SubaruWRX

I'm not sure why.. It's a Haicom 204e and when I got the Powercable/pds cable it came with a warning saying if you hook it up wrong it can slow down the pda...

Well it's annoying in iguidance the pda slows to a crawl and it's getting to the point where BT looks really good right now as I doubt I would have those issues.

JakeRich

What they are referring to is the phenomenon where connecting a serial device to the bottom port can trigger Activesync to start looking for a PC to sync with, never find one and just keep looking and looking. That is a high priority task, so the X5 slows to a crawl or locks up.

To avoid that, use this sequence (start with the GPS NOT plugged in to the X5):

1. Kill all running application (soft reset is a quick way).
2. Start the GPS software, get it set for COM1, then have it start the connection sequence.
3. Now plug in the serial GPS. It should connect and run just fine.

What happens is that only ONE application can use COM1 at a time. When you plug in the GPS first, there is activity on COM1 which triggers Activesync to start listening for the PC. The mapping software can't get through to the port, so it won't connect and as I said, A/S starts to tie up resources listining for an answer that is never going to come. You can't completely kill Activesync, so the only way to make it work is to tie up the port with the mapping software first, so that now Activesync can't see the port and doesn't trigger.

SubaruWRX

Thanks for the help, I'm looking to moving to BT next so I wont have to deal with this anymore.

JakeRich

But for the X5 moving to BT means you have to give up the CF slot for the BT card. It's your call, but I didn't like doing it that way when I had an X5. I liked having a big, cheap CF memory card for the maps!

SubaruWRX

I'm tired of having my mouse gps cord in front of my radio in my Subaru.

and besides it's a crappy chipset.. Evermore if i'm correct.

JakeRich

How about an Arkon unit with the GPS built in? Only one cable to the power and a little pigtail to connect the serial port and another for sound amplification (which the X5 desperately needs anyway).

SubaruWRX

lol I've been getting by so far driving with the pda in my lap (I can hear people gasping now) I have to keep the radio low.

thing is I'm cheap.. How much louder is the mount over the X5 built in speaker?

I still want to keep the external Gps as I use it for other things besides car nav.

JakeRich

The X5 speaker has NO bass response. The sound is tiny and tinny. The speakers mounts add bass in addition to volume. Try plugging a cheap set of pc speakers into the Axim and see the difference. (Cheaper is better because the audio fidelity of the mount is still not wonderful, just loads better. Good speakers will be TOO good. Think old transistor radio quality if you are old enough to remember them.)

SubaruWRX

lol I just plugged them into Logitech Z680 speakers and lol she had alot of bass in her then :)

But hmmm, got me curious now I forgot all about trying it out on my home speakers but darn I still need a mount but all are really overpriced IHMO...