Bucky

I have had a Garmin V for about a year now and ready to move on to something else. The Garmin V is ok but has some shortcomings (small screen, 19 megabytes of memory, and serial transfer of said megabytes...sloooww!). I saw a PDA that had a GPS interface and I thought this might be a good alternative. I don't have any real need for a PDA except for being a gps, but do
think PDA's would draw screens faster, have a better color screen, and have a lot more memory or expandable memory. I rely heavily on my gps for routing (driving directions). I am currently looking at the Dell Axim mainly because of price. I am getting rid of the Garmin V in order to get the Axim.

I have seen compact Flash GPS cards and while this looks ok. I want to position the Axim close to my old eyes where I can see the screen relatively easily. The CF card style GPS would have the antenna under the metal roof of my truck thus hampering satellite reception. Here is my thinking. If I get the seperate GPS receiver that hooks up via cable to the bottom of the Axim (this would also free up my CF slot for a CF Card, I could locate the receiver/antenna on the dashboard in clear view of the sky and keep the Axim close to me. I'm also thinking I could load the compact flash port with a 256 or 512 megabyte CF card. That way I could hopefully load up all of the street level maps for the entire state of Florida or maybe even the southeast part of the country on the PDA. I'm kind of confused about all of this. Also, I've been trying to read up on the difference on the SD memory and the CF memory. Do maps have to be stored on one or the other or can they both be used at the same time? I want to be a mapping fool!

I am also planning to get the basic Axim for $250 less the $50 rebate. Will this run the pda/gps ok? Like I said, gps is really the only thing I am interested in for my PDA but maybe that would change in the future.

I saw a Holux GPS receiver that hooked up via USB. Would this hook up directly to the Axim? I've been reading about all manners of strangeness with regard to Dell and serial connections.

Is it possible to use the Navman software on a PDA/GPS setup other than the Navman...For example Holux? Why is say the Pharo so much more expensive than the Holux. I am trying to stay somewhat on a budget. Speaking of budget... Would it be better to buy a low end GPS like a $100 Garmin Etrex or something similar and interface it with the PDA? That way I could go geocaching and leave my expensive PDA in the car. Sorry to be so long winded...

Thanks for any
suggestions.

JakeRich

Bucky, we have answers:

Do maps have to be stored on one or the other or can they both be used at the same time? Both can be used at the same time.

Will this [Axim 300] run the pda/gps ok? Yes, it will. The only limitation is the memory at 32 Meg will limit the maps you can actually have loaded at one time, but 32 Meg should be plenty. The one package I know doesn't run will in 32 Meg is PocketMapNavigator from Space Machine but most of the rest fit comfortably in 32 Meg.

Would this [Holux USB] hook up directly to the Axim? No, you cannot hook usb devices to the Axim. It does not serve as a USB host at all.

Is it possible to use the Navman software on a PDA/GPS setup other than the Navman...For example Holux? Don't know this one personally, I suggest you check at www.gpspassion.com.

Why is say the Pharo so much more expensive than the Holux. Only Pharos knows!

Would it be better to buy a low end GPS like a $100 Garmin Etrex or something similar and interface it with the PDA? That way I could go geocaching and leave my expensive PDA in the car.

BINGO! Yes, that is the way to go. I have a Magellan Meridian Gold that I used for "outside" work, and have connected it to my Axim by the serial cable from Dell, a gender changing null modem from Radio Shack and the serial cable from Magellan. As long as the GPS has a serial output and you can get the cable from the GPS manufacturer, you can connect the two. If you are handy with a soldering iron and can get the connector for the GPS, you can even make a very short connector cable yourself.

The strangeness with Serial ports you referred to seem to be associated with the fact that Activesync is constantly looking at the port on the Axim to see if the machine has been put in the cradle or attached to the sync cable. As soon as it sees the change, Activesync starts and grabs the port outputs. The effect is that the GPS unit cannot get its own signals through to the mapping software.

To preclude that happening, some of the Mapping software will let you control the com port directly. I use Mapopolis, which has that feature. I start Mapopolis, light off the GPS unit, then when Mapopolis has finished its startup routines, I tell Mapopolis to connect to the GPS. It captures the port and starts looking. I then plug in the serial connectors from the Magellan to the Ax and it connects. This sequence works every time.

I would suggest you browse over at gpspassion.com for a while, then check with www.Mapopolis.com to see the free demo software they have. You can just buy the Florida maps, or the entire country if you wish. The maps are a bit expensive, but they are accurate and the voice prompts on the top end maps are really handy when you are driving around. You don't have to look at the screen to know what you need to do! (MY old eyes don't need the strain, either! )

csims

Lots of questions....

Here is what I currently use:

Garmin GPS 12
Axim Basic w/128MB SD card.
Mapopolis (This will be the most recommended software hands down.)
w/Platinum+ GPS maps(But the Navigator maps have voice directions for handsfree.)
Garmin PC Serial Cable
Dell Serial Cable
Radio Shack 9 Pin Male/Female Null modem adapter & Male/Male gender changer.

I don't know if anyone has had success with a E-trex PC cable and an E-trex, but others like myself have had success with other models. Magellan users I believe have also had success.

http://www.gps4fun.com is a good place for GPS receivers, accessories, and prices.

Maps: The Mapopolis map subscriptions give you access to all the states and the county maps in the state. In my case the Mapopolis Platinum+ GPS($44.95) maps for the state of Georgia is around 20MB for all the counties.(It is the same for Navigator maps $99.95.)

Navigation Software: Mapopolis the program is only 244k in size and is free. The maps are what cost. The closest zoom you can get is 100 Feet. Farthest zoom out is 1000 miles.

