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pnz999 · Jul 24, 2003, 12:28 PM

USB GPS for Laptop

I am looking for a USB-enable GPS system that I can hook up onto my laptop (PBG4 12) like Deluo Navigation Kit: USB GPS (www.deluo.com) or the DeLorme USB Earthmate (www.delorme.com)

I was just wondering if any of you guys have any good or bad experience with these GPS's or with other brands?

or what you recommendation for the best USB GPS for my Mac Laptop?

or whats a good websites to read about GPS system reviews?

I want to use it for roadtrips around the USA. That I can hook up this device, and easily navigate for location and direction
for cetrain places...(ie tourist attraction()

According to Deluo, its GPS supports Mac OS X, but I dont know if its any good?

I just want to know if other Mac users have been succesfully hooking up thier Laptop with a USB-enabled GPS or they have major problems with certain (brands of GPS) or driver problems.

macrophyllum · Jul 24, 2003, 03:13 PM

I don't have any advice but I would be very interested to here what you find out.

cenutrio · Jul 24, 2003, 04:14 PM

i also want to know, as far as I remember there was no GPS system compatible with OS X (at least a year ago).

Thanks and good luck

skybolt · Jul 28, 2003, 02:21 PM

I, too am wondering this. Also, is there mapping software that will work natively with OSX? We prefer Delorme, but they no longer support macs, so looking for something similar. Any good suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Xeo · Jul 28, 2003, 02:34 PM

Well, we have a whole thread of people who are interested but no one with experience. I'm also interested. It's strange because earlier today I decided to look up more information about GPS systems and find something compatible for OS X. I found this framework which looks like someone's efforts to allow other applications to take advantage of GPS systems. It's just a matter of some mapping software to integrate support for this framework.

suthercd · 02:55 PM

I have tried the DeLorme solution and have met with disaster. I purchased a GPS "Mac compatible" receiver from them.I was not able to get it recognized by my G3 bronze, and after a couple levels of tech support at DeLorme, I was sent a different serial cable. I had been through this before with some external modems and was familiar with the routine. When it arrived, I hooked everything together and ...nope, no go. Again tech support and a person who said they were very puzzled by this. No suggestions, we had already confirmed the port was open and not taken by the internal modem. Another call to tech and I asked the person if he had a Mac close by to work through this porblem with me and this time I was told their product did not work with Macs. Trying not to sputter or worse I then said I would return the unit. They told me I could not.

When I moved to a Ti G4, I asked DeLorme again, thinking with USB there might be a better path to connectivity even though OS X was flaky with USB devices early on. I called them and asked about Mac compatability and was told they do not support the Mac.

Recently, I have seen ads suggesting they do. I bet sales is saying on think and tech another. I live in Kansas City and Garmin receivers are produced in a suburb. They have done well in the stock market and have made a couple of acquisitions recently. I plan to contact them about what products they have that are compatible. Gypsy made software for OS 9, but I don't know if they moved to OS X. They are maccentric and had receivers they reccomended.

Street Atlas was a great product and I still use a vintage version. Its a shame that they have no interest in the Mac market.

Just looked for my old registration number and found-www.gpsy.com

Craig

dfiler · Jul 28, 2003, 03:17 PM

I too am greatly interested... more info please.

<almost off topic speculation>
I've always thought that GPS integration will be the killer feature that brings PDAs out of the gadget-weenie domain and into mass cultural adoption/integration.

In the mean time, I think GPS equiped laptops would also be immensely useful to the average consumer. Location aware applications and web-pages will revolutionize info-reference tasks and how we are notified of potentially useful information.
</almost off topic speculation>

Diggory Laycock · Jul 28, 2003, 09:01 PM

I've just gone into gadget overload and bought a GPS receiver - by a company called TomTom.

It's an interesting device - it's tiny (sort of looks like a minature spectacles case) and communicates by Bluetooth. (which is cool because I can use it with my WideBook 17" and my Sony Ericsson P800).

