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Posted by Edgar on October 3, 2007, 2:05 pm
>
>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Just bought a Garmin mapping GPS unit, and am still trying to get
>>>>>>> the hang of it...wondered if anyone out there is using these sorts
>>>>>>> of things. This one's a little bigger than a candy bar phone, and
>>>>>>> waterproof.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'll be heading out for a week in the bush before the snow falls for
>>>>>>> the mining project and will be using it to document positions for
>>>>>>> later integration into my GIS model, so it's crucial that I get good
>>>>>>> with this thing fast.
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> MichaelB
>>>>>>> www.michaelbulatovich.ca
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Been wanting to get a Bluetooth dongle for my phone that lets it do
>>>>>> GPS.
>>>>>
>>>>> A phone can give you GPS?
>>>>>
>>>>>> That stuff is really cool. You need to have a view to the sky for it
>>>>>> to track you,
>>>>>
>>>>> This one comes with an antena projecting from the top a bit
>>>>>
>>>>> https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=145&pID=310
>>>>>
>>>>> so it claims to be able to fix under forest canopy. I've had a fix
>>>>> right here in my subterranean HQ, with one small window facing into a
>>>>> mutual driveway 7 feet wide.
>>>>>
>>>>>> and they usually have a limit of how many points you can add
>>>>>> (depending on the memory of the unit) but it is usually something in
>>>>>> the thousands to tens of thousands.
>>>>>
>>>>> I get 1,000 in 50 "routes" max. on board, but I think I can dump them
>>>>> onto the chip, and then store more on board. Haven't figured that out
>>>>> yet...I'm hoping theres a CSV export or something.
>>>>>
>>>>>> They usually take 30 to 45 seconds to acquire a signal on cold boot
>>>>>> and possibly faster on warm boot. Does it take extra memory cards or
>>>>>> are the maps built in?
>>>>>
>>>>> Warm is much faster...maybe 10 seconds?
>>>>>
>>>>> It's got a 64 Mb SD memory, but you can buy bigger if you need it.
>>>>> Topo maps for Canada I purchased separately ($170) and uploaded
>>>>> everything between Thunder Bay and the claims (I'm driving from
>>>>> there), and Windsor to Peterborough and up to Parry Sound and it took
>>>>> about 45 Mb.
>>>>>
>>>>> With WAAS ability, it claims to have accuracy down to 4-5 meters,
>>>>> depending on the triangulation, I think. It seems to vary as you walk
>>>>> around. Gives lat/long or UTM, which is what all my drawings have.
>>>>> Also does altitude. I just have to get good with it.
>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Edgar
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sounds like your all set then...what was the question :-).
>>>>
>>>> My phone is a XV6700 which runs Windows Mobile 5/6. It basically like
>>>> a mini laptop, in which I can install programs and do all sorts of cool
>>>> stuff. A friend of mine bought a Bluetooth GPS transmitter and some Tom
>>>> Tom software and it works on his treo just like any other GPS unit.
>>>> Worked very well, and they usually have a "pedestrian" mode that you
>>>> use while walking or hiking as opposed to driving.
>>>>
>>>> Basically you buy one of these:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.buygpsnow.com/bluetooth-gps_9.aspx
>>>>
>>>> (preferably a sirf III version as it has better accuracy than older
>>>> chipsets)
>>>>
>>>> Then install one of these on your phone:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.buygpsnow.com/gps-software_12.aspx
>>>>
>>>> and your all set. Those usually come with maps built into an SD card
>>>> also. Just need to set up the gps unit by bluetooth (its works like a
>>>> serial connection). Some of the standard free stuff also works with
>>>> the GPS units such as Live Search or Google Maps Mobile (but those need
>>>> internet access to grab the maps), and you can hook up the GPS unit to
>>>> almost anything that has bluetooth, such as a laptop. It will only
>>>> work with phones that support the connection, which is basically any
>>>> windows mobile phone.
>>>
>>> Whats the downside?
>>> Say, you're in GPS mode and a call comes in, does it automatically
>>> switch over to phone mode and lose the GPS screen?
>>> Or can you toggle bewteen the 2 apps, effectively keeping both apps
>>> running but only 1 active at a time?
