w00t w00t i just scored this

traitorhound · 10-15-2003, 02:04 PM

got it yestday at rat shack for 30 usd. . .so i bought two. . overall this pda software is ok. . . .it finds a lock in around 30 sec and it's pretty accurate

now i just gotta get some PC software for it (it's the PDA version) and mod one of the cables to make it work on my carputer

it is nmea compliant so it shoudl work with most software. . .it's not based on the newer chipsets.. but hey. . .for 30 bux it's a good deal

wizardPC · 10-15-2003, 05:14 PM

dammit, i just paid $40 for the software only

jeseyboy3 · 10-15-2003, 05:20 PM

I used to have the Laptop version paid 50 bucks over here in NJ , they still have 2 of those PDA ones in my local ratshack for 30 bucks each.

cafn8 · 10-15-2003, 05:58 PM

Do they have those for Palm, or only Pocket PC?

Defiler · 10-15-2003, 09:50 PM

WOW!!! Good buy...

ciagon · 10-16-2003, 02:18 AM

I just drove across town to buy mine. If you call one radio shack, they can check store stock for all stores in their region. Just ask for 20-1601 (pda) or 20-1602 (laptop).

I got the pda version, and converted one of the cables to DB25. Also, I am working on making a small 6v regulator that fits in the battery compartment so that I can just apply 12v.

--Tom

ciagon · 10-17-2003, 04:20 PM

I just finished making the voltage regulator that sits inside the battery compartment. I ended up using an LM7805, an input cap, and some diodes to protect reverse-hookup. Turns out that the GPS is happy with only 5v in.

spectrumzz · 10-17-2003, 04:44 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ciagon

I just finished making the voltage regulator that sits inside the battery compartment. I ended up using an LM7805, an input cap, and some diodes to protect reverse-hookup. Turns out that the GPS is happy with only 5v in.

I don't know if it's that cost effective. For $90 you get a Deluo USB-powered one that doesn't need any custom wiring, it works on the USB port natively and it's NMEA compliant and it's a smaller. The question you have to ask are the time and parts you spend modifying the $30 one worth the extra $60 in the end?

ciagon · 10-17-2003, 07:08 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by spectrumzz

I don't know if it's that cost effective. For $90 you get a Deluo USB-powered one that doesn't need any custom wiring, it works on the USB port natively and it's NMEA compliant and it's a smaller. The question you have to ask are the time and parts you spend modifying the $30 one worth the extra $60 in the end?

What fun would a carputer be if you didn't to do custom wiring and look for the most cost effective solutions?

Also, I much prefer serial for gps's. The usb converter on my earthmate caused problems under linux, and my GPS35 with the usb converter causes my linux kernel to panic. Plus, it is easy to run serial over Cat-5 and still have several wires left for other stuff.

traitorhound · 10-19-2003, 05:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by ciagon

I just drove across town to buy mine. If you call one radio shack, they can check store stock for all stores in their region. Just ask for 20-1601 (pda) or 20-1602 (laptop).

I got the pda version, and converted one of the cables to DB25. Also, I am working on making a small 6v regulator that fits in the battery compartment so that I can just apply 12v.

--Tom

i also had to call around town to find mine. . man i thought it was a good deal when it was 100 usd and now it's 30. . hell yea

they didnt' have any of the laptop version. . would've made things easier. . .but so far ive only been using it on my ipaq and it's pretty accurate with the included software. . ive made a serial connector with db9 connector (thanks to pocketpcpassion forums) and havn't been able to test it out yet since i don't have any pc gps software but ill try it when i get rand mcnally free after rebates from amazon. . i plan on just powering it from the 5v on my psu

-rich

traitorhound · 10-19-2003, 05:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by cafn8

Do they have those for Palm, or only Pocket PC?

actually the pda version also comes with palm connectors

on the packageing it says that it comes with cables for iPAQ 31-3700 series
3835

palm m125/m130/m500/m515/i705

of course if you wanted to use it with whatever pda you could just solder on it's respective connector as long as the device has serial support. .. no tosh e740's and whatnot if i remember right

ciagon · 10-19-2003, 07:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by traitorhound

i also had to call around town to find mine. . man i thought it was a good deal when it was 100 usd and now it's 30. . hell yea

they didnt' have any of the laptop version. . would've made things easier. . .but so far ive only been using it on my ipaq and it's pretty accurate with the included software. . ive made a serial connector with db9 connector (thanks to pocketpcpassion forums) and havn't been able to test it out yet since i don't have any pc gps software but ill try it when i get rand mcnally free after rebates from amazon. . i plan on just powering it from the 5v on my psu

-rich

I use this for testing:

http://www.wsrcc.com/wolfgang/gps/dgps-ip.html

Just select the serial port and view the NMEA output. Also, you can use hyperterm or GPSTrackMaker.

That will atleast test your serial link.

traitorhound · 10-21-2003, 08:48 AM

i used hyperterminal and i saw the data flowing with this garbled stuff ( i know im not supposed to be able to understand it) but when i used that otehr program it couldn' get and NMEA data.. ..would that be because i was not outside and getting sattelite signal? or is that independant?

none · 10-27-2003, 10:31 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by spectrumzz

The question you have to ask are the time and parts you spend modifying the $30 one worth the extra $60 in the end?

$60 for a $1.50 7805 and 5 minutes of soldering? If that's not cost effective you must make more than $700 an hour.