VisualGPSXP
VisualGPSXP is probably the ultimate "software dashboard" for your GPS. All you need is the software (available from http://www.visualgps.net) , a GPS receiver (duh!) and a way to connect the receiver to your PC (most GPS receivers allow you to do this via a connection cable).
OK, once you have all this set up, what do you have? Well, you have what I would consider to the the ultimate "dashboard" - the amount of information you have available is quite staggering:
- Speed
- Vertical speed
- Altitude
- Compass heading
- Navigation window
- Signal quality window
You can, if you choose, have all this displayed on the one screen.
There's a lot more too! VisualGPSXP will show you the satellite position in the sky, as well as other details about the satellite constellation. This can give you an idea of the level of accuracy you can expect from your GPS receiver (the more widly spaced the satellites are, the better the accuracy you can expect).
If that's not enough, you have access to the NMEA commands being interpreted to the GPS receiver!
All in all, I think that this is great software, however, if you don't have access to a laptop, it can get a bit boring looking at it if if the GPS is attached to your desktop PC! Also available is a version for the Pocket PC!
I like this software - but I'm a geek! - and I think it would handy for the sailor or off-roader who wants a really cool, detailed GPS dashboard (I honestly cannot recommend using this for driving on public roads because driving with a laptop open on the passenger seat is going to be a major distraction!). You don't really "need" this software, but there's no doubt that it is a super cool piece of software.
Kathie Kingsley-Hughes
Last updated: May 4th 2004
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