Magellan GPS - PDA mapping

Author

PDA mapping

Mark Pace

2006-07-13, 10:33 am

I've done some googling but have not been able to find if there is
mapping software for PalmOS based PDA. I would want to be able to
connect my Meridian Gold as the GPS receiver. Anyone have any
experience with this?

TIA
Mark Pace

Jack Erbes

2006-07-13, 12:33 pm

Mark Pace wrote:

> I've done some googling but have not been able to find if there is
> mapping software for PalmOS based PDA. I would want to be able to
> connect my Meridian Gold as the GPS receiver. Anyone have any
> experience with this?
>

The Tom Tom Navigator 5 software will run on a Palm device. I had it
going on a Tungsten T1 or T3 for a while. The problem I had with the
Palm devices is that bright, brilliant, display turns black and useless
in direct sunlight and is little better shaded in daylight. You might
want to look at your in the places you want to use it before committing
to it.

I wound up with an iPAQ that was much better in daylight/sunlight.

TT Navigator is a good piece of software, does all the basic things most
people want to do. IMHO its biggest shortfall is that it does not
record tracks or any of the other details that us more anal reterntive
travelers like to savor later.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Mark Pace

2006-07-13, 10:33 pm

Thanks, Jack -
I did some searching on the TomTom site. I have a Zire 31, it isn't
mentioned, only the Zire 72. Not sure what the difference is between
the 2 of them. Shame you can't trial the software to know if works or not.

Mark

Jack Erbes wrote:
> Mark Pace wrote:
>
>
> The Tom Tom Navigator 5 software will run on a Palm device. I had it
> going on a Tungsten T1 or T3 for a while. The problem I had with the
> Palm devices is that bright, brilliant, display turns black and useless
> in direct sunlight and is little better shaded in daylight. You might
> want to look at your in the places you want to use it before committing
> to it.
>
> I wound up with an iPAQ that was much better in daylight/sunlight.
>
> TT Navigator is a good piece of software, does all the basic things most
> people want to do. IMHO its biggest shortfall is that it does not
> record tracks or any of the other details that us more anal reterntive
> travelers like to savor later.
>
> Jack
>

Jack Erbes

2006-07-13, 10:33 pm

Mark Pace wrote:
> Thanks, Jack -
> I did some searching on the TomTom site. I have a Zire 31, it isn't
> mentioned, only the Zire 72. Not sure what the difference is between
> the 2 of them. Shame you can't trial the software to know if works or not.
>
> Mark

I think the issue with the 31 (and maybe some other Palm models) it the
lack of a hardware RS-232 serial port. The Tungstens (and some other
models) have it on the hot sync connector but the 31 might not if it
only uses USB for hot sync.

You need a RS-232 serial port to use the NMEA input from an external GPS
receiver. I used mine with Altina and Rikaline "mouse style" GPS
receivers. Those receiver use a power/PDA adapter cables to connect to
various models of PDAs.

The receiver needs an external power source (it cannot be powered by the
PDA's battery) so you have cigarette lighter DC adapter with a "Y" cable
and the GPS receiver is on one leg of the Y and the Palm on the other.
Everything is running off the DC adapter.

If you use a SDIO GPS receiver the receiver is at the PDA and it takes
power from the PDA. Both then you either need to have two SD slots (one
for the receiver, the second for the card with the TT5 program and map
data) or have a SDIO GPS receiver with 512mb or more of internal memory
in it.

Some of the pros and cons of SDIO or CFIO GPS receivers:

- The PDA and antenna both need to be in a place with a sky view
- No DC adapter/power cable is needed
- Battery life of PDA with receiver and continuously on display
might only be an hour or two
- Moving the PDA to view or use it may hamper reception
- It is easily pocketed or carried away for use or to deter theft
- Limitations on expansion memory in SDIO GPS receivers with
internal memory (for single slot PDA) will limit amount of mapping
stored/range of travel. A two slot PDA, one for receiver, other for
program/data expansion memory would be much better.

Some of the pros and cons of cabled GPS receivers:

- Need a DC power outlet
- Have to deal with the cables
- Antenna/receiver can be positioned for optimum/continuous reception
- More pieces of hardware to deal with as far as taking it away
with you or hiding it in the car to deter theft
- Easy to handle, move around, and work with without losing the
signal (within the limits of the cable length)
- Power is continuous, no battery worries, can be left on during
short stops

If you want to carry mapping for a cross country trip for TT5, you will
need two 1Gb data cards or one 2Gb card.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

News

2006-07-13, 10:33 pm

I have my pharos g-360 hooked up to my tungsten T-2, I had to make a cable.
the Magellan series will not hook up to a pda. believe me I tried...

