ppc with a sensative built in gps

i recently bought an ipaq RX5935 pda (second hand) with built in gps, but
the gps part leaves a lot to be desired, its very insensative, takes ages to
get a lock (like 20-25 minutes) looses the signal the second a tree is in
view,

i've got the updated firmware for the gps reciever, but it dosent help, some
people say theirs works fine, others say it's just not good at all.

i've also got a garmin nuvi 250w, and that thing can get a sat lock inside
as long as it can see a window, only the densest forrests loose the signal,
and it gets it back as soon as an opening in the tree cover is around, and
it gets a sat lock within seconds of being turned on.

but i want a pda so i can run a few different mapping proggies, topo and
road navigation maps, as well as some geocaching proggies and other stuff
you need a ppc for.

So is there a pda out there that has a built in gps that is as good as on
the garmin nuvi's? i dont mind a small antenna sticking out the case if it
helps it get a good signal.
i need wifi and bluetooth, minumum 3.5" screen, preferably 4", sd card slot,
a good battery life (4 hours plus), and i must be able to get a proper
vehicle mount for it, something a few pda's just dont seem to have, as i'll
use it on my motorbike, a universal pda mount is no good.

mike
Sun Jun 08 08:23:27 PDT 2008

gazz wrote:
> i recently bought an ipaq RX5935 pda (second hand) with built in gps,
> but the gps part leaves a lot to be desired, its very insensative, takes
> ages to get a lock (like 20-25 minutes) looses the signal the second a
> tree is in view,
>
> i've got the updated firmware for the gps reciever, but it dosent help,
> some people say theirs works fine, others say it's just not good at all.
>
> i've also got a garmin nuvi 250w, and that thing can get a sat lock
> inside as long as it can see a window, only the densest forrests loose
> the signal, and it gets it back as soon as an opening in the tree cover
> is around, and it gets a sat lock within seconds of being turned on.
>
> but i want a pda so i can run a few different mapping proggies, topo and
> road navigation maps, as well as some geocaching proggies and other
> stuff you need a ppc for.
>
> So is there a pda out there that has a built in gps that is as good as
> on the garmin nuvi's? i dont mind a small antenna sticking out the case
> if it helps it get a good signal.
> i need wifi and bluetooth, minumum 3.5" screen, preferably 4", sd card
> slot, a good battery life (4 hours plus), and i must be able to get a
> proper vehicle mount for it, something a few pda's just dont seem to
> have, as i'll use it on my motorbike, a universal pda mount is no good.

Give it up and buy a bluetooth GPS.
My Qstarz 818 sits in my pocket...turns on when it senses bluetooth.
Maps are on the pda in my other pocket. I can play mp3's and get
voiceover directions from the gps as I motorcycle around.

Combo units suffer from:
interference between the pieces.
Antennas poking out the back
inflexibility in putting it where it can see the sky and you
can see the screen.
They go obsolete FAST.
My favorite PDA is the Dell Axim X51v. They can be had used
for about $100 if you don't get intimidated by the initial
ASKING price of $250.

--
Return address is VALID!
Bunch-O-Stuff Forsale Here:
http://nm7u.tripod.com/homepage/sale.html

Beverly
Sun Jun 08 09:07:13 PDT 2008

I'd add to pay a few bucks more for a BT GPS receiver which also offers
standalone "gps logging" where it can record a trip by itself for
playback at a later time.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

gazz
Sun Jun 08 14:25:37 PDT 2008


"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message news:OkacnGYyIHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> I'd add to pay a few bucks more for a BT GPS receiver which also offers
> standalone "gps logging" where it can record a trip by itself for playback
> at a later time.

Problem is i use my pda/gps in different roles, it can be in the car one
day, next it'll be on my motorbike, and then i'll have it handheld in a
field searching out a geocache,

that's why i would like an all in one unit, plus i really can't be doing
with re-charging batteries all the time, the pda get's charged when i
ride/drive to a geocache site, and the internal battery will last about 5
hours in the field,

i guess what i'd really like is a way to turn my garmin nuvi into a pda and
run tomtom on it as i really dont like the garmin satnav proggie,

Beverly
Sun Jun 08 15:12:45 PDT 2008

As someone who has been using ppc's since 2000 and gps' since '95 and,
who uses gps's in car, motorcycle and on foot, I know the appeal of
having everything "in one" but, some time ago, came to the conclusion to
not go the ppc integrated route... some reasons;

ruggedness
weatherproofing
battery life
gloved control
price
useful life
theft loss potential
complexity
size

I have the handheld magellan meridian and magellen explorist 500, both
with sd based mapping and very satisfied with my choice to not integrate
gps and ppc. As you know, the potential for overlap is there, but,
having tried it, I don't recommend it.

otoh, if you are set on integration, _really_ suggest reconsidering the
bt receiver route as it will be with you as you choose and upgrade
ppc's... some are tiny, have good battery life, _and_ continue to
receive and track with the ppc off to save it's battery. The receiver
can easily ride in a pocket, tank bag or hatband outside, and, in
enclosed vehicles, placed where there is a good signal.

