Forum Discussion

rvgrammady's avatar
rvgrammady
Explorer
May 17, 2014

Is there a GPS for Laptops

I just bought a new Toshiba laptop windows 8.1 .

I was considering getting a new GPS.. someone mentioned he thought I could get something to make my Laptop a GPS and not have to connect to the internet & use a data plan.

Not related to GPS issue...
Although I am considering getting something for my laptop to connect to the internet. I currently have Verizon LG Lucid cell with 4GB data, someone said I could get a Jetpack for $20 a month and use my data from my phone? there was also something called tethering? but that costs and was told jetpack was better?

I am so confused. I only travel by myself, 4-5 weeks at a time about 3 times a year. I stay in campgrounds (wifi usually sucks), I don't download movies etc. Just some email checking, facebook to see grandkids pics (Occasionally), and a few blogs I read (not many daily) and probably will add some campground searches, local to do's, maybe trip routing, making reservations etc. every few days.

So was thinking I could get/buy somethng GPS for my laptop (have to find out if the laptop can have a d/c adapter) and not have to buy a new GPS unit. Use the $'s I'd save on GPS unit and get GPS for laptop and maybe internet for laptop. Phone is to small & hard for me to navigate etc. for internet usage. Although I have used it when abosolutly necessary .. no Starbucks or McD's avail.

I am so confused.. I just hate to keep asking the same questions with so many variations. Thanks folks for your input..
Oh would you suggest I go to like Best Buy and they could give me some input. last time I did they asked how much data I used a month and I have no idea. I have wifi AT&T uverse internet at home.
GrammaDy
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2014
    I use and have used several programs

    Rand McNally,, (Street atlas) nice program but bulky we used it on half the computers at work I used it with a GPS in my car.. One thing I liked about it was the Whinny... You could set a speed limit and if you went too fast it would Whinny (Like a horse) at you to remind you to slow down.. flip side of that is it mis-read speed something fierce. Do not know if current versions do this (Retired in 2002)

    Microsoft S&T with dongle is my primary for the motor home.. I really like the 15.6" screen on this laptop.

    Google MAPS app on smart phone is what I use in the car, I also have a Garmin but I've not yet mounted it in the car.. I may not since the S-III does a very good job.

    Google Maps on a smart phone.. if you have the memory free, can store the map "OFFLINE" and that way if you have no cell tower nearby it still works. But on the trips I've taken it only tried to confuse me a couple of times and a bit of brain fixed that "Turn left (or right) might mean "Go straight onto new road"

    What happens is near me is a road with multiple names.. The road by NAME goes straight, but the road BY NUMBER goes to the right, so Google tells me to "TURN LEFT" which would have put me into a fence. S&T says "continue straight onto "road name". "
  • wintersun's avatar
    wintersun
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2014
    There are a couple of variables. If you have an internet connection you can use various apps if your laptop can connect to a bluetooth enabled GPS receiver. I use a Holux GPS receiver with bluetooth and it has a rechargeable battery and lasts for at least a week on one charge. But the laptop has to have an internet connection for this to work and half the time we do not have a good 4G signal.

    For travel I prefer using a dedicated GPS unit as it is much faster than any smartphone I have tried and so I get earlier notice of when to make turns. I can also mount it on the dash and the portable units often have a mode feature so I can set it for walking or bicycling and get different routes than I would get if I was in a car. I use this a lot in Europe where the cities are people friendly.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2014
    S&T gave me the road route but the actual stops and changed through out the trip as did the major AK loop (CW vs CCW). The final result with stops in S&T can be seen http://2013alaska.blogspot.ca/, scroll down a few pages.

    Downloading that route 66 times (if possible) in not desirable for me for several reasons. But having the route and GPS on a laptop would have an advantage.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2014
    Good points above. My in dash Garmin is a pain to enter a destination. I can enter the next days destination in the portable with it's battery anywhere in the car or MH.

    Long term route planning is done with S&T which is far from ideal. Perhaps I should try SA. Our Alaska trip was 66 stops, which changed as we made progress. AFAIK Garmin GPSs won't accept a route that long but who cares as we continually changed the route anyway.
  • Bumpyroad's avatar
    Bumpyroad
    Explorer
    May 17, 2014
    you highlight something that I forgot to mention. I wouldn't want a GPS that I couldn't sit down at my computer and plan out a route, then load it to the GPS.
    bumpy
  • Matt_Colie's avatar
    Matt_Colie
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2014
    To answer your question directly and with minimal confusion, there are three that I am familiar with, Delorme Street Atlas, Microsoft Streets and Trips and CoPilot. CoPilot was assembled to be very effective for truckers, but if you have a large RV, it may be worth looking at.

    The real advantage of running a Laptop Navigator package is that you can to the planning and the on-route navigation with the same device and software. If you buy the package with a GPS puck, you will also need either an inverter or a car-power supply. It will be well worth it. It is very difficult to do in detail planning on a dashboard GPS.

    You used to be able to download a two week package of Streets and Trips. That might be good if you still can. IF you cannot, borrow either (better yet) both from a friend. Try to use that package. If you are a very MS oriented person, you may find S&T better. I used to alternate depending on which package I got first at the best price, but S&T was difficult to use for many things I liked to do and SA was not so about 5 years ago I gave up on S&T and now run SA only. I buy a new copy about every other year to keep the charts up to date. It is less expensive without the GPS.

    I get asked about this sort of thing all the time. It just may be because I name tag that said "Navigator". We often run two. My wife likes to drive, so I load the day's route to her dashboard unit and I work the the laptop to keep the route current and plan the next day.

    Matt
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    May 17, 2014
    I have 2GB on the Verizon phone and 4GB on the Jetpack. The combined 6GB can be used by either device and we haven't exceeded that amount. We typically connect to the Jetpack with 2 laptops and wireless printer.

    I much prefer my Garmin GPS to a laptop GPS. It's mounted on a bean bag mount, is easily moved to any car or my pocket. The larger laptop screen is an advantage for some but not me. I can easily see the Garmin and do not have to deal with mounting the laptop.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    May 17, 2014
    Hi,

    Here is a tip for anyone who uses google maps.

    Right click on the location

    Select "What's here" and the gps numbers will be displayed in the search line.
  • darsben's avatar
    darsben
    Explorer II
    May 17, 2014
    A better choice to me is DeLorme TOPO maps on disc The functionality of Street Atlas plus can .show you a graph of the grades you will encounter.
    It is like looking at the Delorme Gazetteer maps. Shows trails, abandoned towns, and other features not seen on GPS.
    The best thing about using a program on computer is the added landscape to the sides and ahead of you. This has led us to many interesting places and nice side roads which we prefer.

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