inbuilt gps on windows laptop

[Nolisome]

Is there any way to use the inbuilt GPS in my recent Windows laptop? Or do I need to by a USB GPS puck?

[Hakan]

I've never heard of laptops having an GPS receiver. Since most laptops are used indoors where no satellites are seen it seems like a superfluous gear. But if you are sure there would be some description for the laptop how different programs can use it?

[Nolisome]

Thanks for the reply. Most recent laptops have GPS now and many applications (like Google maps, Skype, dinner reservation services, etc) use it. Under privacy settings one can control which apps or programs have access to the GPS data. On my laptop, a two-year-old Lenovo, Open CPN was not listed under the privacy settings, and hence the program got no GPS data. I ordered a usb receiver puck for $30. I assume that will work

[nohal]

https://opencpn.org/wiki/dokuwiki/do..._gnss_sensor&s[]=geolocationtcp
The GPS antennas built into the notebooks are usually not exactly high quality and it is not always easy to place the device in a spot with reliable reception on the boat, you will very likely be much happier with the puck...

[Nolisome]

thanks

[hoolie]

Originally Posted by Hakan

I've never heard of laptops having an GPS receiver. Since most laptops are used indoors where no satellites are seen it seems like a superfluous gear. But if you are sure there would be some description for the laptop how different programs can use it?

My old Dell laptop from ca 2010 has a GPS receiver and 3G mobile module. It's a bit slow and dated but works OK when satellites are in view, even below deck. The data is available on a virtual serial port and connects easily to OpenCPN.

[Sobin]

I use a Panasonic Toughboock with built-in GPS, works very well with OpenCPN.


mvh
Rüdiger

[Nolisome]

I see the workaround to to make the inbuilt GPS visible to CPN, but it would be nice if CPN did a bit of coding to have Windows recognize the app and allow the user to simply enable the GPS for it in the privacy settings.

[nohal]

You are of course welcome to do that bit of coding and submit a pull request.

[Nolisome]

Who, me?? I may be experienced as a navigator and I operate a website, but i am not a coder. I'd be happy to donate some $$ if that would help. It seems like many potential users of CPN...especially as devices with inbuilt GPS proliferate...to have the installation seamlessly recognize inbuilt GPS.



In contrast to my CPN laptop experience, Navionics Boating installed itself on my wife's iPad in five minutes.


I will report back on this thread after my GPS puck arrives. I do prefer raster charts and want to get this going.

[double u]

Originally Posted by Sobin

I use a Panasonic Toughboock with built-in GPS, works very well with OpenCPN.


mvh
Rüdiger

second that, CF-19 toughbook

[Nolisome]

BU-354S4 took a while to acquire a fix (indoors), but seems to be happy to talk with OpenCPN. Is that the best "puck"?

[nohal]

Define "best puck"... There certainly are more modern GPS chips than the SiRF IV in this unit that support the new GNSS constellations like Galileo, BeiDou and GLONASS, acquire more simultaneous satellites and produce data at higher rate, eg. 10Hz instead of the fixed 1 Hz here.
But the practical difference for navigation is next to none under most imaginable circumstances, you have your puck, it works, you are good.

[Nolisome]

Right...I am not doing surveys or going too far off-piste as it were. One does somewhat more involved gunkholing in Maine when one is sure of one's position. This should certainly do it...and for $30 all in.


Many thanks

[svRaison d Etre]

I got a VFAN $18 at amazon. It worked outside on a balcony facing north in Montreal