No SDIO. Is portable GPS possible?

[mpda]

I have a pocket pc that doesn't support sdio (Mitac Mio 338). Are there any alternative ways that I can connect it to gps that would still allow it to be portable?

Thanks

[Sven Johannsen]

Seems your connectivity option is serial. You could get a serial mouse/puck receiver and power that with a battery pack. Not super portable, but would work. You could also get something like a Garmin eTrex, which is a self contained GPS by itself, and use the serial output of it to drive the PPC. You'ld get the advantage of being able to use all the nifty mapping programs on the PPC, and still have a fully functional GPS when you don't need all the PPC features.

[Jorgen]

Rather than using a cable, you can use infrared, eg 19xx series http://www.buygpsnow.com/item.aspx?itemid=321 but note that that would draw more on the PDA battery.

Apart from the geek-value - which I can fully appreciate - it is a big question if you *need* the PDA at all. I use an eTrex Legend just with the built-in maps - good enough to determine whether you are going in the right direction - I do a quick check once in a while and it has saved me a couple of times when gone the wrong way. Even smaller towns are included in the map (I live in Spain).

If I park in a big town, I mark where I parked so I can find the place again. Or marked the station, if gone by train.

In the car, I put it on the horizontal('ish) part of the instrument-panel and plug it into the cigarette lighter.

I have not tried to connect it to my PDA or computer with the serial cable.

Note that a GPS needs some 3-5 mins (or longer if overcast, if trees overhead etc) to connect to the satellites. You can't just switch it on when you need it and see where you are.

Jorgen