Never been where you are going? Try Socket's Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit! [Archive]

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Chris Hendriks

07-02-2003, 07:00 PM

Are you planning a vacation with your family this summer? Are you the person responsible for getting the maps and planning the route? Want to avoid the arguments with your spouse about being lost or not? Well, read on my friend! I have the solution for you. We are going to take a look at Socket Communications' new Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit. This wireless GPS kit will simplify your driving experience so that the entire family can enjoy the vacation and not worry about getting lost. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hendriks-june03-socketarticle-0.JPG" /> <!> Socket Communications Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit is a Bluetooth GPS receiver with in-car navigation software for your Pocket PC. The actual receiver is a small self contained navigation solution that is extremely portable. The included navigation software is easy to install, configure, and transfer maps to your Pocket PC storage card. With the Socket Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit and your Pocket PC, you have a complete personal navigation system that allows you to leave those printed maps and scrawled directions at home. I experienced the joy of stress-free driving for the very first time and fully recommend this solution to others who might be looking for a truly wireless and portable solution. Getting Started The Socket Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit comes in a well packaged box that enables a consumer to quickly determine the kit contents, system requirements and basic features. The kit contains the following items: <li>Bluetooth GPS Receiver – A small portable device (50 x 90 x 16 mm) containing a built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery with 5V DC charging circuit that lasts about six hours on a single charge. <li>DC power adapter – A cigarette lighter adapter for continuous power or to charge the receiver. Bonus: The kit includes an extra power cord. There is a connection on the DC power adapter that allows you to power or charge your Pocket PC as well. A very nice option for those of us with only one cigarette lighter in our vehicles but have the need to power multiple items. <li>Leather case for the GPS receiver – The top of the case has a fold over flap that secures with a Velcro connection. The case also has a slide clip on the back for securing it to your belt or even your vehicle visor. <li>Installation CD – The CD includes all maps and Socket's MyNavigator software for your Pocket PC. <li>Quick Start Guide – A short user manual explaining how to quickly install the software and configure your hardware. <li> Three year warranty on the receiver – Generally a warranty on a electronic device expires after a year so it is refreshing to see a longer warranty on this device. <li>Mystery black triangle – I found that the carry case contained a mystery black triangular item shaped like a wedge that had the fuzzy side of a Velcro connector on one side of it. The hook side of Velcro connector is contained in the case. I have yet to figure out how to use of this wedge. Is the wedge packing material designed to shape the carry case or is there some darker purpose in its design that isn’t documented in any of the reading material? Please let us all know if you discover what the purpose is for the mystery wedge. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hendriks-june03-socketarticle-1.JPG" /> Figure 1: The box contents for Socket's Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit. A Look at the Bluetooth GPS Receiver The actual GPS receiver is small and very portable. All indicators are readily visible on the front of the receiver much like a radar detector. The front of the receiver includes the following LED indicators: Bluetooth status, GPS status, and the battery status. The front of the receiver also includes a power on/off switch and the power jack. I find that these two items are very convenient to operate since they aren’t located on the back or side of the receiver. The side of the receiver also contains an external antenna port that you can use if you choose to connect an external antenna. I never tested this particular feature but some could find this option useful if they choose to mount the receiver in a location where the internal antenna can’t receive a quality GPS signal. The external antenna, an AC charging adapter, and other accessories are available from the Socket Communication’s Web site. The basic technical specifications for the Bluetooth GPS receiver are as follows:<li>12 channel all-in-view tracking with position accuracy of 10 meters RMS without SA <li>Supports NMEA-0183 (v2.20) standard at 38,400 bps baud rate <li>Works with Bluetooth devices with a Serial Port Profile <li>Bluetooth 1.1 certified <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hendriks-june03-socketarticle-2.JPG" /> Figure 2: Socket's Bluetooth GPS Receiver. The specifications for this receiver are more than adequate for use by any weekend warrior like me or by the majority users who need GPS as a navigation aid. You can locate more detailed specifications on Socket’s <a href="http://www.socketcom.com/pdf/gps/BTGPSNavKitdatasheet.pdf">Web site</a>. For a discussion on the technical meaning of the specifications, I would recommend that you read Gary Garland’s in-depth series of articles about GPS that are available on this site. If you are interested in the technical details of Socket's BT GPS receiver in comparison to other devices on the market then I recommend that you also read an article on the GPS Passion website called <a href="http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=55">"Bluetooth GPS Shoot-out!"