Thread: Software for laptop navigation

Originally Posted by scubadoo

I still use Garmin nRoute daily as the main navigation program on my notebook.
It operates perfectly with any mapset I have thrown at it and I have a lot. BlueCharts, City Navigator, Topo etc.

Garmin MobilePC can not compete.

I do not bother using any of my Garmin GPS units as the input source.
This combination works perfectly all day long:
Notebook (Windows XP, 7 and 8 tomorrow (I hope)). + GPSGate + $2 Bluetooth USB dongle + $25 Bluetooth GPS.

Click attachment to enlarge.

Looks like an admirable solution to laptop secondary navigation - will follow up on this one - but would really like to know why my 76cx doesn't work as should.

Originally Posted by drammer

Waas increases accuracy, not reliability. If you enable waas, you not only need a signal from 3 or 4 gps satellites but also from a waas satellite. So. in my humble opinion, the chance of signal failure is higher with waas, especially as there are not many waas satellites in the sky.
Recently I experimented a bit with a gps mouse connected to a netbook, maybe some of my findings could be of help:
1 The signal strength indoor is far less than outside
2 Bringing the antenna close to double glazed windows lowers the signal strength, probably due to the thin metal coating on the inside of the panes. If you don't want to experiment outside, open at least the window.
3 Bringing the netbook close to the antenna results in (total) signal loss, keep a distance of at least 50 cm

Your comments on WAAS are correct - as per my previous post- with WAAS disabled the satellite signal was considerably longer but still crashed.

Also agree with your later comments. I was using my 76cx outside window -satellite signal was excellent but even when 76cx was inside the window there was very little loss of satellite signal. 76cx are reknown for keeping satellite signals in rough terrain.

I have nRoute working with the 76cx at long last. to save confusion will put in a separate post.

Originally Posted by Giomen

I use all device and even Nuvi with COM (serial) adapter on XP OS. No problem! nRoute is only program that lets me test the map of NT format. I set the simulation on the desired section and have track at the end. Then I compare simulating track with real for my purposes...

That is good to know.
Did not actually try the serial connection because I did not have the cable. Will try that on my other laptop - which has XP OS and no GpsGate installed.

I acknowledge that my problem was specific to my 76 cx with usb connection. Just that when investigating my problem on internet 'others' implied that they experienced same problem when connected by usb or serial.

The upside of having GpsGate is that I do not need a separate power supply to power my 76cx and I am not limited to using Garmin gpsr.

Now that I have nRoute working, I had better learn how to use it !!! Which could be a challange for an old codger like me.

Maybe, just maybe, there might be room on this forum for a nRoute thread and it's inclusion into Garmin programs. I for one would be very interested, as old as the program is, it clearly functions well as a navigation tool and there are a number of knowledgeable forum members,( such as you), still using the program.

Do not think I went of topic, did I ???

Originally Posted by catymag

You can post a nRoute thread in Software&Tools section
May be you can link then to this thread for all the infos about the usage with your device

As I am a newcomer to this wonderful forum, and have certainly learned an awful lot since I joined, I would probably muck up. Was hoping that some kind and knowledgeable administrator or moderator would carry out this task.