Re: [A/S] how to use a laptop gps in a suburban

[Rick Kunath <k9ao@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I take it that you have a GPS unit and some brand or other of mapping 
software (already installed and running on the laptop).

The GPS unit has to see a large part of the sky to see the orbiting 
satellites. If you can place it on the dash it will probably work well. 
If not, there are external antenna adapters available for the GPS which 
allow you to mount the antenna up on the windshield using suction cups 
and the GPS anywhere you want it. These usually have DC adapters for 
powering the GPS and data cables included too. There are other 
permanent-mount roof or trunk antennas available. These are not trivial 
to install. The stick-on square flat antennas work OK too as long as you 
can get a good shot of the sky from the dash or package shelf of the 
vehicle.

You'll need the laptop DC adapter too.

Connect the data cable from the GPS to the laptop's serial port (make 
sure the serial port is enabled in the laptop's BIOS if the port seems 
to not be working), and you're good to go.

Shelf lining rubber mats work pretty well for keeping the laptop sliding 
to a minimum. Otherwise you'll need to fabricate some sort of mounting 
for it, making sure not to block the cooling vents on the laptop.

Do you really need the laptop on as you drive? Were you going to create 
routes and export them to the GPS?

That's what I usually do (create a route and export it). The GPS will 
let you know when a turn is due and scroll the map as you go on it's screen.

Rick Kunath
WBCCI #3060