CF GPS -> use in PCMCIA laptop slot?

campindad · 06-06-03, 04:02 PM

Question... I hope to get a CF GPS card for my soon-to-arrive Axim. I am just curious if there is a way to adapt Compact Flash accessories like the GPS to a laptop's PCMCIA slot so I could use it in the laptop also?

As far as GPS goes, I am thinking about getting the GlobalSat BC-307 and Mapopolis off of Semsons.com. Any thoughts on this combination?

Thanks,

Galen

prakashc · 06-06-03, 04:13 PM

The PCMCIA adapter for the BC-307 is included if you order from Semsons.
If you buy the i.Guidance navigator software you get the PC version of the software also. Then you could use it on your laptop also.

I am also looking to buy the GlobalSat model ..

campindad · 06-06-03, 04:36 PM

I'm not familiar with these devices and the terminology... so I don't see where on the Semsons page http://www.semsons.com/globcomflasg.html it is telling me the PCMCIA adapter is included...

Thanks,

Galen

prakashc · 06-06-03, 04:59 PM

If you look under the "Package includes" it says
CF PC Card Adapter x 1
Also, the photograph shows the adapter.

Also, www.gpspassion.com has a brief review

Good luck

campindad · 06-06-03, 05:02 PM

Thanks! I was wondering why the two pictures looked different; now I see that CF card is in a PCMCIA sleeve.

prakashc · 06-06-03, 05:15 PM

Good luck and enjoy your new Axim. This is one buy you wouldn't regret

obsidian · 06-08-03, 05:16 PM

Finding this thread certainly answered my question about using my navman 1000 in my notebook. I've got the pc as far as detecting it's a navman 1000, through the cf - pcmcia adapter.

But now: What software can I use, and is there a driver for the navman 1000 for windows XP?

Thanks!

Obs
:)

aardWolf · 06-09-03, 11:18 AM

I have the i.Trek (Holux 270 clone), and it came with PC drivers on the CD. The best place to get drivers would of course be the manufacturer... have you e-mailed them?

JakeRich · 06-09-03, 11:08 PM

One caution. There have been reports that the CF card receivers have interference problems with some laptops. Using an external antenna apparently fixes the problem. It seems to depend on the laptop. The symptom is that the laptop blocks the satellite signals so the receiver never gets a lock.

obsidian · 06-10-03, 09:50 AM

Had email contact with Navman in the UK, and their response is that it is not possible, as the GPS receiver is designed for the PPC.

Bummer...

Any compatible drivers around that might do the job?

Glisson · 07-08-03, 08:18 PM

I havew a Pharos IGPS-CF device and love it on my Axim. I just got a notebook and can't seem to get it to work. Pharos site says to install it as a Compaq GSM Radio card but it never gets a lock. It comes up in the new hardware as a mew-CFGPS whatever that is. A web search was of no help fow drivers. I am running Win XP Pro. I would love to get this working as it is a nice small dev ice I could use on two systems. I am not really looking forward to having to buy an eTrek and cable just to do this. ( But you know I will if I have to ) The PCMCIA adapter I am using is a Sagatek if that matters. This is the only thing that I have tried to use in it and I have been able to use the GPS in my Ax since trying it in my laptop.

Thanks for any help,

Glisson

vstrinski · 02-18-04, 09:35 PM

I have a CF GPS which I use with my Axim. The real challenge was to use it with my desktop pc. I have a CF to PCMCIA adapter card and when I plug it in it is recognized as MEW CFGPS device but Windows can't find any driver for it....

and here is the trick:
You don't need any driver for it!
You need to manually specify that this is a regular COM port - in the Found New Hardware dialog select:
Install from a list or specific location (Advnced) - then - Don't search. I will choose the driver to install -> then select Ports (COM and LPT) and from the next dialog (Standard port types): Communications port.

And that's it! :)

The default settings for my CFGPS are 4800bps,8N1, no handshaking.

If everything is ok you should be able to see (with Hyper Terminal) some NMEA strings ($GPGGA,233432.00,......)

libretto · 02-18-04, 11:10 PM

Well everyone is right. I should find a libretto forum. I believe the problem is in the pcmcia card software....if you read many, many,many searches on google you find the pcmcia card issue comes up a lot. I load the gps cf card into the libretto (win98). Pharos says to use load it as a standard com port (lpt & com in new hard ware). The plug and play sees the card as MEW-GPSCF.
Anyway after doing all the right things the card has a code 7 error message in device manager and the driver is not loaded it says. Communication port comes up in device manager but has that yellow exclamantion point beside it. I also ring the card out with Hyper terminal and sure enough it is not there. Also Pharos says you can load it as Compaq GSM radio card. I used that driver too and got the same yellow exclamation point over Compaq GSM radio card in device manager. Bottom line it has to be a pcmcia driver problem or maybe even a voltage to the Pharos gps cf card is not provided by the libretto since it was designed in th 90's.

libretto · 02-18-04, 11:16 PM

vstrinski,
do you remember what driver the computer selected for the card? Mine keeps using msports.inf.

suemccartin · 02-26-04, 03:17 PM

The Holux GM-270 comes with a driver for pc or you can get it off their web page, doesn't come with the pcmcia adapter but those are pretty cheap.