[NTLUG:Discuss] GPS Device

[Dennis Rice]

I recently purchased a Garmin 255W.  It does what you want when you specify the address you are going to, otherwise it works well without the voice to let you know where you are.

The 255 has a USB interface (for powering also in the car) that can be read by Linux as a remote thumb drive, where you can read the trip log.  Great for OpenStreetMap.

I used Amazon to find the 255W for about $160, price at Fry's was $220.  You might also want to purchase the extra AC power supply, as it only comes with the car DC power cord for plugging into the car power outlet.

Dennis


Daniel Hauck wrote on 10/9:
(2009?10?09? 12:12), Kevin E. Ivey wrote:

> > Daniel Hauck wrote:
> >   
>   
>> >> I am preparing to move to the east coast for two or more years and it is
>> >> an area that I am not familiar with. For years I have wanted a GPS drive
>> >> device but have never been able to really justify it because I pretty
>> >> much know how to get around all over Texas. But this will be different.
>> >>
>> >> So I am interested in recommendations on the most Linux friendly GPS
>> >> drive device available. Anyone with experiences and recommendations?
>> >>     
>>     
> > Howdy,
> >
> > I have had very good experiences with just about any self-contained GPS 
> > receivers working with Linux and GPSDrive specifically.
> >
> > The receiver I use the most is a Garmin GPS-16.  It is a receiver and 
> > antenna sealed in a plastic lump that outputs serial NMEA data read 
> > through the serial port of my old Dell Laptop.
> >
> > Most modern portable computers have no serial ports, so a USB or 
> > Bluetooth receiver is required.  The USB receivers must emulate a serial 
> > port in order to work, unless the software can read a NMEA stream 
> > through the USB interface.  Bluetooth works around this by only having a 
> > physical USB connection to the Bluetooth transceiver.  BT works right 
> > out of the box in Linux, so getting the GPS data is just like receiving 
> > a file or an audio stream.
> >
> > I'm not sure which devices use the various formats for GPS data, but 
> > XGPS and GPSDrive work with serial NMEA output and with the Bluetooth 
> > devices.
> >
> > So, I guess it depends on your computer and the type of ports available.
> >
> > Hope that helps,
> >
> > keVIn
> >   
>   

Actually, I was asking about something like TomTom or Garmin devices
that plot routes and speak to me and do not merely receive GPS data and
relay it to a computer. I should have been more specific.