Lap Top on the ice???

[Moose]

I put this post in the Ice fishing forum but maybe it fits better here. I would like to use my lap top in my fish trap vouyager this season. My first ? is can I plug an underwater camera to the S-video link and get a picture or do I need software and drivers to run it? My second ?,is there any good lake mapping software that I can use with a gps unit connected to my computer? I think the laptop would make a good multi use portable fishing unit any input would be appreciated.

[sparkyaber]

Yes to both questions. For the S-video I think you would just have to set it up as any other camera, I am not to familiar with pluging a video camera into computers but we all know it is possible. Now the s-video on the computer is for outgoing image, for instance if you wanted to put a web page onto a larger TV or for presentations. I think cameras use usb connections, maybe an adapter of some sort would fit the bill?

For the software for lakemaps, most of the small garmin hand held units use map create, which uses the computer as the "middle man" to transfer data to the gps, so.... all of the maps are put into the computer, but your computer will not work as the gps alone, so it would only give you a larger screen, and not show you where you are on the lake.

Also, you should be able to plug lowrance chips into some sort of hub or cradle that fits them, and there must be software out there that lets you read the data on them, just like anyother portable media.

Good Luck

[ScoutII]

Using the laptop for video works, but there is a time delay like in a sattelite link. As far as the GPS receiver it works great, only downfall is if you drive around on rough ice the laptop may want to reboot if you hit to large a bump. Kind of like the older CD players would skip.

[Moose]

Thanks for the info guys. Scout What kind of software are you using for your laptop gps? How long is the delay on the camera? Can you see the jig and watch it move? Is there a particular camera that works best? Spark I was thinking of hooking up the gps reciever to the laptop and using a lake contour map to find a spot on the ice. Will the Lakemaster system do this or do I need to purchase a new gps unit and put the lake chip in it?

[sparkyaber]

I am not really familiar with the lowrance stuff, but I wouldn't see why you couldn't hook your gps (if it is a garmin) to the computer, and use it. What are you gaining buy doing this, just a bigger screen?. Other wise just using the gps will take care of everything. What kind of gps do you have? does it have internal memory? This could help me understand your situation better.

[Macgyver55]

Possibly what he is thinking of, is running the GPS through some other software on the computer. For instance, what I do when I travel is run my GPS on the laptop through my Topo 5.0 software which then gives me roads, trails, lakes, elevation contours and everything else all visible on the screen without having to buy different software for each. And yes, the benefit of the bigger screen is nice but it also gives you the added benefit of color.

[Moose]

That is what I'm trying to do Mcgyver. I do not want a small gps I want a receiver for my lap top. Does the topo 5.0 give lake contours if you zoom in on a spot and can you use the lap top gps to get to the spot? If not does anyone know of a lake contour map series that would do this?

[Paul Waldowski]

Moose,

Sorry I missed your post for so long. I can answer all of your questions. Feel free to call me @651-247-6053. Much easier than posting back and forth for days

[ScoutII]

I was using Lakemaster with the Titan antenna. Contours show up very well.

For the camera I used the Pinnacle PCTV adapter and the delay was about 1-2 seconds which when fishing Mille Lacs for perch you will miss a lot of fish. But if you are in need of recording what you see it will work great.