GPS for vacations

Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

I take 5-6 vacations each year from Lancaster, Pa. to various east coast locations, often traveling 6-7 hours. I travel alone so I would like the security of GPS telling me how far away I am from my exit. It would also be nice to have a database of restaurants and POI's.

If we're talking PDA type GPS what setup would you recommend? I have no pda at this time so I'm looking to purchase one. Money is not an issue here because I want to get a good PDA.

The only real concerns are:
whether the GPS will hold signal while travleing.
Not being distracted by having to touch anything on the GPS.
Vocal ques are mandatory.

I was thinking of getting a Toshiba 805 pda or something from HP.

I am a computer tech but have never used a pda.

Thanks,

Tom P.

lbendlin · Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2004 4:04 pm Post subject:

Make sure your PDA supports BlueTooth, and then get yourself a BlueTooth GPS receiver. These can nowadays easily last for ten hours on one charge, so they would fit your need. They are also sensitive enough to maintain a lock over the whole distance.

Check this site, we have reviews of a number of street routing programs. Make sure the one you chose fits your idea of "ease of use" - different people have different taste...
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fbruno69 · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:12 pm Post subject:

Since you're thinking about a PDA and GPS, why not the new Garmin iQue 3600?

From what I read, the drawback is in it's battery, but with a car charger that really is no problem.

Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

Well, I have a secondary use for the pda. I'm an amateur astronomer and I was going to use the pda to control my telescope. I have big bucks invested in it and wanted to use it for a special skymap program.

The GPS is also important so I can have accurate coordinates for the guiding system of the scope.

I think I'm going to look at the HP top end units along with the Gateways and Dells. I'm leaning toward HP.

I just need to get a good bluetooth gps and a nice program.

Later.

lbendlin · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 2:45 pm Post subject:

You cannot use GPS for guidance of your telescope. GPS bearings only work differential (ie when you are moving) and the GPS precision is way too low for your goals.

Gateway do not produce PocketPCs as far as I know.

Have a look at the HP iPAQ 4150 - pretty decent machine, packed with features.
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Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

We've used handheld GPS units to get coordinates and altitude many times. Are you saying that the GPS receivers that connect to PDA's work differently?

Anyway, I actually ordered a HP 5555. I'll use it with my Sky software to control the computer. There is a special version for pocketpc pda's.

Tom P.

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 1:50 am Post subject:

I was not talking about altitude and coordinates, I was referring to bearings. But anyhow, I can't see how GPS helps you with looking into the stars... educate me!

The 5555 has BT as well so all is good ;-)
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Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

Time zones are 15 degrees apart on the earth. A star directly overhead in Philly would still be somewhat east of the zenith in Pittsburg but both are in the same time zone. GPS takes care of that by telling the software A similar issue exists with the north - south angle. I use goto software. Finally some scope cannot track past the zenith. Once they are pointing directly overhead the eyepiece can hit the pier. GPS tell the software "where" this 'overhead' point is. And since I have a $5000 camera mounted in the eyepiece hole I want to make sure that it doesn't hit the scope!

Anyway if all works well, I have a detailed star map connected to the drive motors. The scope knows where it is and where the object I want is. I click on the star map on the pda, click go, and it moves to the object.

If it works it's awesome!

Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

Slightly off topic but if you'd like to see a pic of my scope here's one link. :D

http://home.comcast.net/~lhstarcruise/lhsc2003/fld19.jpg

Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

Sorry, the URL was slightly off. This is the correct link:

http://home.comcast.net/~lhstarcruise/lhsc2003/fld19.jpg

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 5:51 am Post subject:

wow, that's a big tube... OK, so GPS can give you the exact time. What else? Aren't you worried about the DOP? The position is jumping around all the time, isn't it? So maybe GPS thinks the scope's hitting the pier when it isn't ? and vice versa?
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Dave · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:33 am Post subject:

Wow, I can safely say that's bigger than my camera lens!
http://www.daveburrows.com/cameras.asp

Tomp · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 22, 2004 Posts: 7

The tube is 12 inches in diameter. It holds a 10 inch f/4.4 mirror that I spent 3 months grinding and hand polishing. My measurements show it to have 99.7% into the center of the star.

As for GPS and the usefulness of it, I suppose it doesn't have to be more than 50 meters accurate for my needs. Once the scope is aligned the the north pole I only need to point it at 2 stars and it knows where every other object in the sky is. It's a fancy computer system. The pda will plug into it and give me a map to point and click.

The hobby is really fun and open to the public. Do a web search on 'star parties' if you want to learn more and like camping.

Peering at dark skies is almost a religious experience!

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