Apparently it shares the same GPS chipset as the Socket Bluetooth GPS device.

the Bluetooth range on it isn't as good as my other Bluetooth devices however - the antenna is probably too deep inside.

It only does basic NMEA and there's no support for waypoints, tracks etc. on the device - you have to do all that on the client (which is no big deal for me.)

piccies for scale:

http://www.monkeyfood.com/thestuff/f...TomTomTop2.jpg

http://www.monkeyfood.com/thestuff/f.../TomTomTop.jpg

http://www.monkeyfood.com/thestuff/f...TomTomSide.jpg

P800 screenies:

http://www.monkeyfood.com/thestuff/f...800GPSTrip.jpg

http://www.monkeyfood.com/thestuff/f...P800GPSMap.jpg

As far as mac software goes - i'm just getting into it - so I haven't invested in any of the shareware GPS apps (GPSy only runs in classic which won't work with my receiver anyway.)

there appears to be a free(?) pretty basic app here:

http://homepage.mac.com/etmr/GPS/index.html

except it's mostly in Japanese - which is interesting (reminded me of Eug's Signature.)

Diggory Laycock · Jul 28, 2003, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by Xeo:

I found this framework which looks like someone's efforts to allow other applications to take advantage of GPS systems. It's just a matter of some mapping software to integrate support for this framework.

Cool and Damn at the same time - I have been whipping up something similar all weekend!

Oh well - I suppose I should have been more thorough with my research before leaping in.

RoofusPennymore · Jul 28, 2003, 10:26 PM

There are several apps that work with OSX including MacGPS Pro and TruNav. And any seral or some of the newer USB and bluetooth recievers should works with them.

Also National Geographic is working on Topo for OSX. This is the one I'm waiting for. Beta test reports shows that its coming along nicely.

littlegreenspud · Jul 29, 2003, 12:40 PM

I have linked up a Garmin eTrax via a Keyspan USB PDA adapter to my TiBook and it works with Route 66.

I have also tried a piece of software called Flightpath (I think) that shows you a 3d representation of your route downloaded from the GPS.

wynn · Aug 8, 2003, 03:16 PM

My experience with gps is limited, but I thought I would share...

I want a piece of software that will allow me to map a trip. Something like the nav systems in cars. I want something like M$ Streets and Trips, or Street Atlas 2003 on PC. That is what I'm looking for.

So I have a mac, a tibook 1ghz running os 10.2.6 and os 9.2.2. This is how I currently have gps working:

Software: Delorme Street Atlas 6 for mac classic. Delorme's last product made for macs. Because it's made for os 9, I have to reboot and launch in os 9.2.2. I haven't been able to get it to run in classic mode. If anyone knows how to do this, please let me know: wynn@tuningwerks.com

GPS: The yellow Earthmate that came with it. I attach it to my tibook with a keyspan serial to usb adapter. No problems, other than it's slow to pick up a satellite connection. Because it was slow, I tried a Garmin 35-PC and it works much better. Faster startups.

Does it work? Yep. Does it work well? Yes actually. But I don't like having to reboot into 9.

I'm trying to find a copy of Route 66 USA version, but I can't seem to locate anywhere to purchase it.

I'll post with updates...

KeyLimePi · Aug 8, 2003, 03:45 PM

I love love love love love my Delorme Earthmate GPS receiver. It is the single reason why I still own my clamshell iBook and will not buy a new 12" Powerbook. As wynn pointed out, Delorme's StreetAtlas only runs in OS9, although for me it does run pretty well in Classic..but with a few problems. For that reason I will always own a portable that boots into OS9.

I would pay big money for an OSX-native GPS solution like StreetAtlas. My fantasy is that Delorme will suddenly port a copy for X, but I don't see that happening. Meanwhile, did you see this petition for OS X GPS support? I have little faith in web petitions, but I signed it.

wynn · Aug 8, 2003, 03:57 PM

KeyLimePi: When you run Street Atlas in classic, how are you dealing with program data? Do you use the data cd? I made an image of the cd with the built-in OSX disk utility and whenever I need to run SA, I just mount the disk. However, this doesn't seem to work when I'm in classic.