"Jack Erbes" <jackerbes@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:Od6dnUCJ689hRiv
ZnZ2dnUVZ_sudnZ2d@ad
elphia.com...
> Mark Pace wrote:
>
>
> I think the issue with the 31 (and maybe some other Palm models) it the
> lack of a hardware RS-232 serial port. The Tungstens (and some other
> models) have it on the hot sync connector but the 31 might not if it only
> uses USB for hot sync.
>
> You need a RS-232 serial port to use the NMEA input from an external GPS
> receiver. I used mine with Altina and Rikaline "mouse style" GPS
> receivers. Those receiver use a power/PDA adapter cables to connect to
> various models of PDAs.
>
> The receiver needs an external power source (it cannot be powered by the
> PDA's battery) so you have cigarette lighter DC adapter with a "Y" cable
> and the GPS receiver is on one leg of the Y and the Palm on the other.
> Everything is running off the DC adapter.
>
> If you use a SDIO GPS receiver the receiver is at the PDA and it takes
> power from the PDA. Both then you either need to have two SD slots (one
> for the receiver, the second for the card with the TT5 program and map
> data) or have a SDIO GPS receiver with 512mb or more of internal memory in
> it.
>
> Some of the pros and cons of SDIO or CFIO GPS receivers:
>
> - The PDA and antenna both need to be in a place with a sky view
> - No DC adapter/power cable is needed
> - Battery life of PDA with receiver and continuously on display might
> only be an hour or two
> - Moving the PDA to view or use it may hamper reception
> - It is easily pocketed or carried away for use or to deter theft
> - Limitations on expansion memory in SDIO GPS receivers with internal
> memory (for single slot PDA) will limit amount of mapping stored/range of
> travel. A two slot PDA, one for receiver, other for program/data
> expansion memory would be much better.
>
> Some of the pros and cons of cabled GPS receivers:
>
> - Need a DC power outlet
> - Have to deal with the cables
> - Antenna/receiver can be positioned for optimum/continuous reception
> - More pieces of hardware to deal with as far as taking it away with
> you or hiding it in the car to deter theft
> - Easy to handle, move around, and work with without losing the signal
> (within the limits of the cable length)
> - Power is continuous, no battery worries, can be left on during short
> stops
>
> If you want to carry mapping for a cross country trip for TT5, you will
> need two 1Gb data cards or one 2Gb card.
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

Jack Erbes

2006-07-14, 7:33 am

News wrote:

> I have my pharos g-360 hooked up to my tungsten T-2, I had to make a cable.
> the Magellan series will not hook up to a pda. believe me I tried...
>

Any of the Magellans that have a NMEA output can be used as long as the
PDA has a COM port, I've done it with the 315, MAP 330, and two
different Meridians. NMEA data is NMEA data.

You may not have had it wired right or not had the NMEA output on at the
Magellan. The Magellans won't output data unless they have a valid fix.
Also there is some weirdness with some NMEA outputs on GPS receivers
whereas they need to have common ground with the RS-232 port the data is
going to.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

BigRedGonzo

2006-07-14, 10:33 am

Mark Pace wrote:
> I've done some googling but have not been able to find if there is
> mapping software for PalmOS based PDA. I would want to be able to
> connect my Meridian Gold as the GPS receiver. Anyone have any
> experience with this?
>
> TIA
> Mark Pace

To address your original question, Delorme has a package called Street
Atlas USA 2006 Handheld that works great on a palm. It does street
level routing on the palm device. A SD card is very handy with this
software because you have to select regions on the map on the PC to
convert to maps for the palm. It works quite well. I have an old
bluetooth GPS receiver that connects with my Tungsten T3, but I haven't
yet found a way to connect my Magellan Explorist 500. Anyway, the SA
USA 2006 HH software is about $40 at CompUSA. I've used Tom Tom and
like the SA software better.

