Laptop / GPS

[BassNBeer]

So..i'm looking into buying a laptop for fishing etc...

What I want to do is bring it with on the boat/ice..chart where i'm at and enter data into excel or something about the fish I catch, color of lure etc....

So, what are my options? Can I turn my laptop into a GPS, using maps as well. I've looked around at some software and hardware for my pc to do this, but wow...its confusing. Can someone shed some light on this? You might just say "Get a handheld", but what fun is that. I'll be setup with broadband on the lappy too.

Thanks for any help/ideas you might hand off!

[Kyle Sandberg]

One word:

GEEKSQUAD.

I'd say contact a shop that has done something like this before and see what your options are.

[icechipper]

There are a couple of sets of software out there that come with mapping software and a GPS antenna that plugs into your USB port of your PC. I don't know how good the mapping part would work on the water but it is good on the road. Google Streets and Trips, Delorme or USB GPS.

[ScoutII]

LakeMaster software works well on a laptop with a GPS antenna hooked to USB port. Easy to see large screen. Sun glare on the laptop screen will make it hard to see. When I used this setup in a pickup, while moving, the hardrive would skip like on early C-D players when you hit bumps. If you have a good laptop vehicle mount that hardrive skip should be minimised. If you have tinted side windows sun glare should not be as big of an issue either.

[PerchJerker]

Doc Sampson (walleye pro) writes a lot of articles and does seminars about this type of thing. Maybe you can find some helpful info if you search on his name.

[walleyewild]

I have a Toshiba satellite Laptop and Delorme USB GPS antenna. I have never had an issue with the hard drive skipping.

If you get the lakemaster pro map's software you can set it up to use with the Delorme puck. It is spot on on the enhanced maps.

You can also check out hightech fishing (Contact Us Please) you know what.

Doc Sampson has some great info there on maps and software. Spent a few hours reading the tips on all things electronic for fishing.

Would like to go to one of his seminars in the future.

WW

[Whoaru99]

I do it both ways.

I have a hand-held GPS for portability, but also the data cable so I can output the NMEA string to a PC/laptop for mapping/tracking on the computer.

Also, then you can plot waypoints or pick spots on the computer maps and transfer them back to the hand-held if you want to carry a smaller package.

The above is kind of best of both worlds, I think.

A pure PC/laptop solution works fine, I'm sure, if you always want to haul around the laptop every time you want to use GPS.

Also, most hand-held GPS are water resistant or waterproof. Most PC/laptops are not. So, when the weather is less than ideal, it sorta doesn't work too good for a pure laptop solution, IMO.

[PierBridge]

Quote:

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Doc Sampson (walleye pro) writes a lot of articles and does seminars about this type of thing. Maybe you can find some helpful info if you search on his name.

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BIGTIME what he said....

[BassNBeer]

Thanks guys. I'll check out all the ideas you gave.

[waskawood]

Docc Sampson without a doubt. I have a panasonic CF-27 toughbook and I use a Holux GPS reciever. Lakemaster works as well as many others. The sky is the limit. Good luck and have fun.

[Central Bassman]

I was just thinking of doing something like this the other day. Great information Guys!!!

[Shack]

With a little scouting, one could buy a USB cable with adapter to a hand held unit and use it as the antenna. Find software on internet and go forth. I did this with my fish locater/GPS ready unit. I know I saw USB cables with adapters.

I am sure a $20.00 cable is cheaper than an antenna and cable, if you have a hand held unit.

[walleyewild]

I have found that transfering way points to both my handheld lowrance and hard mount in the boat is quite a bit easier with my laptop that has a sd card slot built right in.

Technology is a wonderful thing!

Look online I am sure that you will find what you want for a price you are willing to pay.