Newbies have been asking for this and so here it is. A basic guide to GPS on your PC. Note that this is not comprehensive and I'm no expert on GPS receivers or software, but perhaps this will get you started.
What do I need to do GPS on my CarPc?
Aside from the PC, you need 1) a GPS receiver; 2) Software. That's it.
How does a typical GPS installation work?
It's very simple. You plug the GPS receiver into your computer. Many GPS's use the serial port, some use the USB port. There may be a driver you have to install. You then configure your Navigation software to let it know where the receiver is and you should be ready to go.
More detail: Some USB GPS receivers simply route the GPS information over to your PC's com port so the GPS APPEARS to be a serial GPS. They do this by installing a small driver known as a USB-serial port bridge. You can then set the com port by right clicking My Computer-->Properties-->Device Manager. Look under the serial port entry and you'll find the serial port bridge (if it installed correctly). Click on driver and then advanced and you can set the com port to the port you would like. You then set that corresponding serial port in your navigation software and the the receiver should work.
What is the BEST GPS software?
Short answer: There is no *best* GPS software but some are more popular than others. Some are better for European use while others are better for U.S. use. Popular software for the PC are:
1. Destinator
2. iGuidance
3. Routis
4. Delorme Street Atlas USA
5. CoPilot
6. Microsoft Streets and Trips
7. Microsoft MapPoint
Macintosh
1. Route 66
2. Windows GPS applications listed above, using VirtualPC emulator
PDA
1. Tom Tom Go for PocketPC and Palm. Does not run on Windows platform
Longer answer. Things to consider for automotive GPS are:
-Interface. Many of the map applications were not designed with mobile car use in mind and thus their interface is intended to work with mouse/trackpad and keyboard inputs. In a car environment, this makes them more difficult to use. Some of the applications come with software development kits and members of this forum have built specialized interfaces for them that are more suitable for the car. Mapmonkey is one that puts a front end on Destinator 3.
-Turn by turn directions. Any good mobile navigation package should give you turn by turn directions. This means that it tracks your position as you drive and alerts you to upcoming turns, exits, etc. Most of them will do so with voice and via some type of display on screen.
-Ability to embed in a frontend. The ability to embed your nav program in your front end software (the software that most of us use to control music, video, navigation, etc.) may or may not be important to you. Programs like Centrafuse and Road Runner give you the option of embedding the navigation application in their software so that when you launch it from the frontend, it appears in the context of that frontend, still allowing you to control music volume, etc.
-Points of Interest (POI's). POI's are what they sound like. Things like gas stations, ATM's, restaurants, etc. The more POI's, the better, especially if you're nowhere near home. POI's often include telephone numbers so you can call and make a hotel reservation, etc.
-Views. All nav software will give you an overhead "map" view of where you are. Most will give you a choice to autorotate that view so that the top of the map is in the same direction as you are traveling. The map rotates as you turn to keep up with your position. You can usually shut this feature off as well. Some programs offer a "3d" view that is closer to what you see out the window. Go to the web site to view screen shots of this feature.
-Mapping. Most all of the nav programs use maps from just one or two service providers (Navteq is one) so accuracy of maps, while they differ, usually isn't that big a deal. However, some programs (Destinator) divide up the maps into regions and you must load a new map set when you cross over into that region. This makes planning of routes across regions impossible. Other programs don't do this and you can easily plan a coast to coast trip.
-Routing. It's a computer and it will do stupid things because of that. One shouldn't substitute the computer route for common sense. You'll need to check to make sure it hasn't put you on some ridiculous routing because you picked "shortest" instead of "quickest". The ability to designate certain roads to avoid or certain roads to prefer is important. If you are taking a meandering tourist-like trip, you may end up fighting with your software to route it. Delorme's Street Atlas is my software and has two choices "quickest" or "shortest". Even designating specific waypoints along the route, it will defer to quickest or fastest. Often, I've put in a route that it stubbornly insists the "best" choice is to backtrack for several miles, even when I know there is a better way to go.
-Rerouting. This is a great feature, particularly when you miss the turn. The software recalculates from where you are and points you in the proper direction by recalculating your route.
Some of the more popular navigation sofware (not all my own words, thanks to various forum members who have posted on this topic):
Destinator
Pros - Intergrates with Centrafuse well, has mapmonkey, is being developed for pc, 3d view, easy POI (point of intrest) finding, map zooms in and out with speed, voice guided directions, works great with USB GPS on resume from hibernation, TS (touchscreen) friendly, auto rotates map, OSK (on screen keyboard)
Cons requires some "hacking", and buying the software and SDK, so a bit expensive. Some say has bad routing, I feel it's ok, but I've only had one "goofy" route out of say 20. POI is a bit outdated, no street names in 3d mode, maps are broken into regions, so no cross country routing, and it won't make me a turtle mocha!
Member comments about D3:
"D3 requires you to "switch maps" .. which are regions, .. like n the US you have the west coast, east coast, canada, mid-west, southeast, southwest, ect. and you can only have one up at a time so you can only route within your current loaded map.. to my knowledge."
"D3 integrates one step further than any other gps app .. Centrafuse (CF) was made with the intention of putting D3 in it , where as the other apps just embed. It's not a huge deal, but it ends up looking nicer.. rather than it "feeling" like it's a separate app" .. using D3 in CF feels like it's a part of CF and not seperate.. if that makes any sense.. "
" if you want support in europe, d3 is your option .. iguidance is great in the US for long trips... but see what other say too .. I'm just testing as many apps as I can and making my choice then."
iGuidance/Routis
Pros - can route across whole country, 3d view WITH street names, TS friendly, Intergrates with CF well, can use NaviVoice to talk to your GPS, routing is good, Voice guided directions, OSK
Cons - POI DB is a bit confusing, and or limited, Has issues with USB GPS and resuming (routis launcher fixed most of it).
There is a Beta iGuidance skinning application on the forums by 0l33l
Member comments on iGuidance:
"iGuidance will do 3d maps WITH street names.. D3 will do a nice 3d mode but no street names .. "
Member PURDoom sent the following links for more info on iGuidance"
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gps/66298-purdooms-big-book-iguidance-apps-faq.html
and the forum for skinbedder:
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/skinbedder/