PDA's & GPS

David
Can't help you, but am thinking of doing the same thing, so await the info flowing in
Vince

go and look through the posts http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ozi-UsersCE
as I was asking the same questions 4 weeks ago
I bought Ipaq 2210 Oziexplorer CE costs $40

David

There are a couple of ways of going about it

1) if you buy an Ipaq 2210 they have two memory card slots CF and SD. You can then buy - about 150.00 from ebay, a CF card GPS and still have a spare card slot for a memory card .

2) If you go and buy a higher spec Ipaq PDA they only come with one memory card slot and then you have to purchse a bluetooth GPS - about 200.00 from ebay.

With the bluetooth way you have to rely on two sets of batteries - one for the PDA and one for the GPS . But this way has the advantage of placing the gps in a position where the signal is strongest. Bluetooth has about 15m range i have been told

All depends on what features you want in your PDA

Oziexplorer full version is used to calibrate the map images and then you get that data to the pda. You can not use the the PDA version of Ozie to calibrate the map images. Both of the two versions have to be purchased

Also see ipaq navman gps3450 compact flash sleeve basically its a sleeve you slot the ipaq into costs about $580 (cheaper on ebay) and comes with everythng you need sofware maps voice navigation and a built in CF slot for maps.. etc

G'day David,

I have a Garmin Emap and IPAQ 2100. Works well as a combination.

To answer your questions,

1. Cheapies should do the job, but accessories such as car chargers and dedicated PDA-GPS data cables and their availability should be considered. Ipaq seems to have a good name and heaps of accessories.

2. Yep, it is easy to operate once you have done a couple of trips. A little frustrating to get the hang of like any system.

3. Yeah, maps change automatically as you drive off them, there are also quick keys you can change to higher or lower resolution maps if you have them loaded as well.

4. You need Ozi CE, but it is only about $48. You also need the free software Img2Ozf to convert your Oziexplorer map and image files into Ozf format which is the only one the CE version can use. It is easy to convert, but will take a lot of processing time if you have a heap of maps.

5. Yeah, when you have the PDA docked, it is just drag and drop using windows explorer on your PC. Really easy.

6. You should be able to find someone from Exploroz to help you out in your city, or buy from www.gpsoz.com.au for cables and the like. Brian there is a good bloke and can help with all issues. He also drives an 80 series cruiser, so that should say it all. No affiliation, yada, yada, just always had good service from him.

I have the one cable that connects the Ipaq to the GPS and also has the cigarette lighter plug so that both the Garmin and the PDA are getting powered throught the one cable.

Cables at gpsoz - Speciifcally iPAQ383VGPSE for Etrex

The cable you need with Ipaq

My Ipaq in the car:

http://www.geocities.com/cruiserpics/ipaq

Hope this all helps.

Wazza.

David - think most of your questions have been answered - beware of some cheaper PDA's eg HP ipaq 1900 series - these do not have serial connection cababilities and you will not be able to connect your handheld GPS....so check before buying. Mate of mine got had by GPS cable seller who sold him a serial cable for his 1900 ...wouldnt work. I think top of range 1900 has Bluetooth otherwise you will need SD card GPS (hard to get? Out soon I believe). HP ipaq 2210 seems to be the cheapest and best at the moment - but I havent researched others. OziCE will do everything you need. Other software is availble but OziExplorer slays them with regard to features and the maps you can use. I would avoid unit specific add ons - eg Navman sleeves - as when you decide to upgrade you most likely will have to sell everything and start again...so using your standard gps is a good option. Bluetooth and CF gps units are also pretty universal and are not necessarily brand or model specific (aprt from requiremnt for BT or CF slot) so good also.
Cheers
Greg

I just brought a acer n10 for this purpose cost 390 from organiser world in melb has both cf and sd slot brought a cf gps of ebay for 100 and explorer ce work just great together the gps I brought came with ext annetena which i put on the dash tracks at 100kms without a problem

if its for work why do you need all this info on how to drive it away from work?

David, I am using a O2 XDAII with Navman mapping and the Navman bluetooth GPS. I use the same GPS unit for my laptop. Great less wires. I find the whole very good and handy. Maps for the bush are a bit small so I use the laptop. But cetrainly for the cities and just all country towns it is bloody great and beats the UBD anytime. Anyone with a littel bit of computer knowledge shouldnt have any problems with them. Your main problem is decisding wether you want windows based or PLam based. I have a friend using the plam version on his PDA and he is using oxiexplorer on his laptop.

I have also purchase a 6" screen and can run the PDA through that but not really needed.

Alan

Watch the set up costs with a PDA when you think about battery life on the PDA. I think with most Ipaq's when the battery dies that's it, buy a new Ipaq - the cost to replace battery is ridiculous - unless you buy the latest Ipaq's which are coming with problem fixed.
they are 'disposable' , although will last 2/3yrs when by which time you will probably upgrade anyway.

G'day David I'll Be having a look at the Garmin Ique 3600 PDA/GPS on Thursday
Can let you know what I think if you like. Have a look at the Garmin web site.
PS still looking for container to send back the equipment but hopefully tomorrow cheers Paul

David,

I was just surfing thru the technology section of the Sydney Morning Herald and spotted this new baby. The Garmin iQue 3600.

It is an integrated purpose built PDA/GPS unit. Try this link for the article. Could not find it on the GME link that is featured in the article but it looks the go.

$1449 retail, which may well work out the same as buying a decent PDA and the GPS receiver and the software. Don't know if Mapsource comes with it but I think Mapsource software has pretty good coverage of Australia.

Cheers
Steven