|
'Dukes
    
Noble Donor
Gender: Male
At least someone llikes me
 |  |  | GPS Laptops in particular
< on 2/10/2004 1:05 AM >
|  | | | I'm looking at a laptop GPS system from staples. For around a hundred bucks, I get a PC card for the box, and moving map software. I'm not sure how great the map is, is it topo, e.t.c.? I believe it's by Delorme. While it will be great for work, finding general locations, how is the software? Does anyone use these systems?
Question 2: Does anyone have any feedback on handheld GPS? We like to explore alot of rural sites and it would be nice to pinpoint the location and then go look for it. Aerial photos are fine, but sometimes I think the things are shown in reverse. Example; I was looking for an Atlas missile base in the woods up here. The aerial photo shows; baseball diamond on left, lumber yard a quarter mile up, then missile grounds on the right. However, that's ass backwards from the map.
Anyways, what's your experience with a)laptop systems, i.e. how good are they and b; if you use handheld GPS, what do you think are the minimum basic features required for the unit to be useful?
I would appreciate any input. In addition to abandonments, I am also interested in old aircraft wreck sites (Corsairs, b47, misc. modern jets). In the Adirondacks, GPS coordinates would be awesome. My dad found a corsair years ago (usually resoration types will trek miles into the woods for an original rivet or guage).
And yes I searched first, so forum geeks please don't complain if you found something else.
Dukes
I got your tour winner right here pussies, at least he'd crash out trying. |
|
Mark
 
Very Noble Donor
location:
South Carolina
Gender: Male
What is a lion, king of the savannah, when hes at the south pole?
| | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 1 on 2/10/2004 1:33 AM >
| | | | Well I cant say particular for that system. I know they handle topo maps very well however. GPS systems are at best confusing for most people here. Its unlikely anyone would need them here. The basic fact is the systems are designed for long distance treks and or finding positions. However there are two positive uses. If your a hardcore maniac who likes active sites and long marches in a GPS of any type makes life lovely.
For one escape and evasion tracks would be easily ploted on a GPS allowing you to move fast without stoping to see where you are going. It is also good for operations to remote areas or complexes deep in the woods I can atest to that and may soon need it.
Many GPS systems now between 100-300 dollars has built in maping and waterproof bodys. This would allow even the thickest person to use. However the older models like mine require you to bring a map or sat image. This isnt a difficult thing just requires more brain power and some education with the devices so far.
Added: The bare basics for a GPS I would say is a waterproof design or water resistant, compass componet and your quardinates. However I have never seen one that doesnt have this. If your away from roads and walking in the woods you can get some designed for hunting and fishing that are excelent.
I will also post some info on compass techniques that make it near impossible to be loss and all you need is a pace counter a compass and a piece of paper, pen. Very easy to use.
[last edit 2/10/2004 1:37 AM by Mark - edited 1 times]
"If the threat level goes up its probably because of me." "I am looking for a girl who enjoys headbutting beltbuckles" |
|
Zern
location:
Connecticut
Gender: Male
| | | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 2 on 2/10/2004 2:58 AM >
| | | | I started out using a GPS hooked up to my laptop. While this worked very well, unless I was in my car it was too much to handle. I then gave away that GPS (but kept my laptop) and got a handheld one. I now own a Magellan SporTrak Pro. It is fairly small and not at all hard to carry around. It works decent under thick tree cover.
Some of the uses I get out of my GPS currently:
- If if out driving and see a place that I might want to check out later for explaring, I can set a marker at that position. This alows me to very easily find it again.
- I constantly use it in my car just to find out how to get somewhere or where I am. If I am looking for somewhere and just have the street name, I just punch it into the GPS and it gets me there.
- I enjoy hiking and use it quite a bit there. The topo maps are very good and decently detailed.
- Geocaching
If you have a little extra money to spend I would suggest getting a color handheld one as they are easier to read and to distinguish details. The other option is if you have a PDA (or want an excuse to get one) then you can get a GPS attachment to go with that.
