Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » In Car Laptop GPS

March 9, 2009 2:29 p.m. Gearhead_42 Dork

OK, so I'm limiting this right off the bat... I have my tuning laptop, an Asus eeePC, already configured they way I want it for use in the car. I want to add a GPS receiver and software to get the added functionality.

A) I'm in PA, which is notorious (famous?) for its mountain roads... good coverage out there is a plus

B) I REALLY want to be able to create maps (even only poor ones) of autocross tracks, and overlay them on aerial photos.

C) May also transfer to the bike for tag based/geocaching type activities.

Got any experiences with hardware first, and more importantly at this point software?

Kinda looking at the Garmin Mobile PC (same interface as Nuvi protables) versus the DeLorme Earthmate w/ Street Atlas 2k9 and/or Topo...
March 9, 2009 3:05 p.m. Strizzo Dork

m dad bought i think it was the topo software just to get the little gps puck to use with his chartplotter software on his boat. you could even use a handheld gps receiver hooked to the computer with certain software to log your route and location. standard consumer/hobby grade gps receivers aren't going to be accurate enough to use to map an autocross course, unfortunately. they'll get you close, if you make say three runs and then use them to get an idea of where the course was. for overlaying the gps files, if you have a garmin handheld, you can download the "tracks" (the etrex i use starts a new track every time it starts up or re-aquires the gps signal) using the garming mappoint software that comes with it, save as .gpx (gps exchange file) and drag and drop it into google earth 5 (latest version).

come to think of it, you could use a garmin handheld and the mappoint software to show where you're at at the moment the software has the same maps that the handheld come with, pretty basic but its a map and represents the spatial data in a clear enough manner. then when you want to switch to the bike, you can just take the handheld along. the etrex line has several different mounts available, from windsheild to handlebar, to just the weighted bag that sits on the dash.
March 9, 2009 3:54 p.m. pigeon Reader

I've got a bluetooth GPS puck I'm not using that I'd let go cheap. Worked really well with a pocketPC based cell phone I had until about a year ago, sold the phone when I went BlackBerry which has integrated GPS and mapping/tracking and turn-by-turn directions. I tried the autocross mapping once, the refresh rate on the GPS signal is so low that it could not keep up with the fast transitions of an autocross course.
March 9, 2009 4:08 p.m. patgizz Dork

i have the delorme one from target on my laptop. not sure about creating course maps but i dont see why not. you can save your routes and zoom in so it makes sense that you could use it for that.

my laptop screen went dark or i'd try it out for you. it does work well in PA as well as backroads mid ohio, BFE michigan, and some off the beaten path parts of the south.
March 9, 2009 7:37 p.m. Quay None

I got a bluetooth GPS receiver on ebay for about $40, its a GTop G33, and it has a 5 Hz update rate.

As for the software for Autocross runs, Maxqdata has a DIY option for their software http://www.maxqdata.com/DIY.htm which makes it a bit more cheaper. The "Lite" version isn't too bad, but its limited. The full version for the 5Hz is $149.
March 10, 2009 1:08 a.m. problemaddict Reader

head over to www.hackaday.com and search "onstar". theres a link or two on there on how to pull an OnStar GPS module out of a GM car, solder up a serial cable , and hook it up 2 your laptop. i think it also mentions some GPS freeware?

sounds like a cool project...
March 10, 2009 1:49 a.m. Osterizer HalfDork

problemaddict wrote:

head over to www.hackaday.com and search "onstar". theres a link or two on there on how to pull an OnStar GPS module out of a GM car, solder up a serial cable , and hook it up 2 your laptop. i think it also mentions some GPS freeware?

sounds like a cool project...

http://members.cox.net/onstar/
March 10, 2009 7:40 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

You're mixing apples and oranges a bit.

If you want to go geocaching or mounting it on a bicycle, you're talking about a hand-held GPS device, not a PC attachment. That's fine, and most PC softwares will work with the right hand-held GPS plugged into the computer via the USB. But it is not the same as having a port mounted antenna attached to the PC.

I've got a Delorme Earthmate myself, with Topo-7. It is good, but there are certainly times I wish I would have gotten a Garmin instead.

