GPS for Custom Car PC's
 

I thought I'd create a new thread where we can discuss possible GPS hardware/software possiblities for car PC's.

Hardware: GPS Receivers
Delorme Earthmate
$99, available Mid April, 03.

Royaltek Saphire
$ 128.00 at www.mobilegpsonline.com

Deluo
$99.00

Software:

Microsoft Streets and Trips was one of my first candidates, but after realizing it will only update your location every 15 seconds, I have decided against it.

Microsoft Mappoint is designed more for a business I think then a car navigation system. But, maybe coupled with Navstar from www.mobilegpsonline.com for $198.00 makes it more car-friendly. Abz123 is still running this I believe.

Delorme has Street Atlas USA for 49.95, and their Topographical version for $99.95. I have the Street Atlas software, and will try running it in a 640 x 480 window to see how legible it is, and advise. Chazzg can possibly update us on how Topo USA works.

Navtech is the company that provides the software to most/all car manufacturers, and Alpine, Pioneer, and others. I think this is probably the best navigation software visually for a car, but have only found one possible source for just buying the software. I've emailed NaviPC to see if this is available in the US, with US maps.

Travroute Copilot may possibly be the best consumer navigation software/hardware package. At $349.00 complete with the hardware it is expensive. (That was a price I found at www.thegpsstore.com . One downside to this software (and maybe other software packages) is that I think you have to program in a destination in order to get the software running. Most of the time I would just like to have the software showing my current location, without a programmed destination in, just to see where I am at, things near my location, etc.

Thanks for starting this new thread. Besides the power supply issue, selecting the right GPS Software/Hardware is one of my next big decisions. I've seen Delorme's Topographical version on Chazz's setup. It looks great, but is cumbersome for door-to-door directions, which from what I have read the CoPilot kicks ass in that department. I kind of wish I could start with the cheapest GPS software/hardware package, then if I don't like it just add the CoPilot software at a later date, but it doesn't appear to work like that based on the way CoPilot is packaged with their GPS receiver ($$$$).

I suppose you 2 read the thread on the best GPS on mp3car.com

that one reccomended the copilot as well. it was my forerunner, but I hadnt really looked into it too deeply yet, as I do not have 2-300$ right now after the whole computer system install :p .

Unless something else comes along thats cheaper, I will probably wait for a few months to get all of the Auto PC expenses paid off to buy any GPS stuff. Basically, because it sounds like the one I really want is CoPilot, which I guess for $350 isn't that horribly bad. At least that includes the GPS receiver as well. If you go the MapPoint/Navstar route thats $200 for the software, add on at least another $100 for the receiver and you're at $300. Therefore, I'd rather spend the extra $50 and get something that I know will be a better performing for what I want.

But ofcourse, it's Sunday....by Wednesday I will probably have a different plan! ;)

wensday?// HA, not an hour ago I had delusions that I would turn the computer on and BAM it would run problem free. hahahaha ignorance TRULY is bliss.

Ill probably have a new plan in about 15minutes, Ill go downstairs try it, itll fail, and Ill be back on here, only to repeat it again in 15minutes.

interesting tidbit I found at the forum section at www.thisstrife.com

it may be possible to increase the GPS update cycle on MS Streets and Trips. This person was able to do just this on MS AutoRoute 2003, which is the eurpoean version of Streets and trips.

Quote:
Well, I have good news for you. If you edit (with hex editor) Autorout.exe file, look for BF 98 3A and change 98 by E8 and 3A by 03, you will get a big surprise. Now Autoroute updates the GPS position every second. GOOOD. Tested with Autoroute 2003.
end quote.

Abz123: Does Mappoint update more frequently then every 15 seconds? I couldn't find the answer to this at MS site.

I set it on real-time...It looks like it's about one second updates by the way the little car moves on the screen. I know that's not really technical.

I did notice one thing...some of the roads on mappoint are not terribly accurate (locationwise i.e). I would imagine not out of the ordinary for a map program.

It doesnt look like the TravRoute receiver is WAAS enabled, making the NavStar with a WAAS enabled receiver look a bit better.

Scaf: I remember you told me the same thing about the CoPilot a few weeks ago. For $350 you'd think it would have that option (just showing where you are without having to type in a destination). Is there any way to "fix" this like you are trying to do with the Streets and Trips 15 sec. updates?

