GPS options

gerryforbes · 02-02-05, 04:48 PM

Can anyone enlighten me on what are the benefits of the different types of GPS interfaces.

From a search, I can find GPS units that are compact flash, bluetooth, wired, and now SD.

It seems to me that Bluetooth has a separate battery system to worry about, and the wired has another cable to worry about, and CF and SD seem to be about the same, although the last three would drain the battery of the Axim.

I suppose if your maps were on an SD card, you might want CF for the GPS.

I just don't know enough about the competing technologies to make an intelligent decision. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Spencer Was Here · 02-02-05, 05:17 PM

Check out this Bluelogger from Delorme:
Bluelogger

What is nice about this is that you don't have to keep your PocketPC turned on in order to use it. You can conserve the power on your PocketPC by only turning on the PocketPC when you need to see your current position.

rctoyguy · 02-02-05, 05:22 PM

I bought the Dell BP GPS when I bought my Axim, and I am thrilled with it (at least hardware wise) - the battery issue isn't an issue, as I have used mine for extended periods and never had a battery weakening issue. Even if it DOES become an issue, it comes with a digarette lighter cord that will power the GPS and the handheld (for the X50v, anyway). An advantage of not having the GPS attached to the handheld, like a CF or SD would be, is that the handheld doesn't have to lay on the dash. It can be anywhere in the car without blocking the sat signal.

I said I am happy hardware wise - I am not unhappy software wise, I just want to look around and see what some of the other mapping software packages look like. I have no complaints at all with the software package that came with the Dell BP GPS. :approve:

ssampath · 02-02-05, 05:50 PM

I have had the Dell BP GPS for the last couple of days. As of now I
leave the receiver on the dashboard plugged in with the provided cigarette
lighter cord. This seems to work fine and the Bluetooth works fine as well.

The receiver seems to be very sensitive and picks up upto 7 sats easily.

The software is a little disappointing as it is not VGA compatible and I
would like to run my x50v in VGA mode.

Overall works fine - though hoping Dell will provide a free update
with VGA support ;-)

sam

Bogeyplus · 02-02-05, 07:31 PM

I got my Dell BT GPS yesterday. So far I am very happy with it.

mfphoto1 · 02-02-05, 07:43 PM

I use the pharos 360i gps system, using the compact flash, but i also have the cords so i hook it up that way if i want to, when i get my x50 i am going to get the bluetooth adapter for 99 bucks and jsut go that route

matthewp · 02-03-05, 07:55 AM

I bought a Haicom CF 303S and its Bluetooth Slipper because I wanted the flexibility this setup provided. I wasn't sure if I'd use bluetooth or CF the most. I find that I always use the bluetooth setup. It does require separate battery charging, but I just keep my GPS power cable right next to my PDA charger and power them both up. Also, the slipper had a car charger included. CF eats up alot of the PDA's battery. When using bluetooth, I don't even have to have either the receiver or the PDA plugged into the car charger for a several hour trip. CF wouldn't last much more than an hour, I suspect with only limited testing.

I also wanted a CF option because I have an old Casio E-125 that has a CF slot only. Thought I could take the old Casio off road without being out too much if it got trashed. This also works well as I have only GPS software on that unit, so lots of space for maps.

gerryforbes · 02-03-05, 01:26 PM

Thanks for all the info. I'm getting a sense that CF and perhaps SD have the disadvantage of sucking the battery. BT battery doesn't seem to be as much of a disadvantage as I'd feared. And a wired GPS might make most sense if it was being left in the same car all the time with it's charger.

Based on this, I believe I'll go with BT. Maximum flexibility.

Thanks