Recommendations For USB Receiverr For Laptop and Opencpn

[forsailbyowner]

Ok got Linux loaded OpenCpn up and running loaded with all the latest charts, Now which gps to use? I have some inland cruising coming up and dont want to fork over the big bucks for the garmin chip. Is there a way to connect a smartphone with gps? Any formats I have to look for? Will these work inside the cabin or will I need a waterproof one? Custom cable made to go from chartplotter to computer is option but would rather have standalone.
Thanks

[Lake-Effect]

I bought one of these for $30 about 2 years ago to play with. They work pretty good, but I haven't put it to extended cruising use. I suspect that with care it would do the job.

I also have an old Lowrance handheld GPS that I bought at a marine flea market for $5 which has NMEA0183 out. Something like that, plus a $5 serial to USB adaptor (which I also have) is another route to cheap GPS for a laptop.

[denverd0n]

This is the gold standard for USB GPS devices.

Amazon.com: GlobalSat BU-353 USB GPS Navigation Receiver (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Electronics

[SoonerSailor]

The BU-353-s4 has the more recent Sirfstar chipset. A bit more sensitive than the earlier III version in the link above, but Ive used that earlier model below decks no problem.

[muttnik]

Originally Posted by forsailbyowner

Is there a way to connect a smartphone with gps? Any formats I have to look for? Will these work inside the cabin or will I need a waterproof one?

There are apps (for ios and andoid: google is your friend) which will allow you to create a tcp server on your phone and give out NMEA gps data. You need to have a way to connect the phone and the computer (existing on-board wireless network, or use ad-hoc networking). Then you create a datastream in opencpn connecting to the tcp server on the phone.

A cheap USB BU-353 is probably easier.

Both work in my (GRP) cabin. Doesn't need to be any more waterproof than your laptop

[forsailbyowner]

Being a cheapskate I bought this one.

Delorme Earthmate Lt 40 Automotive Mountable GPS Receiver | eBay

On the opencpn website it says it has out of the box compatibility for linux installations. Im going to carry a laptop also for backup and am looking at using a magellan that ive been carrying as backup to the backup