Opening a Holux GR-213

**shotgunefx** · 09-04-2008, 10:31 PM

Trying to see if I could convert my Holux GR-213 to a serial version (long story, ig4, wine, unimplemented ioctls).

I cut up my GPS, it didnt' work out anyways... I can't imagine it being too helpful, but figured I'd post the pics in case it's handy to anyone.

You have to hacksaw the case apart.

The GPS still works though, even if it's ugly.

Now this GPS does come in a serial version, it's based on the PL2303HX serial to usb converter which does support serial connections, so I figured the two unused pins were RX/TX. It didn't work though.

But looking at the datasheet, the serial voltages are low, I'm thinking you need a MAX232 or something to get the signals to TTL. Maybe if I can dig one up, I'll try it for the hell of it, but I've already got a serial GPS on the way.

**Zogg** · 09-05-2008, 02:24 PM

I was just looking for internal pics of a GR-213 recently, so thanks for posting these.

I have a small external antenna that came with a Holux CF GPS, and I was thinking I'd hack this onto the GR-213 so I could hide it under the dash somewhere and just have this small antenna in the corner of the dash. I could either install a jack, probably rip the one out of the dead CF unit, or just solder the coax of the external antenna directly onto the GR-213.

It's kind of hard to tell from the pics, but is the big chunk of metal in the left pic the antenna? Does it connect to the board with the big gray wire on the left side of the board as shown in the right pic?

Thanks,
Z

**shotgunefx** · 09-06-2008, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Zogg

I was just looking for internal pics of a GR-213 recently, so thanks for posting these.

I have a small external antenna that came with a Holux CF GPS, and I was thinking I'd hack this onto the GR-213 so I could hide it under the dash somewhere and just have this small antenna in the corner of the dash. I could either install a jack, probably rip the one out of the dead CF unit, or just solder the coax of the external antenna directly onto the GR-213.

It's kind of hard to tell from the pics, but is the big chunk of metal in the left pic the antenna? Does it connect to the board with the big gray wire on the left side of the board as shown in the right pic?

Thanks,
Z

No, I think the big chunk is just the bottom of the case which holds it to the magnets, it's only attached to ground on the USB cable.

The gray wire doesn't exit. I assumed the box on the top is the antenna (I don't know much about antennas to be honest), where it says P212. I've included much larger images. The board itself is soldered to the shell and I don't see an easy way of attaching or removing the Square part. I imagine it's bolted or riveted to the case, they probably solder the gray wire, then solder the board to the shell.

Hope that helps.

**Zogg** · 09-06-2008, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the info and for the larger pictures. Guess I'll have to fire up the Dremel one of these days.

Z

**shotgunefx** · 09-07-2008, 12:11 AM

Originally Posted by Zogg

Thanks for the info and for the larger pictures. Guess I'll have to fire up the Dremel one of these days.

Z

I'd be careful with a dremel. Seems to easy to overdue it. I just used a mini-hacksaw and went around the seam a couple times until I could pry it apart.

Inside, the two parts snap together, but outside of that, it's bonded together with some kind of sealant.