Device to turn laptop into GPS?

yepper, i understand all that. i was clarifying his clarity.

my aunt just bought a tablet. with a gps chip. and is using the copilot software. i dn't think laptops have them built in yet. if that day will ever come.

 

I use Streets & Trips 2013 with the Truck Stops Plus add-on template, which can be found by searching Truck Stops Plus on google. It converts Streets & Trips to trucker's software as it is setup to do truck routing and it's also a truck stop guide on steroids, as it also has all the truck specific POIs you need too with full descriptions. There is also a link for an excellent laptop stand that sells for around $45 if I remember correctly on their website that I also bought and use as well. I like the small footprint that it has. I've been using this setup now for the past 6 months and absolutely love it. It's a hell of a lot cheaper than those over priced truck specific GPS's they sell at the truck stops. I also downloaded google earth, which is a free download and I use it to mark all my shippers, receivers, company terminals, and drop lots in Streets & Trips as I go to them to make my life a whole lot easier. You can't beat it. Learned about and how to use this stuff while training with my trainer who has been using this system for years and swears by it. In fact, all his former students use this setup as well and also swear by it. Now, me too!

 

I don't know if DeLorme still makes it or not but Earthmate is a laptop plug-in GPS that works in conjunction with Street Atlas. I used to use it back in the 80's on my laptop.
The easiest and cheapest way to go would be to spend about $75 on Evil Bay and purchase a used Nuvi 350... I have two of them and they do have a 'Truck', 'Bus' option that pretty much keeps you on major roads with suitable bridge weight and height limitations. Obviously, it is always best never to trust a GPS without verifying it's suggested routes with existing Rand-McNally Trucking Atlas's.
Mine has been 90% or better but has tried to send me under a low bridge or two and one weight-restricted roadway.
I just pay attention like any good truck driver should do.

"Bigfoot"
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delorme street atlas 2013 plus, w/o gps $39.95 (software only) w/ gps $49.95... what i like about the PLUS is it has the white, blue & yellow page phone book built in. you can search by address, or phone number. you can also download satelite (the same as google but not google maps) right into the program... BUT REMEMBER that delorme IS NOT a routing truck gps....
http://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10120&minisite=10020

used it for years and still have it loaded on the laptop but i now use a stand alone truck gps...

 

I downloaded Co Pilot on my iPad and Android phone - so no need for the extra dongle. If you are thinking about buying it for a laptop - why not just put that $150 toward an Android tablet of some sort with GPS built in and buy the $4 version from Google Play? They have tablets from $50-150 all the time. Would make a great GPS unit for him, and upgradable.

 

A good idea. Just note that the $4 version is not the commercial truck-specific one.

 

isn't that what i said?

 

I fully agree with this. Love Streets and Trips with Truck Stops Plus.

 

I use my laptop with MS street and trips 2011, coupled with BU-353 GPS receiver. This receiver works very well, it is my third. MS Streets and Trips in full screen mode using short keys gives the best navigation there is. Zooming in and out, night mode...

 

Can you explain what "short keys" is and the zooming in and out please?