Toshiba e755 / iPAQ 1945 and Haicom 303MMF

dhpss · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 27, 2003 Posts: 2

I have the Toshiba e755, which has an USB host port (via expansion pack or an adapter cable).
I am using the Haicom mouse GPS receiver (connected with the Y cable on the bottom port of the e750).

For Xmas, I bought an iPaq 1945 for my wife, which has Bluetooth built-in.

My question: would this GPS (so-called: Dual mode) work for both PDAs (Mouse mode on the e755 and BT mode on the 1945)?

PS: I am using the Leadtec USB-Serial driver for my Haicom mouse GPS receiver. I hope this will work with this receiver as well?

Dave · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 9:26 pm Post subject:

I presume you are talking about the Haicom 303E/MMF/S ? If so, you can use this both in CF and cable mode on teh Toshiba, but won't be able to use this in cable mode on the HP iPAQ 1945 as it doesn't have a Serial port. The GPS also doesn't have Bluetooth built in, but in theory providing you have one of the newer Haicom 303 models then you could use it as a Bluetooth GPS Receiver by purchasing the Haicom BT Slipper and using it with the HP iPAQ 1945.

dhpss · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 27, 2003 Posts: 2

DavidW · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 10:42 pm Post subject:

If you bought the Haicom HI-401 Bluetooth slipper with the HI-303E Multi-Mode-Foldable GPS package, available here, that should work both your existing Haicom cable with your Toshiba, and with the iPAQ 1940 over Bluetooth - though probably not with both at the same time.

If you see the Bluetooth slipper advertised much cheaper, that's probably the version without the GPS included (for people, like me, who already have a Haicom Multi-Mode-Foldable GPS).

I'm not aware there's any such thing as a Haicom 230.

David

Dave · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 10:41 am Post subject:

Actually it's not quite as simple as that. Haicom have screwed up and created two versions of the 303 Receivers. One that works as is, and one that works with their slippers <DOH!> Crying

Basically if you have a Hiacom 303E/MMF/S that has the yellow warranty sticker on the back and immediately below this another barcode (not the one on the CF part of the card) then it is compatible with a slipper.

If you don't have this (like the one pictured in our review) http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/haicom303mmf.php then it won't work with the slipper (so I am told).

Although we haven't had a chance to test this yet, we will have a chance to test this within the next couple of weeks as we have a slipper and new MMF card coming in and we'll get to test it with the old card also.

DavidW · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 4:38 pm Post subject:

Oh bother (he says, mildly, but not before noting that this doesn't affect my answer to dhpss).

My HI-303MMF is, of course, the older type with just the yellow warranty sticker and the barcode only on the main label on the CompactFlash part. This is unsurprising; it was bought fairly soon after the model was released.

I haven't heard a similar rumour, but you've got far better sources than I have, Dave. I wait with interest for your review - hoping that you're wrong, but fearing that you're not. If this does turn out to be an issue, can you see if you can get any kind of statement from Haicom as to what can be done about the incompatible GPSes, other than buying replacements (mine was bought from globalpositioningsystems.co.uk; it's still less than a year old). As it is, I can't see any compatibility statements at either globalpositioningsystems.co.uk or tsgps.de, both of which are selling the HI-401 without a GPS.

Incidentally, if you get a new HI-303MMF, I'm curious as to which SiRF firmware version it has. GPStweak 0.9 will give that information - it's called poll version or similar. It'd be interesting to me (at least) whenever reviewing a GPS using standard SiRF firmware to note that information, even though you can only be certain that your review sample has that firmware version. 2.30 adds some features, and I believe 2.31 adds even more. Even for people who aren't power users like myself, noting the firmware version may be of relevance when looking for performance differences.

If there's a compatibility issue with older HI-303 series GPSes, Haicom will almost certainly lose a sale from me - at around 85 pounds for the HI-401 without a GPS, I'm interested. At around 210 pounds to replace the GPS as well (I'd rather stay SiRF than go for an Evermore GPS), it's too expensive, though I suppose I could sell the old HI-303MMF to cover some of the difference.

