In Car Solution: Garmin nRoute vs Garmin Mobile PC

I have never owned a laptop other than my work PC and I try not to download personal software to that device. Now with the proliferation of netbooks, it seems as if I can have a laptop and a car GPS for a little more than the car GPS on it's own with the advantage of a larger screen. This would replace my 60CSx with CN v8 installed for in car use.

I downloaded nRoute to my desktop and I was able to get it to synch to my 60CSx but not to my Oregon. I am trying to phase out my 60CSX so I was hoping to buy CN 2009 for the Oregon and use that for the netbook. Is that possible?

My other option would be to pick up Mobile PC and the extra receiver.

Any opinions from the experts out there? I am leaning toward the Samsung NC10 for the netbook.

It appears the Oregon is able to output Garmin data when using an appropriate cable (probably standard mini to USB) and nRoute should be able to use that. If not, GPS Gate Express can act as a go-between when using maps unlocked to a different device (eg the 60CSx). nRoute will work fine on a netbook. Netbooks are actually less expensive than CarPCs.

An upgrade DVD for CNNANT 2009 should include maps for MapSource but the format has been altered and they will not work with nRoute unless they are modified.

If you go the Mobile PC route, it will probably work with your Oregon or 60CSx. The map data included is precompiled and would not be available for those devices or MapSource. Mobile PC will work fine on a netbook.

EDIT The software version of Garmin Mobile PC does not work with Garmin (PVT) data. If that is what the Oregon outputs, you would need GPS Gate regular or Express as an interface between the Oregon and GMPC. (tested with an eMap, GMPC 5.00.60 and GPS Gate)

Terry

Hi Maximus,

When you say that nRoute won't "sync" with your Oregon, can you give us some specifics?

When your 60CSx is connected to your PC via USB cable, nRoute immediately starts to display the satellite information on the Satellites tab, right?

What happens when you connect your Oregon?

Are you using the same cable as the 60CSx? Or the same type of cable?

We need some specific information, but without it my first guess is that nRoute sees a Garmin device connected that is NOT the 60CSx. Because the maps are not unlocked to the Oregon, nRoute will probably refuse to use those maps.

As Terry said, you can run a utility program called Franson GPSGate (Express version) and connect the Oregon through it as a test. If you run the Oregon through GPSGate, nRoute will not recognize that a Garmin GPS is connected and it will let you use any maps as long as they are unlocked to something.

You can try GPSGate for 14 days for free. It's full function, no adware or other stupid tricks. It simply stops working after 14 days if you don't purchase and register it.

If you think nRoute will satisfy your navigation needs, I would spend a bit more time getting it to work with your Oregon before tangling with Mobile PC. As Terry mentioned, Mobile PC has some issues of its own, depending on what you want to do.

I do have to admit to a little confusion. The 60CSx is still one of the top-rated GPS receivers out there. If it's playing nice with nRoute and you already have maps that work with it, why not just dedicate it as your car receiver and go with that for now? If you use nRoute and the 60CSx for awhile and discover there are other features/functions you want from a different vehicle nav program, you can always add/change later.

There's no point in making life more complicated than it needs to be. You will have enough headaches trying to figure out which netbook to buy, getting it loaded and running the way you want and figuring out how to mount your stuff in the vehicle. Might as well have some fun with nRoute and the 60CSx while you get the physical mounting issues sorted out. The opportunity to mess up your life with different navigation solutions will still be there later. :rofl"

...ken...

First, you guys rock.

Second, I went to Best Buy about an hour after posting and bought an Asus N270. It was very cheap and had pretty good reviews and was available.

The reason I want to avoid the 60CSx is that my step father likes to play around with it so I want to move away from using it. It is a great unit but really prefer the interface of the Oregon. If the 60CSx had a larger screen and touchscreen, I would never replace it.

So now the Oregon is recognized by nRoute on the netbook. I sometimes have issues with it automatically going into data mode so this may be why ot did not work before. Any possibility to get an Edge 705 to work with nRoute? CN is unlocked to that device as well. I noticed that the map locked as soon as I connected the Oregon after the 60CSx was connect with the unlock codes.

Garmin sent me a CN 2009 update disc which I installed but it is not unlocked. It sounds like that may not be an option though since it is not compatible. I also do not know if I can purchase an upgrade license for the Oregon since it never had a previous version unlocked on it. I will look into GPSGate to see what that entails.

Worst case, I can use the 60CSx ant I am good to go. I am hoping the screen on nRout is a little customizable. The layout is pretty bad for a widescreen monitor. I would like to see the data on the side.

All in all, I am pretty happy. I have a functioning car GPS for less than the cost of a nice in car GPS with all the functionality of a light laptop and a 10" screen. Mounting is a little worrying but I was never really happy with mounting options for the other units. I am not sure there is a great solution other than built into the dash. As long as I can hear the direction, I do not really need to look at the screen much other than to confirm the name of the next street.

Thanks again!

The CNNA NT2009 update you have may be compatible with nRoute. The change was made recently and probably does not apply to that copy. If you have it in MapSource and see it in the list of maps in nRoute, it will work. You just have to decide which device to unlock it to.

Make sure you check the RAM mounting options. The latest Tough Tray II laptop mount looks like it will be good and is relatively inexpensive depending on what else you need to mount it.

Terry

It looks like I cannot apply the update to the Oregon. I will need to buy the full version which will not work with nRoute, it seems. I tried GPSGate but it will not recognize the Oregon at all. Not sure why.

Looks like I am stuck with the 60CSx for routing. I am a little disapointed but such is life.

I don't understand why GPS Gate would not work with the Oregon. If the Oregon puts out a GPS signal, either Garmin or NMEA on any type of connection to a computer, GPS Gate should see it. Are you sure you are using the GPS Gate wizard correctly?

Terry

Not having a n Oregon puts us at a disadvantage but I read you have to put it in Garmin spanner mode and answer no to the mass storage question. Does this make any sense to you?

Terry

The 60CSx was found right away. I tried the Oregon on Garmin Serial, Garmin Spanner, NMEA and text. None were recognized. It seems very straight forward so I am not sure how I could be doing it wrong. I tried it in both mass storage mode as well as when the GPS was running normally.

NMEA mode on page 22 of your manual. Setup-System-Interface allows the Oregon to output NMEA data to the computer. Garmin serial mode appears to be only to exchange data from my reading of this section.

That should work with GPS Gate and nRoute.

Terry

nRoute only works on Garmin Spanner because any other mode turns on the data storage mode automatically when a USB is connected. The GPS will not send data when in that mode. GPSGate will not recognize the GPS in any mode. I use the Setup Wizard and get 'No GPS Found!' no matter what mode I try. The 60CSX is recognized almost immediately. I saw one other Oregon user on their forums that had issues. No answers to the post...

I think that is because of the way you have XP set up. I don't think it has to go to storage mode automatically but will have to remember what needs changing in XP.

Terry

2 Oregon issues not answered.

http://franson.com/forum/topic.asp?T...chTerms=oregon

http://franson.com/forum/topic.asp?T...chTerms=oregon

I think I had the same issue even when I just plugged it into a power socket. It needs to be on spanner to allow it to ask for the data mode on or off.

I turned it to spanner, then plugged the cable in and kept it in GPS. Then I switched to serial while it was still plugged in. It stayed in GPS mode but GPS Gate does not recognize.