</a> I also want to point out that Socket doesn’t recommend this receiver for “medical or life support applications.“ The Mapping Software The mapping software that Socket calls MyNavigator is very easy to install on your computer and even easier to transfer maps to a storage card for use on your Pocket PC. Socket has map support for the 48 contiguous US states and the big island of Hawaii in the US kit. The kit for Western Europe includes maps for Austria, Benelux, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Navigation software is compatible with Pocket PC 2000/2002 and supports the following features: <li>Full turn-by-turn navigation instructions; <li>Voice prompts so that you can keep your eyes on the road; <li>Screen displays your current location, distance until next turn, and distance to final destination; <li>Automatically recalculates your journey if you veer off course or take a wrong turn.The software also displays relevant points of interest as icons on the maps. This point of interest category includes such items as restaurants and museums. You will benefit from this feature if you have time to actually stop and see the point of interest on your trip. I used this feature a few times and ended up in a couple of very interesting locations and thoroughly enjoyed myself. However, more often than not, I used it to keep track of places that I didn’t have the time to stop and see. I highly recommend trying this feature on a family vacation. Your family may get the opportunity to experience an unexpected adventure in a location that you may never have considered when planning your trip. As an added bonus, Socket announced a new promotion on June 6, 2003 for all registered owners of the Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit. "Attention Socket GPS Nav Kit Owners! Register your GPS Nav Kit and receive email notification of a FREE upgrade opportunity from Socket Communications. Registered purchasers of the North America version of the GPS Nav Kit will be able to receive an upgrade that includes Canada map data. Registered purchasers of the United Kingdom version of the GPS Nav Kit will be able to receive the map data upgrade for all of Western Europe. This offer is only good for those customers that register their product, so register today!!" Transferring Maps to your Pocket PC Loading maps onto your Pocket PC is an easy process once you've installed the MyNavigator software on your computer. Synchronize your Pocket PC with your computer and then launch the MyNavigator software. You can save maps of states or cities in the US. It is advisable to save your maps on a storage card due to their large size. Socket recommends a storage card with at least 64 MB but I would advise that you purchase one with a larger capacity. You will find the extra capacity useful when trying to save maps of multiple states as is typically needed for most vacations. In fact, if you get a really large capacity storage card then you can save almost all the maps that you will ever need and then never have to do it again. If you only need to save a map of a city then you will find a very useful feature where you can specify the radius of the map from 25 miles to 125 miles in 25 mile increments. I found this very useful when I was just using the GPS receiver around town and wanted to save the map to the Pocket PC’s main memory instead of a storage card. Transferring the map data to your Pocket PC takes a few minutes. The amount of time necessary depends on the size of the map being transferred. When your map is transferred, you simply disconnect your Pocket PC from the cradle and soft reset the Pocket PC. I found this process to be easy to follow. Communicating with the Bluetooth GPS Receiver In order to transfer data back and forth between your Pocket PC and the GPS receiver, you will need to configure your Bluetooth settings. First, turn on the Bluetooth GPS receiver and let it obtain a GPS fix. This will take a few minutes the first time that this is done. The GPS Status light will blink green once the GPS fix is complete. I should point that GPS technology requires a clear view of the sky in order to receive the necessary signals. Therefore, anything that obstructs the receiver’s view of the sky will interfere with your signal reception. Items on this list include things such as the receiver’s position in your vehicle, tunnels, urban canyons (streets with tall buildings on either side), and interior rooms in buildings. On your Pocket PC, perform a Bluetooth device discovery to locate the Bluetooth GPS receiver. The procedure to perform this on your Pocket PC will vary according to the particular Pocket PC or Bluetooth accessory card that you are using. When creating the bond between your Pocket PC and the Bluetooth GPS receiver, you will be prompted to enter a passkey that is provided by Socket Communications in the Quick Start Guide. Once the bond is formed then you can start the MyNavigator software on your Pocket PC. The entire bonding process is fairly straightforward and only has to be completed once when you are first using your GPS receiver. However, I would recommend that you save the passkey number in case you have to hard reset your pocket PC and lose your entire configuration. I created a text file on the same storage card that I saved all my maps. If you are using an iPAQ 3870, 3970, 5450, or a Socket Bluetooth card then you are ready to use the MyNavigator software on your Pocket PC. Any other Pocket PC or Bluetooth accessory card may require you to change the COM Port setting in the MyNavigator software to match the COM Port setting of your Bluetooth device. I experimented with a Dell AXIM using a Socket Bluetooth Card and each of the three iPAQ’s listed above and found the process quite simple to accomplish. