Bluetooth GPS - Auto Power Functionality!

**anonim** · 07-14-2007, 10:44 AM

I purchased a bluetooth GPS (Holux GPSlim 236) receiver about a year ago to use with my PDA. I'm now in the process of building a carpc, and I plan on using the same receiver for the carpc.

Unfortunately, this receiver does not have any sort of auto-on/off functionality (some receivers turn off automatically after x minutes of bluetooth inactivity). There is a USB data cable that can be purchased separately for my receiver, though it also cannot send a command to power the device off.

Well, I discovered that if you run the receiver with external power and the battery removed (and leave the power switch on), the receiver will naturally power on and power off with the external power source. What this means is that I can remove the battery and power it with my car's switched 12V cig. lighter socket (the receiver came with a cig. lighter plug as well), and it will automatically turn on/off with ignition.

Also, this receiver is able to connect to satellites even under the trunk! Since my carpc setup involves a laptop mounted in the trunk, I will install a cig. lighter socket in the trunk (fused) and connect it to the GPS receiver.

Just thought I'd share this with you guys, I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't want to switch the GPS on/off manually everytime I enter/exit the car.

**cherrybomb** · 09-12-2007, 04:27 PM

Yes I know... I'm resurrecting an OLD thread but...

I wanted to thank you for posting this. I have the same device, and was trying to figure out the best way to configure it for use in my vehicle, and a simple search provided the answer.

I had assumed this method would work, but it's nice to know someone else has tried it out successfully.

Kudos for being a newbie (at least on this board) and posting useful info.

Thanks!

**mangus580** · 09-12-2007, 09:16 PM

Why not leave the battery in? When your computer is on, the GPS will charge.... if the battery discharges overnight who cares? But... this way it will always be ready if you have the computer off for short periods.

I think this is exactly what I am gonna do myself

**JimmyFitz** · 09-12-2007, 09:46 PM

I was using a Realtek RB3000 at first for the same reason. I already owned it and was using it with my pda. I wired it to a cigarette lighter in the trunk also but I never worried about turning it off. It won't draw enough to matter.

I decided to replace it, however, in order to get the newer SiRF technology and because the Bluetooth would occasionally not reconnect without some fiddling. I switched to the BU-353 and I would recommend that it was well worth spending another $75 even though I already had a GPS reciever that worked. I use S3 (suspend to RAM) when the pc shuts down. That leaves the USB ports (and my GPS reciever) powered. I found that even when parked in my garage overnight, the GPS will keep its fix and the pc restarts into RR & IG already knowing exactly where it is.

**cherrybomb** · 09-13-2007, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by mangus580

Why not leave the battery in? When your computer is on, the GPS will charge.... if the battery discharges overnight who cares? But... this way it will always be ready if you have the computer off for short periods.

I think this is exactly what I am gonna do myself

I've been using it this way for about a week now. For the first day, it did stay on using battery power, but the first night I left it in the battery died.

I see no sense in constantly cycling the battery. You're only using the device while it's on and powered anyway. The cold time to first fix is just over 40 seconds. My PC takes about 30 to boot. By the time I get into my GPS app, I'd have a fix.

As it is, in the mornings, I usually have 10 satellites by the time I leave my driveway with it completely powered down.

If you need it faster than that, I suppose you could leave the battery in, but I don't see a need for it. *shrug*

**JimmyFitz** · 09-13-2007, 09:06 PM

My PC is on, playing music right where it left off and displaying my current location on the map within 8 seconds of starting the car. The bluetooth gps solution worked ok for me but Wired was definitely an improvement. You asked about other peoples experience, that was mine.

**cherrybomb** · 09-14-2007, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by JimmyFitz

My PC is on, playing music right where it left off and displaying my current location on the map within 8 seconds of starting the car. The bluetooth gps solution worked ok for me but Wired was definitely an improvement. You asked about other peoples experience, that was mine.

Impressive. I'm not quite willing to take the leap of going to suspend. I may re-consider hibernate when I change out my soundcard for one that should hopefully survive hibernation.

Though, as I said, it takes about 30-40 seconds to start up from power-on to being able to play music. I'm quite pleased with that... For now.. :-)

**sonvan** · 10-10-2007, 11:23 PM

Thanks for this idea. I too have the gpslim 236 and was wondering how to per them.

**spadival** · 08-09-2008, 08:16 PM

I know its an old thread, but..

Originally Posted by mangus580

Why not leave the battery in? When your computer is on, the GPS will charge.... if the battery discharges overnight who cares? But... this way it will always be ready if you have the computer off for short periods.

I think this is exactly what I am gonna do myself

on my GPSlim 236, I keep it on and connected to my CarPC. If the battery drains completely, then the next day, it draws power and switches on ok when I boot my CarPC. However, the blue light on the GPS does not blink, i.e. it switches on with BT off

. It probably thinks that its xmitting via the USB cable? I have to turn it off and on to get BT working again.

I will try with the battery removed and see if I still have the problem.