Hey guys, I am new to the site. I was wondering what kind of GPS receiver do I need for Microsoft Streets & Trips 2011? I just bought the program from the Microsoft site and downloaded it, there was no package deal that included the GPS receiver. I have Garmin Nuvi, but that's not a receiver, per say, I know you can send routes too it, but it doesn't work for positioning.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Any GPS device that can do NMEA at 4800 bps will work fine. The Globalsat BU-353 is a good example.

Terry

Thank you for the quick response. I was looking at one that Microsoft recommended called "auto track", the company was Bulldog, the website:Guard Dog GPS - News & Events

They want $200.00 for this thing!! I am also an amateur radio operator and we have a thing called APRS, Automatic Position/Packet Reporting System that requires a TNC board and a GPS receiver, at least the radio that I have does. Some of the more advanced ones made by Kenwood have everything set up to go, you just need to set up your baud rate and how often you want to put out a beacon. You can find this on: aprs.fi

Apparently someone didn't know what this post had to do with the forum, I explained before in a reply, maybe it's the fact that I mentioned amateur radio, it has quite a bit to do with GPS receivers that are needed for APRS. Hope that clears it up.

What about the monthly cost? Who do I go to for service?

Sorry, I can't understand how your opening post relates to any of this.

Terry

I don't know what you don't understand about my questions, this thread came up when I did a search for GPS receiver Microsoft Streets & Trips. That seems to be the topic. Maybe I need help understanding, I am brand new to this site. I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

Richard

As far as monthly cost goes, there is no cost whatsoever associated with receiving and using GPS data. The rest of the stuff you are discussing regarding TNC and APRS, I haven't a clue.

Terry

I understand, thank you.

Hi Richard, the BU-353 GPS receiver Terry mentioned works very well with Microsoft's Streets & Trips, and many other applications. You may read about it here.

Also, as Terry said, there's no additional cost to you for the use of the GPS unit, other than the cost of the unit (and taxes :-)

GPS Navigation devices should not be confused with GPS Tracking devices. You need the former and the Guard Dog is the latter.

Yes, I know the difference now. I just got a GPS receiver, a Globalast BU-353 from Amizon.com. Is there no monthly fee for the service? Like cell phone service? The bulldog site said they charged 14.99 a month?

Richard

The difference is that Bulldog must receive data from you by some method to track you or whatever you need tracking. This means there must be some form of communications (such as cell) between what you want tracked and their site. That costs money.

In the case of navigation (i.e. Streets and Trips) the only information communication is from the GPS satellites to your GPS device. There is no cost in this case. Think of this like a standard radio receiver like am or fm.

Terry

Oh, OK, that makes since. It's just a receiver like WIFI, except I am receiving my position on my Streets and Trips program, where ever I am?

Wifi is not a particularly good example as it is almost always 2 way. GPS in this case, is strictly one way. Your device does not send any information, it only receives a data stream from the various satellites and determines you location and speed from that information.

The GPS device - BU-353 in your case - is an antenna, receiver and translator combined. It takes the information received from the GPS satellites and transforms it into a data signal that navigation programs like S&T can understand. It sends that information on to the computer via its USB connection. A driver loaded on the computer presents that data on a COM connection so S&T can find it.

Terry