GPS dongle on a Laptop for SatNav

[leelive]

I still have a daft-phone. I cannot justify £30+ per month for a smart one.
The only thing I would use just a thing for is for SatNav in the car.

So I have just bought a Globalsat BU-353 receiver for £30 off ebay. (It had the best reviews on Amazon but was £40 from them).

Does anyone else use a GPS dongle on a Laptop as a SatNav?

What software do you recommend?

Many thanks

[yourdj]

Is this for car and walking? so are you going to have your laptop mounted to your dash?
i can understand it with an ipad but cant with a laptop?

i bought Navmi which has all the maps built in - iphone 3gs only costs about £90 now.
I actually have one for sale.

[leelive]

Yes, for the car.
Will plug it into a Toshiba 10inch netbook that I bought for £30.
Lee

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm probably missing something here, but why not just buy a stand alone sat nav - you can get decent ones for less than £100 these days.

[Excalibur]

I'm probably missing something here, but why not just buy a stand alone sat nav - you can get decent ones for less than £100 these days.

I'd agree with you totally there, although if I'm not mistaken, one of our highly regarded members has a 10" sat nav for ease of viewing, by doing something similar with the tablet that's never far from his side! :D

[leelive]

I'm probably missing something here, but why not just buy a stand alone sat nav - you can get decent ones for less than £100 these days.

I got the car valet cleaned earlier in the year and the cigar lighter rusted with all the condensation so can't use that to power a SatNav. Hence looking at other options.

[Pe7e]

Why not just replace the cigar lighter, it can't be that big a job, can it?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Parts are less than a tenner, so it can't be that much to pay someone to do it.

[DazzyD]

A GPS dongle paired with a laptop or notebook just to emulate SatNav seems like you're taking a big sledgehammer to crack a nut. As you mentioned, I use a smartphone for SatNav purposes, which is ideal as it's compact and easy to use and goes in my pocket when it's not in use, but I'd need bigger pockets if I was going to use your method, Lee!

[leelive]

Thanks.
I think you have made me see sense.
Lee

[leelive]

Looked into the cost of TomTom etc... they wanted anything from £120+ for a machine.
So, as I had already spent £30 on the GPS dongle... I discovered that all I needed was MS Autoroute 2013.
All fixed and working.... it talks to me while I drive and have only cost me £60 all in.

[Excalibur]

Looked into the cost of TomTom etc... they wanted anything from £120+ for a machine.
.
How much? :eek:
a lot less than £120 (http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_78 0765_langId_-1_categoryId_165685)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Probably get it even cheaper by buying through Quidco too.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Probably get it even cheaper by buying through Quidco too.

3% off! ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

3% off! ;)

An extra 2 quid almost!!!!!!

[Excalibur]

3% off! ;)

I get that to £2.37. Could make all the difference.
As Shaun might say: "Many a mickle maks a muckle " :D:D:D

[DazzyD]

It doesn't have to be Tom Tom. Binatone do this one for £30: Bintone (https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/1508795938830393661?q=tom+tom+satnav&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=640&bvm=pv.xjs.s.en_US.EcV7juPhZrc.O&tch=1&ech=1&psi=Am55UrKCMcyg7Aat5IEI.1383689728675.7&sa=X&ei=JG55UqDgH8iI7AbG04GICQ&ved=0CJwBEPMCMAM)

A NavMan one for £50: NavMan (https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/12480167902269077087?q=tom+tom+satnav&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=640&bvm=pv.xjs.s.en_US.EcV7juPhZrc.O&tch=1&ech=1&psi=Am55UrKCMcyg7Aat5IEI.1383689728675.7&sa=X&ei=JG55UqDgH8iI7AbG04GICQ&ved=0CK4BEPMCMAU) or even a well-priced Tom Tom also at £50: TomTom (https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/8541464118184318859?q=tom+tom+satnav&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=640&bvm=pv.xjs.s.en_US.EcV7juPhZrc.O&tch=1&ech=1&psi=Am55UrKCMcyg7Aat5IEI.1383689728675.7&sa=X&ei=JG55UqDgH8iI7AbG04GICQ&ved=0CL4BEPMCMAc)

But, Lee has already said he's shelled out for the hardware and software, and it's a workable solution for him, so it's all academic really!

