Laptops and PDAs

Laptops and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) each have their advantages over the other and it really comes down to personal preference. For example, PDAs may be very portable and relatively fast but they usually have limited functionality and their small screens can make them quite hard to read. Laptops on the other hand are very fast and feature full functionality. The much larger screen provides an easier and more enjoyable map-reading and navigational experience. The bigger overall size of the laptop however, can also be its main drawback. Since a laptop is a lot bigger, some people may deem it a little bulky to be carrying around – especially when travelling.

Even though both devices are excellent companions for GPS navigation, the laptop would most likely be better suited for the vehicle, whilst the PDA – being small and portable would be better for hiking or boating, etc.

Laptops and PDAs are becoming a popular option for offroad GPS navigation – in fact many of the trek notes on ExplorOz have been created in this way. By running navigational software such as OziExplorer or TrackRanger on the laptop or OziExplorer CE on the PDA, route planning and digital navigation can be taken to the next level.

 Why Take a Laptop?

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If there’s going to be a passenger to assist with the navigating, or you have a custom-built laptop table in view of the driver then using a laptop can make perfect sense as the preferred navigational aide. The large screen is great for detailed viewing of digital maps, street maps and topographic maps. Running software such as OziExplorer or TrackRanger will provide added power and functionality. This gives the navigator the means to:

• Record and save the path you travel


• View the track ahead and plan the best route


• Scroll and zoom in and out of maps to see more detail where you are


• Insert waypoints with descriptions for points of interest as you pass


• Calculate estimated arrival time (ETA)


• Calculate distances between points and much more

Laptops are nearly as fast and powerful as desktops and there are many different sizes to choose from. Laptops include a lot of memory for data storage and the means to backup your data onto CDs or DVDs using a burner. Taking a laptop also gives you one workstation. Tasks such as: writing journals using a word processor, transferring photo and video files from your cameras, photo editing and file storing, using wireless broadband for emailing and keeping the kids entertained with DVDs.

 Why Take a PDA?

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PDAs are basically small handheld computers that are portable enough to be carried on you. These devices can be used as a navigation device when a GPS receiver such as a GPS Compact Flash card is connected. Although the available screen size for viewing the map area is significantly smaller than a laptop, they may provide a better option than using a handheld mapping GPS. PDAs offer a lot of power for their size and compared to map-based handheld GPS units – they typically can run faster. That said, you can still consider GPS manufacturers like Navman and TomTom, as they usually release a PDA version such as a Pocket PC.

When running navigation software such as OziExplorer CE, the PDA will allow you to load in raster and scanned maps. The CE version of OziExplorer includes much of the same functionality as the full version for home computers and laptops. PDAs also give you the option to purchase street level routing software such as: Navigator and Street Pilot to name a few.

 GPS Receiver Types

Flash Card

Compact Flash, also abbreviated to CF is a standard that laptops and PDAs such as Palm and Pocket PC can use. Compact Flash typically uses flash memory and was originally developed as a type of data storage device. Since then, many additional applications utilising CF technology has developed – including GPS.

Compact Flash GPS receivers are an inexpensive and flexible alternative to traditional navigation systems. Simply plug it into you PDA or laptop CF card slot and place the computer in a convenient spot in your vehicle. The unit consumes very little power, which is supplied by the PDA or laptop. These units have built-in active antennas which are fine in most situations; however, reception will be further enhanced with an external antenna.

Some good features to look out for are outlined below:

• Up to 12 satellite tracking channels


• Low power consumption (e.g. drawing 90mA)


• External antenna support


• CFA compliant


• High sensitivity chipset


• LED indicators for operational or fix status


• Late chipset edition (e.g. SiRF Star III)

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GPS Mouse

These GPS receivers look just like an ordinary computer mouse – hence its name. Most of these receivers are inexpensive and are designed to be compact, robust and weatherproof. They are used to connect laptops and PDAs via USB or 9-pin serial. They will transform your laptop or PDA into a navigation system by simply plugging into one of these slots. A majority of these devices will have the power and data transmitted through the cable, eliminating the need for an external power supply. Most of these units also have a powerful magnetic base so they can be attached to the outside of the vehicle for better satellite reception. The GPS positions are updated in real-time on your laptop or PDA that may be running navigation software such as OziExplorer or TrackRanger.

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Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that uses the 2.4 GHz frequency range to allow secure connection of computers and other electronic devices over short distances. These units cost a little more than cabled receivers, however this extra cost allow for greater flexibility.

A Bluetooth GPS is a wire-free GPS receiver that can transmit data wirelessly to your PDA, laptop and even on some mobile phones. These units are suitable for most GPS applications such as: car navigation, marine navigation, fleet management, AVL, personal navigation, tracking system and mapping devices. Bluetooth is good for in-car use because the GPS receiver can be placed forward on the dash or directly under the windscreen for a better view of the sky. Another option is to connect an external antenna and mount this outside the vehicle with a magnet.

Some of the advantages of Bluetooth systems are listed below:

• Wirelessly connects to PDAs and laptops with some Bluetooth GPS units having a range of up to 80m


• Very long battery life. Typical rechargeable battery life is up to 18 hours


• Ideal for hikers and other outdoor pursuits due to the extended battery life and portability of these units

GPS Solar Powered Bluetooth

There are now some units currently on the market that are solar powered. The solar power board on these units can extend the battery life by up to 30 hours. The receiver’s batteries can also be recharged when the solar panel is exposed to sunlight or a fluorescent lamp.

 Using a GPS Unit as the Receiver

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In many cases, handheld GPS units such as Garmin, Lowrance/Eagle, Magellan, Silva/Brunton and MLR GPS receivers can be used as the GPS receiver for your laptop or PDA. There are a few things you would need to find out before considering this as an option though.

• Can the handheld GPS unit be set to output NMEA ‘sentences’ which is a GPS communications protocol. This is usually done via the interface menu, although you may need to consult the user manual to do this action.


• Does the handheld GPS unit have a data transfer port for connecting external devices such as a computer laptop or PDA?


• Can you purchase a dedicated or maybe even a generic data transfer cable to connect the GPS unit to the laptop or PDA via its serial or USB port?

OziExplorer and TrackRanger

For OziExplorer, you can choose from a wide selection of GPS units in the 'GPS' tab of the 'Configuration' window. Many GPS brands and models are supported here. If your particular unit isn’t shown or you are not sure, then selecting NMEA may do the trick. For TrackRanger, you need to select NMEA for transferring data to most handheld GPS units. It explains how to do this in the TrackRanger PDF manual. Another thing to consider is the baud rate which is the data transfer speed. The handheld GPS unit and either OziExplorer or TrackRanger should both show the same baud rate in its configuration. In most cases than not, this baud rate is usually set to 4800 Baud.

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