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hendriks-june03-socketarticle-3.JPG" /> Figure 3: Socket Bluetooth GPS receiver and iPAQ Pocket PC. No wires. Navigation - Using you Bluetooth GPS Receiver and Pocket PC You are now at a point where you can enter your destination address and start using your GPS solution. Let me quickly recap the process to get to this point:<li>Turn on your Socket receiver and wait for a GPS fix <li>Turn on your Pocket PC <li>Start the MyNavigator software on your Pocket PCAs you can see, it is a very simple straightforward three step procedure to use your GPS solution. After you have started the MyNavigator software on your Pocket PC, the next step is to enter a destination. The software offers many options in this area such as “by address” or “by point of interest.” I encourage you to experiment with these on your own. I used the destination address option most frequently as my preferred input method. Once your destination is confirmed, a map displays on your Pocket PC screen. You immediately begin receiving navigation instructions both by voice and by instructions on the screen. The map displayed on your Pocket PC contains a variety of information and controls. This includes your current location, your vehicle’s speed, ETA, remaining time to destination, distance to destination, direction, and distance to your next turn. Your vehicle is displayed as an icon on the map. The color of the icon changes according to the quality of your GPS fix. Green indicates a strong signal, yellow indicates an insufficient signal, and red indicates no signal. There are various useful controls that allow you to zoom in or out of the map and pan around the map. There is also a control that allows you to swap between map view, guidance view, and route list. The map view is the primary screen that you will use in most situations. However, I found the route list view helpful when there are many turns within a short distance of one another. The route list view contains your trip data organized in three columns. The first column contains an icon graphically representing the turning action that you will need to take. The second column contains the printed intersection or exit information and the direction to turn. Finally, the third column contains the distance until the next movement. I tested the maps in a variety of conditions and trips and found them to be quite accurate but I am sure that there are some new roads or subdivisions that may not be listed. It would be a great consumer service for Socket to offer a map subscription. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/hendriks-june03-socketarticle-4.gif" /> Figure 4: Views of Socket's MyNavigator Software. Gotchas I thoroughly enjoyed my experience with the Socket Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit and recommend it to those of you searching for a lightweight, portable, and wireless solution that can be easily packed when you travel. However, the following items could be improved or should be considered: <li> The average GPS consumer (like me) will be immediately surprised at the price of the Socket Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit. I shopped around and found that the price ranges from $379 to $529 in the US from a selection of Internet vendors. In conversations with GPS pros, it was proposed that the included software account for at least a portion of the price as does the longer three year warranty on the receiver. <li>I would like to see some sort of subscription offered for the mapping software so that I could update my maps from time to time. <li>I would like the box to include the material (Velcro tape at the very minimum) needed to mount the receiver in the car and to discuss the preferred mounting methods in the documentation. I wonder if the mystery black wedge that I discussed earlier is designed for this purpose.Where To Buy The Socket Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit can be purchased from the <a href="http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2310&pf%5Fid=MP580206&mscssid=0AS8HCEVDBXX8J7LRCMMC60JAMLE5TK2&listing=1>"> for $419.95 US [affiliate]. The GPS receiver without the mapping software can also be purchased separately from the <a href=http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2310&pf%5Fid=MP580205&mscssid=0AS8HCEVDBXX8J7LRCMMC60JAMLE5TK2&listing=1>Pocket PC Thoughts Mobile Planet Store</a> and retails for $339.95 US [affiliate]. The external antenna and other accessories can also be purchased from the <a href=http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/pocketpcthoughts/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2310&pf%5Fid=MP580206&mscssid=0AS8HCEVDBXX8J7LRCMMC60JAMLE5TK2&listing=1>Pocket PC Thoughts Mobile Planet Store</a> at various retail prices [affiliate]. Specifications Socket lists that the minimum system requirements for the Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit are a Bluetooth enabled Pocket PC device using a MIPS, SH3, or ARM processor, and at least 15 MB of available device memory. However, the recommended system requirements are listed as a Pocket PC 2002 device or Windows Mobile 2003 (Pocket PC 2003) device with an ARM or Xscale processor with 4 MB of available device memory and a 64 MB or larger SD/MMC card for your map data. Conclusions I recommend the Socket Communication Bluetooth GPS Nav Kit. I found it very easy to use and highly portable. If you already have other GPS mapping software then you also have the option of purchasing the Socket Bluetooth GPS receiver without Socket’s MyNavigator software.

