GPS on a Pocket PC

[li21]

Hi all,
Im looking at getting GPS on my pocket pc.. just wondering is there any advantage of getting a Bluetooth GPS reciever over a an SD card one?

If I go SD, how can I still store maps on the SD card when the slot is being used ?

Is reception ever an issue? Im surprised such small devices get good coverage?


Also I read on another thread that theres free GPS software for pocket PC?
Does anyone have any names of free packages?
Im assuming there are not the talking ones?

thanks

[tez]

Does your PDA have a dual memory slot?

My old HP 2210 had a SD and a CF slot. So I used a CF GPS receiver in one and stored the maps on the SD card.

If not, then maybe look for a BT GPS unit, although I wanted a all in one unit for my PDA and no seperate units, hence I got the CF receiver.

[li21]

Originally Posted by tez

Does your PDA have a dual memory slot?

My old HP 2210 had a SD and a CF slot. So I used a CF GPS receiver in one and stored the maps on the SD card.

If not, then maybe look for a BT GPS unit, although I wanted a all in one unit for my PDA and no seperate units, hence I got the CF receiver.

No dual slot unfortunately.. maybe the SD slots have storage of their own?
Also the downside of a BT would be separete power for the gps

[PogiPinoy]

Originally Posted by li21

is there any advantage of getting a Bluetooth GPS reciever over a an SD card one?

If I go SD, how can I still store maps on the SD card when the slot is being used ?

Is reception ever an issue? Im surprised such small devices get good coverage?

Also I read on another thread that theres free GPS software for pocket PC?
Does anyone have any names of free packages?
Im assuming there are not the talking ones?

BT GPS receivers are not directly attached to your pda like a sd card one...it can be placed anywhere in your vehicle..it uses its own power supply instead of your pdas..note that these reasons can be interpretted as both pros and cons

you cant..unless you have a cf slot for a cf card...dont bother with a sd gps

reception is only an issue when you are under tunnels..its not really a big issue...the actual issue is accuracy..they claim to be accurate but most are not...ie your location is within 5m of your satellite fix

gps software can come in various flavours..some are car navigation systems whilst others simply tell you of your position and add way points

gps dash is an example of the latter

no theyre not...but if you look hard enough online..you'll find them...but dont ask anyone here

[li21]

Originally Posted by PogiPinoy

BT GPS receivers are not directly attached to your pda like a sd card one...it can be placed anywhere in your vehicle..it uses its own power supply instead of your pdas..note that these reasons can be interpretted as both pros and cons

you cant..unless you have a cf slot for a cf card...dont bother with a sd gps

reception is only an issue when you are under tunnels..its not really a big issue...the actual issue is accuracy..they claim to be accurate but most are not...ie your location is within 5m of your satellite fix

gps software can come in various flavours..some are car navigation systems whilst others simply tell you of your position and add way points

gps dash is an example of the latter

no theyre not...but if you look hard enough online..you'll find them...but dont ask anyone here

Thanks for your input.
So in your experience, will accuracry be bad enough throw you off course?
I'll be using it mostly in sydney.

Also what is the difference between car nav and way points?
so long as it talks to me or displays to me with a big arrow where to go is what im looking for.

[purple_jeep]

Then your up for big dollars if you want street level maps :S

Destinator is the software im looking at presently with prob a CF GPS with map storage built in.

I had a PDA that only had SD and no Bluetooth and I decided after lots of research that there was no way I could do GPS with a SD Card due to the lack of room for maps.

Chris

Read the GPS forum on www.aximsite.com for more detailed information

[ReP0]

Originally Posted by purple_jeep

Then your up for big dollars if you want street level maps :S

Destinator is the software im looking at presently with prob a CF GPS with map storage built in.

I had a PDA that only had SD and no Bluetooth and I decided after lots of research that there was no way I could do GPS with a SD Card due to the lack of room for maps.

Chris

Read the GPS forum on www.aximsite.com for more detailed information

I might be missing something but surely if you wanted your could buy a SD card for your maps and other apps/music storage and a "mouse" GPS that would hook into the botton port of you PDA in some fashion?. You don't have to dedicate a SD or any other card to hold only your maps and nothing else.

[ReP0]

Originally Posted by PogiPinoy

an issue when you are under tunnels..its not really a big issue...the actual issue is accuracy..they claim to be accurate but most are not...ie your location is within 5m of your satellite fix

If accuracy is your biggest issue they you must have a really crap GPS unit. Sure you are not going to do any surveyor type work with the GPS but it's more than accurate while you are driving and I've never had an issue in Sydney in that respect. The biggest issue I find is errors in the maps in regards to "no right" turns. This is the biggest deficiency I've found though it doesn't effect me too much because I don't typically drive in areas with alot of these around.

