AximUser1

Axim-ites: <I posted the same message to the Dell Axim forum>

I read all of the comments in this thread to date & it looks like 1) few of us have actually tried the Axim/GPS configuration yet, 2) there is a large interest, and 3) those who have tried it like what they got. I too am confused by the various product offerings I find on the web. How well do they work? How well do they integrate into the PPC?

Does anyone have any sources of reviews of PC/PPC GPS software or hardware? It would be great to see a side-by-side comparison of the features, prices, and underlying technologies, if there is one. For example, in addition to the re-calculation of routes and voice output features, I have seen reference to voice INPUT options (where the user speaks commands to the software). Is this in the future for PPCs? Also, I'd really like to see an objective comparison of the map database data that each vendor offers. I'm sure there are quality and completeness issues among the various offerings. I'd like the ability to augment the map data base with my own entry of addresses and roads. Hopefully, these entries would be included in searches for routing, address searches, and travel planning. I saw that Delorme claimed an exclusive on this ability. Anybody know of other offerers?

It seems like ther are a lot of changes in the GPS industry, with migration of features to laptops and to PPCs. Who knows anything about what is predicted for release in the next few months?

Thanks!

Rusty

just wanted to chime in here. The first answer is http://www.gpspassion.com

I have a Holux GM-270 compact flash GPS receiver from (www.semsons.com)
in researching this company, (reading the threads on them) you would see they have an excellent reputation for taking care of their customers.

No I do not work for them.

My purchase price for the GM-270 which included an external antenna as well as the software to load it on my X5, and a suction cup universal PDA mount, which fits the X5 adequately (nice) was $180 and change including 2-3 day Express Mail service.

I did sign up for the GPS Passion club as I found the information very useful. Got me a 10% discount on my GPS purchase.

I have been Demoing the mapopolis software, and the demo maps have been working well. I would like to Demo the Pocketmap product, but they do not currently
have anything available to Demo.

You will definately need a cigarette lighter adapter for vehicle use, as the standard battery drained through continuous mapping / tracking after 4-5 hours of use.

Any questions, e-mail me or ask here in the forum.

Rusty

Mattman

Does any of the GPS CF technology incorporate WAAS? Please do not mistake this question and assume that I have a vast knowledge of GPS products, because I don't. :P From what I do understand, WAAS makes GPS more accurate through accessing known land towers within the vicinity of the user, or something like that..... Anyways, I haven't seen much regarding WAAS and GPC CF cards.

__________________
Axim X5 400mhz
PocketPC 2002
Haicom 303MMF
Linksys WCF12 802.11b
Lexar 128 mb SD card
SD 512 mb SD card

VanHlebar

Quote:

Originally posted by Mattman@Jan 20 2003, 08:57 PM Does any of the GPS CF technology incorporate WAAS? Please do not mistake this question and assume that I have a vast knowledge of GPS products, because I don't. :P From what I do understand, WAAS makes GPS more accurate through accessing known land towers within the vicinity of the user, or something like that..... Anyways, I haven't seen much regarding WAAS and GPC CF cards.

The Holux CF Card the Rusty spoke about above does.

-Eric

Kevhunts

Does anyone know what brand of GPS CF Card Dell is offering as an accessory? Currently their option sells for $244 and I can find no info on brand or software that may be included.

__________________
"I like to grunt, scratch, and write my name in the snow!"

moonkat

C GPS card for Axim:
Ditto Rusty's comments on GPS Passion as source of info.
I just got a Deluo CF 270 (OEM of Holux CF 270). Works great on my Axim 400 - yes WAAS capable. I thought to get Axim serial cable to connect to my Magellan Sportrack Pro but the wait hassles and the good price, now $139 (I also got $10 GPS Passion discount) direct from Deluo with free shipping sold me. I would spend $50 on just cables, gender changers, yada yada if and when ......

The CF 270 is amazingly compact, fast to lock on; 2 min cold, and 15-20 sec warm; also very sensitive and matches my STP which very good under cover.

Played with MS Street & Trips - okay for tracking. And Street Atlas Xmap 03 - sucks, that is, could not find CF 270 and I knew the 270 worked with the included Holux GPS Viewer software.

Narrowing nav software to Mapopolis or Destinator or TomTom if they would come out with a USA Nav version.

trossi

Hi all,

Bought the Deluo CF GPS and it really does do a great job! Using it currently with Mapopolis!

Has anyone found software that will allow me to enter coordinates and "track" my progress towards the coordinates? I need something like this for Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com).