Good luck,
BigRedGonzo

Jack Erbes

2006-07-14, 10:33 am

BigRedGonzo wrote:

<snip>
> To address your original question, Delorme has a package called Street
> Atlas USA 2006 Handheld that works great on a palm. It does street
> level routing on the palm device.

That is encouraging to hear, the last time I tried that, SAHH 2005 I
think, it was a work in progress at best. Has it evolved to the point
where you can do the following?

- Upload a region of mapping data (like two or three states or so) to
a memory card?

- From the Palm, search that data for POI and addresses and route to
them?

- From the Palm, set up multiple address routes or add multiple
waypoints to routes to force the routing to go the way you prefer?

- Save tracks with times, speeds, etc. for later review?

- Can you leave home with mapping data for the entire U.S. (and
maybe Canada) on a couple of 1Gb SD cards and travel widely by changing
regions as you advance and changing cards when necessary?

- Have you noticed many problems with how current the road data is?
Last time I tried it, the data was already 3-4 years old and DeLorme
could not or would not say when it would be updated (they maintain their
own databases and don't use NavTeq data).

I'm a Tom Tom Navigator user now but I'll give SAHH another chance at my
business if they finally got that program working anywhere near as well
as many of the other applications for handhelds.

> A SD card is very handy with this
> software because you have to select regions on the map on the PC to
> convert to maps for the palm. It works quite well. I have an old
> bluetooth GPS receiver that connects with my Tungsten T3, but I haven't
> yet found a way to connect my Magellan Explorist 500.

I elected not to upgrade to an eXplorist XL (I stayed with my Meridian
Color) when I could not find or get from Magellan any explanation as to
if the eXplorists would have a RS-232 serial NMEA output. The manuals
do not mention it so I assume it does not. Also, I was not going to be
able to use my BlueNav marine charting from the Meridian with the
eXplorist, I would have to purchase all that in a new format on SD cards
to do the things I was already doing with the Meridian Color.

And the eXplorist gave up some of the navigation screens or pages and a
number of features that I use regularly on the Meridian. All of those
added up to my electing to not buy a newer Magellan product.

> Anyway, the SA
> USA 2006 HH software is about $40 at CompUSA. I've used Tom Tom and
> like the SA software better.

Any comparisons of the features would be helpful, or was it just a look
and feel thing?

Thanks for your time and any help,

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

BigRedGonzo

2006-08-10, 7:33 am

Jack Erbes wrote:
> BigRedGonzo wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> That is encouraging to hear, the last time I tried that, SAHH 2005 I
> think, it was a work in progress at best. Has it evolved to the point
> where you can do the following?
>
> - Upload a region of mapping data (like two or three states or so) to
> a memory card?

**** - If you have a large enough memory card, you can upload any size
region that you want. I've done the entire state of NC, but it was too
big for the card. I tend to prefer to upload areas and corridors of
travel.

>
> - From the Palm, search that data for POI and addresses and route to
> them?

You can search for anything you want, but it must be associated with
the region that you have loaded.

>
> - From the Palm, set up multiple address routes or add multiple
> waypoints to routes to force the routing to go the way you prefer?

**** - Yes to all.
>
> - Save tracks with times, speeds, etc. for later review?

I've not tried this. It does have a track log, but I haven't used that
feature.
>
> - Can you leave home with mapping data for the entire U.S. (and
> maybe Canada) on a couple of 1Gb SD cards and travel widely by changing
> regions as you advance and changing cards when necessary?

**** - Changing areas is as simple as loading a different detail file.
I usually have my laptop with me and just use the bluetooth connection
from my GPSr to route on the laptop. The computer based version
automatically reroutes if you miss a turn.
>
> - Have you noticed many problems with how current the road data is?
> Last time I tried it, the data was already 3-4 years old and DeLorme
> could not or would not say when it would be updated (they maintain their
> own databases and don't use NavTeq data).

