GPS mouse type receivers, is I also track down confluences, which means, disconnecting the GPS connected to the laptop, no big deal, but wanted something quicker.
Asked similar questions here on EO and the vote was the BU 353.
You can not go past this little beauty, works a tread and will acquire a fix in seconds.
As for Datum's, the unit is a receivers and Ozi will work on what you set it up for.

Like many satisfied customers, I purchased mine from GPS Oz, there service is second to none, in the post in Sydney and received in country SA less that 24 hours later.

From what you are asking, I think that you will be getting overwhelming praise for the BU 353, you will be more than very satisfied.

Cheers

Stephen
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 08:11

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 08:11
"the Datum default is WGS84 as the new Natmap 2008 are GDA94."

- the difference between them is a metre or two.

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Reply By: Zebra400 - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 08:44

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 08:44
What software are you running with it? As the GPS mpuse has no adjustable settings, all data will be WGS84 as that is the format that the satelites send to the GPS.

You say you are using Natmap 2008, but what software are you running to operate the map as moving map.

I run 2 GPS mouse. One is a BU 353 and the other is a Haicom as I need a serial connection for one of my operations. Both work extremely well from sitting on the Cruiser dash. They certainly give me better coverage than my old reliable Garmin GPS2+ with external antenna.

Laurie
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Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 10:09

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 10:09
I use the BU353; just wish I had found it earlier than I did, would have saved me a lot of stress and heart ache. It works perfectly. I tried a number of different ones before the BU353... wish I hadn't. I can laugh about it now though... lol. (:
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Reply By: toyotabits.com - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:21

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:21
G'day, I run a Globalsat GPS Datalogger DG-100 as a usb mouse as well it transfers your breadcrumbs to google maps & others with a facility to press a button when you are at a place of interest which will also transfer to your maps, really a great instrument, check it out on google, regards, aussiedingo
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Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:29

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:29
I have a NCS-Navi GPS Datalogger + Bluetooth. It has no display so it's tiny.

The big advantage is that it can run by itself to record your travels using its internal battery. At the end of the day you connect it to the PC and download your track. This way you continuous logging, even if you turn your GPS off.
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Follow Up By: Member - Stephen L (Clare SA) - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 13:24

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 13:24
Hi Mike,
When you set the unit up to record your trek file, are you able to select the record data set up, or is it standard from the box. Why I am asking this, as I have Ozi and my Hand help GPS to record data at 30m intervals.

Cheers

Stephen
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Reply By: toyotabits.com - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:42

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 11:42
G'day Mike, mine does the same it's on from the moment you switch it on, works well with vista, dingo
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:48

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:48
hey toyotabits, if you click on the followup button below your post then your followup comments like this one is attached to your reply.
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Reply By: Mrbrush - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 13:05

Reply By: Rossc0 - Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 13:21

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 13:21
You may also want to consider one of these:

http://www.expansys.com.au/p.aspx?i=142537

If you have no need to move the gps between vehicles these are ideal.

Exactly the same as a BU353.

I have one of these on the F100 but it has permanently mounted PC as well.

Use BU353 in other vehicles and as a spare just in case in F100.

Cheers
Ross
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Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Thoughtfully- Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:50

Monday, Mar 23, 2009 at 17:50
rossco you're making me cry mate a 4x4 XY falcon is one of my life long dreams
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