Tom Tom not working like it used to!

Abo · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 12, 2003 Posts: 31

I used to use Navigator 2 on my iPAQ 3760. I've hardwired the Haicom 203 receiver into the car so all I have showing on the dash is a single wire coming out just above the car kit cradle to connect the PDA. This setup worked well, very occasionally the Tom Tom GPS would stop reporting my direction so I installed a small push to break button in a discrete location as a reset switch.

Ok, so recently I decided to upgrade my PDA. The Toshiba e740 has XScale, Bluetooth and two memory card slots, so I bought one. Hmm... The unit seems slower than my old 3760 when in Navigator mode even after installing the Toshiba ROM flash. Could this be down to their CF being slow (I use a 8x CF card for maps)? Would upgrading to an SD card help?

The main thing is to do with satellite acquisition. With my 3760 I could plug the unit in, start Navigator 2 and as long as I hadn't parked under cover it would acquire in a couple of seconds. Not so with the e740; it seems to take ages to get a lock and often find myself needing to reset the Haicom.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I really want to keep using the e740 as it is slimmer than the 3760 (I need to use it in a CF jacket for the memory card), and the bluetooth connectivity works well with my mobile phone. Or am I looking at going back to my 3760 if I want the performance I used to get?

lbendlin · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 5:52 pm Post subject:

Not sure if this is entirely correct but I think the Toshibas have a USB port, and they (as well as the 2210 iPAQ) are only emulating the serial port that's required for the serial GPS. Emulation results in loss of performance and robustness... Have you tried a BlueTooth GPS yet?
_________________
Lutz

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TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

Abo · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 12, 2003 Posts: 31

Hmm, thought a bit about bluetooth but I don't want to shell out any more money than I really have to... Plus with the bluetooth gps units I presume you'll need to initiate a connection via the PDA every time you take it into the car? If that's the case it's easier just plug a cable into the bottom of the PDA IMHO...

lbendlin · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 10:34 pm Post subject:

yes, those are certainly fair points (although some of the connection can be automated if you always only use one device at the SerialPort profile). I also keep a serial GPS as a backup, and I feel the convenience of simply sliding the PDA into the mount and driving off...

You may want to get a statement from Toshiba then regarding the support of serial devices. Maybe they even have an updated driver of sorts?

Regarding the CF card/SD card question - no, currently SD cards are way slower than CF cards, so switching to SD only makes it worse.
_________________
Lutz

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TomTom/TeleAtlas NAVTEQ

Abo · Occasional Visitor Joined: Oct 12, 2003 Posts: 31

Good point, I'll drop Toshiba an email. I hope they can come up with something otherwise I might switch back to the iPAQ. The main reason for getting the e740 was so that I didn't have to lug the 3760, PCMCIA jacket, CF adaptor and card, and Nokia Cardphone around. I could just use GPRS via Bluetooth to get my emails etc., and plut it into the car for navigation.

The funny thing is, the company I work for (Orange) is changing my mobile to a Handspring Treo 600 in January. So I could go back to using the iPAQ solely as a navigation device, locking it in the glovebox when I leave the car. It means I don't have to mess about trying to amplify the audio too, as the iPAQ has a decent volume to it...

catken96 · Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2003 1:49 am Post subject:

Hi Lutz,

You are correct. Toshiba use a PL-2303 USB to Serial Bridge Controller in

the Y lead. Brief Spec :-

USB Transceiver, RS232 Serial Interface, Over 1Mbps Data Transfer

Rate, 12Mhz Crystal Oscillator, Upstream / Downstream Data Flow

Buffers, Auto Handshake. Quite a versatile little chip. Info and block

diagram on http://www.prolific.com.tw/fr_pl2303.htm

Tom.

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