Topo-7 software is propretary, and they felt the need to reinvent the wheel. ALL commands are unique, weird, and totally non-intuitive. It is an extremely frustrating software to work with. It's powerfull, but trying to access and master that power will drive you nuts.

The Earthmate itself is robust, operates well, has excellent imagery. It is also dog slow and not the best at precise locations (Geocaching can be extremely frustrating because of this lack of accuracy and the drifting).

You can easily plunk the Earthmate into the seat and go autocrossing, and then transfer the information to your PC and to Topo.
March 10, 2009 7:57 a.m. Gearhead_42 Dork

foxtrapper wrote:

You're mixing apples and oranges a bit.

If you want to go geocaching or mounting it on a bicycle,

Motorcycle More of a geographical game of tag.

I ordered an Earthmate, the 2009 version with what's supposed to be their new kickass sensor. Can't go wrong for $40 delivered.

That will get me started... at least I'll have something to base my "I wish it had more X" searches on. If the sensor is crap, I'll add a different one. The software, same. Mix and match seems to be the ticket anyway.

The MaxQ looks pretty cool as well... I love the built in G-meters and overlays... wonder if there's a hack for that
March 10, 2009 2:58 p.m. GameboyRMH SuperDork

I got a Holux GPSlim 240, it gets a good signal and has a resolution of about 3ft.

It charges via USB, I don't remember if it can pass data via USB though, but if it does you won't need a USB bluetooth dongle.
March 10, 2009 3:30 p.m. Strizzo Dork

sorry, but the best you're going to do with consumer-grade stuff is 6-10ft at best unless you've got access to the government P(Y)-code decryption codes. and then your hilux would have to be capable of taking a decryption code, which usually the consumer grade receivers can only do C/A code.
March 10, 2009 4:39 p.m. alfadriver Reader

I got the Garmin Mobile 10 on my PDA. Works great.

The only issue I have is when the coverage of "stuff" isn't good. We were in Puerto Rico over Christmas, and few of the hotels, restaurants, or gas stations were in it. We added a bunch of waypoints, but think that the local tourist offices should spend time marking everything of interest.

In the US, it's pretty good, though.

I need to look into the MaxQ system. But I'm not sure if the Garmin reciever will work with it (I've tried ever so briefly, but had to pack...).

E-
March 10, 2009 5:23 p.m. GameboyRMH SuperDork

The way I tested it was I put the receiver in one spot, made sure the reading was stable, moved it about 3ft, and the reading changed - I repeated that a few times. It might not be accurate to within 3ft. but it does pick up changes with 3ft. of movement - from my readouts the accuracy seems flawless.
March 10, 2009 9:45 p.m. Strizzo Dork

well yes, it will register relative movement to a point. my point was that its original location is only going to be accurate to at best 6-10ft, probably closer to 10ft, and the place where the location "stabilizes" right now, could be somewhere 10ft away in another couple minutes. there are also a lot of different things that can affect the accuracy. i've got tracks from me standing in the same spot that have me bouncing all over for a 1/4 mile in every direction because of a microwave tower nearby. in addition to radio interference, there is also tropospheric interference (where the radio waves are bent as they enter the atmosphere, altering the distance between you and the sattellite) and signal bounce (the signal bounces off of buildings, trees, etc. before getting to the unit, altering the calculated distance between you and the sattellite).

all of this adds up, and even when the unit says that its accuracy is +- 6ft, it can't take into account those other factors
March 11, 2009 8:46 a.m. DrBoost Reader

I haven't read this post yet, but I'm going to. I just wanted to say Microsoft Streets and Trips is great, but get the 2007 version. The 2008 version has bugs, afterall, it's Microsoft, right?
March 11, 2009 8:47 a.m. DrBoost Reader

pigeon wrote:

I've got a bluetooth GPS puck I'm not using that I'd let go cheap. Worked really well with a pocketPC based cell phone I had until about a year ago, sold the phone when I went BlackBerry which has integrated GPS and mapping/tracking and turn-by-turn directions. I tried the autocross mapping once, the refresh rate on the GPS signal is so low that it could not keep up with the fast transitions of an autocross course.

How much and what is the make/model??
March 11, 2009 10:23 p.m. pigeon Reader

PM sent...

You'll need to log in to post.