brianchris

07-02-2003, 07:30 PM

I own this specific reciever and software (well, actually, purchased Routis - which is the same software just re-branded), and can HIGHLY recomend this combination. Been using these with my 5455 for months now, through a number of trips, and they haven't streered me wrong yet (no pun intended).

As far as the mystery black triangle goes, I can't help other than to say the mystery hasn't been solved. Indeed, here is a thread from Socket's official NG just on the subject of that back triangle:

http://www.socketforum.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1601

-Brian

entropy1980

07-02-2003, 08:09 PM

Anybody try it with an Ipaq 2215 yet?

Skitals

07-02-2003, 08:22 PM

I use this GPS reciever but I recommend you DO NOT buy the package. If you buy it alone, you can then get any software/maps you like. I recommend Mapopolis and use it myself and it works perfectly with this reciever. You can also get the gps much much cheaper. I got mine for something like $293 on Amazon. The price for some reason goes up and down on this unit. I saw it as low as $260 something but didnt want to make an impulse buy.

nirav28

07-02-2003, 08:22 PM

suhit

07-02-2003, 08:27 PM

Any idea how much map updates cost? Or how often they are released?

Suhit

Skitals

07-02-2003, 08:38 PM

One.. What type of BT profile does this run as? For example, can i connect it to a j2me app running on my Nokia 3650 phone? Serial, IP etc?

Two..
Has anyone tried this with any other software , other than the one it ships with it? Such as mapapolis or ms-pocket streets?

It uses the serial profile and if like i said its perfect with mapopolis. Any software that supports NMEA gps recievers (bluetooth serial profile asigns a com port so the software doesnt know of care if its a BT device)

And again I recommend just getting the hardware instead of the bundle... mapopolis gets better reviews and they keep the maps more up to date (current ones only a couple months old).

Peace

GoldKey

07-02-2003, 08:51 PM

Any idea how much map updates cost? Or how often they are released?

Suhit

I think map updates are the current biggest problem with GPS's I have a few and the maps tend to be out of date for new construction. For example, the road I live on has been in existance for about 3 years. And does not show on any of the multiple GPS map software I own.

freeway680

07-02-2003, 08:58 PM

I am waiting for tomtom usa to come out. should be in a couple week or so. I have the 3D view that looks very interesting.

GoldKey

07-02-2003, 09:40 PM

The tom tom is really nice. I tested it. We are all still under NDA until they send us the shipping version of the software, so can't say much else.

brianchris

07-02-2003, 09:49 PM

gpspassion

07-02-2003, 11:09 PM

Nice review!

There are a few things that were discussed here http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1376 in terms of "tips and tricks" that aren't mentioned here so I've taken the liberty to post the link as an "addendum" ;-)

You can do better in terms of price by getting the similar looking and performing Globalsat Bluetooth GPS for $180 and iGuidance or Routis for $100, but as Brianchris pointed out, a one-stop shop means one person less to deal with in case of a problem...

Skitals

07-02-2003, 11:56 PM

I use this GPS reciever but I recommend you DO NOT buy the package. If you buy it alone, you can then get any software/maps you like.

That's *almost* 100% true, except for the fact that if you don't buy the package, there is currently no way to get Socket's software standalone (if that's the software you eventually decide to purchase). I agree, having the choice of which software to buy is an advantage, but someone making this decision should be informed that at least one software option is off their list if they buy the reciever only, and that software happens to be made (or at least OEM'd) by the same manufacturer of the reciever (think better support / experience). With a Socket reciever and software, Socket can't point the finger at someone else when things go bad.

Ultimately, I'm agreeing with you......just qualifying your blanket statement a little ;)

-Brian

Actually you can buy that software alone without a package... I dont think its called the same thing though (just repackaged with a new name). Besides... would you rather have software from a hardware company, or software from a software company?

Goldkey, have you tried the Mapopolis v5 maps? You can download the software and your county map for free at www.mapopolis.com to try it out... map expires after 7 days.

GoldKey

07-03-2003, 02:02 AM

msprague

07-03-2003, 03:34 AM

I have been using the Emtac bluetooth GPS receiver and iGuidance software, which are the same things as the GPS and software from Socket. This same software is OEM'd as Routis also.

The main difference is that Socket is Pocket PC only whereas Routis and iGuidance have laptop versions included as well. (Although the Socket upgrade mentioned in the review for Canada maps may include the laptop version. ??)
If you have a GPS receiver already or want to buy a non-bluetooth receiver I highly recommend Routis.

_________________
http://michael.sprague.name/pocketpc/

hollis_f

07-03-2003, 04:38 AM

The tom tom is really nice. I tested it. We are all still under NDA until they send us the shipping version of the software, so can't say much else.
Well, us Yoorpeans have been using it for quite a while and we aren't under any sort of NDA. So I can quite happily say - it's jolly good. Actually - it's the gorilla's gonads!

