DeLorme Street Atlas 2008/2009 vs. Microsoft Streets & Trips

tenbear:

I appreciate you posting your experience on SA vs. Streets.

Regards,

Mike Flannigan

In another thread I notice there might be some problems with SA & 64bit. In trying to learn SA I have made quite a few maps of routes I am familiar with, just to see how SA routes me. I just got through with a trip from St Louis to Sun City West in Phoenix, AZ. I notice SA routes me off I-40, at Winslow, AZ, south on Rt 87 through the mountains, and a VERY rough road (we have driven it), and then reconnects with I-17 about 30 miles south of Flagstaff. Of course it will correct by adding a via at Flagstaff.
I'm wondering if this could be because I am not doing something I should be or if it is just an anomoly with SA ? I realize Streets & MapSource have similar problems, but they do not with this particular route as well as with another route I did from St Louis to Hilton Head, SC.
I use all of the defaults (Quickest route, etc).
Regards,
Mike Flannigan

Does anyone know if I can upgrade my Street Atlas 2009 to SA PLUS ?
I went to the help section at DeLorme and could not find anything for this.
I guess I should have payed more attention to what I was buying; duh !!!
Thanks,
Mike Flannigan

Mike, that's a good question. I suspect the answer may be a "no", but Shannon may shed light on this for you.

I've used the built-in phone book of the Plus version already numerous times. It is a very useful feature.

Oh great! NOW I have to go get that 28" ViewSonic monitor so I can run THREE GPS programs at the same time. It is absolutely essential!

Hey, what about using a dash-mounted projector to put the map up on the rear roll up door of a big white semi trailer? LOL!

Would work nicely at night!

Just so you know, the wife was driving and I was playing with the laptop and GPS. You can run 3 mapping programs at the same time and switch between them at will. That way you can pick the one that matches the GPS trail and ignore the ones with mapping errors.

I didn't want you wasting your money on the 28" monitor, or the projector, if you couldn't run three programs at once.

Okay, so how exactly do I get one antenna to run several programs? Can you give this aging computer novice a step-by-step?

First, you need to download and install the Delorme Serial Emulator from their web site and you need their GPS receiver.
Plug the GPS receiver into a USB port. Once you install it you will find an icon, a dish antenna, in the bottom right of the monitor. Right click on that and click on Start. The icon will change. Right click on the icon and select Ports. Set the port that your other mapping program uses to NMEA.
Run your other mapping program, S&T perhaps. In my case S&T is set to Port 4. It should behave normally. Run SA at the same time. Switch between them by selecting the desired one at the bottom of the monitor.
As Polonus said earlier, Franson GPS Gate does the same thing, maybe better. It costs $25 for the full program after the 14 day trial period.

Hope this helps.

Mike,

I don't know if you have talked to our sales or customer service team yet but if you have the Street Atlas USA 2009 and want to upgrade to the SA USA 2009 Plus, it's typically a $19.95 upgrade , (+tax/shipping). Feel free to give them a call.

-Jason
DeLorme Team

Jason:

I have not, but I will. Thanks for the info.

Regards,

Mike Flannigan

dmart

I have sa version 2008 and have trouble staying locked on, especially when I really need it. How is the Lt 40 or would it be better to purchase a third party usb receiver?

I find the LT-40 to be an excellent receiver. I don't have SA2008 however, only SA2009. I can't compare it with other receivers. If I was looking for a receiver I might be tempted to try a bluetooth capable receiver to get rid of the wire. The wire is only 5 feet long, it might be a little short if you are using it in an RV. I use a 6 foot USB extension cord with mine and it works fine.

dmart

Tenbear thanks for the good idea. I had not thought of that, but I just came off of a long trip and was very frustrated with the Lt 20 losing connection. I have not tried the S & T and Iam sorry I got a little off of subject.

Thanks

I've been using Delorme with an IBM laptop velcrowed in my car since May, 2000. I now have Topo2007, SA2008, SA2009 in the car. I love SA2008 & hate 2009. By voice compands I can see miles of roads ahead with 2008, but 2009 keeps jumping to the center so I can see less of what is ahead. This is real bad going north in Providence while trying to find Rt 146 north. Any way I can get 2009 to act like 2008? I gave up on S&T years ago, way too slow in response for city interstates.