Zern
|
|
'Dukes
Noble Donor
Gender: Male
At least someone llikes me
| | | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 3 on 2/10/2004 3:05 AM >
| | | | Thanks Zern, just what I was looking for.
I got your tour winner right here pussies, at least he'd crash out trying. |
|
Chainsaw
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
location:
Underground, Colorado
Gender: Male
| |  | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 4 on 2/16/2004 4:53 PM >
| | | | I've played with both hand helds and laptop GPS systems - like someone else said the laptop systems are aimed at the business traveler crowd - not the outdoorsman so your best bet would probably be a good sportsman's hand held.
I've got an old magellen hand held that doesn't do any mapping - it's all bearings and distances - which is fine for me.
I don't think you're going to find the detail on the maps provided that you really want - when the day comes when high-resolution topo or satellite maps work with a laptop or tablet pc for a reasonable price I'll be all over it.
There are some really high-end surveyor tools that will do the trick for you - get a PC running some hardcore GIS software compatible with your pcmcia gps card and you could load whatever maps you wanted! But the software starts around $5K then you need maps in the right format and such...kind of hard core and expensive for exploration but getting cheaper every day!
Quid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
|
|
Caput_58
location:
Virginia, USA
Gender: Male
| | | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 5 on 2/16/2004 8:39 PM >
| | | | I have a handheld garmin III+. It was originally a gift, and at first I thought it would be of limitted use. But I've found it an extremely fun and useful accessory on long trips, or when driving to new places. I've never actually used it in the field for UE, and remote sites aside, I can't really see any reason to.
With the addition of a laptop, its even better on the road. Get a copy of streets and trips (cheap) or topo map software (not as cheap) and its really great. Also, if you work with a laptop, there is no need for a good gps. Anything that can send NMEA data to a serial port or USB will do.
Necessary? No. Convenient and fun? Absolutely.
Check ebay, and see if you can get a handheld unit. Even if you can't afford one with a moving map (the gps III is going for about $150 now), you'll at least have the ability to take it exploring and leave way points. MS Streets&Trips costs about $40, and the delorme software is probably even cheaper.
Caput_58
|
|
Chainsaw
This member has been banned. See the banlist for more information.
location:
Underground, Colorado
Gender: Male
| | | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 6 on 2/16/2004 10:22 PM >
| | | | I found my handheld most useful for hunting down abandoned missile bases.
I knew the general location from mapquest and such - and had the lat's longs - I punched in the coords for 5 or 6 other locations enroute to one we knew for sure.
I could track how close I was to the other sites as I drove by - it helped me sort out which access roads to take and how far back from the road it was - actually quite invaluable.
Quid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.
|
|
xrahy
Noble Donor
| | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 7 on 2/23/2004 1:44 AM >
| | | | We used the DeLorme set up on a laptop on our trip to Baltimore this weekend. It was moderately useful, a few complaints...
It is very difficult to operate a mouse accurately in the backseat of a car doing 85mph. Larger onscreen buttons would be nice (might be adjustable in the setup) I found myself constantly zooming out to get general bearings and zooming in to read street names on screen.
The lag time varies, sometimes the position would be dead on based on reality, other times it needed a few seconds to catch up. Precious seconds when trying to decide which lane you need to be in on the Beltway at high speed.
As your heading changes the map can suddenly re-orient itself, sometimes drastically.
The route directions were not completely accurate, especially the endpoint.
All in all it was fun to check in with going down the highway, when there was no lag the speed indicator was very accurate and I followed our progress on screen from time to time. I'll have to give it another try on my next road trip but I'm not sure about buying one.
xrahy
|
|
Mark
Very Noble Donor
location:
South Carolina
Gender: Male
What is a lion, king of the savannah, when hes at the south pole?
| | Re: GPS Laptops in particular
<Reply # 8 on 2/23/2004 2:10 AM >
| | | | You should try to fly a airplane with bad GPS. There ok but they are slow. GPS is best for walking.
"If the threat level goes up its probably because of me." "I am looking for a girl who enjoys headbutting beltbuckles" |
|
Powered by AvBoard AvBoard version 1.5 alpha
Page Generated In: 46 ms
|
|
Ethics