Has anyone had experience of running MapTech chart software on a laptop with the GPS input from a Bluetooth GPS receiver? If so, any problems, which receiver?
I have just recently setup my laptop with Maptech and after alot of thought decided that connecting to my GPS via a cable [usb] was the best option. I have had no problems and I am very impressed with the setup, its operation and with Maptech.
I have this setup and it works on dryland. I have an ipaq as well and I take this on the boat. I can load the charts and routes from the laptop, and actually hold the ipaq in my hand at the wheel. the blue tooth receiver is a " Socket bluetooth gps" it cost about € 120. in an outlet store last year.
I have a fixed garmin 128 that I use. The ipaq is for playing with and as a backup.
Bluetooth does crash and I would not be happy using it as the primary/ only gps.
I have Fugawi not Maptech and use it on my iPAQ connected via Bluetooth to the small GPS that comes with the HP navigation software and it seems to work fine. The only problem I discovered was the GPS output keeps changing slightly when the boat is stationary. This caused the boat ICON to rotate while it sat at the dock. But I've used it on a trip and it seemed to be quite accurate, never had any crashes.