Create a standalone GPS system with offline maps
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© Lead Image © Somyot Techapuwapat, 123RF.com
Use a low-cost GPS module and Navit to build a portable GPS system.
There are many places in the world where there is still no cellular or Internet access. Luckily, for only about $20 and around half an hour of time, you can create your own GPS system that can get you to those hidden camping spots and hiking trailheads.
Navit [1] is an open source car navigation system that includes a tool to create lightweight custom maps that can be used fully offline.
The hardware for this project does not need to be high-end. I had good results using both old Atom and i386 32-bit processors (Figure 1). I also tried using a Raspberry Pi 3, and it appeared to function fine. However, I found that a small 12" or 14" laptop was a better fit than a Rasp Pi, because I didn't need to worry about power or an external screen. You also have some choices on GPS modules, with a low-cost USB VK-162 module starting around $20.
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