The only bad thing about it is that I've started relying on it 100%. Last weekend I went to a friends' house in the middle of the countryside. It was only the second time I'd driven there myself and I started panicking when I realised I was driving down tiny country lanes with absolutely no idea of where I was and no map in the new car. If TomTom (or the Emtac BT GPS) had failed I was in a upcreek sans paddle situation. Luckily it did what it's been doing for months - took me straight to their house with no problems.

Skitals

07-03-2003, 04:52 AM

Skitals,

It looks like you can only get a demo map for each county without paying. I hate to lay out money for maps that are not going to have what I need. Based on what Tom Tom told me during the demo, I don't expect this to be a problem long term.

I dont quiet follow... how would you not know if they have what you need. The demo maps are full version, just have a 7 day time limit. So basically you test the full version maps for 7 days. They offer ever single map and place guide they have for download so you can test out and see if it's what you want.

ctmagnus

07-03-2003, 06:21 AM

Actually - it's the gorilla's gonads!

:rotfl:

Pony99CA

07-03-2003, 07:15 AM

I personally don't get the attraction of these Bluetooth GPS devices. If it had a screen so that it could serve as a standalone device, that would be good (and at least one such device (http://www.fortuna.com.tw/GPSmart.htm) exists). The disadvantages of this system are many: requiring two power outlets, higher cost, more complexity (first get the GPS signal, then bond via Bluetooth).

However, what advantages are there? You can easily use it with different Pocket PC models, but that also holds true for CF card GPS systems. If you have a Pocket PC with Bluetooth, but no CF slot, things may be different, but the only Pocket PCs that meet that description are the iPAQ 1930s and 1940s. (I didn't include the 3870, 3970, 5450, etc. because you can get both Compact Flash or GPS sleeves for those).

You can also use the Bluetooth version with laptops -- assuming your laptop has Bluetooth capability and a laptop version of the software is supplied.

With my iPAQ 3870, I use CoPilot Live in the NavMan sleeve, and it's a very compact package. Here's a photo of that:

http://www.svpocketpc.com/iPAQ3870-GPS-Small.jpg

It has a CF slot in it, so I can use my 256 MB SD card and my 512 MB CF card (which contains both the GPS software and maps).

Steve

Philip Colmer

07-03-2003, 07:48 AM

I personally don't get the attraction of these Bluetooth GPS devices.

I think that this point has similarities to the "Pocket PC + mobile phone vs Pocket PC Phone Edition" discussion, and it comes down to personal choice, really.

There are pros and cons to both approaches. You've already highlighted some of the cons (multiple power supplies being the obvious), but there are some pros, including: Being able to keep the receiver near the car windscreen and let the navigator hold the Pocket PC
Pocket PC battery lasts longer because it isn't driving the GPS hardware
More flexibility if the adapter can be used with other devices such as laptops (although this often applies to CF devices as well)... and I'm sure that others will come up with further pros & cons.

As with so many other purchasing decisions, there is no one right answer - it is ALL about personal choice & requirements.

--Philip

Skitals

07-03-2003, 08:47 AM

The disadvantages of this system are many: requiring two power outlets, higher cost, more complexity (first get the GPS signal, then bond via Bluetooth).

Actually you still only need one power outlet... the Socket BT GPS reciever comes with a cable that can charge the ppc and gps are the same time.

And its definitely not complex. First of all the charge last for like 6 hours with it constantly on, so I never need to have it plugged in when Im actually driving anywhere (i plug it in when i get out of the car). It just sits on my dash (there is a spot on my dash it fits perfect and doesnt slide or move around) and when i want to us it i flip the switch on. I turn on my pocket pc, and by the time I get to Mapopolis that gps already has a fix. I have mapopolis set to start GPS when the app starts so right away it searches for the gps, and without have to do anything a second later it shows me right where i am on the map :D

And as far as your gps sleeve, that would really suck if you wanted to get an ipaq 2200. I could just stick in a BT sd card and be on my way. And like someone else said, sucks that that thing draws power from your ipaq. I can just put the gps in its leather case (included) on my belt and go for a hike and have the full battery life of my ipaq (minus however much bluetooth uses) cause the gps will outlast the pda. I can also keep my ipaq in my Piel Frama case the whole time cause I dont need to use any sleeves.

Anyway, that wasnt meant to be mean, just trying to show "the attraction of these Bluetooth GPS devices."

gpspassion

07-03-2003, 09:00 AM

Yes it's a an endless debate really. I'm partial to Bluetooth having started GpsPasSion after buying a prototype of the Emtac almost a year ago now.

