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There are a lot of GPS tracking units you can buy that send GPS data from the unit to a company's server and let you see this data on their website. Are there any GPS units that I can configure to send the information directly to my computer? What extra computer hardware would I need for this?

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If a GPS unit could send data, it would most likely be in an async serial text protocol. A RS-232 serial port or USB port would accomplish this type of connection. – sawdust Oct 24 '11 at 1:21
Perhaps the hardware compatibility list of gpsd will be useful? – grawity Oct 24 '11 at 10:34
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closed as off topic by Simon Sheehan, random♦ Nov 12 '11 at 23:18

Questions on Super User are expected to generally relate to computer software or computer hardware, within the scope defined in the faq.

2 Answers

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They pretty much all do this. NMEA 0183 is the standard you'll need to code to.

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up vote 2 down vote

You're able to use all the cheap "GPS mouses" for this. You'll connect them to your computer either using Bluetooth, USB or serial cable. No matter which connection type you choose, they will get installed as a serial text device which you can easily poll using your own software or some software which already exists (search for GPS logging software).

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