Anybody used a DeLorme GPS LT-20?

[Roger Long]

I'm experimenting with my SO's DeLorme Earthmate GPS LT-20 "hocky puck" USB GPS antenna as a third GPS backup via Maptech Ocean Navigator Lite and a laptop. I'd like to get one as I'd like to have the street navigation software and can get both for the price of a Garmin puck.

It seemed to work and I got a fix. A few minutes later, the house started accellerating to the east reaching a speed of 900 knots somewhere over the Atlantic. I pulled the plug so we wouldn't crash into Europe. Strangely, the view outside the window hasn't changed. The GPS monitor said there was still a fix although of diminished reliability.

Has anyone used these on a boat and can you confirm that it will work for navigation, at least in a pinch?

 

[Rick D]

GPS

That's what I use. I have had it for several years, altho mine is gray, so it may be an older or different model. Looks the same tho, and it has differential GPS. Anyhow, assuming it wasn't just your head spinning, I think an exchange is in order

 

[Roger Long]

Anyhow, assuming it wasn't just your head spinning, I think an exchange is in order

It's been working fine in Barbara's car and is way past exchange. I suspect that, having less sophisticated firmware than my chart plotter, it doesn't have routines to just display "No Fix" when certain parameters are marginal.

I was just in Staples and see that the new DeLorme steet navigation package comes with a new model LT-40 that is WAAS enabled. Good deal for 75 bucks. I'm going to set up the LT-20 on a laptop (I've been experimenting on a desktop due to the cold weather) so I can take it outside and see how it works with a clear sky view.

 

[Ross]

Roger, You should check your roof and make sure that no shingles were blown off.

 

[txtowman]

delorme lt20

I use in my truck, haven't tried it in my boat yet, I am also interested in this. Anyone using "seaclear II" or any other free software? I got a dvd with all noaa charts. I lost the dvd and can't get it to run on my laptop.

 

[Rick D]

Re: delorme lt20

I use Seaclear ll with the GPS bud on my Vista laptop using NOAA charts. Works great, altho I have not figured out how to get magnetic rather than true bearings which is otherwise no problem.

 

[TimCup]

Roger, I was wondering why you needed

a THIRD gps backup, but assuming the 900 knots was maximum hull speed, your ship (can no longer be called a "boat") is just over 85 miles long!!

Since it would take me almost 24 hours to sail from you stem to stern, 3 gps' s now make perfect sense. You engineers think of everything!


cup