I did recently spend a lot of time pulling apart (litteraly) the 4 available Bluetooth receivers and the "attraction" remains ;-)

Clearly, if you're only interested in Gps Assisted Road navigation then a mouse GPS will be the cheapest (and with the best performance as it happens) solution. If you want some mobility, then the HI303MMF dual mouse/CF GPS is next in line. Again though, with a Globalsat at $190, Bluetooth is becoming price competitive too.

Pony99CA

07-03-2003, 09:19 AM

Being able to keep the receiver near the car windscreen and let the navigator hold the Pocket PC
That's only an advantage if you have a navigator -- and if they're willing to take care of your PDA for the drive.

Pocket PC battery lasts longer because it isn't driving the GPS hardware

That's only true if you're using it on foot, though, in which case having two pieces would be more cumbersome.

In a car, you'd likely have your PDA hooked up to power, so the battery would be charging, not draining.

More flexibility if the adapter can be used with other devices such as laptops (although this often applies to CF devices as well)

Yes, I cited that as an advantage -- if your laptop had Bluetooth and the GPS device had the correct software. However, unlike PDAs, not many laptops (if any) include Bluetooth. You still have to add a card, in which case the GPS CF card might as well be used.

OK, that last statement isn't quite true. You can't exactly put a laptop on the dashboard of most cars; you'd likely have it on the passenger seat, in which case having the Bluetooth receiver on the dash would make sense.

Whether people will use laptop-based GPS is another issue now that PDA GPS is so good. I bought a GPS system for my laptop and only used it once due to the inconvenience. I have used my iPAQ GPS system many times.

By the way, don't think I'm a one-piece guy. When it comes to phones and PDAs, I'm a two-piece guy.

Steve

GoldKey

07-03-2003, 01:46 PM

hollis_f

07-03-2003, 05:12 PM

personally don't get the attraction of these Bluetooth GPS devices. If it had a screen so that it could serve as a standalone device, that would be good (and at least one such device exists). The disadvantages of this system are many: requiring two power outlets, higher cost, more complexity (first get the GPS signal, then bond via Bluetooth).

The main advantage is - the optimal position to recieve a GPS signal and the optimal position to see the PPC's screen are not normally the same. With a lot of today's cars having heated windscreens it's even worse. I had a hire car and the only place I could get a fix was with the GPS on the back shelf. Luckily I could place it there and still have the navigation screen in front of me. With a CF device I'd have been stymied.

As for it being more complex - ??? Have you used one?
Get in car. Remove Emtac from pocket and place on dash. Remove iPAQ from pocket, connect power supply, switch on. start Navigator (by this time the Emtac has a fix), select destination. Place iPAQ in holder. Drive. Arrive at destination. Remove iPAQ from holder, disconnect from power, switch off and put in pocket. Switch off Emtac and put in pocket.

Sounds a lot less complicated than -
Get in car. Remove PPC from pocket. Remove CF memory card from PPC. Insert CF GPS card. Remove SD card from PPC. Insert SD card containing maps. Place both memory cards somewhere where I'm not gonna lose them. Connect power supply, switch on. start Navigator select destination. Place iPAQ in holder. Drive. Arrive at destination. Remove iPAQ from holder, disconnect from power, switch off. Remove SD card with Maps and CF GPS and replace original CF and SD cards. Put iPAQ, CFGPS and mpad SD cards in pocket.

Pony99CA

07-03-2003, 09:23 PM

The main advantage is - the optimal position to recieve a GPS signal and the optimal position to see the PPC's screen are not normally the same. With a lot of today's cars having heated windscreens it's even worse. I had a hire car and the only place I could get a fix was with the GPS on the back shelf. Luckily I could place it there and still have the navigation screen in front of me. With a CF device I'd have been stymied.

OK, there's a another advantage, but it's not one which has ever been an issue for me.

As for it being more complex - ??? Have you used one?
Get in car. Remove Emtac from pocket and place on dash. Remove iPAQ from pocket, connect power supply, switch on. start Navigator (by this time the Emtac has a fix), select destination. Place iPAQ in holder. Drive. Arrive at destination. Remove iPAQ from holder, disconnect from power, switch off and put in pocket. Switch off Emtac and put in pocket.

No, I had my sleeve-based GPS system before Bluetooth ones were available, so I've never needed to use a Bluetooth unit.

However, you might have left out a couple of steps, like connecting the power supply twice -- once to the GPS (unless you don't mind using your batteries) and once to the iPAQ. Plus, you have two things in your pocket (unless you leave the GPS box in the car, as I likely would). Also, unless you keep Bluetooth on all the time (a battery drain), you neglected the step about turning the Bluetooth radio on (and possibly having to soft reset due to driver memory issues :?).

