Gps for laptop

As mentioned the usb puck will work in exactly the same place as any other gps. Use the same usb port all the time and ensure the correct ports are set. For the initial set up you will have to have the puck outside like any other gps, after that it will work in your cabin or home if a normal handheld for example will. In my case I have a steel roof and no gps will work here. Cabin of my yacht its fine. I would suggest you use a puck and keep a handheld or fixed unit separate.
It sounds like the shop assistant was installing drivers for the puck and having difficulties. This is a separate problem usually associated with windoze 7, the basic version does not accept them with out a work around. Avoid Prolific pucks. Join a chat forum associated with the nav programme you are using, plenty of advice out there and you may get to converse with the programme designer.
 
fishermantwo said:
It seems the prolific drivers cause a problem with windoze known as "crazy or jumping mouse syndrome". Several posts today on the Seaclear forum on the matter.
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If you mean the Prolific PL203 serial-to-USB converter, I've got several devices that use it (including a GPS 'puck' and a serial to-USB Garmin cable), no problem at all. They all work fine with Windows Vista and Ubuntu. I have read about the problem you mention, but I've never encountered it. A Google for 'GPS jumping mouse' provides many examples, and solutions.
 
I have both the Maplin Dongle and a Garmin GPS 76.
The Maplin dongle works fine, though the software was initially tricky to load. The Garmin needed the chart plotter software set to receive at the correct baud rate (4800?) before it would display the boat position on the laptop screen. The big advantage of having the Garmin is that I can plot a route on the laptop, download it to the Garmin and follow it as a rolling road with distance to waypoint and cross track error displayed. The laptop is never taken into the cockpit on passage, indeed it is only rarely turned on.
 
How about using a smartphone instead?

I have a Nokia N95 mobile phone that has a built-in GPS. I found a free app called 'Symarctic ExtGPS' that I can use to bluetooth the position data to my laptop. I have so far only used this for Google Earth - but it works a treat. Using an existing smartphone could be a cheap option for those who have one.
 
Ludd, if you have any problems send your equipment to me and I will set it up for you for nothing. Feel free to PM if you are interested.
 
Spyro said:
I read somewhere about this type of problem, The fix was to plug in the kit after opening the program.
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Until recently I have been using OziExplorer on a Dell Inspiron notebook with XP. I have always noticed that the computer must be running and stable before switching on my AIS/GPS receiver connected via seriel converter to USB or, if I forget, I get the demented mouse syndrome and must switch off the receiver and reboot.
 
fishermantwo said:
It seems the prolific drivers cause a problem with windoze known as "crazy or jumping mouse syndrome". Several posts today on the Seaclear forum on the matter.
Click to expand...

It's because windows thinks a mouse is being plugged in. Several types do this under XP and Vista the way is to unplug and replug until it realises what is fitted
 
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