is the earthmate gps reciver NMEA 0183-compatible ?

**darkwingduck** · 01-27-2001, 10:52 PM

I check the homepage, but couldnt find any decent technical data on this reciver.

Im thinking about buying one of thoose, anybody have any comments on it (experience, ie how long it takes for it to get at sattelite fix etc)

**Callahan** · 01-27-2001, 11:00 PM

If its anything like the Tripmate, no its not NMEA compatible. Delorme has a thing about using it only with their software in my experience... The tripmate you can easily modify to make it a NMEA reciever, but I'm really not sure if this can be done with the earthmate... Not a totally 'sure' answer but a hunch.

**Mantis** · 01-28-2001, 03:31 AM

The earthmate is NOT NMEA complaint.
Do not buy it.
I have one.
The Earthmate doesn't support the NMEA protocol period..
This is aside from needing a unique initialiation sequence that only the Delorme software provides.

Tripmates are much better as you can hack them to make them generic (basically you remove the need for the special initialization sequence) but this is only all possile because it supports NMEA in the first place..

DONT BUY THE EARTHMATE unless you are sure you want to use the Delorme software.

I hvae one, but I replaced it with a Tripmate when I found out they were clearing out their stock and that they were 50 USD.

Hope this helps

**gizmomkr** · 01-29-2001, 09:32 AM

I know I have ranted about this stuff before but hey here is my .02

Etak (previously under sony) sells a product called Skymap 2000. It has EVERY feature I look for in gps software, including voice command, auto diming, extreemly detailed maps ( 3 cd set) everything. <end of rant>

they make 2 versions of the antenna, one hooks to the serial port, the other is PCMCIA. The PCMCIA version has a switch right on the front of the card. you can switch it form etak mode to NMEA mode.

I love mine

I use it all the time.
I use a pcmcia adapter to attach the pcmcia version to the pc in the trunk.

**Jammer** · 01-29-2001, 02:03 PM

I also have the sony skymap pcmcia gps,I love it and it also comes with a cool remote I might add.

**gizmomkr** · 01-30-2001, 08:12 AM

You got a remote ?!, oh man I knew that thing sticking up from the card looked like an IR window. whats the remote do ? zoom , pan, that kind of stuff ?

I had the serial version, and returned it to etak for the cmcia version - I didnt get a remote.

**Mantis** · 01-30-2001, 10:13 AM

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by gizmomkr:
I know I have ranted about this stuff before but hey here is my .02

Etak (previously under sony) sells a product called Skymap 2000. It has EVERY feature I look for in gps software, including voice command, auto diming, extreemly detailed maps ( 3 cd set) everything. <end of rant>

they make 2 versions of the antenna, one hooks to the serial port, the other is PCMCIA. The PCMCIA version has a switch right on the front of the card. you can switch it form etak mode to NMEA mode.

I love mine I use it all the time.
I use a pcmcia adapter to attach the pcmcia version to the pc in the trunk. </font>

I'm sure its good. The problem is that the Canadian map support is crap in anything but MS Streets and Trips.. so

Canadian=Ms Streets And Trips.

As a canadian, I just don't have any other choice. I wish that I did, i'd like to have the voice navigation feature.

**darkwingduck** · 01-30-2001, 01:04 PM

gizmomkr Skymap 2k sounds nice, but erhm the nearest city on their maps is about 10k km away ...not much use. I know i didnt mention that i live in Denmark (europe), and i already have a local map program (yes it sucks ... much like about 90% of the programs available).

From what i can see here im (when i get the cash together) buy the tripmate and modify it for my own needs.

Only one problem remains, i have searched the forum and found a link to a "modification page" but the page was down .. search on altavista and couldnt find anything that looked right. Does anyone here have the information that describes how you "fix" the delorme tripmate ??

**gizmomkr** · 01-30-2001, 01:09 PM

darkwingduck :

I talked to Etak, they just partnered with a company ( cont remember the name) but they said this partnership will allow them to globalize there maps, se they should soon have some good uk data

**Jammer** · 01-30-2001, 04:07 PM

If this helps I bought it in 98' off ebay.
(I got the Pro ver.)They made two versions

1)sony skymap travler - two connectors
serial cable db-9,and power cable plug
db-6 like the new style mouse's and keyboards use. GPS Signal Format(Rockwell)

2)sony skymap pro - pcmcia card with a GPS Signal Format (etak/nmea switch)

<IMG SRC="http://www.jeppesenmarine.com/Gps/IMGS/etak.jpg" WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=252>

The remote allows you to:

• Zoom In and Zoom Out
• Pan any direction on the screen
• Center your vessel on the screen
• Switch between North and Course up orientation
• Right mouse click and select a menu item
• Access and navigate through the MarineMap menus
• Select menu items

Here is my mp3car install.

[This message has been edited by Jammer (edited 01-30-2001).]

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