Thanks!
Tony

JakeRich

I already had an external GPS, a Magellan Meridian Gold, so I got the Dell serial cable and use it with a null modem connector and the serial cable for the Meridian. Works well. I can put the GPS where I want to and then put the Ax where I can see/use it in the car. I use Mapopolis Navigator for mapping. They have a good upgrade and update policy and the mapping software is blindingly fast compared to others. PMN is still pretty buggy and slow, Delorme Xmap maps are way out of date for my area and PocketStreets doesn't do routing on the PPC at all.

The Holux got good reviews at gpspassion.com, and it is a good price, so if I didn't already have the Magellan I might have gone that way. It's really a matter of what you think you want to do with it. If you want to go trekking in the woods in all sorts of weather, you might want to think seriously about the dangers of exposing your Ax to the potential for water/insects/breakage. In that case you might want a ruggedized outdoors GPS unit and the cables, like the Magellan or Garmins have.

If all you want to do is use it for driving, then an internal CF unit will do just fine and not have all the cables in your car.

__________________
Want to know about GPS? See GPS 101. Want to know more? See GPS 201.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

haiongolf

I have the Holux CF GPS. I'm using Pocket Map Navigator for street navigation and StarCaddy to get accurate yardage reading on the golf course. The Holux has the WAAS and I'm able to see the WAAS satelitte in Northern CA, for the golf course yardarge reading. You don't need WAAS for the mapping software but for the golfing software I'm getting accuracy within 2 yards.

sabesh

moonkat,

What's the difference between hot/warm and cold starts? What are they used for?

Thanks,

Sabesh.

__________________
Axim X5 400 MHz
Deluo CF GPS, 128MB Sandisk SD, Dell Trumobile 1180 wireless

JakeRich

From the GPSPassion.com web site:


#/ State /Impact /Real Life Equivalent
1/ Factory / GPS has no idea where it is, reset to original protocol/bitrate /
You've just unpacked your GPS ;-)

2 /Cold /GPS has no idea where it is /
You haven't used your GPS for ages and the internal battery has run out or you turned it off and travelled a long distance (air flight, for example).

3 /Warm / GPS knows where it last was and which satellites were around but needs to get data from the satellites again (elevation, azimuth)/
You turned off your GPS or your PocketPC

4 /Hot / GPS knows where it last was and will reuse the satellite data /
You've driven under a bridge/tunnel and lost reception

__________________
Want to know about GPS? See GPS 101. Want to know more? See GPS 201.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Hebrews 2:1 (NIV)

michaelmotorcycle

OK, I'm having some difficulty absorbing all this GPS business, so let me see if I've got this right. After reading so much about GPS in this forum, I've seen that some of the issues concerning its operation with the Ax can be quite complex. So, before I plunk down the money will someone please tell me if the items below are what I will need for a trip I have planned this summer:

1. A GPS antenna, such as the Holux GM-270 compact flash GPS receiver.

2. Mapping software such as Mapopolis.

3. Power cord and adapter.

4. Axim.

And, BTW, I'll be on a motorcycle (riding the back roads) which has a power plug so I'll also need to figure out some method to attach the unit (I may have to jury-rig something, but that's my problem --- a cheap case and some duct tape comes to mind.)

Thanx =8&gt

__________________
There ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

So this must be the place!!!

moonkat

Sabesh:
What JakeRich said.

MichaelMotorcycle:
A lot of bikers; motor and mountain go for handlebar mounted "Handheld Mapping GPS Receivers". I like my Magellan Sporttrack Pro for light portable, good battery life, and mapping capabilities....also waterproof & shockproof.

Got it in a package at Price Club with windshield mount, dc power cable, serial cable and MapSend mapping software. Good enough for showing you where you are, but no nav capability. My current auto routing/nav gps while I build my AXIM-deluo CF GPS- software navigator.

The AXIM-CF GPS solution is simple and straightforward. The CF GPS installs transparently and locks on very quickly. No need for ext antenna as long as you have clear view of sky. This however is not a hiking solution. Too bulky and only about 1 hour use with 1440 mah Axim batt. Supposed to be low drain Cf GPS but haven't solved that yet. As auto nav solution batt life not a problem. This might be too delicate for motorcycle especially on back roads.

michaelmotorcycle

Thanx moonkat....appreciate your response!

Mike

__________________
There ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

So this must be the place!!!

wereteddy

Well, I've been casually looking for a GPS solution for both driving and hiking. So far, I've read a few reviews of different products and I think I have settled on a compactflash solution. However, I'd like to hear some responses of people actually using their Axim/GPS combos away from a charging system. I've heard everything from 3 hours to less than an hour using CF GPS, and I'd like to get some real life impressions. I have a second 1440maH battery, so I'd like to know just how long I could use my Axim and GPS in active mode with two batteries.

Thanks a lot,
Jonathan Gordon