Storage card: SD is smaller and comes in 64/128/256/512MB's. Average price for a 256MB is around $80. Compact Flash is a bit cheaper, but a tad bulkier. I choose SD so I have the Compact Flash slot free for CF devices like a Wireless network card.

Topographic Navigation software: Delorme makes Xmap Hand Held($40'ish) and Topo maps($90'ish). Haven't used it at all so I don't know how well it works.

Hope that at least gives you some idea of what's out there.

Bucky

JakeRich & CSims.... Thank you both for your long and detailed responses. I am trying to learn as much as I can. I have just about settled on getting the Axim 400mhz version with a Holux CF GPS card and Mapopolis. I was thinking about going the dedicated GPS route butdecide to go the CF GPS route. The interface of Mapoplis doesn't have as "pretty" of an interface as say the Navman but I think overall from what I have read that Mapopolis is the best route to go. I was especially happy to see the owner (I think he's the owner) Jeremy Straub respond directly in some PDA forums. I don't remember if it was here or at another site. Anyway that inpressed me. I also heard good things about their customer service which at most companies these days is a joke.

But alas I have a few more questions. I was wondering what size SD card I should get for the Axim and Mapopolis. My first inclination is to get a 256 but maybe that's a waste. I would like to be able to load all the street level maps for the state of Florida and maybe a neighboring state or two if possible. I live in Orlando and might have to go to a local address one day and Tampa and Miami after that. I know from reading that Mapopolis stitches the county maps together for a seamless transition so maybe this is an easy thing to do. I'm thinking that if I get the SD 256 that I can have all the Florida maps and maybe Georgia too. What I'm not sure about is how long it takes to retrieve the maps from the SD card and transfer them to the memory of the Axim. Is this something that takes two or three seconds or 10 or 15 minutes? In otherwords if I go on a road trip that is say from Pensacola to Miami which covers I'm guessing about 25 counties, will this be a seamless operation for the Axim and Mapopolis? Also how long should it take to load the maps from my main computer to the Axim's SD card. I thought I read somewhere that it took a guy 20 minutes to transfer 14 megabytes from his computer to his Axim or maybe it was from the SD card to the AXIM. My Garmin V takes 45 minutes to transfer 19 megabytes from my computer to the Garmin which is a major pain in the butt. I really want to avoid these types of situations. I will be relying heavily on the routing capabilities of this PDA as I am new to Florida.

I just want to use the PDA as a GPS. Is there a way to strip the operating system down by eliminating Pocket Word, Excel etc... to make the system a little speedier and free up some memory? Does it have an "uninstall function" or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Thanks in advance for your help.

P.S. Is there such a thing as base maps like the Garmin? In other words if I wanted to drive from Pensacola to Memphis.... Could I load the street level only for Pensacola and Memphis but have the major highways in between without having to load all the counties in between?

csims

If you use the contiguous feature it loads all the maps that you have installed. It's pretty speedy in my opinion if you select say all the counties for a state.(At least GA.) I also load up the Platinum Place Guides when I load up the maps. This is done in a few seconds. Not slow at all. Oh of course the amount of available memory has an effect on how many maps can be loaded at once. With my Axim I'm really not experiencing any problems.

As for installing files from you computer to PDA it can be a slow process. Just get together what you want transferred and let it ride. Don't be in a hurry.

There is also another map set called "Major Roads" which is just that. Major Interstates. You get access to this map set as well.

If you are at street level(100 Feet being the closest) it updates pretty quickly while using a GPS.

As for storage, the FLA Platinum+ GPS maps are 39.2MB uncompressed. You will find you can install several State map sets on one 128MB card. (In retrospect I would have bought a 256 if I could have afforded it.)

As for uninstalling some programs, don't worry about Word, Excel, and other programs that are built in. They will only slow you down if you are running them. My recommendation is to use Wisbar if you want to close any running apps. It's a lot better in my opinion than the Switcher bar that is installed from Dell.

JakeRich

GA is just over 20 Mbytes. There is no way to uninstall word, excel, etc. They are in ROM. But csims is correct, they don't impact you if you don't run them.

It can be slow to tranfer to the Dell, but not in the range you mentioned. And you only have to transfer florida once, then keep it on the SD card forever.

I recommend getting a larger card. You'll be surprised by how much you might want to keep (ebooks, maps, music, everything you need to travel!).

You will like mapopolis. The interface isn't "pretty" but it is very, very functional. The screen updates much faster than any other package I've used and the re-route function when you deviate from the proper path is truly surprising in speed!

JakeRich

One more thing, when you order the Ax, get the cigarette lighter power cord accessory. The Holux will increase the draw on the battery, and for those long trips you'll want to use the power cord to keep it running.

CMeys

I am using the Holux 270 CF GPS with Mapopolis Navigator and my Axim 400. It is great. I keep the local area maps that I use most on a 256MB SD card. I have most of the rest of the Mapopolis Navigator maps zipped on a 512 MB CF card. Before inserting the GPS, I use EasyUnZip to extract any additional maps I need that are on the CF card (since I'm removing it to use the CF GPS).

I also have an Arkon multimedia mount for the PDA which allows the sound to be broadcast over the FM radio (for louder volume) via a cigarette lighter connection. And I use a 3rd party cigarette lighter charger for the Axim (I have an insert for the cigarette lighter to allow 2 plugs, one for the Axim and one for the multimedia mount).

I also have the external antenna for the Holux, but almost never use it, the unit itself gets and keeps a fix very well without it.

I think its a great combination. I used to use a Garmin eTrex Venture connected to an HP Jornada 565 with Mapopolis and a cable from PC-Mobile, but what I'm using now is a much more elegant solution.

Bucky

Thanks guys for your quick and detailed responses. I ordered the Axim 400 and a 256 Lexar SD today. I will order the Holux GM-270 and the Mapopolis tomorrow. Thanks again for your responses.