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Argohunter
Intermediate Member
Username: Argohunter
Post Number: 59
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 64.12.116.197
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 18, 2007 - 09:06 pm: | 
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Like many of you I suppose, I have operated my AATVs in some pretty remote areas several miles well away from public roads. A compass and a map suited my needs for a long time. Several years ago I started using GPS technology to aid my cross country jaunts in my 6x6. About 6 years back I started using a laptop computer with topo map programs connected to GPS to get real time displays on my laptop showing my location and the route plotted out, on the screen. I am thinking about a semi-permanant laptop mount and power supply for the Max to keep things organized. |
Chuck McGhee
Advanced Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 124
Registered: 01-2006
Posted From: 12.170.193.106
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 09:01 am: |
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I use my older gps while ridding. but I don't think it could bring my self to take a laptop on the trail.
I have briefly looked at gps chart plotters, for boats, for the argo.
I think I will just stick with my handheld. |
Kyle Barnett
New member
Username: 6x6beast
Post Number: 5
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 71.114.168.22
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 07:02 pm: |
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Check out a2zsolutions.com . I know some guys who have these in their AATVs and, although they're a little pricey, they seem to work well. Of course they offer several different mounting options, but they also have all the power ports, etc. you need for a laptop. |
Argohunter
Intermediate Member
Username: Argohunter
Post Number: 61
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 152.163.100.199
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, February 19, 2007 - 10:39 pm: |
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I looked at that web site thanks. I'm checking out the local "used market" mounts from installs pulled out of old public safety vehicles. There are some heavy duty shock absorbing mounts available. For just riding for the day, I use a GPS mounted on the dash. I like to explore old logging camp sites and being able to get real time routing displayed on air photo mapping programs makes it more fun for me. Many of my outings wind up being overnight for 1-2 days and it's nice to be able to enter my data and site research in the laptop rather than the old notebook because you can't put digital pics in the notebook out in the field. When the laptop is with me, I try to ride easy. |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 26
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.138.89.77
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 08:39 pm: |
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I use a Garmin 60cmap gps right now, however bought into the used marketplace a panasonic toughbook. This is a laptop that can withstand the pain it is going to experience on the trail. The issue with a laptop is the size of it. I am thinking of mouting it vertically onto the windsheild as for the most part it will only impact my visibility of seeing the top of the hood. If the windsheild is down then I can just pop up the screen and at 13" it is pretty easy to read. I historically used ram mounts (rammounts.com) as they seem to handle the punishment than any other mounts I have used. The garmin is great for everyday use, but my brother and I map out a number of trails and prefer the larger screen size offered by the laptop. |
Argohunter
Intermediate Member
Username: Argohunter
Post Number: 65
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 205.188.116.8
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 22, 2007 - 11:26 pm: |
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Len,
Good choice for HD use. IMO the toughbook is a rough duty laptop and is the choice of several public agencies in their squad and response rigs around here. You are right, the size is important. Ram mounts have some limitations. The older they get and the more pounding they go through can cause them to loosen up just at the wrong time. Do you like the real time positioning? Coupled with the GPS, I started out using the topos maps but much prefer switching to the air photos just to watch where I have been and to see what's ahead of me or down the trail. |
Len Cater
Member
Username: Lcater
Post Number: 28
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 216.137.162.67
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 05:28 pm: |
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Yes, I run a few applications, but mainly use Fugayi as it uses the standard govt topo maps. I just recently started use googlemaps gps link, but since I can't run that why out on the trail, it is for mapping to google earth after, Ideally though I want to load in some newer maps coming out in our area which are 1:20,000 versus standard 1:50,000. These show a ton of detail, and match a wall map of the area I run. All fun stuff. |
Argohunter
Intermediate Member
Username: Argohunter
Post Number: 68
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 64.12.116.197
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 23, 2007 - 11:26 pm: |
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Cool stuff. I also use USAPhoto loaded for the areas I run in. You can easily switch back and forth from topos to photos and back. The data is some what dated but works better than google earth for close up detail in the photos. Saving waypoints and routes is easy. I go wireless where there is a good signal but most of the time the signal is marginal where my logging camps are located. |
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