Laptop GPS World

Hey everyone- I am new to this site and GPS in general but I just bought an Acer Aspire one and want to use Garmin Mobile PC with it and am looking for a compatible GPS receiver.

Had the idea to get one of these:

http://www.diginetlink.com/Haicom_HI.../hi-303iii.htm

to make use of the CF reader that is built into the Aspire one. After scouring the internet I have not found anything about this and am trying to figure out if it will work or if it is just a bad idea.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

I don't know anything about that receiver but there is no reason to believe it won't work.

There are two things to consider before purchasing a GPS receiver to use with Garmin's Mobile PC.

First, there is a version of Mobile PC that comes with a Garmin GPS receiver. If you want to use a non-Garmin receiver you need to make sure you get the version that is called "Software-only".

Second, having a receiver that plugs directly into the computer is not a really good idea. There are a couple of potential problems. The first is that it will limit how well the receiver can see the GPS satellite signals. The ideal place for a GPS receiver inside a vehicle is up on the dash, as far forward as you can get it. It is unlikely you will be able to mount a laptop in you vehicle in a location that will give a CF receiver a good view of the sky. Also, with the CF receiver plugged into the side or back of the laptop, it will be vulnerable to being broken unless the laptop is mounted really solid.

My personal feeling is that a Bluetooth receiver is the best way to go with any laptop navigation program.

If you are interested in Mobile PC and how it works with various GPS receivers there has been lots of discussion in the Garmin Mobile PC section of this forum.

...ken...

Ken- thanks so much for your fast and informative reply- I think I am going to go with one of those micro bluetooth usb dongles and a bluetooth GPS reciever. Any suggestions for a good Bluetooth reciever?

The other thing is that I am going to be taking a big trip all over SE Asia and I would like to find maps for country's like Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, The Philippines and Japan. On the Garmin website it looks like alot of these maps have been discontinued- do you think the Garmin Mobile PC is the right way to go?

Also I am a little concerned about having to charge the battery's of the bluetooth receiver, as I might not always have access to power in some of these places. Do they make Bluetooth receivers that also work via USB?

Thanks in advance,

Jon

Jon, welcome to the forums!

1. Words of wisdom worth repeating again and again:

That's very well said. It applies also to those nice looking USB GPS dongles that plug directly to laptop computers.

2. For some of those countries you may find downloadable, Garmin-compatible, maps on some websites. Ask in the Garmin Mobile PC forum.

3. Dual (USB/Bluetooth) GPS Receivers

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

Laptop GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics

I am partial to the iTrek M7 Bluetooth receiver as well as the more pricey Garmin GPS10x. Either of these GPS receivers can be charged from a USB socket. As the GPSlim 236 also can be charged from a USB socket, I think that most current Bluetooth GPS units would have this capability.

However, the GPS10x does not have USB capabilities, the iTrek M7 has too high a bit rate over USB to work with Mobile PC and the GPSlim 236 requires a different cord to work as a USB GPS receiever.

Terry

Charging won't be an issue if you have your laptop with you or if you have power adapters that you can connect a standard USB cable to.

I leave the USB cable that came with my camera permanently connected to my desktop PC so it's quick and simple to load pictures onto my PC after my wife has been snapping pics of the grandchildren. The cable is the standard sort of cable that comes with digital cameras. It has the regular USB connector on the end that plugs into the computer and it has the mini plug on the end that connects to accessories like digital cameras. Whenever I want to charge my iTrek M7 Bluetooth receiver I just plug it into that same cable.

We took an ocean cruise for a week at the beginning of August and I just used the camera cable connected to my laptop to charge the iTrek M7.

From what Terry said, I assume the Garmin GPS10x Bluetooth receiver has the same sort of mini-USB connection. I'll know in two or three days when mine arrives.

You can purchase AC and 12VDC adapters that have a standard USB connection on them (looks the same as the USB port on a PC). For independent charging without having to power up the laptop, you can use any USB cable with these adapters. I even saw one a couple days ago, on eBay.ca I think, that had both AC and DC plugs on it and USB connection for powering/charging devices.

...ken...

Yes, all 3 I mentioned have a standard mini USB jack. Also, each can be used in Bluetooth mode while charging.

Terry

Thanks to everyone for helping point me in the right direction- this forum is awesome! After hearing everyone's suggestions I am leaning towards buying the Garmin Mobile PC bundled with the 10x bluetooth receiver as I don't want to deal with compatibility issues with a 3rd party receiver, and I think the battery thing wont be that big of a deal.

If anyone has any other suggestions for the Acer Aspire one though, don't hesitate to let me know- and thanks again!

-Jon

If you want a bundle deal, that's certainly the one I'd pick. I was sorry Garmin only offered the 20x when they originally released the combo. The 10x is a far more versatile unit. I have used it with several of the Bluetooth dongles including this one and had no issues whatsoever.

http://www.semsons.com/amwbbl20edrc.html

Terry

Hwy J_Z,

I justed joined and this is my first post so if I screw it up my apologies in advance You mentioned your purchase of the Acer Aspire One, nice UMPC!! I just finished "kicking the tires" on the Asus EeePC 900 4GB, 901HA 120 XP, Acer Aspire One 120 XP and the MSI Wind U100 120A however; have to say (after 3 days of living w/my decision) the Aspire is a more rugged UMPC. the screen hinges are the best!!
OK, enough about UMPC's! Just wanted to comment that all the UMPC's I tested had similar multi-format card readers, SD,MMC, MS/MSPD,XD so on and so forth however; NONE had the ability to read CF cards..? Kind of a drag considering I have tons of CF cards I use for my DSLR cameras. Not a big deal cuz memory is soooo cheap! Just a heads up on the CF GPS "thing". I am in the same boat as U cuz now I am looking at the best HW/SF combo for my (soon to be) mobile based "command center"!! Have the the power handled, have the wireless WAY HANDLED... 1W external .11 a/b/g low lose cable to roof mounted 8 db omni!! Still need a mounting system and GPS.... Have Dell AXIM 51x with BT GPS, Pharos BT GPS want to get the best softwarel) I'll keep you posted and hope to hear your thoughts.

Cheers!

Norm

Hi Norm,

to Laptop GPS World.

...for the mounting system, check this thread, and feel free to ask questions there, too.

__________________
Marvin Hlavac

Laptop GPS software reviews | Stores offering discounts to our members: Semsons & Co. Inc. and Deluo Electronics