Hi,
I search for a good combination of Pocket PC based PDA and CF or BT GPS. I intend to use them primarily for orientation (navigation with scanned and geocoded topographic maps in the background) in the forest, slow driving or walking, with continuous or intermittent data mapping (points and lines), with some sort of Pocket GIS software. I have read posts on this forum, but most of them are related to city/street navigation. I am not (yet) interested in that. I need opinions regarding both, PDA and GPS. I have narrowed my choices, but for the final decision I need comments and advices from people who tried devices which I am going to mention.
1. Which Pocket PC PDA?
iPAQ 5XXX or new Toshiba e800 with BT? I am more in favor of Toshiba e800 because it has the screen and resolution larger than any other PDA currently available, and this is good for my purpose (scanned maps). It has enough of RAM, plus additional “persistent” memory. I need to know if built in BT module works well with BT GPS devices which I will mention later. I have read some posts that Toshiba has bad warranty policy, users had problems to get fixes, repairs for malfunctioned products. Are there any known problems with new Toshiba e800?
2. What kind of GPS – CF, BT or hybrid?
CF GPS in combination with external antenna on the car roof seems like simple and relatively affordable solution. I guess the CF card and external antenna do not have any batteries, so I only have to take care about my PDA battery (probably need to have spare one in the backpack - iPAQ and e800 have replaceable batteries?)? Bluetooth GPS seems rather handy for car use, but how useful they are when I need to walk around for one or two days? I probably should look for models with easily replaceable battery. Even in the car I think I would need external antenna (forest use), like with CF models. Hybrid models, CF card GPS which can be put in BT slipper seems like the right solution. I can have all in one product. It promises flexibility because of modularity, but there is a need for additional batteries.
3. SiRF XTrac chip for forest use?
I guess the GPS I need should be with SiRF XTrac or similar chip for higher sensitivity in the forest. I won’t drive fast there, so there should not be lag in reception/calculations. I know two CF GPS with such chips: SysOnChip CF Plus and Holux GM-270 Ultra. Which one to chose? Are there any other with SiRF XTrac chip? Some posts said that some early versions of SysOnChip CF Plus had bad lad. How to avoid them while purchasing? Beside their high sensitivity I like their tiny design (especially SysOnChip GPS).
Of hybrid devices, available is Haicom 401 BT Slipper in combination with Haicom Haicom 303S, Haicom 303E or Haicom 303MMF. Which one is the best for me? Haicom 303S seems to have SiRF XTrac chip, but I could not find them on the market. 303MMF are sold together with the BT slipper (cheaper than if bought separately?), but are they good enough? They have SiRF II chipset. Is it also good for forest? All the models of Haicom CF GPS are much bulkier compared to SysOnChip CF Plus or Holux GM-270 Ultra. Does Haicom 303 models have battery inside?
Does anyone know how does 303S performs in the forest – compared to SysOnChip CF Plus and Holux GM-270 Ultra?
4. If a GPS has SiRF XTrac chip – does this automatically mean that it supports WAAS and EGNOS?
I am not so much concerned about accuracy, 25m is good enough for my purpose.
My apologies because of long message, and thank you for the advices.
Josip Kusak
Large Carnivores Research Project
Biology Department
Veterinary faculty
University of Zagreb
Croatia
Josip Kusak
Printer-friendly version
clp
Joza,
I don't have a toshiba, but it was on my short list of buy possibles. for screen resolution & ports, and battery options.
I require more things than the average outdoor user, so the choices are limited for me. as far as hardware I ended up with a transplant CF gps card, waas enabled, most of the time accuracy about 6-7 meters, sometimes better. Ipaq 2215 for the pda, as I wanted a handheld unit, with no cables, external antenna, or separate gps unit. it works good, most of the time, in the truck, a external antenna to place on the dash would be helpful to avoid signal loss. in the woods, it is fine (unless under dense cover) battery life lasts about 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hrs, then either plug in the charger, or put in another battery. (running full time)
Charles
stinkypaul
Josip,
I will just input my 1 penny suggestion.
1. PDA
I believe both ipaq5550 and toshiba e800 have extended batteries, hence. replaceable batteries.
They both have good battery life and high RAM. But since I'm an ipaq user, I'd recommend Ipaq here. Even I might recommend 2210, which has similar connectivity/expansion as e800.
For in-car use, I believe you can get a cigarette charger to charge it up. Pocket PC has shorter time than the GPS receiver.
2. Bluetooth GPS receiver
The bluetooth GPS I have is Rikaline X7. This unit is produced in Taiwan, the same origin as the Ipaq. It contains a removable battery and the life is claimed to be 16 hours continuous working.
