Easy & Cheap way into GPS

Submitted: Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 10:42

ThreadID: 90263 Views:3593 Replies:7 FollowUps:4

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Laptops & Netbooks

This article will explain what you'll need in order to use your laptop as a navigation device. We discuss how the different components work together,

Siringo

GPS wow, what another kettle of fish.

I'm trying to work out the easiest and cheapest way to get some form of GPS device.

I'll elaborate a bit more. When I say easiest, I'm looking for equipment and software that I don't need a training course on, to work out how to use.

Cheapest, I don't want to spend $700 on a setup and find I only use it once every 3 years.

This is what I was thinking may be a good way for me to go and would like other peoples opinions.

I have a few old laptops lying around which I can easily use to run Oziexplorer or Memory Map. I was then thinking of purchasing one of those USB GPS receivers.

Now what I'm not sure of is, are those USB receivers any good? Is Oziexplorer as hard to work out, use and understand as I've read and is Memory Map easier to use but expensive?

I also want to use Westprint and Hema maps.

To be honest I think the thing I want to do the least is spend hours trying to learn how to use a software package, I just don't have the patience.

I also have a Samsung Galaxy SII which has a GPS receiver in it, but I don't know how reliable that would be in the middle of the Simpson.

I also like the idea of being tracked, so if I discover 'the' track, it'll be saved and I can call it back up later on.

Thanks for any advice and help.

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Reply By: Member - Craig F (WA) - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 10:58

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 10:58

I have found Ozi explore very good, I have it on my laptop and tablet for the car. I bought my Ozi package from the Explore oz shop inc the GPS reciever. As for the software yes you need to install it and set up. Also the deeper you look the more you can do. Price wise I think its great.
Buying a pre-set package is great easy to get up and going and sits easier in the car.... but you pay for it. Same as any software associated product the more you look into it the more you can do. If you have little patience you would probable be better off with a plug and play.
To maximise the potential eg. waypoints tracks, pre set routes all take effort.
Maybee setting up your Galaxy with an app may be a good way to see how far you want to go and if you will use it?

Regards
Craig

AnswerID: 470807

Reply By: Penchy - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 17:59

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 17:59

If you dont think you will use it more than once every 3 years get a cheap one. Have a think about how often you go out that you need one. You should buy things on neccessity rather than, "everyone else has one, I'll get one too!". I am told Oziexplorer is good also, I'm told VMS is good. Its a bit like, "what the best set of tyres to use?" ten people will give 10 different answers. If your going into the simpson than paper maps and a handheld GPS is the way I would go. Cheap and easy to use. But the people with more dollars than sense will tell you, you need that latest in dash top of the line HEMA GPS. Download "my tracks" from the android market for your Samsung, I use it and it goes alright.

AnswerID: 470826

Reply By: mikehzz - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 18:35

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 18:35

Mate you just need Androzic on the Galaxy SII. It's free and a few people I know swear by it, liken it to Ozi. It won't cost you much to try that one. :-) Most of the phone ones these days allow you to load the maps onto them so that you don't use data. Mike

AnswerID: 470829

Follow Up By: get outmore - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 19:30

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 19:30

Yep its what I use but also if he has an android phone he wont need a gps mouse

all you do is down load a GPS over blue tooth app and the phone will turn into a GPS mouse and runn ozi via blue tooth on the computer

FollowupID: 745338

Reply By: Siringo - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 20:50

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 20:50

Thank you all for your replies. I spent some time looking at hand held GPS's on eBay today and the cheapest are around $130.00

Track Ranger's on special for $99 and one of those USB GPS's is $60, so I could set myself up with PC based GPS solution for not alot more than a cheap handheld GPS.

I do like paper maps and I'm not convinced that a PC based solution is eactly what I need.

What's a good brand and model handheld GPS??

AnswerID: 470839

Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 22:00

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 22:00

why dont you have a look at the gpsaustralia forum , very good site for what your asking ,
cheers nick

Cheers Nick

Member
My Profile My Blog My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 745358

Follow Up By: get outmore - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 22:45

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 22:45

spend the extra $30 on Ozi not saying its better -wouldnt have a clue but you can swap maps tracks and waypoints with your mates then - it wouldnt be too much of an exaduration to say everyone has ozi

FollowupID: 745370

Follow Up By: mikehzz - Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 23:33

Thursday, Nov 24, 2011 at 23:33

Why do you want to spend money when you already have everything you need? I only use the iphone and ipad now, my normal gps and bluetooth gps mouse are just gathering dust somewhere. :-)

FollowupID: 745372

Reply By: Begaboy - Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 11:04

Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 11:04

I have one of the cheap gps receivers from ebay with the little built in solar panel , never missed a beat - and as long as you have bluetooth connection on your computer - its very simple for them to handshake/ connect, finds sate-lights in a very short time

would recommend this way of GPS ( that is laptop - and wireless gps receiver ) over speciality gps that sits on your dashboard

AnswerID: 470893

Reply By: Stevesub1 - Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 15:31

Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 15:31

I know that Garmin is a good brand but my personal experience says otherwise.

My first Garmin was a eTrek Visita, good handheld but lasted about 6 or 7 years, then died - not too bad.

The second is in my wifes car, no problems other than getting the lifetime maps update working, major problem on Garmins side that took hours of tech support and eventually sent back to Garmin to get it done.

The 3rd Garmin in my car would not aquire satellites when it was 2 months old. It was replaced eventually my a refurbished unit that out of the box gave incorrect positions but is OK now (I hope) after reloading the software. Also lifetime update hassles but they were sorted my Garmion tech support - another Garmin problem, not mine.

The 4th Garmin is my nephews and was replaced under warranty with a new one after 3 months. (Different store policy to where I got my one from).

I have also tried Viewranger on my iPad and Nokia phone and it seems to be OK.

I have done some desert travel and a lot of boating and always found that the cheap handheld GPS with paper maps/charts were all I needed, but then I am old school, not like the youngies that do not even know what a chart is let alone read one.

Stevesub

AnswerID: 470914

Reply By: Siringo - Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 16:12

Friday, Nov 25, 2011 at 16:12

Thanks everyone for the help.

I've spent time reading and looking and I think I'll get myself a handheld GPS and good paper maps. The more technology you take away with you the more complicated life can get and I can use a map as soon as I open it.

I just want something that will give me some co-ords should I break down in the middle of nowhere.

The money I save I might put towards an HF radio or should I get a Sat phone?? Uggghh, another question to answer.

Thanks again.

AnswerID: 470921