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Thread: PDA PocketPC and GPS combinations

  1. Jan 25th, 2005, 04:37 PM #1
    DaveBo
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    Question PDA PocketPC and GPS combinations

    Anyone have any recommendations or thoughts on using a GPS with a PDA or PocketPC?

    The www.MapTech.com site has some intriguing tidbits on this that tend to go over my head because I know next to nothing about PDA/PocketPCs.

    Apparently, there are GPS units that can mate with these using wireless (Bluetooth?), USB or CompactFlash ports, then add the MapTech (or other?) software and the maps/charts and you'll never have an excuse to be lost again.

    Incidentally, my main interest is for navigation on a small sailboat.

    Have fun, DaveBo
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  2. Jan 25th, 2005, 07:18 PM #2
    dglienna
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    Re: PDA PocketPC and GPS combinations

    make sure that they have a map for your area, otherwise you will have to refer to a paper map. I have gps in the radio in the car, and it works well. i've also used it on a laptop with RandMcNally software, pre Windows XP. I don't know if they ever fixed the serial port problem, as I don't use it any more. I was looking into a GPS adapter for an IPAQ, but got the car unit instead.
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  3. Jan 26th, 2005, 08:55 PM #3
    Shaggy Hiker
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    Re: PDA PocketPC and GPS combinations

    How small a sailboat?

    I was using a Garmin eTrex as a speedometer on a WindRider, but I never interfaced it to a PDA. I did interface it to a desktop, but that wouldn't help as much. I didn't realize that MapTech put out a PDA version of their software, might have to look into that.
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  4. Jan 27th, 2005, 09:43 AM #4
    DaveBo
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    Re: PDA PocketPC and GPS combinations

    Quote Originally Posted by Shaggy Hiker
    How small a sailboat?
    19' MacGregor

    I'm very slowly trying to put the pieces together.

    It looks like a MapTech "Digital ChartKit" (~ $250 US) has all the s/w I need to start out on my laptop
    - charts for a specifc region (e.g. region 2 for virtually the entire New England coast)
    - GUI, plotting tools ?
    - interface to an external GPS

    I have an old GPS unit (Magellan GPS 315) that I can interface through the serial port. The MT site says this is compatible.

    I'm thinking about trying that out, and if it works well
    - getting a better GPS, e.g. that's WAAS enabled (much more accurate) and compatible with a PDA (Compact Flash or USB?)
    - Getting a good PDA ??
    - Then, apparently the last step is to get MapTech's PocketPC s/w (~$100)
    this will allow charts, waypoints etc. to be exchanged between the laptop/PC and the PDA.

    Have fun, and stay on course! DaveBo
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