GPS boards and APRS and schtuff!

Pred8tr · 05-12-2003, 08:39 PM

Okay, I JUST got my carputer booted up last night for the first time!!! Now I'm looking for the toys! I understand the GPS boards can be gotten fairly cheaply so I think this will be one of my first additions. What do you need to consider when looking for a board level GPS? I have rudimentary IC level electronics skill so I am okay with the soldering and really BASIC power regulation. So far I've heard people talk about two boards in particular...
The U Blox Boards
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=4660
and the OnCore boards.

What other boards are out there and what should I be comparing them by?

Last but not least, I am REALLY enthsed about APRS and can't wait to use it! What all is involved? So far it sounds like GPS, Ham Radio (w/ appropriate licensing), and bang you're done! Surely there's more to it. Info?

Thanks!

Pred8tr · 05-13-2003, 05:16 PM

C'mon!!!!! Peeeeeeeeople pleeeeeeeease!?!?!?!?!

Does this thread smell funny or something?

koulouty · 05-14-2003, 04:10 AM

Not trying to hate...

I think that most people just buy the consumer/ready-made gps units with a connector already on the end of it.

Although the size of that u-blox is nice, once you buy an antenna, some conenctors, the u-blox itself, and factor in time and soldering, the price jumps.

Pred8tr · 05-14-2003, 08:55 AM

Granted, I'll give you that.... but for connissuers de electronique this is just a cool cool concept; building your own GPS. Seems cool to me anyway.

koulouty · 05-14-2003, 11:43 AM

Yeah, it is cool. After I posted that, I was thinking that buying a premade gps would go against everyone's creed here.

We are all about DIY and custom systems.

Pred8tr · 05-15-2003, 10:41 PM

Here's some good info!

I just discovered that the OnCore GPS boards I've been hearing so much about are actually used in the OnStar system, so a good source for these boards neay free would be a pull it yourself junk yard. I have found a list of all vehicles with OnStar.

http://www.onstar.com/us_english/jsp...le=Past+Models

Here is a website about how to get to these unit and extract them:

http://members.cox.net/onstar/

Telek · 06-10-2003, 03:07 PM

Yeah but considering how cheap you can get ready-to-use GPS units, and factoring in not having to hack together a computer interface yourself and all that work, why not just drop the $80 and get an earthmate or something?