Ted Mozer

OK, I'm at work and of course I did not bring a sync cable or cradle. So I cannot install the GPS utility that came with the CF card. I put it in my Axim and it comes up Hayes compatable modem or something like that.

Is there a setup anyone can suggest that I can try this thing out (with out running the utility program)?? I might not have time to play tonight (and besides, it's more fun to play when your getting paid......).


If you can help, please email me at ted.mozer@gw.njsp.org

hyppy

I too had that notice. Cancel the addition; the GPS still functions. You do need a program that can interact with the GPS, but you can download that from the Semsons site.

Ted Mozer

I have Pocket Streets installed. Will that work???

Ted Mozer

OK, I dismissed the first screen. Started Pocket Streets and initialized the GlobalSat using Com5. It seemed to be happy with the (the red light is on on the BC-307 - it's not supposed to turn green or anything, is it???). BUT, I am in South Jersey at the moment and the maps I had loaded do not cover the area, so I still am not sure if all is working. Guess I'll have to wait until tonight.......

Handy

The red light means that it's connected to a COM port. When it actually gets a satellite fix, the red light blinks. You'll need some kind of GPS software to actually get it to turn on and get a satellite fix.

Ted Mozer

My BC-307 is working, but it was by no means a slam-dunk to prove it!! I have not been able to get it working on my Axim with Pocket Maps, but it may be a map issue (it could be that I do not have the right map to load on the Axim). It does work with the GPS Info program, but seems to take much longer than I expected to get an initial fix, at least in my front yard.

Getting it to work on my lap top was an even greater adverture! I did not follow the instructions listed earier on this thread (thanks for those, or I still would be cursing) and just did the default WinXP install from the mini-CD that came with the unit. Following the instructions (posted), I re-installed the drivers and forced the port to 5, even though it wants to set itself at 9.....

I just my laptop outside to try MS Streets 2004 and got it to work. But I did have to run the GPS Info program first (is that a constant - running that first and then your map application??) and it took a couple minutes to get a fix. But it worked. More play time tomorrow...... More to follow.

Next stop, Mapopolis Navagator.

Ted Mozer

OK, my final BC-307 post of the night, I promise......

Grabbed a local map from MS Streets on my laptop and stuck it on my SD card. Took my Axim with the Globalsat CF card outside and ran the GPS Info utility. Grabbed a fix almost immediately. Tried Pocket Streets. Could not find Com5 (only 1 though 3 were listed). Did a soft reset and ran Pocket Streets immediately. It listed Com5 and told me where I was standing on the map. Happy camper time......

I think all my problems so far have been good old Com port issues. Takes me back to my DOS programming days when we had to deal with serial port communications to talk to modems, printers, mice and all kinds of other things (I did programming for training courses that used Sony Laser Discs and were controlled through the serial port). Thank goodness for USB and firewire.

If anyone can suggest some tricks to make my serial port issues history, please post. Thanks.....

AximTT

It looks like your com port is tied down by GPS info Utility. Only one program can access the GPS at one time. If you use GPS info, then Pocket Street have no access to the GPS.

When you reset the PDA, it turns the GPS info utility off and now you have com 5 again.

The com port on Axim should be always com 5. If your software has an option for manual setting, just set the com port to com 5 and baud rate to 4800 and everything should work fine.

AximTT

It looks like your com port is tied down by GPS info Utility. Only one program can access the GPS at one time. If you use GPS info, then Pocket Street have no access to the GPS.

When you reset the PDA, it turns the GPS info utility off and now you have com 5 again.

The com port on Axim should be always com 5. If your software has an option for manual setting, just set the com port to com 5 and baud rate to 4800 and everything should work fine.

Ted Mozer

(Hey, I believed you the first time.....)

Yeah, I figured that was it (software not releasing the com port after it was done). A soft reset fixes it.

I just tried Mapopolis on my way home from work with a demo county. Neat stuff!! Worked like a charm! Wish I had the whole state of NJ to try instead of just my home county (Ocean). I traveled from Monmouth to Ocean county with a blank map for the Monmouth part of the trip.......

It will be a couple more paychecks until I can lay out the $90 for Mapopolis NAV. Am looking forward to it.

One comment on the mount (I purchased the windshield sucker and am using it with the mount that came with the Semsons purchase): It's too bad Dell put the power adaptor socket where they did. The lighter adaptor power plug I have causes the Axim to sit slightly cocked in the holder.... Not a big deal, but.....

Maybe I'll try to shave some of the rubber off the plug to make it flat on one side.

rfortune

Ted,

I did exactly that - shaved the rubber off one side of the plug and it fits like a charm. I also shaved a little rubber off the end (at an angle) since the Ax is angled on the bottom.

groucho

I just bought mine and added Routis 2004 to it. It should be here in a few days! Can't wait...

Ted Mozer

Stupid me. I should check things out better before I open my mouth (well, in this case, move my fat fingers.....).

The stops at the base of the vent mount (Arkon) are adjustable. Moving them to the outer most position (just before they come off completely) solves the problem.

Ted Mozer

I tried to find the manual on line for the newest 4.x version of Mapopolis Nav, but could only fine the pdf for 3.x. Is there a 4 manual available?

I will be keeping my Axim loaded maps on a 256 meg SD card. Will I have room to keep all 21 counties of NJ and maybe Philadelphia and New York City available on the Axim? Those are the areas I will be using 99% of the time.

When I want to navagate a route, assuming I have the necessary maps available on the Axim, can I just tell Mapopolis I want to go from where I am now (the gps points where I am sitting in the car) to a certain location?? For example, I walk out of a bar and decide I want to visit Suzy Jones, who is in my Axim contact list. Can I punch up her address and Mapopolis will put together the route from that point to the end point??