Adding GPS to HHR using laptop
Senior Member
Joined: 05-22-2006
Posts: 272
From: Florida
II use delorme street atlas on all of my road trips. I have 42107 miles logged with it for extremeroadtrips.com and it has never gotten me lost. It uses a usb GPS that just sits up on the dash beside the light sensor. Like kiddo said, use a power invertor to power your laptop. You can plug the laptop into the ipod audio input and it will navigate for you. Warning if you do this, the Navigation person (we have a more appropriate name for her) will get on your nerves if you stop for gas because it keeps telling you that it is recalculating route.
Delorme will split your screen into three maps. one small one that gives a broad area, a narrow one on the left that shows your general location. and the big one takes about 80% of your screen that is your detail map. all three will follow your gps but the big one will zoom in as you are approaching turns. It will display on screen your next two turns and how far you have until each one.
The thing I like about Delorme the best is that you can update it to your driving styles and it will be within half an hour of accurate when driving from Orlando Florida to New York City when it estimates your hours. You can tell it how often you want to stop, how much your gas tank holds and how much gas costs average and it will caculate where you need to stop for rest and gas and give you within $10 the cost of gas on that same trip.
I have it installed on both my laptop and my wifes and we dont go more than 100 miles from home without it up and running.
The points of interest feature is also nice, it will take you to name brand hotels and restaurants and stores within 1, 5, 10, 20, or 50 miles of your current location. When it finds the location it even has the phone number so you can call for reservations.
I have it installed on both my laptop and my wifes and we dont go more than 100 miles from home without it up and running.
Delorme will split your screen into three maps. one small one that gives a broad area, a narrow one on the left that shows your general location. and the big one takes about 80% of your screen that is your detail map. all three will follow your gps but the big one will zoom in as you are approaching turns. It will display on screen your next two turns and how far you have until each one.
The thing I like about Delorme the best is that you can update it to your driving styles and it will be within half an hour of accurate when driving from Orlando Florida to New York City when it estimates your hours. You can tell it how often you want to stop, how much your gas tank holds and how much gas costs average and it will caculate where you need to stop for rest and gas and give you within $10 the cost of gas on that same trip.
I have it installed on both my laptop and my wifes and we dont go more than 100 miles from home without it up and running.
The points of interest feature is also nice, it will take you to name brand hotels and restaurants and stores within 1, 5, 10, 20, or 50 miles of your current location. When it finds the location it even has the phone number so you can call for reservations.
I have it installed on both my laptop and my wifes and we dont go more than 100 miles from home without it up and running.
New Member
Joined: 05-04-2006
Posts: 12
From: Oregon
Here's what I use...
I drive for a living, and it's always last minute rush out the door kinda stuff... Anyway, Street and Trips is the software, and the USB GPS mounts on the dash and is connected to my laptop. My particular laptop does not need an inverter because I have a 12V power adapter. It works every bit as well as a stand alone GPS unit and I bought the kit for $89. (software + hardware) Good luck, and keep in mind that it helps to have the laptop secured in some way. Mine is mounted to an adjustable base and is rock solid. (much better than sitting on the seat beside me.)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 04-19-2006
Posts: 5,065
From: Arvada CO
Thanks everyone for all the great advice. 
Now I'm on information overload. 
I am leaning towards the Microsoft Streets & Trips program, as most have suggested it and the price is very reasonable. As far as the inverter goes, I think I may go with the one that HHR PNOY posted, as it has 2 plugs on it and more watts. That way if we're on an extended road trip, we can plug more than one thing into it, like my cell phone when I forget to charge it.
Thanks kiddo for your expertise in this area. I had seen both programs and was wondering which would be the better of the two. Your evaluation of both programs was very helpful and confirmed my thought that the Microsoft program may be the better of the two. Thanks Sindy for putting me in touch with your son.
Gambler...you bring up some good info on the other program as do the others. Guess I'll continue to watch responses for a day or 2 before making my final decision.
PDX HHR...where did you get the Microsoft program for $89?
For trips when I'm not alone, will probably let boyfriend drive. He's technologically challenged and has no use for computers...so it would probably just freak him out.
Now I'm on information overload. I am leaning towards the Microsoft Streets & Trips program, as most have suggested it and the price is very reasonable. As far as the inverter goes, I think I may go with the one that HHR PNOY posted, as it has 2 plugs on it and more watts. That way if we're on an extended road trip, we can plug more than one thing into it, like my cell phone when I forget to charge it.
Thanks kiddo for your expertise in this area. I had seen both programs and was wondering which would be the better of the two. Your evaluation of both programs was very helpful and confirmed my thought that the Microsoft program may be the better of the two. Thanks Sindy for putting me in touch with your son.
Gambler...you bring up some good info on the other program as do the others. Guess I'll continue to watch responses for a day or 2 before making my final decision.
PDX HHR...where did you get the Microsoft program for $89?
For trips when I'm not alone, will probably let boyfriend drive. He's technologically challenged and has no use for computers...so it would probably just freak him out.
Senior Member
Joined: 05-22-2006
Posts: 272
From: Florida
Originally Posted by PDX HHR
I drive for a living, and it's always last minute rush out the door kinda stuff... Anyway, Street and Trips is the software, and the USB GPS mounts on the dash and is connected to my laptop. My particular laptop does not need an inverter because I have a 12V power adapter. It works every bit as well as a stand alone GPS unit and I bought the kit for $89. (software + hardware) Good luck, and keep in mind that it helps to have the laptop secured in some way. Mine is mounted to an adjustable base and is rock solid. (much better than sitting on the seat beside me.)
The mount you have, is that in your HHR? I have been looking at jotto desk but they dont have one for HHR yet.
New Member
Joined: 05-04-2006
Posts: 12
From: Oregon
Here is the link...
http://www.deluoelectronics.com/cust...FSjWJAodGkhkvg
Street and Trips also will let you "customize" your settings so that while planning a trip it will accurately predict travel times and costs. Good Luck.
Street and Trips also will let you "customize" your settings so that while planning a trip it will accurately predict travel times and costs. Good Luck.