Finally, you left out any steps (perhaps one-time steps) about configuring your Pocket PC and GPS box to recognize each other.

Sounds a lot less complicated than -
Get in car. Remove PPC from pocket. Remove CF memory card from PPC. Insert CF GPS card. Remove SD card from PPC. Insert SD card containing maps. Place both memory cards somewhere where I'm not gonna lose them. Connect power supply, switch on. start Navigator select destination. Place iPAQ in holder. Drive. Arrive at destination. Remove iPAQ from holder, disconnect from power, switch off. Remove SD card with Maps and CF GPS and replace original CF and SD cards. Put iPAQ, CFGPS and mpad SD cards in pocket.
If I had a CF-based system, I'd try to keep my maps on the same SD card that I used normally. Also, if I had to switch, I certainly wouldn't do it in the car.

Here's how my sleeve-based method works. At home, remove iPAQ from Dual PC Card sleeve, put in GPS sleeve. Remove CF card with program and maps from Dual PC Card sleeve and put in GPS sleeve. Get in car, connect power, turn on iPAQ, start CoPilot Live, enter destination and place iPAQ in windshield mount.

When I arrive, turn iPAQ off, remove power cord, remove iPAQ from windshield mount and put it in my holster.

I'm only carrying one thing and have no worries about where to put the GPS box.

I'm not criticizing people who like Bluetooth GPS, of course; if you're happy with it, that's all that matters. I'm just trying to understand what advantages it has over my sleeve-based solution or a CF-based solution. If HP ever stops producing sleeve-compatible iPAQs, I'll be in the market for a new GPS solution. :-)

Another advantage for the Bluetooth version you alluded to is not having to switch any CF cards around. I keep most of my MP3s on my 512 MB CF card, along with the GPS program and maps, so I can play my music while using GPS. If I have to go with a CF-based GPS solution, I'd either have to give up my music or buy a bigger SD card for it.

Steve

Skitals

07-04-2003, 04:16 AM

If HP ever stops producing sleeve-compatible iPAQs, I'll be in the market for a new GPS solution. :-)

Lol, where have you been? I guess the ipaq 1900 and 2200 series dont count? Sleeves only work on the 3000 and 5000 series ipaq.

I have an ipaq 5455 and just got my BT gps a few months ago (1 or 2). Im thinking about 'downgrading' to a 2210 ipaq. Thank god I didnt buy the gps sleeve like I was thinking about... and this was the main reason I didn't.

It all comes down to what works for you. Your sleeve probably works awsome with your ipaq, and thats all that matters. I spent more money for the BT gps because its more universal (compatible with any BT pocket pc, palm, laptop, etc).

Peace

msprague

07-04-2003, 04:34 AM

If HP ever stops producing sleeve-compatible iPAQs, I'll be in the market for a new GPS solution. :-)

Lol, where have you been? I guess the ipaq 1900 and 2200 series dont count? Sleeves only work on the 3000 and 5000 series ipaq.

HP has not stopped producing sleeve-compatible ipaqs. Oh, but you said that yourself. lol, ha ha. :roll:

ctmagnus

07-04-2003, 05:31 AM

Two to four unit advantages for me:

1) If you're relegated to the back seat and the main user of the Pocket PC, toss the BT GPS on the dash and you get a much better signal than if the GPS was back there with you.

2) Ability to carry the PPC in a bag/breifcase/packsack... (waaay inside) and have the GPS closer to the outside. This is especially true for me because it's hellacious trying to get and keep a GPS lock where I live. Anyone else in north-south oriented valleys have this problem?

3) Hit a bump and something goes flying, less chance that everything will be toast.

4) I'd rather have the two units physically separate and taking up less space individually than the whole. Weird, I know.

Pony99CA

07-04-2003, 06:42 AM

If HP ever stops producing sleeve-compatible iPAQs, I'll be in the market for a new GPS solution. :-)
Lol, where have you been? I guess the ipaq 1900 and 2200 series dont count? Sleeves only work on the 3000 and 5000 series ipaq.

HP has not stopped producing sleeve-compatible ipaqs. Oh, but you said that yourself. lol, ha ha. :roll:
Yeah, really. Did they stop the Reading Is Fundamental program or something? :lol:

Let's be explicit, though, to avoid any further confusion. Producing iPAQs that don't work with sleeves is not the same as stopping production of sleeve-compatible iPAQs. As long as HP makes one iPAQ model that takes sleeves, they haven't stopped.

Steve

Pony99CA

07-04-2003, 06:57 AM

Two unit advantages for me:

1) If you're relegated to the back seat and the main user of the Pocket PC, toss the BT GPS on the dash and you get a much better signal than if the GPS was back there with you.