If my HI-303MMF is incompatible with the HI-401 slipper, and I decide I do want a Bluetooth GPS, I would consider buying the a Fortuna Clip On instead - it's less money (around 165 pounds), and switchable between standard SiRF and SiRF Xtrac. It also stands alone, and uses standard batteries that are easy to find replacements for. For another 80 pounds on top of the HI-401 Bluetooth slipper, I'd have two GPSes rather than one.

This gets a little off-topic from here on - but if anyone has any good ideas on this, I'm interested. Reply by private message or email if you think this is too far off-topic.

I'm considering the future. My seemingly neuromuscular problems are getting worse, particularly in my arms. The weight of my iPAQ 3970 in its usual trim, with a PC Card Expansion Pack Plus on the back that almost invariably holds a WL110 802.11b card, is unfortunately now becoming a problem. According to my little set of postal scales, the 3970 with an SD card inserted is just under 190 grams (the SD card, of course, is less than 5 grams). The expansion pack and wireless LAN card is the same again - the wireless LAN card is around 40 grams and the expansion pack with its battery (mandatory on the PC Card pack - it won't work without) 150 grams. This makes my standard setup around 380 grams - I use the screen protector on the expansion pack rather than a case, and carry the whole lot in my Podzilla.

According to the specification on the HP (US) web site, a 5550 is 7.29 ounces - which is 210 grams. Even allowing a little for a case of some description (I don't suppose that includes the mass of a cover pack, even), that would mean my standard setup would be around half the mass of what I'm using now.

I'm therefore considering replacing my 3970 with a 5550, or whatever HP bring out next to supersede the 5550. I'd keep the expansion pack for card readers and possibly for some kind of large storage device for music, but usually use the machine 'naked'. That gives me the option of a nice leather case - seemingly nobody makes decent cases for iPAQs wearing "Plus" expansion packs.

If I upgrade to a 5550, I don't need the expansion pack for wireless LAN. If I also upgrade my GPS to Bluetooth, I don't need to carry the expansion pack around with me routinely. An upgrade would free up the 3970 for use elsewhere - probably as a dedicated sat-nav system for other family members (rather than disabling everything in sight on my machine before handing it over - though I guess a better answer there would be to use Sprite Backup to switch between my software load and a backup I could produce that just contains TomTom Navigator and CheckPOInt).

Even if I dedicate the 3970 to navigation, it wouldn't get enough use to be worth a second copy of TomTom Navigator, hence there's no need for two GPSes. In truth, I'd like to convert my mother to routine Pocket PC use, as I believe it would be a tremendous help to her in her job, with a complicated diary to manage, but I don't think she'd take to it at all well. A single GPS would make licence compliance much easier (I believe it would keep me within the TomTom Navigator 2 licence to install on two machines, but only use one at once - though I'd check first if I was considering this kind of setup).

I suppose the alternative is to sell the 3970 and the existing HI-303MMF - or possibly get a plain CompactFlash expansion pack for the 3970, then sell it with my existing HI-303MMF as a working GPS hardware setup, suggesting that the buyer purchases new software of his or her choice. My copy of TomTom Navigator 2 was activated sufficiently long ago on the 3970 that I could activate it on a new machine without any problems. I'm not much into selling equipment, though, and the 3970 is such a good Pocket PC I'd actually be loath to let it go completely.

It may well be a pipedream to lighten my setup anyway. An iPAQ 5550 and a HI-401 Bluetooth slipper is around 500 pounds. Adding yet more to the bill for a different GPS makes it even less affordable. I could always just upgrade the iPAQ, leave the expansion pack in my Podzilla and fit it to the iPAQ when in car. Maybe that's a better setup anyway, as it'll make sure the expensive expansion pack battery keeps getting a charge.

For now, I was thinking of a GPS upgrade to experiment with Bluetooth GPS, with half an eye on a future lighter setup with a new Pocket PC. If the HI-401 is incompatible with my existing HI-303MMF, that's off for now, too. Sad

Maybe the whole iPAQ upgrade idea is ill-conceived anyway, particularly as I don't think the 5550 solves the speaker volume issue that first arose in the 5450. Whilst I'd make use of the built in 802.11b, more RAM and somewhat improved speed of the 5550, it's not a quantum leap forward from the 3970 apart from the lower mass with wireless LAN hardware fitted.

