Re: Downloading Data from GPS

sidkunjal@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
What I want to do?

I need a GPS unit through which I can download the data real-time i.e.
longitude/latitude/speed etc to a laptop.

Do you want to capture the data for later use, or display it on a laptop as
you drive?

There are many possibilities.

If you are always going to have a laptop connected,
"Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 with GPS Locator"
http://www.microsoft.com/streets/ProductDetails.aspx?pid=001
"GPS Task Pane. Get important information fast, including driving speed,
latitude and longitude coordinates, altitude, travel direction, and more. "

The GPS "mouse" that is included is small, and must be connected to a
Windows PC via USB. It has no display or functions as a standalone unit.

This package retails for $80-110.

The http://www.delorme.com "Earthmate GPS LT-20 & Street Atlas USA 2007" is
a similar product, also in the $90-$110 range. This one is more fully
featured, and has logging capabilities that MS S&T does not have.

http://www.tvnav.com/18.htm $120 is the Garmin alternative, same idea, a
GPS "mouse" attached to a PC.

a) Which is the cheapest solution i.e. Magnellan 6000t is what Best Buy
recommends. Is there anything cheaper than this.

The Magellan 6000t is a standalone automotive GPS, not suitable for this
project.

The packages noted above are complete and cheap, but require the PC.
Another avenue would be a cheap standalone GPS that can be used with the
software noted above. My suggestion would be the Garmin eTrex,
http://www.tvnav.com/remanetrex.htm $85.

This would allow you to simply capture the lat/long/speed/altitude/time
"NMEA" data stream in any serial-port software for later processing, or
live processing using a lot of available programs. The eTrex could also
record a "track" without being attached to a PC, which can be viewed on the
screen of the eTrex, or transferred to a PC later using several different
programs, some of them free, many less than $100.

b) Do I have to purchase another software?

So many possibilities. http://www.gpsinformation.net would be a good place
to start. This page ignores the mouse-type GPS, offering information on
standalone units, most of which will connect to a laptop.

c) If I am travelling in a car, the usb cable from the gps would plugin
to my laptop. Is that correct?

With the small mouse units, you need to connect to a PC. With most
standalone units non-automotive units, you could attach to a PC, or record
a track standalone for transfer to a PC later. The automotive units like
the Magellan 6000T usually do not connect to a PC at all.

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5
.

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