Usb Gps

nibix · 05-30-2004, 12:16 PM

I am very new to the worl of carputers and GPS units. I was wondering, which USB GPS unit was good and well priced? I don't know much about the technical aspects of the units, but I hope it would be somewhat small so I can store it in a reasonably unoticable space.

jjh221 · 05-30-2004, 01:04 PM

if you want small look up royalteks sapphire mouse. its small and pretty too

bsc · 05-30-2004, 01:18 PM

I use a Haicom HI-202E. They are matchbox sized, come in several colors (mine is black like the car), they are supposedly waterproof, come in both USB (recommmended) and serial versions, the USB cable is thin (my guess: 1mm diameter), and probably best of all, they have a powerful magnet inside so you can just slap it on the roof and it will stick. They're also cheap. I got mine on ebay for about EUR 100 (last year). Theft might be an issue, mine is not really visible from the ground since my truck's height is >2m.

nibix · 05-30-2004, 01:54 PM

Are these two modles good recievers? I mean are they powerfull and accurate? Are there linux drivers for any USB mice? Also, do the sell the royaltek sapphire in USA?

bsc · 05-30-2004, 02:13 PM

I don't think it matters much nowadays what receiver you buy if you don't have any special requirements. It should have a parallel receiver (the (very?)old serial receivers would "swap channels" instead of simultaneously listening to all visible satellites. All receivers need some seconds at startup to "lock on". This is not caused by the receiver being slow but because of how the GPS system is designed. If you need lock by the time you enter the car you can either wire the GPS to be powered at "all times" or maybe use the door unlock pulse to power it on so it get's some extra seconds while you open the door and enter.

Don't expect to see better accuracy from a more expensive receiver unless it supports some extra technology (varying for different parts of the world).

The most critical part is getting as much free sight from satellite to antennae as possible.

Also all GPSes I have seen supports NMEA (the protocol used over the wire to the computer).

nibix · 05-30-2004, 02:18 PM

I see. Is there an online shop for some GPS recievers? I cannot find many US sites.

Mr.J · 05-30-2004, 02:29 PM

http://www.gpscity.com

nibix · 05-30-2004, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the site, but I dont see the royaltek.

mp3mike05 · 05-31-2004, 11:39 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by bsc

I use a Haicom HI-202E. They are matchbox sized, come in several colors (mine is black like the car), they are supposedly waterproof, come in both USB (recommmended) and serial versions, the USB cable is thin (my guess: 1mm diameter), and probably best of all, they have a powerful magnet inside so you can just slap it on the roof and it will stick. They're also cheap. I got mine on ebay for about EUR 100 (last year). Theft might be an issue, mine is not really visible from the ground since my truck's height is >2m.

does this reciever work with all of the main mapping programs(Routis, Mappoint, Destinator) ?

bgoodman · 05-31-2004, 11:46 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mp3mike05

does this reciever work with all of the main mapping programs(Routis, Mappoint, Destinator) ?

it should.

nibix · 05-31-2004, 04:57 PM

Is the Earthmate any good? I can buy it at my local circuit city as well as best buy, so that is a plus.

millec · 05-31-2004, 05:20 PM

I like the tn-200 by rayming. 100% usb powered, locks onto satellites pretty fast, does WAAS, NMEA 0183, and the SIRF binary protocol.

--Craig

fondoo · 05-31-2004, 07:01 PM

i heard alot of bad things about earthmate. if you google it, you shall find them.

nibix · 05-31-2004, 07:07 PM

Wait, I wanna know if the Earthmate is good.

millec · 05-31-2004, 07:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by nibix

Wait, I wanna know if the Earthmate is good.

I am not sure if things have changed, but it used to be that you could only use it with the delorme software. People reverse engineered it to figure out how to use it with other programs, but it had a couple of proprietary gotchas.

Things may have changed since then though.... that was 7 years ago now.

--Craig