MacGregorSailors.com

Has anyone used a computer mouse G P S?

I see a Deluo mouse gps advertised for $55.00.

As I understand, one attaches it to a USB port on a laptop that has been loaded with GPS software, like Maptech's, and the combination results in a GPS/Chartplotting system.

Obviously, it can't be mounted at the helm, but it may be a way to go.

I use a USB 'mouse' GPS that I paid about $60 on the net. It works great. I plug it into a tablet type laptop with a 'daylight' screen. This computer is actually easier to see the screen in the light and sunlight viewing is good. Computers take a lot of energy, so I have to be conservative with it's use on a longer trip if I can't plug into the grid.
I have downloaded 'Sea Clear' but have not used it yet since I'm not near any large bodies of water that have charts published. I use an older mapping program called Street Finder and it works very well in the car and will at least tell you where you are in the lake. The GPS also came with a simple little program that tells you speed and direction which is good to compare to the Fish Finder speed.
I would love to get a good program that would let me download free Gov't charts and use them with the GPS.

SeaClear is a good one. It is a little hard to handle routes and files but it works well in realtime UNLESS your OS is Vista. SeaClear does not operate in real time in Vista. It will do dead reckoning, positioning and routing but not plotting in Vista.

I found that if I download all maps from NOAA there are a few missing. The detailed ones . For example I am in the Manasquan and with just NOAA maps the detail is limited. I found that maptech offers maps for free also and it is my understanding NOAA actually gets their raster charts from them. So what I did is this. I downloaded all rasters from NOAA, they let you get 100 at a time. Then I downloaded the eastern seaboard from Maptech. If it looks like I will be going to the pacific I will get those. I did get the pacific ones from Noaa , just not from Maptech. it takes about a gig of space once you get them the way I did. Now I have the detailed ones as well. As you copy and paste these files from Maptech into your seaclear dir you will see "file exisits" so I just let them get replaced. the folder grows as the precess proceeds. I just know i have a boatload of maps. Mapcal gets everythig working and I sit at my kitchen table and go all over the place. I have one laptop with Windows Home and one laptop with Vista. I can't tell what the difference is but this spring if I take them both I can see what works and what doesn't between the 2.

Gary

Gary,

Your results will be very interesting, to me anyway. Please remember to post them when you find anything.

Ken

Nedmiller Wrote:

I plug it into a tablet type laptop with a 'daylight' screen. This computer is actually easier to see the screen in the light and sunlight viewing is good

Really!!
So what is the brand/name/model of this unit?
I have been searching for a means of using my Garmin GPS Map76cs with a notebook using their live tracking software called nroute. It works on my notebook (USB connected) as long as I keep the notebook below and away from any light. So what good does that do me? I need something topside that I can see and I find the little garmin screen a bit small. I am thinking something affordable....

Can you make a shield for your laptop? I've seen them advertised...about 4" wide around the top and sides...(called a bonnet ?)

I bought a chartkit from Maptech and a companion CD of Off Shore Navigator lite came with it...that let me connect my Garmin GPSmap76s and run with the free maptech charts....at least..it found us sitting here at home in the "Black Hammock"...we'll be going out for Christmas and New Years and I'll know for sure.