laptop gps

[bench]

I am considering a co-pilot gps program for my laptop and a RAM floor mount which makes it accessable to both driver and passenger. Does anyone have experience with this typoe of unit vs. the small self contained gps systems. Thanks in advance

[bench]

I am considering a co-pilot gps program for my laptop and a RAM floor mount which makes it accessable to both driver and passenger. Does anyone have experience with this typoe of unit vs. the small self contained gps systems. Thanks in advance

[Nathan Focht]

I use both a portable GPS and the laptop version. The laptop method has more features for clearance, road selection, display size, etc. However, the smaller units are a lot faster to use for simply location search etc. I think I like the laptop method more simply because I can control what roads I am directed to.

[moisheh]

In our last MH I had a Jotto desk ( better than a Ram) and I tried Streets and trips with a GPS. Not very good. But I did use the laptop for a VMSPC. Awesome device that gives you all kinds of info regarding your Engine and Trans.

[Toby]

bench

I use Microsoft Street and trips with the GPS device (about $80)for the PC. I'm very satsified with the S&T information and ease of operation. While it talks to you, its not the best for voice directions but very good for visual directions and ease in planning a route with the use of waypoints. Lets you take the roads you want to take and not their choice.

I also recently bought a Lowrance 600c portable that also includes marine information. While I'm still getting use to it, it is not as friendly as the S&T program, but with a little practice, I can get it to go on the roads I want. It has excellent voice directions and the visability is excellent in broad sunlight.

So now I plan the route on the S&T and use the 600c down the road. I also used the stand that came with our bedroom tv (we took it off the tv and wired the 600c to the stand. Its a perfect fit for the dash right in front of me where I can see the roads we are on. So there is no installations to mess with. Whereas the computer sits on the passanger side and is hard to see while underway. s/Toby

[digNbubbs]

I have been using Delorme Street Atlas for a number of years, and really like it. It is not perfect, but I have yet to find a GPS application that is.

I have my laptop riding next to me on a RAM floor mount. When I was looking at laptop mounts, I personally did not conclude that the Jotto was better. I had a Jotto a while back, and really like the RAM. The RAM I have is head and shoulders above the Jotto that I had.

I like the Delorme application with the Bluetooth GPS puck. The Bluetooth is nice because I can connect to it even when I am in the back of the rig - planning trips and such. When planning, I always check out Yahoo! Maps to confirm what I got on the Delorme. One of the times this came in real handy was going to the Wildwood repair facility - Delorme put me in a dead end neighborhood on the other side of the tracks. It happens. Plan and confirm

Here is a picture of my setup. It has adjustable height, tilting head, great clamps to hold the laptop in place, modular holding tray, solid platform that easily attached to the floor.



The newest version of Delorme has two different viewing modes - one for planning and one for driving. I like it much better than the previous version. I also like the laptop GPS much better over the small hand held - mainly for visibility. It is also nice to be able to see POIs coming up on the map without having to punch them up on the small ones. The laptop next to me is also handy at fuel and rest stops to check email, find stuff close by, surf IRV2

That's my stuff. YMMV.


--kev

[itdave]

I have been using Co-Pilot Laptop for 2 years now, started with version 9 now using version 11. I have been very happy with it's performance. Like Delorme that Kev uses Co - Pilot has both a planning and guideance mode. In fact in version 11 you can pre run a trip to see all the roads and turns. It has an RV mode with selectable height restritions.

With our 06 Endeavor there is a flat spot right in the middle of the dash so put a lazysusan there and that is were the laptop rides while we travel. Either I or the DW can reach the keyboard to make any inputs needed. Co - Pilot has a voice command mode but I have never tried it maybe I will try with a head set on our next trip.

[chasfm11]

We are also Delorme users who run a 2/3 split screen for Street Atlas and run the other 1/3 with VMSpc.

For $69, you now can get the latest GPS receiver and the Street Atlas software. It is great for advance planning. I'm working on an 8 segment, 4,200 mile trip for this summer. SA can use the POI information from multiple web sites to disply things like Wal-Marts, Cracker Barrel, camp grounds, fuels stops. What I really like is the dynamic ability to turn on or off each of those types of POIs. It keeps the screen from getting cluttered but clearly shows you were you need to go. We can also dynamically add stops so SA will guidance us right to a campground that we selected enroute and confirmed via cell phone.

[Les Stallings]

I use DeLorme:

[walt2137]

I use a lap top with a Jotto desk and blue tooth GPS (Rikaline)with both MS Street & Trips and Delorme 09 version I like some of the features on both also use Silverleaf VMSpc on the lap top, we also use a TomTom map sys for both RV and Toad.

Walt

[Ceratto's Grotto]

I have used a couple different setups.

1. A hand held Garmin 76Csx GPS unit by itself.

2. A laptop with an older version of DeLorme Street Atlas 2006 using the Garmin GPS unit as the receiver (USB connection).

A. I prefer the planning on the DeLorme software to that of the Garmin laptop planning software (MapSource). With either the DeLorme or Garmin MapSOurce laptop software, I can then download the route planning data to the GPS and just use the Garmin GPS.

B. I prefer using the Garmin GPS while on the road because: a) There was a lag time using the DeLorme software on the laptop in conjunction with the GPS as the receiever (USB connection). This was bothersome to me. b) the Garmin GPS has a lot of other data that was not available on the DeLorme laptop version.

Having said all that, I have not updated the DeLorme software because I plan to go to the Co-Pilot product with it's own GPS receiver. The height restriction data being of interest to me and it seems a much more robust product than others (DeLorme and Garmin MapSource).

[M&EM]

I took my old Jotto Desk hardware and used some of it to make a LCD mount for a low cost 17 inch wide screen monitor to hang down from the under side of the drivers over head cabinet above the dash.

I use an Intel powered Macmini with Bootcamp to run all the mac programs I use and all the PC software such as Delorme and OBD2 output monitoring using AutoTap's Software/ hardware.

The Mac mini takes up very little space in the cabinet. The monitor provides heads up visibility and a heads up virtual dashboard that is easily viewed and acts as a sun visor. Using split screens, I can view both gps driven Delorme and virtual dashboard.

At home I simply remove the Macmini as easily as any laptop and place it in my office.

Marty

[Dave Killey]

I have all 3 software programs. MS Streets and Trips, Co-pilot and Street Atlas (all 2007 versions). They are all good programs and there are features in each one that are great. Using the advanced planning features of the S&T's is by far the best for planning if you like to take the roads less travelled. The best featured program for actualy driving features is a toss up with Co-pilot and Street Atlas as they are both great. But unfortunatley after I do all my advanced trip planning with S&T, I usually stick to that software for the trip.
Anyone travelling to Australia, I have the Co-Pilot Australia version for sale that I used this past Winter.

[BigOrangeFan]

I have used CoPilot for several years, the free internet traffic included from GPRS is a lifesaver that is on Version 11. It gives you the milemarker of accident or holdup and will route you around it.