Anyone out there with any Copilot 2003 experience?

Yeah just got the copilot. I don't think theres a lag, it logs Sat signal every 3 sec default, with option to change it to 1. I haven't see any lag time, just when it starts. It has to have a lock on a Sat before it works. From what I've seen this was the best of the best, was made by guys from MIT. Only problem is the voice is kinda robotic and no way yet to change it.

No, I meant is there a "fix" that will allow the software to just show you where you are on the screen while you are just driving around without having to program in a trip (i.e. without having to type in an origin and a destination).

oh you meant that. No, theres no 'fix' for that.


Heres the reason:









ITS ALREADY BUILT IN :D

It has 4 modes in copilot. Where Am I, Next turn, Going To and Planning.

Where Am I basically shows where you are :D
Next turn tells you step by step when to turn
Going to, Zooms out and shows the end location and how far away you are.
Planning, well you can guess what that is.

Another cool thing that this has the I don't think the other has is if you make a wrong turn, it recalculates and gets you back on track :D

Can't wait to test it out, but that 350 bux price tag is kinda hard to over come compare to other options. But its still way cheaper than stock nav.

man, sorry to sound like an Ad for them. Im not selling their stuff, just listing its cool features :D

I've read a few reviews by users of Copilot, and while they tout it as being the best (something I am not disagreeing with), I think they all say that you have to have a destination programed in. It may have a "Where Am I" mode, but I don't think that is the same as just getting in your car, turning on the system, and having it show your location as you drive.

Well, depending where you are. To find the nearest Sat, it ask for the closest city. after that it show you on the map. I'm pretty sure it shows where you are even if your moving. I'll try it and let you guys know. Going to try to install everything this week and next if the weather goes bad.

There ya go Scaf. Maybe we were worried for nothing. Hopefully is Alpha is correct.

mmm... I don't know if I am happy about this or not. If alpha is correct, I think my car pc costs just went up $350.00

To determine your location alone GPS units need at least 3 satellites.

The software I'm using always give the 'where am I' data as long as you are tracking. No infomation on your location is required. As long as you are moving, it can 'triangulate' your location. If you are not moving, it shows last known location. To my understanding, all GPS works in this matter.

When I enter a destination, it calculates a route, highlights the route on the map, give you direction, and tells you any known construction areas if known.

I would imagine co-pilot works in the same manner.

My comments were based on anothers review of Copilot.

here are some quotes from that person, and a conversation from mp3car.com:

"Copilot is only good for step by step navigational use. It's not good for showing current position while you drive unless you enter a destination. SA is good for displaying your current position on the map with out entering a destination but step by step navigational use is questionable."

quote:
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>[Copilot] is not good for showing current position while you
>drive unless you enter a destination.

Hmmm, its not good... like how?.. like its not always accurate (I can live with that), or it just wont do it at all?

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It displays "Please enter a destination" and block off the whole screen. If you set it to the passanger mode, the map and current position looks like crap. As soon as you enter a destination, It tells you what street you're on and what street is apporching. On the top of the screen it displays your next turn in a very big font. Very readable even with RCA jack type monitor. It's very easy to use. Not a alot of bottons on the screen. Once you set the destination, it does everything for you. The 2003 version tells you if your destination is on the left or the right side of the street.


quote:
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So, lets say Im driving w/o knowing exactly where Im going (I dont have gps now.. this is my norm or say I kind of know wher Im going, but dont want to take the time to enter the address in
Say I take a wrong turn, and I want to see my current location on the screen, with perhaps a few "zoom outs" so I can find a cross street... Copilot wont give me that unless I pick a destination?

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I understand exactly what you're talking about. As I've said before Copilot is only good for step by step navigational use. If you want a GPS software that shows current position so that if you get lost or take a wrong turn, you can zoom out to see where the street is taking you, Street Atlas is perfect for that but requires At least a true VGA screen. SVGA screen works best with Street Atlas as it displays too much crap.

If that is required with co-pilot, I'm glad I didn't get it.

That would be annoying.

Especially when they don't give you the best route and continously nags you to make a U-turn because you took a detour. :)

Hey Alpha! Any tests on the CoPilot done yet? Let us know about this issue when you can.