I just finished an almost 6,000 mile trip on the motorcycle with the
meridian on the handlebars and I don't think any ppc would have survived
a ride there, plus, the ppc was protected, charged and ready for it's
job along the route.

hth,
Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

r_z_aret
Mon Jun 09 12:34:20 PDT 2008

On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 22:25:37 +0100, "gazz" <n@spam.ta> wrote:

>
>"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
>message news:OkacnGYyIHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> I'd add to pay a few bucks more for a BT GPS receiver which also offers
>> standalone "gps logging" where it can record a trip by itself for playback
>> at a later time.
>

>
>that's why i would like an all in one unit, plus i really can't be doing
>with re-charging batteries all the time, the pda get's charged when i
>ride/drive to a geocache site, and the internal battery will last about 5
>hours in the field,

The battery on my newer Bluetooth GPS lasts > 8 hours (I actually
think it's more like 10-12, but haven't tested explicitly).


-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 478
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com

gazz
Mon Jun 09 17:06:45 PDT 2008


<r_z_aret@pen_fact.com> wrote in message
news:980r441hjnqkhehk5c5nllp9sn8o3geep6@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 22:25:37 +0100, "gazz" <n@spam.ta> wrote:
>>that's why i would like an all in one unit, plus i really can't be doing
>>with re-charging batteries all the time, the pda get's charged when i
>>ride/drive to a geocache site, and the internal battery will last about 5
>>hours in the field,
>
> The battery on my newer Bluetooth GPS lasts > 8 hours (I actually
> think it's more like 10-12, but haven't tested explicitly).

Can you run more than one thing at a time on bluetooth tho?? because as soon
as i've got the intercom on my bike fully sorted out, i plan to connect my
mobile phone to my pda via bluetooth, that way i can see who's calling on
the pda's screen and answer the call having the audio routed from the mobile
phone to the pda via bluetooth, then to my motorcycle intercom via the audio
out and mic in socket on the pda,

Beverly
Mon Jun 09 17:15:29 PDT 2008

Pretty sure you can although it has not come up for me yet... bt is
essentially virtual com ports with assigned com port numbers.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

mike
Tue Jun 10 09:33:18 PDT 2008

r_z_aret@pen_fact.com wrote:
> On Sun, 8 Jun 2008 22:25:37 +0100, "gazz" <n@spam.ta> wrote:
>
>> "Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
>> message news:OkacnGYyIHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> I'd add to pay a few bucks more for a BT GPS receiver which also offers
>>> standalone "gps logging" where it can record a trip by itself for playback
>>> at a later time.
>
>> that's why i would like an all in one unit, plus i really can't be doing
>> with re-charging batteries all the time, the pda get's charged when i
>> ride/drive to a geocache site, and the internal battery will last about 5
>> hours in the field,
>
> The battery on my newer Bluetooth GPS lasts > 8 hours (I actually
> think it's more like 10-12, but haven't tested explicitly).
>
>
Qstarz BT-Q818 is rated at 32 hours navigation time. And it's 2-year
old technology.
Reviewers claimed 28 hours. I've never come close to running mine down.
Also has auto turnon/off in response to bluetooth. One review claimed
it will wait in standby without bluetooth access for 400 hours.

I stick it in my pants pocket and it works fine. And it works with
any pda I happen to have in my pocket at the time.

I understand the value of a GPS in telling you where to go. Mine
has replaced the EX-wife in that capacity at VERY much lower
maintenance cost.

But in remembering the track of where I've been???
I can think of twice at a neighborhood garage sale in a twisty
subdivision when I'd liked to have had a track to see if I'd
missed any streets. But by the time I realized it was a twisty
subdivision, it was too late to turn it on. But I still wouldn't
pay extra for self-logging.

Seriously, give up on the integrated solution. Buy a $20 used
BT gps and give it a try...just don't get suckered into one
of the cheapo deaf-as-a-post units. If
the spec doesn't clearly state -158/159 dBm, don't buy it.

> -----------------------------------------
> To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).
>
> Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
> PenFact, Inc.
> 20 Park Plaza, Suite 478
> Boston, MA 02116
> www.penfact.com


--
Return address is VALID!
Bunch-O-Stuff Forsale Here:
http://nm7u.tripod.com/homepage/sale.html

gom
Thu Jun 12 08:03:38 PDT 2008

"gazz" <n@spam.ta> wrote in message
news:6au0b2F39a42aU1@mid.individual.net...
>i recently bought an ipaq RX5935 pda (second hand) with built in gps, but
>the gps part leaves a lot to be desired, its very insensative, takes ages
>to get a lock (like 20-25 minutes) looses the signal the second a tree is
>in view,
>
> i've got the updated firmware for the gps reciever, but it dosent help,
> some people say theirs works fine, others say it's just not good at all.
>
> i've also got a garmin nuvi 250w, and that thing can get a sat lock inside
> as long as it can see a window, only the densest forrests loose the
> signal, and it gets it back as soon as an opening in the tree cover is
> around, and it gets a sat lock within seconds of being turned on.
>
> but i want a pda so i can run a few different mapping proggies, topo and
> road navigation maps, as well as some geocaching proggies and other stuff
> you need a ppc for.
>
> So is there a pda out there that has a built in gps that is as good as on
> the garmin nuvi's? i dont mind a small antenna sticking out the case if it
> helps it get a good signal.
> i need wifi and bluetooth, minumum 3.5" screen, preferably 4", sd card
> slot, a good battery life (4 hours plus), and i must be able to get a
> proper vehicle mount for it, something a few pda's just dont seem to have,
> as i'll use it on my motorbike, a universal pda mount is no good.

We have a GPS based Pocket PC application that is used in remote locations
and a lot of people don't want the hassle of extra hardware like Bluetooth.
They already have too much equipment to carry around. We have used the
Trimble Juno with some good success. It is a little underpowered as far as
I'm concerned and a bit expensive as well but it does do the trick.