GPS Suggestions

[Tom Stefanac]

I know all the serial GPS unit have NEMA output for sure, 100%!!!

A common complaint I have heard with strictly USB Garmin devices is that they don't have NEMA output, some of them anyway.

Call Garmin and verify... if you already have, for future reference in the forum does your GPS support NEMA out?

Thanks!

 

[Darin Brunin]

IMO, keep it simple and get the DeLorme combo (LT-20 receiver and Street Atlas) and it will be more than plenty to satisfy your GPS needs. It works flawlessly and can be integrated into many programs with the emulator That's all we have used and haven't had a reason to try anything else.

 

[Jason Boggs]

I use Delorme street atlas 2006 and got the software along with the GPS puck at Best Buy for $100. It works good for me but It won't show when a road goes from pavement to dirt. I went down a road SW of Clarendon, TX going north last year while storm chasing. Nice paved road for 4 or 5 miles. Turned into mud for the next 6-8 miles and had to put it into 4 low to get through. Would have turned around but there was a hail core behind me with large hail in it. I will remember to never go down that road again when it's raining. Anyway, mapping software that showed when a road turned to dirt would be nice.

 

[JR Hehnly]

The GPSgate serial splitter software will decode the Garmin format into NMEA for your non-Garmin GPS software. Nice to have if you are wanting a handheld GPS for hiking/biking/etc, but still want to use it for chasing.

http://franson.com/gpsgate/

 

[Paul Stofer]

Lets add to this the possibility of using Gibson Ridge Software's GRLevel3 (http://www.grlevelx.com) radar viewing program with a USB GPS puck (receiver) and some virtual port software and you have a combo that's hard to beat right now.

I have the Delorme Earthmate antenna, but I am having trouble picking up any GPS satellites on COM1. I'm assuming you need that virtual port software like you were talking about. Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Bob Hartig]

Yes, you need the serial emulator. I couldn't get my DeLorme Earthmate LT-20 to work with GRL3 until I had installed an emulator. After that, I've had smooth sailing. Various serial emulators have been mentioned on this thread, so you've got some options. The DeLorme download is free and works fine for me. I supplied the link earlier.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I have the 07 Streets and Trips and have been very satisfied with it. Its the only one I have had so I can't compare with any of the others, but it is a great program. You cant add radar to it, but all the other features that are included make up for it. Many hotel and restaurant locations are programmed in, so it is a good program to have even outside of chasing.

 

[J Gontesky]

This thread has provided me with a great deal of useful information.

I'd like to get an all-in-one Garmin (such as the Nuvi 350) but want to make sure of one detail before pulling the trigger:
Can I tether it to my laptop via USB and send my position info out over the web (such as onto the stormspotter.org network, etc...)?

I know I can do this with a small GPS receiver "puck" such as the Microsoft Streets & Trips package, but can I do this with Garmin all-in-one devices as well?

Thanks!

 

[J West]

So I've heard quite a few negative things about the Delorma Street Atlas and was just wondering for those of you who use it out on the chase, what are your personal opinions about it? How about those who use Microsoft Streets? I heard that satellite acquiring is much faster using Microsoft.

I realize this is an old thread, but using DeLorme SA '06 and the LT-20 yellow puck USB antenna has produced nothing but headaches for me. The laptop it runs on is more than capable of running the software, but it seems to chug along and the USB antenna drops the signal more than it holds it, regardless of antenna placement. I'm going to try it with Topo USA installed instead of SA '06 but I don't think anything is going to change.

I have the DeLorme PN-20 handheld GPS that just came out and it works great, but it's a stand-alone device. I'm going to get away from DeLorme for my laptop applications and probably get a "real" GPS antenna and/or receiver to feed the mapping program.

 

[Derek Weston]

I have the 07 Streets and Trips and have been very satisfied with it. Its the only one I have had so I can't compare with any of the others, but it is a great program. You cant add radar to it, but all the other features that are included make up for it. Many hotel and restaurant locations are programmed in, so it is a good program to have even outside of chasing.

I'll add in another vote for 07 streets and trips.

Easy to use, intuitive... seems to work well. (only had one time where I had a bit of trouble picking up a GPS signal... and that might have been because I was moving when I tried to connect)

The plotting of local restaraunts/hotels is a big plus, IMO...

 

[Mike Mezeul II]

Alright, so I finally decided to go with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007. It got its first real test this weekend as I traversed from Denton, TX to central Kansas and back home. The GPS and software worked flawlessly! I didn't lose connection one time and the roads (even dirt and gravel) were very well mapped. This GPS allowed me to get in great position several times to intercept and watch the storms. Very happy with the decision.

PS. if anyone is looking for a good deal on this software, I bought mine off Ebay and it included Microsoft Streets & Trips 2007 w/Holux GPS Receiver for $56.