Hi Guys, Take a look at GBM Mobile from EXAMIN in Brisbane, Australia. I have been testing their demo version for 30 days now and it is totally Mapinfo compatible. I am able to transfer an entire MI workspace into a Geoset and move it to my HP iPAQ 5550 with a 528MB Storage Card in it. I also bought the Bluetooth EMTAC CruxII/BTGPS GPS receiver and it works very well with the iPAQ.
There are a few minor issues with the Mapinfo MapX modules, but if you get interested let me know. Web site is: http://www.geobasemap.com ------------------------------------------------ Gerald Jackson B.Sc., MBA Project Manager Infrastructure Security Federal Office of Civil Aviation Maulbeerstrasse 9, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. 0041 31 325 80 71 ----------------------------------------------- -----Original Message----- From: Neil Havermale [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 4:00 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: MI-L Digital field data collection and GPS The precision agriculture community uses PDAs every day on the farm and in the tractor. Most do well but others do better. There are several devices out there you should consider. Whatever your do get one with Bluetooth connectivity! Trimble has two WinCE devices that are well hardened and include integrated GPS. One gives WAAS accuracy of say 3m or better. The second can get into the sub-meter region with post processing. Both are expensive but first grade quality. (http://www.trimble.com/geoexplorer.shtml) Magellan has several really great devices as well. IMHO I think you should take a close look at them as one or two of the hardened solutions have excellent built-in field data collection solutions... and you can load your favorite background maps as well. (http://www.magellangps.com/en) Another solution that sleeves on to many iPAQ models is the Navman solution. (http://www.navman.com/) Lastly, if Trimble's costs are too much and you prefer a WinCE over the Magellan or Garmin GPS-centric solution, give Tripod a look. Tripod is a Trimble company but without the attitude would be the best way to describe them. These handhelds are desperate for a integrated Bluetooth but do have a serial cable system that allows connection to GPS without Bluetooth broadcast. (http://www.tdsway.com/) As for WinCE software, well you can go a number of ways.. The ESRI solution is sophisticated as well as a ESRI-centric. MapInfo also has several VAR building on their MapMobile solution as well. As an alternative you might want to consider Trimble's EzMAP product. (http://www.trimble.com/aggps_ezmap.html) While aimed at Precision Ag if you study it a bit you will find that it has very powerful features for specialized configuration unique to your purpose. If you take a serious look at this package I think you will be impressed and it's a good value IMHO when compared to other like products. As for the GPS side, I prefer the Bluetooth GPS solutions. At under $200 they solve the old cable gets in your way issues. Just "sticky Velcro" it to your hat and your mobile. You can get 5-6 hours from a charge. (http://www.gpspassion.com/fr/default.asp?_SetCurrentVersion=EN) On a general note for WAAS receivers... be aware that the WAAS correction systems may not be reliable for you in the Far North reaches as the corresponding satellites will be relatively low on the horizon - read easily blocked line-of-sight. Best to check the WAAS site. Lastly, take a look at the Oziexplorer solution. Real low cost and surprisingly useful (http://www.oziexplorer.com) FWIW MidNight Mapper Aka neil -----Original Message----- From: Carl Schaefer [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2004 11:45 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: MI-L Digital field data collection and GPS Hello all, While not directly a MI question, I'm sure many of you can point me in the right direction. I'm just starting to research the use of PDA's with wireless GPS and simple data collection apps for use in somewhat harsh environments (wet, chilly, windy, buggy, dirty environments of Alaska) for the collection of field data (samples and descriptions mostly). Does anyone have a system they are successfully using? Or a review- type website where they document their trials and tribulations using various pieces of hardware and software? Much appreciated, Carl --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 13949 --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 13951 --------------------------------------------------------------------- List hosting provided by Directions Magazine | www.directionsmag.com | To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message number: 13967