[ianforest]

Ok so when officer dibble pulls him for having a laptop on his passenger seat then he'll be off down halfords for a cheap window mounted sat-nag

[leelive]

Ok so when officer dibble pulls him for having a laptop on his passenger seat then he'll be off down halfords for a cheap window mounted sat-nag

The laptop has the lid closed.. so should be no problem. I listen to the computer shout out the direction. I tried it last night and it work great.
I won't be using it that often. Except when visiting Glasgow or Stirling for example! Those two towns defeat me.

Lee

[yourdj]

I spent £15 on a new satnav and it gets me everywhere. Not sure why you would have to pay £100?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&_from=R40&_udlo=&_udhi=30&LH_ItemCondition=3&_nkw=satnav&rt=nc&LH_BIN=1

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm really not sure why anyone would want to scrimp and save on this. It is a very important part of what we do, getting there on time and knowing where we are going. I have a Tomtom 1005 live (http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/products/car-navigation/go-live-series/go-live-1005-europe/) which has live traffic and saves me a lot of time. It is a genuine business expense too. I also have Tomtom software on my phone as back up.

[deltic]

I'd agree with you totally there, although if I'm not mistaken, one of our highly regarded members has a 10" sat nav for ease of viewing, by doing something similar with the tablet that's never far from his side! :D

have been known to use a rather large screen sat nav on occasion.......but much prefer the map book which sits in the glove box,probably a bit old school for the younger members!!!

[DazzyD]

have been known to use a rather large screen sat nav on occasion.......but much prefer the map book which sits in the glove box,probably a bit old school for the younger members!!!

Careful!! You'll have the older ones on here reminiscing about "the good old days" soon! :eek:

[katman]

have been known to use a rather large screen sat nav on occasion.......but much prefer the map book which sits in the glove box,probably a bit old school for the younger members!!!

A "proper" map is invaluable in the event of diversions. I have had two different satnavs so far and on both, when you get diverted from the route you were on it is not easy to see an alternative route and the satnav thinks it knows best and keeps trying to get you back onto the same road.

That said, its rare that I *need* to use a satnav and on the occasions I do use it, its more to give me an estimated arrival time. Mostly it is only really needed for the final building location once I get to the town/village where I am heading.

Years ago I did try out a GPS module on a laptop running AutoRoute and I much preferred it to a proper satnav.

[Excalibur]

I'm really not sure why anyone would want to scrimp and save on this. It is a very important part of what we do, getting there on time and knowing where we are going. I have a Tomtom 1005 live (http://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/products/car-navigation/go-live-series/go-live-1005-europe/) which has live traffic and saves me a lot of time. It is a genuine business expense too. I also have Tomtom software on my phone as back up.

I wouldn't have any other sat nav than a Tom Tom. ( Partly because most of the others ones can't find my house. They end up two miles away in a straight line, across a river!! ) Mine's a model below Darren's, but the best one I can afford.



have been known to use a rather large screen sat nav on occasion.......but much prefer the map book which sits in the glove box,probably a bit old school for the younger members!!!
Did I actually name you? :whistle: :D


A "proper" map is invaluable in the event of diversions. .

Absolutely correct chaps, the high quality map book is a vital adjunct to the sat nav. I tried to find a suitable alternative to the M1 when it became a nightmare, and without a map, it's very difficult. My weapon of choice is the Philips Navigator series. Nothing else even comes close.


Careful!! You'll have the older ones on here reminiscing about "the good old days" soon! :eek:
You called? :D
Actually, the sat nav is such a boon. The only time mine isn't in the van is when it's in the car. My phone has a similar app on it as well, but yes the map is always there as well. Belt and braces lads, belt and braces.

[leelive]

Anyone need a GPS dongle?
You made me see sense.
I opted for a car with Sat Nav built-in instead.
https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/999223_10152055160561676_92450171_n.jpg