[squidag3]

Originally Posted by purple_jeep

I had a PDA that only had SD and no Bluetooth and I decided after lots of research that there was no way I could do GPS with a SD Card due to the lack of room for maps.

Still possible depending on how much onboard memory you have on the PDA. In "Destinator" you are able to crop maps on your host PC before synching them to your PDA.

You could potentially crop maps per your requirements: for example to Metro Sydney, Metro Brisbane, Metro Melbourne, Regional NSW etc and synch only the map you want when required. Clunky but do-able.
I could fit a metro map plus destinator on the leftover RAM in my PDA without an additional CF/SD card.

[purple_jeep]

This was an Axim x3i I think it worked out I had a max
64mb Ram
and
48mb Rom

It was going to be very very tight to fit much in and if I wanted to do a trip from melb to Goldcoast it wasnt going to happen.

But now im going to get the x51v when im in the states in 2 mnths

Chris

[tez]

If you only have one slot, then the best bet is the memory slot as storage for maps and a bluetooth GPS receiver

When I was using mine with the Desinator software and a cheapo GPS receiver, I found that it was accurate enough to use.

[Lt. Sniper]

Grab a Bluetooth GPSr or if you’re looking for a really cheap setup grab your self a wired serial GPSr and wire it to the bottom of your PDA (if it supports serial communications).

Forget SD GPSr setups, too weak in signal (there patch antennas are appallingly bad) and the SD physical card strength isn’t too good either. CF aren’t must better for signal but are built better physically.

Try to find a GPSr that has a quadrifilar helix antenna over a cheaper patch antenna if you can, they are much more sensitive antennas and can work under low signal conditions that patchy’s wouldn’t. Admittedly they are less common in cheap GPS hardware and more expensive.

[PogiPinoy]

Originally Posted by li21

Thanks for your input.
So in your experience, will accuracry be bad enough throw you off course?
I'll be using it mostly in sydney.

Also what is the difference between car nav and way points?
so long as it talks to me or displays to me with a big arrow where to go is what im looking for.

no not really..its only a minor glitch but its fine...the software readjusts itself..im in sydney and i use it...it only happens when im at big intersections and youre at the front of the lights..

car nav uses voice and images to direct you..way points dont...
sounds like you are after car nav software

Originally Posted by ReP0

If accuracy is your biggest issue they you must have a really crap GPS unit. Sure you are not going to do any surveyor type work with the GPS but it's more than accurate while you are driving and I've never had an issue in Sydney in that respect. The biggest issue I find is errors in the maps in regards to "no right" turns. This is the biggest deficiency I've found though it doesn't effect me too much because I don't typically drive in areas with alot of these around.

its a great gps unit..its more to do with how accurate the maps of your car nav software is...as there are crucial points of an intersection which may think youve already turned when infact you havent...

sounds like youre using crap software...i have no problems with no right turns..my software doesnt tell me to turn when theres a no right turn sign there..

[High-Fidelity]

My setup is:
Dell Axim X50v
GlobalSat BT-338 Bluetooth GPS Receiver
Seidio Car Mount
Copilot Live 5

I've found this setup to be more than accurate enough for vehicle navigation. Occasionally I've found that if I deliberately try to fool it by taking a wrong turn or exit on the freeway, it'll track on the path it wanted me to take for 5-10 seconds before it realises that I'm going a different way. That's a function of the software, and Copilot Live 5 is streets (no pun intended) ahead of Destinator in that regard. I've only used Destinator 3.0.something, so if there is a newer version, then it might be somewhat better.

As mentioned, GPS doesn't work in tunnels, which, given how it works is expected behaviour.

The maps for Copilot Live fit inside a 128 MB SD card, and the software actually came with a card as well, which I've never used.

The car mount works a treat. It has a mighty suction cup that has never come close to coming unstuck, and it also has a built in amplified speaker and a cable comes with it to plug it into the headphone jack of the Axim. It also has a DC output, so that you can plug the GPS Receiver into to keep it charged. The mount also has an input for a wired mouse type receiver.

My particular model of GPS receiver can maintain it's charge for at least 16 hours. I've never taken it beyond that, as I've never had a need. It will also power down automatically 10 minutes after the Bluetooth connection has been disconnected. It takes less than a minute to get a fix, and it works when driving along the city streets and under trees, etc.

This setup seems to work pretty well, and the Copilot software is pretty terrific.

Ben.

[inane]

You can pick up SD GPS recievers with between 64mb and 512mb onboard for relatively cheap..