A few days ago I was test driving cars, and one of them had an onboard navigation system. Ever since then I've been burning the midnight oil looking for a way to get that in my existing car (though my wife might buy the car that actually has it already, I still want it in my car). So far, I haven't come up with much. This page:

http://tuxmobil.org/navigation_gps.html

Is about the best of what I could find for 'options'. It seems (from reading about 20 different forums on the subject) that this is an area that linux is/was lacking in (can't really find up-to-date info, everything is 2004 and older). I have found some decent Palm software and PocketPC/Windows CE software; but nothing that is really geared towards Linux directly (GPL or not, free as in beer or not, nothing seems to really exist).

Anyone got some great info on this? Is there a really good system out there that is very close to the software that comes in vehicles? I've also test driven a Volkswagen recently with the same thing, and it all looks identical (all cars that have it seem to use the same software, what is it?).

Let me tell you what I think I know:
You buy a GPS receiver, usually one that has a serial port. You connect that to your computer, use some software that is made for GPS, and then go for a ride (bike, car, whatever). The little icon moving around on the screen is you, the roads around you are, uh roads around you. It has icons for gas stations and such, as well as things like bold lines for major streets, blue lines for Interstates, white for highways.

Anyway, any ideas, links, info or whatever is appreciated!

Cool

Maybe not 100% what you're after but it could be of some use

http://arch-egis.berlios.de/index.php

Thanks!

I am still confused as to what it is, but I'll download the ISO and play

Cool

Ha me too! But I remembered it and checked the package list and there is a couple of GPS progs listed that might either be what you're after or lead you in the right direction

I have been using Delorme for about 12 years 8 on a palm and laptop with external reveiver and wanted to use linux on the laptop. Problems have been palm is unreadable in bright daylight. Laptop must be on passenger's lap and we now have two cats who also want to be in laps. A year ago I got a Garmin C320 which is now $399 at gpsnow.com. I would love to get dual use out of my laptop and save the close to $500 I spent on the Garmin unit but this solves my problems. A linux program on my laptop wouldn't solve the passenger and cat problem anyway.

The Garmin is the best solution for us right now. I prefer the laptop because I can set a course with desired vias and stops along the way and the display is much larger and I can see further down the road. However, the Garmin unit control is all touch screen which is way better than the Delorme software input methods. You can get past the Garmin lack of waypoints fairly easily by going to your first waypoint as a destination then to the second etc. If you set your destinations before you start on a trip they are saved in a list so that you can easily bring them up again as "recient selectioins" quite easily.

As with any of the programs I have used or checked out there are glaring errors that can cause you to take a route that is 2 to 3 hours longer than need be so it always pays to get a paper map and see what is plausable to you. (I have made the trip from SoCal to Coeur D'Alene about 10 times and always go through Bend, OR. Garmin said I should take I80 East at Sacramento to the middle of NV and go North on 95 -2hours longer) Another gripe about the C320 is that the only ways to check your route beforehand is zoom out to see the entire route which then loses the detail or to go through the turn by turn it generates. This only shows you an intersection and tells you that you are turning onto a particular highway but you can't find what city it is in the middle of or even near.

I still feel that it is an excelent solution because of ease of use constant ETA, voice and ease of viewing.

By the way. For me, the exercise is to not have to use windows on my laptop and now the only thing I need windows for is to sync my Palm Pilot. Before getting the Garmin I spent several hours in the last two years searching for a Linux solution.

Thank you for the lengthy reply! I actually don't plan on using it on a laptop in the passenger seat, well at least not in the long run. I'm probably going to do something along the route of ripping out the stereo and installing a Via Epia with MythTV and some sort of GPS tool. I know of a few people working on adding a mythtv function to enable it to work more easily with touch screens, so that'll probably be what I get. Coupled with 2 or 3 other screens (head rest and flip down visor) for cinema, I think the GPS will be somewhat welcomed.

Ahh, the dreams I have In the meantime, I think I'll get one of those $80 USD USB ones, and learn how to actually use it before I plunge into an integrated mobile option!

Thanks for all the info, I appreciate you view points!

Cool