Best GPS for Wardriving

Erocku · 08-20-2004

I am insipred to start wardriving after reading through these forums and several other sites. I've got to get a GPS unit though. I found some info by searching, but I havent got enough info to base a decision on.

So, if you could help me out, report the make/model you have and what you'd rate it 1 out of 10.

I'll complie all of the results on this first post so others like me will be able to find what they need without having to search around forever or keep posting threads like this. Thanks.

* I bought the MS Streets & Trips bundle with the Pharos GPS-360. It works great with netstumbler.

===========================================
GPS Unit: ----------------Rating:|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|
===========================================
Delorme Earthmate USB---------|-----------------|9|---
Delorme Tripmate Serial---------|---------------|8|-----
Garmin Etrex Legend Serial------|---------------|8|-----
Globalsat USB (#BU303)---------|-------------------|10|
Microsoft/Pharos GPS-360 USB--|-----------------|9|---
===========================================

wrzwaldo · 08-20-2004

I would rate all three of my Garmins 10. But if I was going to purchase a GPS just for wardriving or to be used in conjunction with my laptop I would get a USB puck style.

dagamore · 08-23-2004

i have 2 puck gps units, and both of them work great,

one is a usb earthmate, and it works great say a 9 out of 10 only because it took me some tweking with the usb/sieral driver to work right.

and the other is a genneric WAAS complient puck that i paid less then 100 euros for and it gets lock faster then the earthmate, and feels more accureate, but it does work great with NS and other 3rd party apps

hell it even uses the earthmate usb/serial software with out any problems, and it was half the price if not less, so 12 out of 10 points

Erocku · 08-23-2004

where did you get that generic one from?

dagamore · 08-23-2004

got if rom a local store here in germany, called ALtech or was it Antecha soemthing like that, will get more info tomorow and post it from work.

update it is from Atelco Computers here in Kaiserslautern Germany

agentgrn · 08-27-2004

I'm going to give ultimate kudos to my Delorme Serial Tripmate. I'm going to rate it an 8 since it has no external GPS antenna capability, and no WAAS feature.

However, since it's serial, I've got the signal split to feed a hardware serial port, a USB serial port, and my Kenwood TM-D700A.

Try doing that with a USB device.

beakmyn · 09-02-2004

I just picked up a Garmin Etrex legend on ebay for $127.00 (new) (I don't want to know if I spent too much).

The power on access time is a bit lengthy at a bit over 1 minute but it's been locking in on 8-12 satellites each time.

If you have Onstar in your car you could always hack the GPS in that for free.

G8tK33per · 09-02-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by beakmyn

I just picked up a Garmin Etrex legend on ebay for $127.00 (new) (I don't want to know if I spent too much).

The power on access time is a bit lengthy at a bit over 1 minute but it's been locking in on 8-12 satellites each time.

If you have Onstar in your car you could always hack the GPS in that for free.

That's actually a good price for the Legend.

Erocku · 09-02-2004

what would you rate the etrex legend?

beakmyn · 09-02-2004

I'd rate it about an 8

Has serial NEMA output
Sits on my dash nicely
Runs 20 hours on batteries YMMV
Can be used for me then just wardriving (LCD display with map, etc)

I've haven't used it enough to rate it a 10, yet.

Deoje · 09-02-2004

I have a Legend also and I would have to saya that I would rate it as an 8.5.
It is small and lightweight yet it has a lot of nice features. Definitely a good all around unit.

Although if the only use you have for a gps reciever is wardiving you will never need all of those features.

Also I just picked up Streets and Trips 2005 with the gps reciever. I'll have to try it out and let you know. It was either pay $39 and just get the software or pay $79 and get the software and the gps. So I figured I'd get the gps to play around with.

eviltoaster · 09-06-2004

I've been wardriving for some time now, and still haven't gotten a gps due to lack of information. I've done a fair share of research on gps, but haven't bought one for fear of incompatablility. I just have a few questions and if anyone could answer them that'd be great.

Do all gps units have driver serial emulation?
Do GPS units pretty much work with any program (gps i/o program standard?)
In Wifi, Programs work with devices of a certain chipset, anything like that in GPS?
Is there any "standard" GPS device that everyone uses (in wireless the standard is orinoco gold. Anything like this in GPS?)
Which GPS devices offer the best OS Compatability? (98 XP OSX PPC etc)
Am I just being paranoid about this whole gps thing?