True, and that's similar to having to put the GPS receiver on the back deck. This doesn't seem like a frequent problem, though, as the navigator usually sits in the passenger seat.

2) Ability to carry the PPC in a bag/breifcase/packsack... (waaay inside) and have the GPS closer to the outside. This is especially true for me because it's hellacious trying to get and keep a GPS lock where I live. Anyone else in north-south oriented valleys have this problem?
OK, I really don't understand this point. The Pocket PC has the screen for the GPS, so what's the point of tucking it in your briefcase? I suppose if you set the destination before putting it in there, and if the voice prompts are really loud, it might work, but I'd think that most people want to see the maps while they're using GPS.

3) Hit a bump and something goes flying, less chance that everything will be toast.
I've had my windshield mount fail and my 3870 and GPS sleeve fall onto the console of my Mustang. In this case, I think the sleeve will actually provide protection for the iPAQ.

4) I'd rather have the two units physically separate and taking up less space individually than the whole. Weird, I know.
What's even more weird is your definition of "two advantages". ;-)

Seriously, how big is the Bluetooth GPS receiver? Are there any photos comparing it to an iPAQ (especially an iPAQ in a GPS sleeve)? A :google: image search on ipaq bluetooth gps didn't find any.

Steve

msprague

07-04-2003, 03:27 PM

www.pocketpcitalia.com+emtac+ipaq]try (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&q=+site:[url) this[/url] for pics

Here is good info (http://www.gpspassion.com/Hardware/Reviews/BluetoothGPS.htm) in the gpspassion.com review

It is the same gps as the Socket. Before Socket picked it up it was available from the mfg for a couple months.

_________________
http://michael.sprague.name/pocketpc/

msprague

07-04-2003, 03:38 PM

The comment about being able to transport your PPC in a briefcase and maintain a GPS lock even though the the PPC is turned off is a good one. This applies for in vehicle use to. I just leave the BT gps on the dash and turned on and when I come out from an appointment and get in the car there is no waiting for a fix. Just power on PPC and go.

I too am a big fan of the BT gps. :mrgreen:

disconnected

07-04-2003, 04:44 PM

I have the rather large Fortuna bluetooth receiver. It sometimes is quite slow to get a fix if it's been turned off for a while so I also just leave it in the car, plugged in and powered on, and take my iPAQ with me when I leave the car.

ctmagnus

07-04-2003, 11:41 PM

2) Ability to carry the PPC in a bag/breifcase/packsack... (waaay inside) and have the GPS closer to the outside. This is especially true for me because it's hellacious trying to get and keep a GPS lock where I live. Anyone else in north-south oriented valleys have this problem?

OK, I really don't understand this point. The Pocket PC has the screen for the GPS, so what's the point of tucking it in your briefcase? I suppose if you set the destination before putting it in there, and if the voice prompts are really loud, it might work, but I'd think that most people want to see the maps while they're using GPS.

For keeping track of where you've been (ie, with Pocket Streets), not necessarily for navigation purposes.

3) Hit a bump and something goes flying, less chance that everything will be toast.
I've had my windshield mount fail and my 3870 and GPS sleeve fall onto the console of my Mustang. In this case, I think the sleeve will actually provide protection for the iPAQ.

That's a possibility. What I was considering, though, is that the iPaq is mounted on an arm/pedestal (which I've heard horror stories about) and the GPS is sitting a fair distance away on the dash so the two are separated by a good distance.

What's even more weird is your definition of "two advantages". ;-)

Original post edited. :)

brianchris

07-14-2003, 08:42 PM

Actually you can buy that software alone without a package... I dont think its called the same thing though (just repackaged with a new name). Besides... would you rather have software from a hardware company, or software from a software company?

I know I'm way late in replying here, but for the record, I was the first person to post in this thread, and in that post, I took a moment to explain I own this reciever with the same software, just repacakged with a new name. So, obviously, I'm aware of that.

I was just pointing out the *only* way to get the software with Socket's name on it, is to buy the pacakge. Once you buy just the rciever only, you'll never be able to purchase the Socket branded software (even if you wanted to), and, the fact is, Socket won't pass the buck when having a problem because, when you're using their hardware and software, there is no one to pass the buck to. Some people may find value in this.

As far as buying software from a hardware manufacturer, that doesn't really hold water either, as the software in question (whether called Socket's "My Navigator," or Deluo's "Routis, etc. etc.) is made by intellinav (www.intellinav.com). Apparently, all they do is make software.

-Brian