GPS Information.net Forum >

I would like to assemble a GPS chart system for use when out on my boat. I have access to a large amount of old computer hardware (laptops, PDAs, etc) for next to nothing. After reading some posts here and other sites to learn how GPS works, I assume I need to buy a GPS receiver (unless assembling one of your own is not too difficult) like the Garmin GPS 17HVS, put together a laptop or similar device with an LCD display and Operating System, download Raster Navigation Chart files from a source like the NOAA and install a shareware viewer like the lite version from Maptech. Does this sound like a doable project? There are so many people throwing away old laptops, PDAs, etc that I thought this would be a good use for some of these older devices.

i dont see why not. you can make your own GPS instead of buying one.