Thanks in advance

sparafina · 09-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviltoaster

I've been wardriving for some time now, and still haven't gotten a gps due to lack of information. I've done a fair share of research on gps, but haven't bought one for fear of incompatablility. I just have a few questions and if anyone could answer them that'd be great.

Do all gps units have driver serial emulation?
Do GPS units pretty much work with any program (gps i/o program standard?)
In Wifi, Programs work with devices of a certain chipset, anything like that in GPS?
Is there any "standard" GPS device that everyone uses (in wireless the standard is orinoco gold. Anything like this in GPS?)
Which GPS devices offer the best OS Compatability? (98 XP OSX PPC etc)
Am I just being paranoid about this whole gps thing?

Thanks in advance

The majority of GPS units have a serial output, either through a serial port, USB and now some are shipping with Bluetooth
Most consumer units ouput NMEA, which most programs support. Manufacturers can add to the NMEA standard with vendor specific data.
Like wifi there are a number of different chipsets. Common ones are Garmin, Motorola, Trimble, Rockwell, and SiRF. GPS units are typically self contained units and they communicate via a serial device. As long as the program supports NMEA, then compatibility should not be an issue.
Many people use a Garmin handheld model with a display and some use the puck style. Personally, I prefer GPS using SiRF chipsets because they get a faster lock and are more sensitive than other models.
Because most GPS output NMEA they are compatible in terms of reading data from the unit. The compatibility issue is frequently about the serial port versus USB and the lack of serial in newer notebooks.
Yes, you are being paranoid, but that's not a bad thing. If you only want the GPS for wardriving/navigation then budget for $100-$130. If you want to use it for hiking or other uses then the sky is the limits.

Starpoint · 09-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviltoaster

I've been wardriving for some time now, and still haven't gotten a gps due to lack of information. I've done a fair share of research on gps, but haven't bought one for fear of incompatablility. I just have a few questions and if anyone could answer them that'd be great.

Do all gps units have driver serial emulation?
Do GPS units pretty much work with any program (gps i/o program standard?)
In Wifi, Programs work with devices of a certain chipset, anything like that in GPS?
Is there any "standard" GPS device that everyone uses (in wireless the standard is orinoco gold. Anything like this in GPS?)
Which GPS devices offer the best OS Compatability? (98 XP OSX PPC etc)
Am I just being paranoid about this whole gps thing?

Thanks in advance

When it comes to GPS there is another factor, does the unit have WAAS or not.. WAAS (and I forgot what that stands for) basically you can have a more detailed map on the screen with WAAS. Another thing, is it a stand alone GPS? The "Puck" that is reffered to on here I do not think you can carry in your hand with out a PC device hooked to it.

Finally, what software does it require to load waypoints and maps to it?

But for Wardriving... Frys (www.outpost.com) and Flying J truck stop carry a nice unit.

http://www.flyingjestore.com/index.c...BER=16&SKU=100

this is the price at the Flying J.. and sometimes Fry's puts it on sale for about 70.00.

sparafina · 09-06-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starpoint

When it comes to GPS there is another factor, does the unit have WAAS or not.. WAAS (and I forgot what that stands for) basically you can have a more detailed map on the screen with WAAS. Another thing, is it a stand alone GPS? The "Puck" that is reffered to on here I do not think you can carry in your hand with out a PC device hooked to it.

For wardriving, WAAS doesn't really matter. The reason is that we are interested in the location of the AP, but you are capturing the position of the car when you pick up an AP. So it really doesn't matter. Also for most of the navigation software, the basemaps (especially the cheaper stuff, i.e. Streets and Trips) are typically derived from Census TIGER data, which is positionally accurate at a 1:100,000 scale. Moving map software typically uses a combination of 15 second position fixes, dead reckoning, and an algorithm to snap the car symbol to the line representing the road. The map is just a representation of the position of the car, not the real position of the car.

BTW, WAAS stands for Wide Area Augementation System. WAAS allows a GPS unit to receive a surveyed land based GPS signal that allows it to differentially correct the calculated position of the receiver. This is helpful in some situations, wuch as landing a plane. However, it is not accurate enough for a legal description.

