laptop chart plotter - which gps input and best way of 12v power?

PaulR

PaulR

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 Sep 2001
Messages
1,000
Location
Home West Sussex, Boat on Mooring in Gosport
Visit site
decided to try setting up laptop to use as chart plotter - seems to be 2 options as to how to get gps signal :-

1. Hard wire fixed gps nmea output via lead to 9pin socket than 9pin to usb connector to laptop

or

2. Buy standalone usb gps

which is best? nothing in it re cost but does standalone usb gps work from inside boat and are they reliable???



also need to provide power to laptop - choice seems to be inverter or 12v power lead - laptop is an acer .


guidance appreciated please -thanks
 
third option: bluetooth GPS. Via usb dongle if your acer hasn't got bluetooth. Otherwise I'd go for the simple USB-GPS.

12V car adapter would be more efficient than running it through an inverter. Remember to take the batteries out though.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Remember to take the batteries out though.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm intrigued.......why do you suggest this? Does it reduce the power requirements?
 
Personally - neither options are best.

IMHO best is to buy cheapest hand-held GPS you can find - they all put out NMEA you require. Split the NMEA and you can also feed to VHF (DSC). Cheap eTrex or any of the neat smal ones on ebay etc.
Get USB lead that also powers the GPS HH, ie from someone like GPSWarehouse etc. Keep GPS 12v / data lead you usually get as back-up.

Why ? When the PC falls over from lack of charge or whatever reason - you still have the GPS HH working on it's own independently. Even to extent of a few AA / AAA batterys. Any PC based GPS will die with the PC.

Second - power ... I have following notebooks that all run of direct 12v or if I want to charge batterys Maplin 12v DC-DC converter :

Acer 1360
IBM Thinkpad 600E
Maxdata 350
+ a few others that are ex my staff when I upgrade their machines.

When direct to 12v - I usually dicsonnect the batterys on all except the IBM and then they don't try to charge, allowing full 12v to pc.

I also have a 12v designed ITX desktop machine that just needs a flat monitor.

My preferred set-up being the IBM 600E, no additional items plugged in except eTrex via USB lead. Seaclear plotter and own charts. IBM direct cnnected to 12v ciggy socket. Note IBM battery is 10.8v and is why I leave it in ... PSU supplied with IBM's being 16v ...
 
I use the USB GPS as well, it came with a sucker thingie and I use that on a window adjacent to the chart table
 
[ QUOTE ]
Why ? When the PC falls over from lack of charge or whatever reason - you still have the GPS HH working on it's own independently. Even to extent of a few AA / AAA batterys. Any PC based GPS will die with the PC.

[/ QUOTE ] I agree with this analysis and it's what I do.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Why ? When the PC falls over from lack of charge or whatever reason - you still have the GPS HH working on it's own independently. Even to extent of a few AA / AAA batterys. Any PC based GPS will die with the PC.

[/ QUOTE ] I agree with this analysis and it's what I do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for support - for years I've advocated this way, but rarely seen anyone agree. I could never understand the promotion of a single sourced system, such one part goes down ie PC and all is dead.

When I've had my PC die - which happens on 4th day without battery charging, (boats batterys). As the 12v by then is insufficient to power converter / inverter or direct. All three will drop out before battery is dead, but I can still start engine.
I know I still have my little eTrex in hand to show me the way to the pub / home.
 
I've also got 2 HH GPS and a fitted one as backup JIC, one of the HH ones has the interface cable to the laptop as well
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've also got 2 HH GPS and a fitted one as backup JIC, one of the HH ones has the interface cable to the laptop as well

[/ QUOTE ]Just the job
 
Not had a problem with a USB GPS (£16 off e-bay) and PC chartplotter. I wouldn't touch Bluetooth, it's just another set of batteries to replace a cable - but cables don't go flat!

I do have a handheld GPS, but the screen is so small the charts are almost pointless. I'd rather revert to paper if PC failed. Chartplotters are fun, I used one to explore the N passage thro the Swellies this year. Never had the bottle to do that with paper chart alone. Just be aware that ALL charts are subject to change for buoyage/ sandbanks lights etc.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Not had a problem with a USB GPS (£16 off e-bay) and PC chartplotter. I wouldn't touch Bluetooth, it's just another set of batteries to replace a cable - but cables don't go flat!

I do have a handheld GPS, but the screen is so small the charts are almost pointless. I'd rather revert to paper if PC failed. Chartplotters are fun, I used one to explore the N passage thro the Swellies this year. Never had the bottle to do that with paper chart alone. Just be aware that ALL charts are subject to change for buoyage/ sandbanks lights etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

Funny, I found the opposite to be true when sailing to Scarborough last weekend. The relatively small screen on my PDA would instantly tell me where we were. Much quicker and less prone to user error than transferring the GPS position to the paper chart. Of course I'd never navigate with it alone but it's a very neat addition to paper. Cheaper than a marine plotter too. As for pc plotters: I found the 15" display on my Toshiba too small for navigation purposes. The PDA uses 250mA and it's much more rugged than any laptop.
However nothing beats paper when it comes to clearness. If only I could get that Yeoman repaired!
 
Eh?
You've just said that your PDA is better at telling you where you are than a dot on the chart - I agree .... so does Searush ...

I looked at a Yeoman at the show a couple of years ago, the salesman said he could plot a route far quicker than I could .... it was fast, but then so was my mouse on a laptop!! Should've put a bet on I guess ....!!
 
Let me put it that way: the smallish PDA is brilliant for seing where I am. Instantly and always spot on. But for the bigger picture, finding out where I'm going etc, I rather prefer the full sized paper charts. Hence I always use both simultaineously: quick check on the PDA, mark position on the paper chart.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Let me put it that way: the smallish PDA is brilliant for seing where I am. Instantly and always spot on. But for the bigger picture, finding out where I'm going etc, I rather prefer the full sized paper charts. Hence I always use both simultaineously: quick check on the PDA, mark position on the paper chart.

[/ QUOTE ]Who are you arguing against? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I have a PDA with in-built GPS and I find it ok in car and when walking about town in shade. BUt on-board boat ? No good as when I need it I can't see the screen in the sunlight. Also the Plotter or PC screen is far bigger than a PDA - so cannot understand how you say PDA is better ?
For me :

Planning and overall display clarity : PC based plotting on my Thinkpad 600E
Real time navigation and plotting : My Lowrance Plotter
Back-up : My eTrex hand-held
Last resort : Mio Digiwalker PDA GPS with same maps as PC via Ozi-Explorer CE

Paper maps are usually only looked at as an exercise or illustration to others on board or to clarify a question I might have. Normally they stay dry and in chart tube - ready to come out with eTrex !
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top