Any suggestions?

wynn · Aug 8, 2003, 04:08 PM

Update: software works running in classic.

Now, I just need to make sure that the receiver works in classic as well. Will test tonight.

climber · Aug 9, 2003, 01:14 AM

The TOPO software over at National Geographic is supposed to have an OSX version this summer.

That will allow the use of USGS quad maps on a mac. Currnetly they have sets for most states.

raymondyc · Aug 16, 2003, 08:59 PM

I have the Deluo GPS unit with my 12" PB. Their drive is written by a company called Prolific. I had no luck with the supplied driver. I had to downloaded another driver from Prolific and this allows me to select the usb GPS mouse as a serial device. I configure it as a comm 1 port in VPC 6 with XP and running Routis. This setup runs really well on my machine. Those wanting to use GPS guiding software and not mind using VPC can consider this option. The link for the driver from Prolific is:

http://tech.prolific.com.tw/visitor/v_fileBrw.asp

search for the PL2303 usb to serial controler under usb 1.1

milhouse · Aug 17, 2003, 04:42 PM

I'm surprised that no one mentioned this.

cheers

murk · Aug 17, 2003, 11:14 PM

Here's a link to a Delorme Street Atlas petition, too. Route 66 is unavailable for the US, but a new version is supposed to be coming. Street Atlas Petition

rlmorel · Aug 18, 2003, 09:53 PM

I thought this was an interesting article, but it seems to deal with the card type and not USB...but if you have a card slot, this might work. It sounds like the card is "unsupported", but works...

http://www.macitynet.it/macprof/arch...aicomcfe.shtml

Hope this helps...

RoofusPennymore · Aug 19, 2003, 06:40 AM

I was looking for someone in the US that sold them. Only found european dist via google.

wynn · Aug 19, 2003, 12:00 PM

Does anyone know where I can purchase Route 66 USA? 2001-2002.

Thanks!

murk · Aug 19, 2003, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by wynn:
Does anyone know where I can purchase Route 66 USA? 2001-2002.

Thanks!

According to the linked article, you can still purchase it from the publisher, but it does not show up on their site. They are promising a 2004 edition soon.http://www.macitynet.it/macprof/arch...aicomcfe.shtml

wynn · Aug 19, 2003, 12:29 PM

Hey Murk, happy Tuesday. Yeah, I saw that as well, and I even found the product page on the site. However, no one from the company has answered any of my emails and I'm too cheap to call the netherlands.

I was hoping to find a US distributor, but no luck. Here's the product page:

http://www.66.com/route66/news.php?cid=US

Rayming GPS · Sep 25, 2003, 05:12 PM

Hello pnz999,
I can personally say that the Rayming TripNav TN-200 unit does function perfectly on the MAC platform. {http://<a href="http://www.rayming.c...ayming.com</a>}

In fact here are some Leads: Re:USB-GPS mouse not suported on Mac??

http://macslash.org/article.pl?sid=02/07/25/0252229

Check this out first before going with delorme
http://www.truenav.com/faq.html

good luck.
gps guy

Originally posted by pnz999:
USB GPS for Laptop

I am looking for a USB-enable GPS system that I can hook up onto my laptop (PBG4 12) like Deluo Navigation Kit: USB GPS (www.deluo.com) or the DeLorme USB Earthmate (www.delorme.com)

I was just wondering if any of you guys have any good or bad experience with these GPS's or with other brands?

or what you recommendation for the best USB GPS for my Mac Laptop?

or whats a good websites to read about GPS system reviews?

I want to use it for roadtrips around the USA. That I can hook up this device, and easily navigate for location and direction
for cetrain places...(ie tourist attraction()

According to Deluo, its GPS supports Mac OS X, but I dont know if its any good?

I just want to know if other Mac users have been succesfully hooking up thier Laptop with a USB-enabled GPS or they have major problems with certain (brands of GPS) or driver problems.