Drew Kershaw <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> asked: >I'm thinking about getting a hand held GPS unit, but I want to get >one that works with my Mac. I've heard that some Garmin units will, >but personal GPS gadgets are something I know next to nothing about. > >I'd like to hear the list's thoughts about GPS devices that can >interface with a PowerBook (with or without USB). Serial-only or >older, out of production devices are perfectly fine - I don't need >the latest and greatest. > >Along with device advice, how about software... What software works >on a Mac and talks to GPS units? I'm mostly interested in navigation >related software, but other nifty applications would be nice to hear >about, too. I've got a dedicated Etak/Skymap serial GPS (not a handheld) for my Pismo and use it with Street Atlas 6. I eBaybought a Keyspan serial/USB adapter and hacked a 5v power supply from the adapter to the GPS. It works great, tracks you along as you drive. The GPS itself is a small 3" x 2" x 1/2" box which can sit up on the dashboard or wherever (so it can see the sky.) It doesn't have any user interface so it has to be tethered directly to a computer to be of any use.
Before I got the Etak I'd manually find coordinates in Street Atlas and punch 'em into my old handheld Garmin 38. I got a power/data cable kit for it, but never finished the data part so I still haven't used the Garmin with a PB. However it should work similarly as it's got a standard NMEA interface. Finally I've got a really nifty Magellan (Rand McNally Streetfinder GPS) for Palm V/Vx, scarcely larger than the Palm. The Palm clips onto the GPS and the whole thing can be mounted on the included windshield bracket or slipped into your pocket. I never intended to acquire a Palm Vx but having paid the princely sum of $10 for the new-in-box GPS I couldn't resist. The mapping SW for this package is Windows only and I haven't used it yet. I find the one I actually use when on the road/out-and-about is the Magellan/Palm. It's very compact, fast and having a smallish handy touchscreen GPS is much more useful than having to deal with the PB/Etak combo. Having a Palm Vx for all-those-things-Palm is a big bonus too! I recently acquired a wintel box so I intend to see how well map uploads work. Just haven't gotten around to it yet (still wrestling with ^$^&&*$^&& Win2K!) BTW, there's a _BIG_ difference in how quickly these units lock onto the sats. The old Garmin is deadly slow, it can take over 5 minutes _when_motionless_ and several times that long when initializing on the move. Yikes! OTOH the much newer Etak and Magellan can lock within 30secs if in the clear and sitting still, and never take more than a couple of minutes even at highway speed. I don't know the specs of any but I'd suggest it best to spring for a more recent device over an older/cheaper unit just to relieve the aggravation factor that comes with waiting-waiting-waiting-waiting-waiting for the *&^%*&% to lock. Dan K ................................. http://macdan.n3.net/ carracho://dankephoto.dhs.org:9700 hotline://dankephoto.dhs.org:9500 ................................. -- PowerBooks is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Enter To Win A | -- Canon PowerShot Digital Cameras start at $299 | Free iBook! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PowerBooks list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/powerbooks.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/powerbooks%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
