MC.CC
You have asked a lot of questions. That is the way it should be, but if answered in line, it could get confusing. I am very much accustom to answer list of questions because many know I have had the job description of "Navigator" for many years. I was a navigator for vessels much of that time, so where I say "charts" think "maps".
Is anyone using a laptop with GPS receiver and map routing software? I like seeing the map routing on my large laptop screen and ease of being able to zoom in and out as I want to. I really liked Microsoft Streets and Trips, but they discontinued this program. Is there a good alternative software program I can run on Windows 10? I used to change between SA and S&T regularly until I outgrew S&T and needed to newly added or found capabilities of SA. If SA will not run native on Win10, the people at Delorme will fix it post-haste.
Does Delorme have a GPS sensor, or can one be used to give real time feed? Delorme can supply a GPS and the drivers for most everything are included in the program or package. You can use almost anything that has a common GPS output with SA without any issue at all. This is neat when you are traveling to have a "You are Here" on the chart. For many years, I used one of my free standing GPS to supply this input to SA. If you have the GPS that used to be provided for S&T, you can use it - if you can connect it to the new laptop.
This looks like a good program. I just want to be able to update the road maps every couple of years and make sure the points of interests are up to date. Has this been your experience with it?There are two ways to up date. You can occasionally buy the new package for not too much money, or when you see changes, you can add (or subtract) them from the included charts.
It is a very usable package, but it does take some time and tutorials to get up to speed. It does have some annoying issue that I have written Delorme about over the years and they have corrected some. If you take the time (before you get underway) to learn all of what it can do, it will take a lot of the stress out of any excursion.
So it looks like I will probably order this program. What is the process for adding the points of interest add ons? Is it a fairly easy process?There are several ways to add POI.
What I use most for specific is items is I add the item to the included address book. Then I can display them on the chart. There is a 200 line limit to the Address book. But, that way when we are near some stop I want to make, it is showing and can easily be routed.
I also use the overlays available at the
Discovery Owners site. These are available formatted for SA, and are easily downloaded and included and any specific set can be switched on and off as desired. There are instructions there as to how to use said files.
Another I have used is
POI Factory. It is a little cumbersome to use as many of the files exist only as *.csv or *.gpx and have to be loaded or translated carefully.
Last thought, it you don't have AC onboard when underway, just get a little (~100 watt) inverter to run the laptop. Try it out somewhere - like in your car - at least two weeks before departure. Run it at least one week. Some computer power supplies don't like all cheap inverters.
This should answer all your questions pretty completely. If it did not, or you have learned enough to start some new ones, come on back - I'm here a lot.
P.S. If you look at the picture, you can see the laptop on the table at the passenger seat.