Instead, the right answer may be to look for solutions to use the 3970 I already have and love without holding its weight - possibly fitting a fold away tray to my power chair (I have a HP/Compaq folding keyboard which would bring the iPAQ to the perfect angle for use).

For use in bed, maybe some kind of mount on a gooseneck for use in bed is the right answer. There's a short Arkon gooseneck mount kicking around somewhere I could experiment with - and I can always buy a longer gooseneck if it works out.

The best answer is probably a bed upgrade (oo-err) - I really must chase the NHS to talk again about specialist mattresses and possibly a profiling bed (basically the medical version of those adjustable beds you see advertised). The NHS won't do anything more in this department than loan me things to try for a while, but I still feel I need their advice.

If anyone has any creative ideas, I'm listening! I doubt there's many reading with insight into life with a neuromuscular disorder, but others may well have wrestled with how to make their Pocket PC setup lighter and possibly more compact, too.

David

Dave · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 7:20 pm Post subject:

DavidW · Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:29 pm Post subject:

If it's only a single pin disconnected somewhere, then I suppose it's possible to rework older devices to work with the slipper. However, the difficulties in communicating with Haicom that you report are not good news under the circumstances. Opening up the CompactFlash part of these cards is definitely not something the average person can attempt.

This is reminiscent of the hassles with Dell Precision motherboards. On some of these expensive dual processor workstations, they go through several motherboard revisions to accommodate later processors. Often the only change is some uprating of the microprocessor power circuitry. The only way to know what motherboard is inside is to check the part number; the model number remains the same.

If you want to upgrade processors later, and you find you need a later motherboard, Dell have been known to let you buy a new motherboard (or exchange the one you have) at any price. If you let you have a new motherboard, they charge a fortune for it (though they're not cheap motherboards - integrated Gigabit Ethernet and often integrated high spec SCSI as well). If you complain about the incompatibility, they tell you that you got what you paid for - even though it may fail to live up to the specification that is that currently posted on the Dell Support web site.

At times, the same model could have been supplied with a different motherboard revision depending on what processor or processors you ordered - and this wasn't made clear when you placed the order. As some order these machines with the cheapest processor from Dell intending to source the processors they really want separately, several people found themselves caught out, as it was invariably the machines with the faster processors from the factory that had the later motherboards.

There is some hint that Dell have come up with a new variant of the motherboard in the Precision 650 I have - again to support later variants of the Xeon with higher power demands. However, this is unconfirmed at present. Fortunately I bought this machine with the processors I wanted, and the boost that is possible (from the dual 2.66GHz I have to 2.8, 3.06 or now, I believe, 3.2GHz - the problem apparently only comes in at 3.2GHz if it is confirmed) by no means justifies the cost (a pair of retail boxed 3.2GHz Xeon DP processors currently costs over 1300 pounds!). All things being equal - which it isn't, actually, as the 3.2GHz processors have a 1MB L3 cache which my 2.66GHz processors do not - 2.66GHz to 3.2GHz is only a 20% performance boost, and comes at considerable cost!

The thing is - it's not nice to find yourself without the option of upgrading, when the determining factor is when you bought the piece of equipment you wish to upgrade.

I can see Haicom doing the same in this circumstances - saying that those with the older GPSes got what they paid for. It's even possible that you can still buy an older HI-303 series GPS new today and be caught out; it depends what is still in the distribution chain and how long ago it was that Haicom made the changes.

Assuming this problem is confirmed, as I fear it will be, the only hope is that because Haicom are supplying the slipper as well (unlike the situation with the Dell Precisions, where people were almost invariably buying processors from somewhere other than Dell), Haicom may decide to come up with a way for people to have existing GPSes reworked or exchanged, particularly if they get significant negative publicity over this.

Only time will tell - but if my HI-303MMF is incompatible with the slipper, and Haicom don't come up with a fix, I think it's very likely that I won't replace the HI-303MMF with another one to use the slipper. I may as well, as I said, buy a Fortuna Clip On if I want a Bluetooth GPS. The HI-303 series are not cheap GPS mice - to my knowledge, they're amongst the most expensive CompactFlash units on the market.

The only crumb of comfort is that if Dave's information is correct, it's easy to tell which GPSes will and which won't work with the slipper.

David

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