Overland Navigator

[spatialminds]

The admin encouraged me to start a new thread describing Overland Navigator and for discussion.

Overland Navigator essentially turns your computer into a GPS with a really big screen and USGS Topo maps. It works with traditional laptops, small/cheap "netbook" computers, tablets, and UMPCs. It is touchscreen compatible but works equally well with a mouse and keyboard. It is designed to be super easy to install/setup, intuitive to use on the trail, and easy to share tracks/trails with friends.

Detailed information about the product, screenshots, a Youtube demo, and price can be found at Spatial Minds, LLC. Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for improvements.

Link to the

Youtube Demo

Screenshots




My Setup - Semi ruggedized sunlight visible UMPC running Windows XP. Attached to dash with a RAM mount. I'm using a through hull weatherproof SIRF III GPS.

I like the UMPC because I can remove it and store it in my locking drawers when I'm hiking, snowshoeing, etc. My truck is a Land Rover. I'll post additional pictures of Jeep installs soon. The Tuftab in my Land Rover would also work in a Jeep

[spatialminds]

We've just released map-packs for NY/NJ, PA, NC/SC, WI, and MI for sale through our webstore. http://spatialminds.com

The total list of map-packs that are currently available includes:

Alabama
Arkansas
Florida
Georgia
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Michigan
Mid Atlantic Region (DC, VA, WV, MD, DE)
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana North
Montana South
Nebraska
New England
New Mexico
New York & New Jersey
North & South Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas North
Texas South
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

[SteelHeadz]

Looks expensive, how much for the setup?

[spatialminds]

Jeep install

[spatialminds]

Originally Posted by SteelHeadz

Looks expensive, how much for the setup?

You can use a computer you already have, a UMPC, or a netbook. Touchscreen tablet computers range in price from $500 used to $4000. The setup in my truck sold new for $1700 2 years ago (ruggedized / sunlight visible screen). You can find them on eBay now. You can buy a Samsung Q1EX UMPC new for $775 or run it on a netbook for as little as $200. We put a lot of time in to insure that the keyboard support would work really easy on a Netbook.



A super good SIRF III magnetic GPS sells for $36 (Globalsat BU-353). This chipset is the same as you find in the high end Garmin units such as the 60Csx. It just plugs into a USB port.

The RAM mount depends on the unit you buy and how you want to mount it... or you can just fab your own since it's usually just steel pipe and a bracket.

[SteelHeadz]

Cool! , next question. So if i already have a GPS18 or a Delorme USB beacon for the GPS, your software is what i buy and it will support that? also, will that work on a Nokia pocket PC?.. Thanks for your patience. Currently i'm using the GPS-18 plugged in to my Dell XPS M-1710 to map out locations on the ranch and trails that i wheel in from time to time. It seems to do what i need it for, i just like the idea of having the ease of the menu features rather than scrolling on a drop down menu's..

[spatialminds]

Overland Navigator requires an NMEA0183 compatible GPS. Garmin offers their free Garmin Spanner software to enable the GPS 18 to communicate with this non-proprietary GPS protocol (vs the proprietary Garmin binary protocol that their software uses). Similarly, Delorme has a small piece of software that comes with the GPS where you can specify that it should output NMEA0183. The $35 Globalsat BU-353 GPS is both a better GPS and less involved to setup, but the units you already have will work with some up front setup.

Overland Navigator is only compatible with Windows XP or Windows Vista so it won't run on a Nokia Pocket PC (Windows Mobile/Windows CE isn't really Windows at all). It should work GREAT on your Dell XPS M-1710 though. :)

Exactly. Overland Navigator's UI is a lot easier to use than traditional file menus. You can also setup keyboard shortcuts to map to specific waypoint symbols. For example, I have F1 set for Easy Trail, F2 set for Intermediate Trail, and F3 for Most Difficult. The arrow keys can be used to pan around, etc. Of course you can use the mouse for all of this too and the big buttons are easy to hit with a mouse.

Craig

[SteelHeadz]

Thanks for the heads up. I doubt i will ever use the Delorme GPS ever again. It's not as accurate than the GPS-18.