I have not used one, but am aware of this product for 12V to PDA stepdown: http://www.tasmaninstruments.com.au/accessories.htm#smp5
A bit dearer though. A.J. On 8/9/07, Dave <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Hi mark, > > > > I presume you mean the E-Frontier cable? > > > > It's a standard linear 5v regulator, using a 5v IC regulator, so it can get > a bit hot on a flat PDA. > > > > Dave > > > ________________________________ > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Mark Fisher > Sent: Wednesday, 8 August 2007 9:45 AM > > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] PDA GPS > > To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia. > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] PDA GPS > > > > > > > Is this device a switchmode supply, or linear?? > > > > Cheers > > Mark > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Dave > Sent: Wednesday, 8 August 2007 9:46 AM > To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.' > Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] PDA GPS > > > > Hi all, > > > > Reg, if you can use the vario as source, then you get the vario > data(Airspeed, Altitude and rate of climb fed to the PDA with the GPS > signal). > > > > The PDA will also display flarm data so ideally the vario GPS signal is > sourced from the flarm, fed to the vario with the flarm data included then > the vario adds its data and passes on the whole lot to the PDA for display. > > > > By the way a 2 seater repeater can be setup via Bluetooth link with XC Soar > and presumably WinPilot, so one only needs to supply power to the backseat > PDA, and it gets all of the mixed DATA. > > > > E-Frontier have a 5 volt regulator in a 12V cigarette lighter plug, with an > IPAQ plug and a PS2 GPSIN socket for $19. I have pulled one apart and built > into a small jiffy box with the appropriate connectors. Contact me off list > Reg and I will be happy to give you a hand with installation, or assemble at > cost any type of cable you require. > > > > http://www.efrontier.com.au/estore/product_info.php?cPath=2_8&products_id=30 > > > > All you need to do is change the PS2 GPS socket, or make up an adaptor cable > from a PS2 plug to whatever GPS data source you want to use. > > > > They also have a suitable PS2 mouse GPS mouse for $70, though a flarm or a > logger is better as they have a pressure altitude sensor, giving more > accurate results. > > > > I am in the process of designing an interface box that has on the front 2 > GPS inputs for flarm or Garmin or any other and logger, a PDA out and a > switch so you can select GPS from flarm or logger.(This is so the logger can > connect to the PDA for task declaration, and gives redundancy to the GPS > source). If the vario is the GPS source one of the front panel sockets would > be used. > > > > The commercial boxes I have seen end up a horrible mish mash of serial > adaptors when installed. > > > > I plan to use all RJ telephone style connectors, and then assemble the > appropriate leads. On the rear of the box there is a GPS OUT to vario socket > and a GPS IN from vario socket. The idea being that a loop cable can be > plugged in to these if a vario is not used. The idea is to mount this in the > instrument panel. > > > > A useful fact, Volkslogger and Colibri are capable of using the same 6 pin > cable, as even though the Colibri has an 8 pin socket the extra 2 pins are > > Extra power pins, so that the first and last pair on either side of the > connector are power, the 6 pin connector only supplies the inner 2 pims but > works fine. > > > > The excellent John Wharrington pointed out a wireless Bluetooth PDA game > controller That can be used to remote control the PDA, mounted on the stick > or wherever, costs $80, neat! See here http://www.smartgamepad.com/ > > > > To the PFY(Dion), memory card is worth $15, no effort to load, he's still > making a packet, and do you think he's paying for the TOMTOM software? It > was 70,000 people making a living from EBAY BTW! > > > > I have tried to get data out from an L-Nav with no luck, it only has one > DATA socket and no GPS is built in so one has to use that input to supply > GPS data....Grrrr > > > > Before you buy Winpilot try XC Soar, its free and support is great! > > > > As to the comment on Terrain colours, in XC Soar there are a number of > colour styles one can use for terrain, I suggest the ICAO colour scheme. > > > > I plan to do up an article for Soaring Australia, with a set of Pinout > diagrams for the most common devices, but I need the FLARM pinouts, and the > Borgelt pinouts still to complete the set. > > > > Finally, spot on Ross the Vario manufacturers have zero motivation to help > in this area, they would much rather sell you a new unit. Amusingly I read > an ad from an old AG about a common digital vario extolling the fact that it > would overcome obsolescence by software updates-which are no longer > available! A black box (no display) vario engine is what is really needed > > To maximize this sort of setup, but I am not holding my breath..... > > > > One last note, IPAQ's have no backup battery and if charged and left on the > charger they do not start charging until the power is disconnected, so that > if you leave one fully charged on the charger for say a month it will > flatten the battery and lose its data, even though the charger is connected. > I strongly suggest you make us of the full backup facility on the PDA when > everything is setup, so restoring the PDA is quick and easy. The best bet is > to have a timer on the charger that disconnects the power once a day for 5 > minutes, then the PDA will charge again.(Great piece of design that)! > > > > Finally, does anyone have an up to date Australia.txt airspace file, as the > one I have is 2004 vintage, this files defines what airspace is displayed. > > > > > > Phew, sorry guys, that went on a lot longer than I intended! > > > > Regards All > > > > Dave > > > _______________________________________________ > Aus-soaring mailing list > [email protected] > To check or change subscription details, visit: > http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring > _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
