Seeking advice - PDA with GPS

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

Hi,

I'd be grateful for some advice on this topic. I'm looking for a PDA that has an integral GPS on which I can use my Memory Map maps. I had settled on the Asus A696 but it appears that it has been discontinued with no direct replacement. I'd like to use the device for some elementary map reading on walks (I appreciate that it is no replacement for paper maps and a compass) and for logging walks which can be downloaded to PC. I may also want to add Tomtom-like software later. I don't need telephone integration (though a competitively priced product could be of interest - I'd just not use the phone). Wifi/Bluetooth useful but not essential.

I'd be grateful for your guidance on this.

Thanks.

aj2052 · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 1:11 am Post subject:

Dont know where you got that info from, Its still shown as current on Asus site with no mention of Discontinue, its only been out just over a year, I find it an excellent unit and well built, the wifi is excellent and can hold a 16gb memory card, the only complaint i have is slow gps lock although sirf 3.
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Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

Hi aj,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it is still shown as current on the Asus website but every web supplier site I have visited (and I have visited a lot) show them as out of stock or discontinued. I called Clove Technology and they said that they had been discontinued "in this country" and so I called Asus UK and they confirmed that they are no longer available in this country. If you know of a supplier that has them in stock then please let me know and I'll follow it up.

Clive

aj2052 · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 2:44 pm Post subject:

Hi,After a quick search I can see your point which is a surprise because i thought they where excellent value for money, they even seem to have disappeared on fleabay, if i remember i bought mine from expansys.
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Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

aj2052 · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately not, despite the slow lock I am still very happy with it, it does everything asked of it and very versatile, I will have a search for you when i find a moment.
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Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

aj2052 · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

Done search and it appears that PDAs in general seem to be in short supply but found that

aj2052 · Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 3:14 am Post subject:

Amazon uk showing 6 on stock today,yesterday showing out of stock but price seems rather high £219 against normal £184
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Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

Thank you aj - I had got bored with checking websites daily. You are right - stock has appeared in both sites you list. I called Superetrader who confirmed they have "plenty" in stock - they now have one less.

Thanks for your help - not the outcome I expected when I started this thread but the one I always hoped for.

Kind regards

Clive

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

Hi aj,

Asus has arrived and now I'd be grateful for some guidance in getting the GPS working with Memory Map. I was expecting there to be a setting to turn the GPS On/Off (as there are for Wifi and Bluetooth) but there does not appear to be one.

The only reference I have found (WM6) is "External GPS" on the Settings menu. This has tabs for Software and Hardware communication ports. Is this the correct area to be adjusting the settings? Does WM6 regard the Asus internal GPS as "external"? Should I adjust the settings on the Software or Hardware tabs?. Software does not allow setting of baud rate but Hardware does. Memory Map has a setup which allows choice of Com port, baud rate and GPS type. I have set GPS at NMEA and tried Com ports 1 & 2 with various combinations of Hardware and Software settings on the Asus. Each reports a timeout error on the Asus after some seconds.

Grateful for your guidance.

Thanks.

Clive

aj2052 · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:22 am Post subject:

Hi, Unfortunately have no knowledge of current Memory map, last time i tried was on Mio a couple of years ago.
Currently I am running TTN7 and set up is other NMEA, Baud Rate 4800 and Com5, but this is set up within TTN7, My external GPS Setting in system setup is also on com 5 but i have just reset to none to check and it doesnt make any difference, I think i set this to improve first lock and it was just left there.
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Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

If I set WM6 at "none" on both hardware and software com ports and set MM at com5 then I get GPS timeout error. I have also set Software at com5 and hardware at none - and vice-versa and Software at com5 and Hardware at com1 and earlier I got some satellites but now nothing. I am confused.

aj2052 · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 12:42 am Post subject:

I have just downloaded the free Memory Map v5 demo to try and this bit of info is shown if it helps:

roadcone · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 16, 2008 Posts: 8

I've done what it says but not got what it says. Asus is set up as NMEA, com5, 4800 but all I get are the described error messages. I've left the Asus in the middle of the garden (in the dark) for five minutes and got nothing. I'll try again tomorrow in the light (only so that I can see what I am doing - I'm sure the satellites don't care if it is dark!

Thanks for looking. I can see a couple of help-desk calls tomorrow!!

aj2052 · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:09 am Post subject:

Sorry cant sit with you on this one for the moment, having problems with Mobile center and vista not communicating, is anybody more familar with MM can help.
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Moto G5s Plus, Sygic 17.4.8

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