Holux GM-210 With MapPoint and Streets & Trips

cherrybomb · 12-07-2005, 08:41 PM

Hello all..

I've got a Holux GM-210, and I've got MapPoint and Streets & Trips software that I'm playing around with.

In both apps, I have no problem getting a GPS fix, but as I'm driving around, if I loose enough satellites (this seems to happen a lot) the software seems to give up and no longer tracks my position.

My question(s) are:

1) Should I have more than 5-7 satellites using this receiver? I usually have it on my dash, but it doesn't get much better mounted outside.

2) What's with the software? Should it recover when I get a fix again?

As an aside, using the MapPoint integration with RoadRunner, it seems to reaquire my location and track me, until it looses singal again, wash, rinse, repeat.

I'm seriously considering getting another receiver, particularly, one that I can have a permanently mounted external antenna for. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

eduardovdr · 01-09-2006, 02:40 PM

I have the same receiver. I use FreeDrive and all I can say is that it works perfectly with my system... but sometimes it gets "lost" (i suppose it doesnt a good signal quality) but its not a BIG problem as this doesnt happen too often.

JackMan · 01-09-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by cherrybomb

Hello all..

My question(s) are:

1) Should I have more than 5-7 satellites using this receiver? I usually have it on my dash, but it doesn't get much better mounted outside.

2) What's with the software? Should it recover when I get a fix again?

As an aside, using the MapPoint integration with RoadRunner, it seems to reaquire my location and track me, until it looses singal again, wash, rinse, repeat.

I'm seriously considering getting another receiver, particularly, one that I can have a permanently mounted external antenna for. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Hey cherrybomb

If you have typically 5-7 satalites, you should have more than enough to get a 3d fix. Maybe your reciever doesn't like the steel of your car, you could try putting it on the roof temporarily for testing purposes on a nice day.. I have had 4 satalites connected in a snow storm this winter and it was enough to show me where I was driving in M$ Streets and Trips 2006 (I have a USB BU-353 connected to a laptop). But try putting it out the window to test it out if you've got enough cable length.

If you do end up going with another gps antenna, I'd recomend the BU-353 usb because I've found it doesn't need an external antenna, and is powered by the usb connection. I can only recomend that model because it's the only one I've owned, but I've been extremely impressed with the performance of it.

Let us know how the holux works out for ya

cherrybomb · 01-09-2006, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the responses guys.

I've tried with the receiver on my roof, just atop my windshield, and the results aren't much better.

Quite odd really.

I'll have to admit, I've rather given up since I'm planning to use the uBlox dead reckoning solution that's recently been completed.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/gps/66935-ublox-dead-reckoning-gps.html

I know that works, and I know how well. :-)

I may pursue the Holux for occasional use in my wifes car though!