Hi all. I'm looking to see if anyone can definitively tell me what is the faster interface on a PocketPC for the GPS system. Bluetooth, SD or CF? If it is bluetooth, then which of the two hard interfaces is the next fastest, CF or SD?
Reason for the question is that I have a BT-338 bluetooth GPS working flawlessly on a Dell X30H on an Arkon powered mount but I have just now acquired a new Toshiba E830 with the 4" VGA screen which I'm lovin so far. Plan is for the wife to inherit the Dell/Globalsat/Arkon setup and I'll do a new config with my Toshiba.
I'm thinking of going CF or SD this time for a nice integrated solution but it's been suggested to me by others that an SD GPS would be faster than a CF GPS. Not sure if that is actually true or not and if it is, does it matter? Could either interface be slow enough on a fast pocketpc to make your position "lag" on the GPS software?
Colour me curious and thanks for any feedback!
P.S. I may just get another 338 which is working with the E830 but it sometimes is a little cranky starting up with the Toshiba's bluetooth stack. Works great otherwise, just seems to be a little more finicky on the startup than on the Dell. Would be nice though to get rid of one more thing to charge and go CF or SD. CF is my preference in this case though.
GPS updates only occur every 1 second, so speed of the interface would not be important, what is important is the GPS device itself, such as chip set, acquisition time, etc.
I have the BT-338 and prefer it over the CF units I've had before, more convenient as I don't need to swap out the CF storage card for the GPS, and don't need to carry extra equipment as I keep the unit in the car.
Kinda what I figured Gary but had to ask anyways! (grin) I'm looking this time at the Haicom HI-305III CF unit as I love the Sirf III chipset in my 338 and would like to maintain that same sensitivity. The extra SD slot is a neat trick too.
The Haicom would also eliminate one extra thing to worry about charging and give me an all in one handheld when I need it. Anyone have any ideas what draws more power, the bluetooth radio in the pocket pc or a CF GPS? Or about the same either way? Thanks!
Exactly what I thought, easy to carry and a single unit which would be perfect for caching. Problem was that the 305III that was sent to me had a hot start time of 1.5 minute, and took over 5 minutes to cold start and constantly lost lock. Plus I could never get the card to read on my Toshiba e740 (but would read on my Axim X50v). The unit is now back with Buygpsnow.com waiting for a replacement. For now I'm back with my trusty Fortuna Xtrac2 bluetooth unit. :( I'll let you know what happens when a new unit arrives.
Exactly what I thought, easy to carry and a single unit which would be perfect for caching.
Well, I don't know about perfect. I started with my Haicom 303III as a CF, thinking one unit would be great for caching. However, there are a few considerations, which have led me to using the 303III in a bluetooth slipper to cache. (1) You're carrying $500+ of fairly fragile electronic equipment. If you drop it on a rock or in the drink, you're out big time. At least with a bluetooth setup, you "save" either $400 or $100, depending on which you drop. (2) It's hard to put it down or on a belt case or what-have-you. Sometimes on the trail, you need both hands, especially if you cache with kids. (3) I haven't tested battery life much with the 303III used as a CF, but I gotta think it's much worse than bluetooth. My 303S drained the battery much faster.
One of my kids was carrying around his Nintendo case, and I noticed that my PPC would fit perfectly in one pocket, while the 303III and slipper would fit in the other. Plus, both pockets were padded. I immediately got my own (and cut off the Nintendo logo) to make a very nice cache pack that straps on my belt. I can slide the PPC in and out easily. The 303III will still get a signal no matter where you put it, and it never needs to come out of the bag. Easy hands-free. I've also gotten in the habit of putting the PPC in a plastic bag -- not only is rain an enemy, but so is dust. I can put mine in a plastic bag and still fit it in its case, and then still fit it in the Nintendo case.
It's a fine line between proud geek and total loser . . .
Finally, I've never noticed any speed difference regardless of whether I'm using it as a CF or Bluetooth. As Gary said, once-a-second is once-a-second.
Thanks all for the feedback! I'm still waffling on whether or not to get another bluetooth receiver or a CF unit but for different reasons now. The Toshiba E830 is getting quite fussy with the Bluetooth 338 and iGuidance. At least half the time I try to start iGuidance it cannot start the 338 on com6 and I have to reset the pda, discover the device (again), restart iguidance and then cross my fingers that it sees it this time.
Very weird and seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when it might or might not let iguidance see the receiver. When it does see it everything works fine and solid as a rock but definitely not as easy as the Dell was to deal with (and my Dell X30 works perfectly with the same BT-338 so I know the receiver is fine).
Oh well, not giving up the 4" VGA screen or 128 megs ram and love everything else about the Toshiba so it's a keeper. I'll have to test a CF GPS unit and see if it's a little less cranky bypassing the goofy Toshiba bluetooth stack. Thanks again everyone and anybody with experience on the Toshiba bluetooth is welcome to give me any clues! Cheers!
BLuetooth in general seems to be unreliable. Nearly every program has troubles with reconnecting and connecting. IMO CF is just plain simple, plug the GPS in and you're ready to go (as long as you have your program set to auto start GPS when it starts). I definitely agree with everyone else on the whole speed issue, they are all way too fast for what GPS outputs (usually 4800bps)
I don't know if I would generalize that BT is unreliable. I think it has more do do with the individual units (no idea really, just a guess). I've been using x30 and bt-338 for four months and have dropped signal twice. No problems in initial pairing nor in subsequent starts.
I'll agree that CF is simple .. plug and play if you will. But generally as with all things, with convenience comes sacrifice .. in this case battery life would be the main negative I would presume.
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For the last month or so, I've been using the following setup:
1) Axim X30m in Otterbox 1900
2) BT-338 GPS receiver in bag on waist, on belt, or in pants pocket.
I've used this for a few excursions of a couple of hours at the most. And usually the PDA has been in my hand or hanging off my belt.
I haven't had any problems with reception of either Bluetooth or GPS signals. The software I'm using on the PDA occasionally gives me a second or two of "no GPS signal" but it comes right back. This hasn't been a problem while walking.
The 1900 isn't cheap and it makes the PDA much larger, but it certainly protects it well. It's been used in light rain only and hasn't been dropped, but I'd trust it in more extreme situations. They make accessory extensions for the 1900 which allow you to use CF GPS cards as well.
The one problem I've found with the 1900 is that it's a very tight fit when I use the extended battery with my Axim. I can still close the case, but I'm not terribly comfortable with that. I think the strap that holds the PDA in place can be made thinner (remove some padding) to eliminate this problem.
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