Yes, I have noticed some problems, but I have seen most of them on my
Explorist detail maps also. Navteq is bad about getting road names
wrong. There a three that I know of near my house that they have
incorrect. I have not seen "misnamed" roads on the SAHH software.
>
> I'm a Tom Tom Navigator user now but I'll give SAHH another chance at my
> business if they finally got that program working anywhere near as well
> as many of the other applications for handhelds.
>
>
> I elected not to upgrade to an eXplorist XL (I stayed with my Meridian
> Color) when I could not find or get from Magellan any explanation as to
> if the eXplorists would have a RS-232 serial NMEA output. The manuals
> do not mention it so I assume it does not. Also, I was not going to be
> able to use my BlueNav marine charting from the Meridian with the
> eXplorist, I would have to purchase all that in a new format on SD cards
> to do the things I was already doing with the Meridian Color.
>
> And the eXplorist gave up some of the navigation screens or pages and a
> number of features that I use regularly on the Meridian. All of those
> added up to my electing to not buy a newer Magellan product.
>
>
> Any comparisons of the features would be helpful, or was it just a look
> and feel thing?
>
> Thanks for your time and any help,
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

BigRedGonzo

2006-08-10, 7:33 am

Just as a bit of info, Street Atlas has a new version coming out this
month (August '06) that combines SAHH with the regular version. The
price appears to be the same.

BigRedGonzo

Jack Erbes wrote:
> BigRedGonzo wrote:
>
> <snip>
>
> That is encouraging to hear, the last time I tried that, SAHH 2005 I
> think, it was a work in progress at best. Has it evolved to the point
> where you can do the following?
>
> - Upload a region of mapping data (like two or three states or so) to
> a memory card?
>
> - From the Palm, search that data for POI and addresses and route to
> them?
>
> - From the Palm, set up multiple address routes or add multiple
> waypoints to routes to force the routing to go the way you prefer?
>
> - Save tracks with times, speeds, etc. for later review?
>
> - Can you leave home with mapping data for the entire U.S. (and
> maybe Canada) on a couple of 1Gb SD cards and travel widely by changing
> regions as you advance and changing cards when necessary?
>
> - Have you noticed many problems with how current the road data is?
> Last time I tried it, the data was already 3-4 years old and DeLorme
> could not or would not say when it would be updated (they maintain their
> own databases and don't use NavTeq data).
>
> I'm a Tom Tom Navigator user now but I'll give SAHH another chance at my
> business if they finally got that program working anywhere near as well
> as many of the other applications for handhelds.
>
>
> I elected not to upgrade to an eXplorist XL (I stayed with my Meridian
> Color) when I could not find or get from Magellan any explanation as to
> if the eXplorists would have a RS-232 serial NMEA output. The manuals
> do not mention it so I assume it does not. Also, I was not going to be
> able to use my BlueNav marine charting from the Meridian with the
> eXplorist, I would have to purchase all that in a new format on SD cards
> to do the things I was already doing with the Meridian Color.
>
> And the eXplorist gave up some of the navigation screens or pages and a
> number of features that I use regularly on the Meridian. All of those
> added up to my electing to not buy a newer Magellan product.
>
>
> Any comparisons of the features would be helpful, or was it just a look
> and feel thing?
>
> Thanks for your time and any help,
>
> Jack
>
> --
> Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA - jackerbes at adelphia dot net
> (also receiving email at jacker at midmaine.com)

Ron Hunter

2006-08-10, 10:33 am

BigRedGonzo wrote:
> Jack Erbes wrote:
>
> **** - If you have a large enough memory card, you can upload any size
> region that you want. I've done the entire state of NC, but it was too
> big for the card. I tend to prefer to upload areas and corridors of
> travel.
>
>
> You can search for anything you want, but it must be associated with
> the region that you have loaded.
>
>
> **** - Yes to all.
>
> I've not tried this. It does have a track log, but I haven't used that
> feature.
>
> **** - Changing areas is as simple as loading a different detail file.
> I usually have my laptop with me and just use the bluetooth connection
> from my GPSr to route on the laptop. The computer based version
> automatically reroutes if you miss a turn.
>
> Yes, I have noticed some problems, but I have seen most of them on my
> Explorist detail maps also. Navteq is bad about getting road names
> wrong. There a three that I know of near my house that they have
> incorrect. I have not seen "misnamed" roads on the SAHH software.

I have noticed some 'ghost' country roads in rural areas. Either not
there at all, or miles off where they map shows them. City maps, and
the Interstate Highway System are excellent.

>

Jack Erbes

2006-08-10, 12:33 pm

BigRedGonzo wrote:

<snip answers too all of my questions about SAHH 2006>

Thanks for the detailed replies and the additional info. I'll have to
give that another try.

Jack

--
Jack Erbes in Ellsworth, Maine, USA (jackerbes at adelphia dot net)
(also receiving email at jacker at midmaine dot com)

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