>>> As you know I've been wanting a GPS for some time now and was looking
>>> real close at the Garmin Michael mentioned, but I'd rather not carry
>>> another device if only 1 is necessary.
>>> In other words, I'd like to carry just a phone and not a phone AND a GPS
>>> as long as the functionality of both devices is not compromises too
>>> much.
>>>
>>
>> All software on the phone works like it would on a computer, well except
>> for the limited ram available. Basically the phone works through
>> anything and depending on what you are doing will even pause other
>> programs while your on the line (such as say listening to music on the
>> MP3 player). When a call comes in while your in GPS mode it will switch
>> to the phone screen and work normally. When you are done the GPS program
>> will either come back on, or you just open it and it will be where you
>> left it (the program itself never got shut off). You can even open other
>> programs, though it will eventually start to close other programs when
>> you are running short on memory, though this has never happened to me.
>> You can even use other Bluetooth devices (up to a total of 7 I think) at
>> the same time.
>>
>> The downsides I can think of are that you do have to carry your phone and
>> the little receiver when walking around though those things are tiny.
>> They even have one that has a solar panel on it so it can get some juice
>> from the sun through the windshield. Latest one I saw was no bigger than
>> a USB thumb drive, and I am even hearing about ones that use the MiniSD
>> slot so it is more like an antenna than a separate item. Only other
>> thing I can think of is they usually take a little bit longer to acquire
>> a signal, but not much and are getting better.
>>
>> Of course the phone itself is the biggest + or - depending on the person.
>> I've hacked this phone like crazy and it works great. It is a windows
>> mobile 5 phone but hackers have found a way to get windows mobile 6
>> running on it, which is what I have right now. If you run this exact
>> phone with its default software without any changes it's kind of hit and
>> miss, but again this phone is very old and came out at least 4 or 5 years
>> ago. Newer ones run much better. Just out of curiosity, who do you use
>> for cellular out where you are?
>>
>> Eventually I will be buying this one:
>>
>> http://www.seidioonline.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=237
>>
>> it is the one to beat for accuracy and battery life (it's battery is
>> stronger than the one in my phone).
>
> So the GPS unit is a separate part, that you connect with bluetooth and
> locate it anywhere you like, like on top of a backpack for example?
> I'm currently looking at solar chargers that I can put on top of the pack
> and keep the phone plugged in to it all the time.
> My current cell is with Cingular which changed to AT&T.
> In FL I had Altel for like 10 years but they don't service this area.
> I have a Motorola no frills phone, cept for the cam but I'll probably
> upgrade within the next year.
> It has an upgraded battery but I can only get about 1.5 hrs of continuous
> use.
> When I researched the Garmin GPS last year the biggest complaint was the
> battery duration.
> If you run it continuous it will last like 12 hours.
> But if its connected into a solar charger I wonder how that effects it?
> Regardless, it just seems more efficient to have one toy that does
> everything.
>
Basically yes, you can put the little receiver anywhere you want as long as
it is within the Bluetooth range of the device. And hooking it up to those
solar backpacks would be great too. You might want to take a look at some
of the solar powered GPS units. I haven't heard much about them except for
that it could add another 10 hours to a 20 hour device (give or take)
http://pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=909
These things seem like they would be perfect for your application, and even
better on your dash in the hot sun.
I am pretty sure just about any phone on this page will work with these GPS
devices:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/pda-phones-smartphones.jsp
except the blackberrys (not sure on those, never used one myself) though I'm
not so sure how well they work on the first smartphone on that page. My
friend was using a Palm Treo (not a windows mobile Treo) and it worked
great. My GF has something similar to the Treo 750 only an older device,
and she loves it. The phone I have is similar to the 8525, and that sucker
will do just about anything. I play lots of different games on it, do all
my scheduling on it, text messaging is great with a full qwerty keyboard.
Plus there are thousands of programs available for it, many of them free:
http://www.freewareppc.com/
but the best stuff you pay for. I wanted to buy a construction calculator
which is available but its a bit expensive for me at the moment. All my
pennies are being saved for my property taxes.
http://www.advantagecalculators.com/main.aspx?PID=JobProduct
How's that for an all in one device :). The iPhone may have the bells and
whistles, but it can't touch Windows Mobile on functionality.
--
Edgar
--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
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