Pocket pc
Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 22, 2003 at 16:30
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mik
INFOMATION REQUIRED
I have been following the conversation on pocket pc, GPS and digital maps.
Can somebody supply a little advice on the purchasing of prefered brands, including both hardware and software
Currantly use Compaq Ipaq in everyday city working life, and are just learning about all these new little toys
any help would be great
Reply By: Member - Lex - Tuesday, Jul 22, 2003 at 18:33
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2003 at 18:33
Mik
My setup is as follows
Garmin GPS
Compaq Ipaq [running Windows CE]
OziExplorer on main PC /OziExplorer CE on Ipaq with Compact Flash memory expansion.
Works beautifully
AnswerID:
25621
Reply By: SimonIT - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 09:59
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 09:59
Hi Mik,
Am also going through this exercise at the moment. The iPaq is certainly the way to go as far as PDA is concerned (especially the new models because they have both SD and CF slots). As far as software goes, I have decided to go with OziExplorer. Does everything I want, there is a good user base of knowledge out there and reasonably priced.
Deciding on which GPS is where I'm up to at the moment. Have decided a handheld GPS unit will perform better than a compact flash type unit which you can plug straight in to the PDA. Only thing I don't like about this setup though is all the extra cables etc... Prefer the Garmin units and trying to decide which one.
Would probably prefer a bluetooth GPS receiver (such as the Emtac) but can't justify the price.
For $89 you can buy a combined power/data cable that connects Garmin GPS and iPaq and supplies power to both while in the car.
Hope this helps.
AnswerID:
25673
Follow Up By: Lyds - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 15:11
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 15:11
I found that if I used the SD card I had to transfer the OZF* files using IR then it was very slow. Fortunately I had an expansion pack with a CF card (for downloading from the digital camera) and using this was much more time effecient.
If anyone has a better idea please share it.
Cheers,
Stuart
- To err is human, to moo bovine -
FollowupID:
17426
Follow Up By: Member - Sam (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 15:51
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 15:51
Lyds
have you got one of those USB card readers? I have a 7-in-1 USB unit that takes CF/SD/MMC/MicroDrive etc etc. Running XP on the desktop, there is no need for drivers (although a CD with drivers is provided for other Operating Systems), it just plugs straight in and you instantly have the drives available. Much quicker to transfer data to and from the memory cards. Cost was about $80, but they may be cheaper now seeing as more have come on to the market since I purchased. This might help with transfer speeds and seeing as you have both types of memory card, it would be a useful tool.
cheers,
Sam.
FollowupID:
17433
Follow Up By: mik - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:11
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 16:11
Thanks Simon + Lex
Yes, the Oziexplorer seens to be the peoples choise for software, and being Australian was my prefered choice.
SimonIT, Your words 'perform better', could you please expand a little bit on this matter. Been doing a little a surfin, and the CF GPS's seem quite reasonable, to the untrained. Also, did you concider the FlyJacket for Ipaq, This was my choise as the hardware was built in, also an extra battery built in giving 5Hours extra use, and still theres another CF slot and 12 volt connection.
Yes BlueTooth is the go, my laptop, Ipaq, mobile, PC, and printer are all equiped with BlueTooth( NO CABLES) uses BIG power though.
FollowupID:
17436
Follow Up By: SimonIT - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 17:00
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 17:00
Hi Mik,
I didn't really consider a sleeve for my iPaq, because unlike the older models, the new models have CF and SD slots already (mines a iPaq 2210 - the old one's had SD only so needed the sleeve to put the CF GPS somewhere!).
Power isn't really a problem because I can power it from the cigarette lighter in the car and in my boat (where it will get used most of the time).
As for 'perform better' check out this review here. This shows some of the CF GPS's having TTFF's of up to 5 minutes or more where most handhelds are only taking 30-40 seconds! Have also read somewhere that the ability of the low power CF GPS's to hold on to a fix under light coverage is not very good.
FollowupID:
17438
Follow Up By: SimonIT - Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 17:09
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 17:09
and to continue...
there seems to be some concern also with having the GPS so close to the processor of the PDA (either in a sleeve or directly in an expansion slot).
To quote: "the largest cause of poor reception / time to fix with the Navman receiver, is electromagnetic interference from the processor on the PDA".
FollowupID:
17440
Follow Up By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:26
Thursday, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:26
Mittoni.com.au sell CF card readers for $30. Also CF Cards are extremely cheap.
Just Do It!
FollowupID:
17505
Reply By: Member - Peter- Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 20:44
Wednesday, Jul 23, 2003 at 20:44
To follow up on the interference problem I have been using a laptop, Garmin GPS75 and/or a 12XL for about 5 years now and have noticed that both GPS's cause interference on the
HF radio when they are on. Doesn't matter whether they are using vehicle power or batteries. The HF causes interference on the UHF and the 27 mhz picks up everything ;-)) The amount of interference can be minimised by mounting them as far apart as possible.
Peter
AnswerID:
25725
Reply By: Member - Glenn(VIC) - Thursday, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:22
Thursday, Jul 24, 2003 at 11:22
Hi Mik
I have the following and love it!
Purchased Compaq iPaq 3970 from eBay
Garmin Etrex Venture from Johnny Appleseed
Null modem connection from Dick Smith
Cables from Harris Technology (power for in vehicle and comms cable)
CF Expansion pack from Compaq
CF Cards from Mittoni Technologies (they are the cheapest I have seen)
Ozi Explorer CE
Desert Maps
Raster 250k maps
Dash Holder from
Melbourne Map Centre
Used to use the laptop for moving map, but now I only use the laptop to create my
routes etc and download to iPaq before I go on the trip. No need to take laptop now.Just Do It!
AnswerID:
25771