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Yeah im wondering if anyone does this, ive recently obtained software, but im not sure what else i need to make this work. I havent installed anything yet, but for this to work you do need a remote internet access card for the labtop right? Can anyone point me in the right direction..

 
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Hey man, my freind and I were playing aroud with some soft ware. He had the soft ware installed and this fricken round looing plastic thing with a small antenna and a magnet on the bottom on top of my roof. The GPS system in his lap top was pretty good, only a few feet of here and there. But he had no net access and we were up in the MT's. So IDK what u have for software, that be a good start if u really want to know, also what Hardware came with it.

 
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i think it's a bad idea to run navigation software on laptop inside a car...

you might as well purchase an all-in-one portable GPS system like this:
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/t...TOPIC_ID=69673
for instance.

no, you do NOT need any internet connection for GPS software to run. all you need is a GPS receiver and a PDA to run the software.

I strongly against using laptop in your car. it's simply going to mess up your concentration down the road.

 
Rep Power: 290

Using a laptop with gps in a car isn't any different than using a dedicated gps system, unless you're also trying to watch movies and/or play music, etc. I'm curious why you think it's going to "mess up [his] concentration."

To answer the original question, I have an older IBM laptop. I use MS "Streets and Trips" for the gps software, but there are others that are good too. You need a gps antenna. I got the antenna and software off eGay for about $70 total. You DO NOT need internet access, but if you do have a wireless lan card, just download netstumbler, and you can drive around parking lots till you find someone's wireless lan, and sit there and use it, if you feel so inclined. For mine, I also have an FM transmitter, so I can play mp3's thru the stereo, only because I still have my stock HU. The sound quality sucks, tho, so I recommend getting a HU with aux inputs if you're going to hook up the laptop. I also hunted around online and found a DC power supply for the laptop, so I can power the laptop from my cig lighter. That was about $30. I already had the laptop, so it only cost me about $100 total to make it an in car gps. I believe this is cheaper than any DECENT stand alone gps device.

 
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Thanks ambulance, and zen i dont plan on using my laptop while driving lol, i just want it for the gps.. I do have a wireless lan card so i will look into that, thanks alot.

 
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i think its called Trips and Streets, but who cares...lol. from what i have seen, t&s is one of the best map programs, and with a GPS to plug into the comp, its really nice.

do you plan on mounting the computer or just putting it in the pass seat? ive looked for some police-style mounts and havnt seen too many that look like theyl come close to fitting a civic

 
Rep Power: 254

i use iguidance in my car. laptop is under my seat, using delorme earthmate LT-20 gps receiver which comes with streets and trips but that program SUCKS.

this is a picture of my screen setup, touchscreen:


this is where i keep my gps receiver, it gets great signal:


this is pretty much what the navigation program looks like, except you can make it less cluttered:


i know you probably won't be using this as a dedicated type of thing, like me. but this can give you an idea of what everything looks like.

 
Rep Power: 277

I run an actual automotive computer setup with iGuidance for software and a Holux 213 GPS receiver. I'll repeat it again and say no, you don't need the internet for GPS, just the receiver to talk to the satellites. That's why it works in the middle of the jungle.

 
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+1 for you for beating me to it.

 
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OK Dex and Vaxcivic, ya'lls set-ups are f#$%ing sick. I have a couple questions.

Vaxcivic - which steering wheel is that? S2K?

Both Dex and Vax - Is that a custom job for your touchscreen bezel or something prefab? Vax's looks custom and Dex's looks like a kit? Where did you get it if it a kit?

+1 to both of you guys for some great info and nice setups!

 
Rep Power: 254

i have an EP3 (2002-2005 civic si) steering wheel.

i bondo'd my screen to sit flush like that, the other one posted bought a double din trim piece, then cut the middle separator from the piece and modified the screen to fit in the space behind it.

both are custom.

 
Rep Power: 277

Ya, I bought a double DIN dash kit like this:

from Ebay for $10 and cut the middle plastic piece out. That way it sits flush over the screen inside:


The only problem I had was I had to remove the bezel from the screen (voiding warranty) and cut the **** out of it so about 80 percent of the plastic went in the garbage. At the end it looked like this:


It was funny because I worked in the Telus call center and while I was talking to customers on the phone, I was using a hack saw to cut up the plastic....."Yes ma'am, just hit SEND..." One of the managers came around the corner and said, "I've never heard sawing in this department before."