Gear

Hi

I am slowly becoming tempted to join the PDA mapping clan and take my electronic maps out into the hills with me. I would prefer to buy a higher spec PDA to try and keep it future proof for as long as possible and have my eye on a Dell Axim V50. What do people think? I then plan to pair it with the Tom Tom bluetooth GPS which I think some people at OM already have running. Has anyone experienced any problems with it?

Many thanks

Duncan

Duncan,
that's pretty much what I do. I've been using an iPaq 5550 in combination with a bluetooth GPS. My wife uses the 2220 with a TomTom bluetooth GPS. We both use TomTom navigator for the road mapping and Memory map for the "off road" mapping.

The obvious drawback to a PDA over a standalone GPS is battery life. To combat this I use an expansion pack with extra battery, a AA recharger and a solar recharger. For the GPS I have a spare lithium. Both also have car chargers and mains chargers.

I'm not sure about your choice of PDA, but a lot of that comes down to what other uses you want to put it to (eg. wifi, telecoms etc). I like the look of the new iPaq 6515, for example, with built in GPS and mobile phone capability. Another thing to consider is what memory to use. Id you use the same as for your digital camera, SD for example, you can then clear the camera's card to the PDA if necessary.

In use I've had no problems at all using the PDA / GPS combo, and have used it in Europe the USA and Britain. Having the map on screen with your position is so much better than a standard GPS. The only thing to look out for is that the GPS drivers in TomTom aren't very good, and tend to stop you being able to use other software like Memory Map that needs GPS. The answer is to use a slightly older TomTom GPS driver V3.7.

And thanks to the expertise of Dave Mycroft, I have invested in the Ipaq 2750 PDA / pretec bluetooth GPS unit in combination with memory map software and so far I am VERY impressed.

I also invested in a spare battery, a 1gb SD card and a 1gb compact flash card.

I also purchased an Aquapac soft waterproof case for walking and an Otterbox amour 1900 which I adapted with a customised brackett so that I can mount it on the tank of my motorcycle!

I am still waiting to evaluate the set up using Tom Tom though ;-))))

Dave,

I have been struggling with the same question for so long now and would really like to get a Driving and walking navigation soluion in one box if you know what I mean.

Can you tell me, do you leave the Kit on all of the time so you can get a record of your route ? also , if that is the case how long do you get out of it ?

Cheers

Baz,

I do a total mixture, often depending on how well I already know the area. On the odd time I have left it on then I get around 7 hours per charge on the iPaq and 12 hours on the GPS. the backup provision (expansion pack/ AA charger/ spare GPS battery) gives a further 26hr/12 hr capability.

Most of the time I just use it occassionally, and had no problems doing 5 days solo in unfamiliar territory (Colorado Rockies) with it - till I dropped the iPaq in a stream on the way down lol (I then took it apart and dried it in the sun).

As far as the car use is concerned - it stays connected to the car charger all the time I'm in the car. btw, the software even warns of speed cameras :)

I too am very happy with my iPaq HX4700 with 1Gb SD and CF cards /Memory Maps and Etrex connected via cable and GPSBitz adapter.
I use a Lakeland Plastics version of Aquapac, And once again have to thank Dave Mycroft for his valuable help in advising me.

I have tried useind a 4 x AA battery pack for recharging my PDA but have had some problems. It will not charge from NiMh - the PDA end up charging them up! ( they are fully charged 2300s). Works OK, so fark, with Durcells .

Any ideas - I would really like to use the re-chargables with this

For on-the-hoof power - I've seen some rather natty little solar panels that you can tie onto the top of a backpack, or leave lying on the ground at camp, which allows you to get at least a trickle-charge while you're out and about, and even allows you to fully recharge a portable device given enough sunlight hours.

FWIW you can get the £200 TomTom FIVE stand-alone GPS receiver for free ... with a Nokia 6630 phone on 3's Talk & Text 900 tariff. See page 30 of Carphone Wharehouse catalog.

Mike, no ideas I'm afraid - I've not come across this problem.

Paddy, you can get those solar chargers with all sorts of connections now including PDA and mobile phone.

And here is something that charges the IPAQ 6515 from AA batteries: http://www.thepocketsolution.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Session_ID=43A812BD000D341E0000448800000000&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PSI-1997&Category_Code=Ipaq_hw6500_Accessories&Product_Count=26

RM

Please send another empty fag packet - I can't fit that web address on the one that I have.

:-)))


[third time lucky, Dave? :-) ]

Here! ;)

LOL
Merry Christmas!

Same to you BG!

I may have just got myself a Palm Tungsten T5, does anyone know what GPS setup i can use with this or have i gone down the wrong path already ;-)
Bear in mind i didnt get it with the intentions of GPS just to mess about with.

<bump>

No one else got a Palm PDA?

Hi Stig! I too wanted GPS on a Palm, a LifeDrive in my case. Problem was I also wanted UK OS maps on Palm - neither Anquet nor Memory Map support Palm. Palm seem to use ViaMichelin mapping. But OS maps may not be important for you, road route maps may be ok?

Check the Palm website - they do mention GPS on it so there is some GPS capability. Does your Palm T5 have Bluetooth? Interested to hear what you decide.

Richard - yes it does have Bluetooth built in and an option for a WiFi card as well.

OS maps would be important.

Oh well, like i said i didnt get this for the GPS Map option anyway since i already have a Garmin GPS 12 (without maps) which does me.
I thought i might actually try writing some programs on it in the future.