External GPS and Laptop Map Program ???

greenrvgreen wrote:
So for me Delorme is useful not just for route-finding but "destination-finding".

I agree... for me MS Streets is the same thing. It's for figuring out where to go, not how to get there. I leave that up to my stand alone GPS and my cell phone. Those devices know the traffic, the weather, the construction, the accidents, etc and route accordingly. Laptop programs just don't deal with those variables.

What's good about the laptop program, I can browse all over without any Internet. I can see what towns, parks, attractions are around the main area of my interest. Those things don't change, it doesn't matter if the program is 10 days old or 10 years old.

While the Delorme interface is definitely user-antagonistic, if you go up a step or two in the product line (same dysfunctional interface), you'll find some VERY powerful tools for adding routes, streets, links and layers, in addition to standard POIs.

I use Delorme Xmap to incorporate aerial photos, custom location maps (CGs, etc) and links to brochures and/or photos. So for me Delorme is useful not just for route-finding but "destination-finding".

I believe Google Earth Pro (it's free now) will accept GPS input on a laptop, so you can follow along. Be cautious, it may consume a lot of mobile data.

I like Streets and Trips as an external program. I have the Microsoft GPS dongle to plug into our computer. Also have the Delorme GPS dongle and Delorme Street atlas. Plus the Garmin RV660 which I love.

Can't get S&T to load on our computer any more so am trying to use Delorme but it is not a user friendly. Garmin now owns Delorme. I hope they will update it. There are many addresses that it can't find. So I have to select something close by. It does work well to show the distance and time between overnight stops.

I have tried base camp but that did not seem to work well for many overnight points in a long trip and seemed difficult to modify. Also tried Google earth and Google maps. I like google maps but that only works if you have a Cell signal. I did save some short one day segments to memory for use off line.

My first choice is streets and trips, second is delorme. Currently using delorme street atlas, google maps, and my garmin RV660.

External GPS and Microsoft Streets, or the Delorme program again. Roads haven't changed much since they stopped updating. You can even buy updates from 3rd party for MS Streets.

CoPilot makes a truck version for Windows. We use CoPilot RV app for iphone and are happy with it. www.copilotgps.com

DeLorme is a Garmin Brand Now

Good luck. We went with large-screen Garmin units when Delorme stopped developing Street Atlas. There was rumor than Garmin was buying Delorme, but haven't heard more on that front. Don't know if Base Camp will actually serve as a navigation package - but I doubt it. I use base camp to plan routes that I upload to the Garmin RV-760. It ain't perfect, but it's a pretty good navigator. If you really need a large screen navigation package, you might have to get a tablet and something like Co-pilot - the bigger screen on a tablet might work for you.

Don't quite know why an external antenna is essential unless you do find a laptop program. If you have weak GPS signal in your rig, Amazon sells GPS repeaters that will boost the signal inside.

al