Please see the attached link for more info.
http://www.pdamods.com/products.asp?id=16
On the same page, you can find the "Fortuna Clip on GPS receiver", which has Sirf Xtrac chip, with 8.5 hour working time.
So compare to other unit, which you might need to charge from now and then, this is definitely more cost effective. Also it comes with a cigarette lighter charger, which you can even charge this up.
For more information, I'd recommend if you can see the following website:
PocketGPS World
http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/
Good luck in finding your perfect Pocket PC and GPS.
PPC Enthusiast,
Paul
Ipaq 3970/Ipaq 4150
Shawna Kelly
Besides Pocket PC Phones, iPAQ's are the best choice. (HP is coming out with a Pocket PC Phone this summer.) Of the current iPAQ's, the 5500's will most likely be supported for patches and operating system upgrades the longest.
Heavy foilage spots are going to make your GPS use tricky. You will have to test whether the reliability is acceptable in your particular area with the best possible mobile GPS setup. The extra sensitivity GPS receivers like Xtrac, do not usually have WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System for extra accuracy), or if they do, it doesn't operate at the same time.
An Xtrac receiver, which can be switched back to WAAS capability, may work out better for you.
If you want the WAAS receiver that should cover most of your bases the best, then the HAiCOM with the Bluetooth Slipper may be your best bet:http://www.buygpsnow.com/ (Has external antenna capability.)
As for software that works with street navigation and has some topographic capabilities, check out TeleType:http://www.teletype.com
Shawna Kelly
Microsoft Mobile MVP
GPS Writer & Moderator, Pocket PC Magazine
Co-Manager, Northern California Mobile Computing SIG
http://sf.mobilecomputingsig.com
Shawna Kelly
I just noticed that you are from Croatia. You are probably already aware that street navigation maps are not available in your country yet. If you want maps with cities (no navigation instructions) so that you know generally where you are in relation to cities, these limited maps are available through TeleType here:http://www.teletype.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=5053&Category_Code=PopPts
Shawna Kelly
Microsoft Mobile MVP
GPS Writer & Moderator, Pocket PC Magazine
Co-Manager, Northern California Mobile Computing SIG
http://sf.mobilecomputingsig.com
joza
Thank you for the advices!
Meanwhile I solved my dilemmas. I took Toshiba e800 BT, mostly because of the biggest screen available on Pocket PC and because of possible VGA resolution. This I considered important keeping in mind that I plan to use scanned and geocoded maps with it.
It was harder to chose GPS. The doubts were between BT or CF model (any should have supported Sirf XTrack, while additional accuracy provided by WAAS necessary to me. Anyway I do not know if it exists for my part of Europe, Croatia). At the end I decided to take CF. They are more compact, making one unit with Pocket PC, no need for additional charger, battery, and are smaller compared to BT GPS models. For my purposes - hiking in the forest with intermitent recording of locations - this seems to be a better solution. Currently, there are only two or three CF GPS which use SiRFstar IIe/LP chips and Sirf XTrack technology. I decided to take SysOn CF GPS which is the smallest one in this class.
Last two days I used it in the car on forest roads, without external antenna (they did not have it in the shop at that time). The canopy was still not fully closed (spring time at 800 to 1000m elevation), and the lock on satellites was almost the same as on my Garmin 12 XL for which I had the antenna on the roof of my car. The difference between locations done by Garmin and SysOn were sometimes 10-15m, and below this most of the time. On the 1:25000 maps zoomed to 1:15000 the error was neglible. I believe that with external antenna the reception and accuracy will be even better.
Josip
Josip Kusak
stinkypaul
Josip,
Unfortunately I don't think WAAS is working in Europe yet.
WAAS is currently only available in the US. However, having said that I have heard that there is an European Initiative called EGNOS, which will have similar effect as WAAS, but in Europe.
Anway, happy to see you have got your Pocket PC and GPS happily working together.
Well done.
PPC Enthusiast,
Paul
Ipaq 3970/Ipaq 4150
Shawna Kelly
Paul is right about WAAS only working in the US right now. It involves a couple dozen ground satellites and a couple geostationary satellites over the equator.
Josip may want to eventually also use a Bluetooth receiver because it will considerably extend the battery life of the Pocket PC. Once satellites are acquired it can also be placed inside of a pocket or container, as well as hung around the neck.
It is also wise to have a backup receiver, as well as a second GPS software. This increases your navigation success rate and the software can offer different convient features or mapping sources. "Be prepared" is one of my main mottos because I was a Scout.
Shawna Kelly
Microsoft Mobile MVP
GPS Writer & Moderator, Pocket PC Magazine
Co-Manager, Northern California Mobile Computing SIG
http://sf.mobilecomputingsig.com