GPS for ipaq 3850

Gaz_Hammer · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 6:42 pm Post subject: GPS for ipaq 3850

Hi people,
excuse me if this seems a really thicko question but we all have to start somewhere I suppose.
I want to know if I can add GPS to an ipaq3850?
If possible then what do I need as I would mostly want to use it in the car.

All I can tell you is it has an SD card slot and is not blue-tooth.

Thanks in advance for letting me pick your technical brains and superior knowledge
Gaz

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:11 pm Post subject:

I used a Navman sleeve with my 3850 with no problems. There are usually plenty to be had on eBay, but the SE sleeve is much better if you can get one of those. Both sleeves also have a type ll CF card slot. Otherwise a wired type also works, and is possibly a better bet for in-car positioning.
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Tim

DavidW · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:30 pm Post subject:

I'm in total agreement with Tim.

It's not worth the hassles of trying to add Bluetooth to a non Bluetooth Pocket PC. That leaves your options as a wired GPS, an expansion pack like a Navman sleeve, or a CompactFlash GPS (with a CompactFlash expansion pack to take the CompactFlash card). If you only want GPS in the car, I'd go for a wired GPS, otherwise consider one of the other two options (be aware - expansion packs are iPAQ 3000 and 5000 series only, so if you go for an expansion pack based option and then buy a newer machine like an iPAQ 2210, you'll need a new GPS).

Unless you've gone for a Navman sleeve, which has a CompactFlash slot for a CompactFlash memory card, use SD memory for the maps - unfortunately the 3800 series' SD implementation is quite slow, so you won't get the fastest route planning speeds, but it will work fine.

David

Gaz_Hammer · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:43 pm Post subject:

Many thanks Guys for your help.
It would seem then that the navman sleeve will do the job best.

Just one last question - what is the best software to use with this setup?(I would prefer voice but not that bothered!)

Gaz

DavidW · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:52 pm Post subject:

I would go so far as to say that non-voice systems are dangerous.

You may well find that a Navman sleeve has Navman's own Smart ST Pro thrown in. Tim has used both version 1 and version 2 of this software, and will be able to guide you with that.

As an alternative, you could buy TomTom Navigator 3, which is what I'm using on my system. There are problems at the moment with the address lookup function being less than helpful, but following my 'open letter' to TomTom, I'm hoping something gets done about this.

At the time of writing, neither system includes M6 Toll - which has only made it into the files offered to the software companies by geodata providers very recently.

If you use non-Navman software, you will need to install the sleeve drivers - again, I'll leave Tim to point you in the right direction for that.

Both the software packages mentioned have loyal followings, as, indeed, do some of the alternatives. Have a read through the various software reviews and forum posts to try to form your own view. (Be aware that TomTom Navigator 3 is still very new - those of us who upgraded from Navigator 2 have had the upgrades less than three weeks at the moment, so there's a flurry of Navigator 3 related activity in the TomTom forum).

David

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:53 pm Post subject:

Click here for a new Navman sleeve with talking software. There appear to be three for sale.

There are problems with all the mapping software, with out of date maps, poor routing, poor address lookup and being but a few. You'll get plenty of opinion, but you'll have to make your own choice and judgement.
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Tim

Gaz_Hammer · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:58 pm Post subject:

Many Thanks again.
At least I seem to know now what I am looking for!

A great site and keep up the good work

Gaz

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 8:08 pm Post subject:

Click here for Tomtom's wired equivalent. Again, there are a couple for sale. Tomtom allows the use of custom Points of Interest files, along with speed camera warnings and a host (?) of other goddies. Navman's software doesn't allow for such niceties. Even though I use Navman software, I'm trying not to be biased.

Click here to visit the Mapopolis website. If you get a sleeve or mouse without any software, Mapopolis is possibly unique in allowing you to 'Try before you buy'.
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Tim

Gaz_Hammer · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 9:26 pm Post subject:

So one of the main the differences being that navman is portable whereas TomTom is hard wired.
You mention that Tom Tom is having some teething troubles, would this be corrected by a software upgrade (free or chargeable) or does it correct itself by GPS? (sorry for what may appear dumb questions)
I notice with the TomTom that it has the speed camera option. Does this apply to navman as well?

Gaz

DavidW · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 9:41 pm Post subject:

It can't correct by GPS - there's no data channel via GPS.

TomTom make program updates available for download from their Internet support site free of charge. You simply download the latest version, run it on your PC and it installs via ActiveSync. There's no codes or anything to enter - it just picks up the activation details already on your Pocket PC.

It's unclear at the moment what they're going to do about the address lookup situation - a complete fix will require new map CDs, though there's a lot of scope to improve things just by upgrading the program.

TomTom have reissued map CDs in the past. One of the Scandinavian Navigator 2 maps was faulty - it had you driving on the wrong side of the road. The Navigator 2 USA maps were reissued too - in this case to correct various problems. I expect, if they reissue the maps (and it's far too early to know whether they will) that you'll simply have to complete a form online with your name, address and Navigator Product Code to receive a complimentary new CD.

I expect there'll be a new version of the Navigator 3 program before too long - it's only been out a few weeks and I'm sure there's plenty of small glitches left to be fixed, as well as one or two larger ones (address lookup, and the Bluetooth GPS problems for iPAQ 2210 users).

The only thing TomTom charge for is version upgrades, which automatically include new maps. The upgrade from Navigator 1 to Navigator 2 cost 39 Euros plus, I believe, P&P, the upgrade from Navigator 2 to Navigator 3 costs 49 Euros plus P&P (unless you're a recent Navigator 2 customer, in which case you just pay the P&P). TomTom have a moderately strict upgrade policy - they only allow upgrades from the immediately previous version, and only for about six months after a new version is released.

David

Tim Buxton · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 9:48 pm Post subject:

Gaz_Hammer · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 11:15 pm Post subject:

I've now been back and forward on various websites and seem to have made my mind up on the TTN3.
It was mentioned earlier that an SD card would be slower than CF so as my ipaq only has an SD slot (with 256mb card) what would this actually mean in speed of reading maps or updating location/position?

Gaz

Talkingbollox · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 10:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Gaz_Hammer

Not sure what you've hardware you've decided on but here's a cheap sleeve http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=112533

With regard to speed of reading maps or updating location/position I think you'll find that the route calculations will be quicker using CF cards, but you won't notice any difference once you're on the move in terms of updating position.

Gaz_Hammer · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 9:48 am Post subject:

Thanks TB &
Thanks for the link.

Certainly not T**kingbo**ock as far as I am concerned.
I meant to say that I have sort of decided on the TomTom bundle (Car kit & software).

Would you have an idea as to how much quicker for the route calculations using CF over SD or is it of no real great importance in actual usage?

Probably the ideal package in my humble opinion though would be the Navman sleeve and the TTN3 software - any thoughts?

Gaz

Talkingbollox · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 10:10 am Post subject:

Re CF vs SD speeds - have a look at this thread

I prefer the Emtac sleeve myself - Have you see the review?

For software I'm sticking with TT3.

Hope this helps.

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