GPS puck

[jhnhll]

Just bought a new laptop for the boat. Which GPS puck have you had the best results with. I want better results not the cheapest price. Heading to Honduras hopefully in May. Reliability is a factor also. Thanks for your input.

1976 Cheoy Lee
33 Ketch
Mandeville Louisiana

[chuckr]

you did not say what system you are running. assuming you are running windows we have great success with a hamlet that is both bluetooth and solar powered.

[jhnhll]

Thanks. Yes windows 7

1976 Cheoy Lee
33 Ketch
Mandeville Louisiana

[georgelieber]

I did quite a bit of research on GPS pucks and GlobalSat seemed to be the best choice. They are inexpensive... but not cheap. One benefit of the low price is that you can buy two and keep one as a spare. We use the BU-353-S4 GPS receiver and have had excellent results, but they do have newer models. I have left it out in the weather all summer with no ill effects.

Here is how we use it: Trip Planning and Navigation | SAILING VESSEL ECHO

[barnakiel]

Get something very recent as some older pucks do not mount well on Win 8.1.

E.g. the older BU535 does not. (It does with !!! its older drivers)

b.

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by jhnhll

Just bought a new laptop for the boat. Which GPS puck have you had the best results with. I want better results not the cheapest price. Heading to Honduras hopefully in May. Reliability is a factor also. Thanks for your input.

1976 Cheoy Lee
33 Ketch
Mandeville Louisiana

we bought BU-353 USGlobalsat Corporate You can find these on Amazon & shop - maybe as low as 24 dollars. Many cord end options are available. I use this with Sea Clear and Open CPN on a laptop or my desktop. You will need to tell the software what com port it is on. It acquires a satellite quickly even indoors.

BTW, many laptops now have a GPS built-in.

[Crew of Turning]

Like most of the other replies...we are also using the US Globalsat puck, over two software nav systems ( MAX SEA on wondows7 ) (Sea Clear on Vista). Tried the PHAROS unit from Microsoft, it works with SEA Clear but drops signal on MAX SEA. Good value in the US Globalsat unit.

[jhnhll]

Ok. Based on suggestions I bought the 353 s4. I'm pretty sure I had the earlier version several years ago. Thanks for the input. Now have to decide on which antenna to get for ais reception


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[Waymar]

I have been using the DUAL XGPS150A for over a year. now It works very well with my IPAD with INAVX. I keep it just above the chart table looking out through one of the windows. Very accurate. it is charged with a USB connector and the battery lasts about 10hrs (when not connected). For longer trips, i just keep it plugged into the charger (or the laptop).