Pretec LP/IBM Thinkpad

[tech1alpha]

After studying options for several days I now have an iPAQ H2210 and Pretec LP. This site was a constant source of reference - many thanks for all the hard work.

The above work fine - although a driver update was necessary to get the LP going. However, I cannot get the LP to work in my IBM Thinkpad R31. The driver installs and the server is working (but no fix) and no satellite status screen is available. On checking in (XP) Device Manager the following appear: GPS System - Pretec Compact GPS-LP (Com6); Ports - GPS Port (Com 5). No conflicts.

The satellites check out OK when the card is put back in the iPAQ. Any ideas please? Regards.

[tech1alpha]

- To answer my own question, it does work if: a) the signal is good enough e.g. whereas the H2210 will work fine with the external aerial perched on the window ledge, the laptop requires an absolutely unobstructed view of the sky to get a fix. There are obviously some losses incurred with the CF adapter/internal circuitry of the laptop in the path.

b) the signal is monitored through another application e.g. Memory Map Navigator, as there is no satellite monitoring software with the PC version and you are left wondering what the... A word in the manual would not have gone amiss.

I am happy, even though the sensitivity of the unit is just satisfactory - no problems at all with tracking in the car - external aerial on the roof. At £87 from Expansys (oops, they've just gone back up to £108) and a free aerial - which is very useful - I'm going to stick with it.

We see you’re using an ad-blocker. We’re fine with that and won’t stop you visiting the site.
Have you considered making a donation towards website running costs?.
Or you could disable your ad-blocker for this site. We think you’ll find our adverts are not overbearing!