08-20-2004	#1 (permalink)
Erocku Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7	Best GPS for Wardriving I am insipred to start wardriving after reading through these forums and several other sites. I've got to get a GPS unit though. I found some info by searching, but I havent got enough info to base a decision on. So, if you could help me out, report the make/model you have and what you'd rate it 1 out of 10. I'll complie all of the results on this first post so others like me will be able to find what they need without having to search around forever or keep posting threads like this. Thanks. * I bought the MS Streets & Trips bundle with the Pharos GPS-360. It works great with netstumbler. =========================================== GPS Unit: ----------------Rating:\|1\|2\|3\|4\|5\|6\|7\|8\|9\|10\| =========================================== Delorme Earthmate USB---------\|-----------------\|9\|--- Delorme Tripmate Serial---------\|---------------\|8\|----- Garmin Etrex Legend Serial------\|---------------\|8\|----- Globalsat USB (#BU303)---------\|-------------------\|10\| Microsoft/Pharos GPS-360 USB--\|-----------------\|9\|--- =========================================== Last edited by Erocku : 09-02-2004 at 01:37 PM.

08-23-2004	#5 (permalink)
dagamore Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 6	got if rom a local store here in germany, called ALtech or was it Antecha soemthing like that, will get more info tomorow and post it from work. update it is from Atelco Computers here in Kaiserslautern Germany Last edited by dagamore : 08-24-2004 at 02:56 AM.

08-27-2004	#6 (permalink)
agentgrn KB1JQO - Packin' Heat Join Date: May 2002 Location: Worcester, MA Posts: 517	I'm going to give ultimate kudos to my Delorme Serial Tripmate. I'm going to rate it an 8 since it has no external GPS antenna capability, and no WAAS feature. However, since it's serial, I've got the signal split to feed a hardware serial port, a USB serial port, and my Kenwood TM-D700A. Try doing that with a USB device. __________________ -A.G.-

09-06-2004	#12 (permalink)
eviltoaster Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 19	GPS Best on compatablitiy I've been wardriving for some time now, and still haven't gotten a gps due to lack of information. I've done a fair share of research on gps, but haven't bought one for fear of incompatablility. I just have a few questions and if anyone could answer them that'd be great. Do all gps units have driver serial emulation? Do GPS units pretty much work with any program (gps i/o program standard?) In Wifi, Programs work with devices of a certain chipset, anything like that in GPS? Is there any "standard" GPS device that everyone uses (in wireless the standard is orinoco gold. Anything like this in GPS?) Which GPS devices offer the best OS Compatability? (98 XP OSX PPC etc) Am I just being paranoid about this whole gps thing? Thanks in advance

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08-20-2004	#2 (permalink)
wrzwaldo I amuse you? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,147	I would rate all three of my Garmins 10. But if I was going to purchase a GPS just for wardriving or to be used in conjunction with my laptop I would get a USB puck style.

08-23-2004	#3 (permalink)
dagamore Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 6	i have 2 puck gps units, and both of them work great, one is a usb earthmate, and it works great say a 9 out of 10 only because it took me some tweking with the usb/sieral driver to work right. and the other is a genneric WAAS complient puck that i paid less then 100 euros for and it gets lock faster then the earthmate, and feels more accureate, but it does work great with NS and other 3rd party apps hell it even uses the earthmate usb/serial software with out any problems, and it was half the price if not less, so 12 out of 10 points

08-23-2004	#4 (permalink)
Erocku Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7	where did you get that generic one from?

09-02-2004	#7 (permalink)
beakmyn Free Public Wifi Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,992	I just picked up a Garmin Etrex legend on ebay for $127.00 (new) (I don't want to know if I spent too much). The power on access time is a bit lengthy at a bit over 1 minute but it's been locking in on 8-12 satellites each time. If you have Onstar in your car you could always hack the GPS in that for free.

09-02-2004	#9 (permalink)
Erocku Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 7	what would you rate the etrex legend?

09-02-2004	#10 (permalink)
beakmyn Free Public Wifi Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,992	I'd rate it about an 8 Has serial NEMA output Sits on my dash nicely Runs 20 hours on batteries YMMV Can be used for me then just wardriving (LCD display with map, etc) I've haven't used it enough to rate it a 10, yet.

09-02-2004	#11 (permalink)
Deoje AAAHHHH!!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 138	I have a Legend also and I would have to saya that I would rate it as an 8.5. It is small and lightweight yet it has a lot of nice features. Definitely a good all around unit. Although if the only use you have for a gps reciever is wardiving you will never need all of those features. Also I just picked up Streets and Trips 2005 with the gps reciever. I'll have to try it out and let you know. It was either pay $39 and just get the software or pay $79 and get the software and the gps. So I figured I'd get the gps to play around with.