| Author | Message | ||
     Budo |
Has anyone here used this service? Just wondering how well it works and what the charges are. | ||
| Reepicheep |
They don't tell ya squat, do they? Want more info? Then sign up for the service. Geesh. Sounds like it is $4 per month. Note that for about $10 per month, I get unlimited data for my Tmobile Sidekick, which includes a credible little web browser, that can be used for this type of thing. That being said, I have an old palm pilot wired to a cheap Delorme Serial GPS device, running StreetAtlas 2005 HandHeld. It's not perfect, but very usable, if you can plan your trip ahead of time on the desktop. A $200 ThinkPad 570, with the normal Delorme Streetatlas, and a $50 serial only GPS receiver, and a $25 car AC inverter, is a *fantastically* useful navigation package for under $300. I use it all the time. | ||
| Budo |
I have not heard of the 'serial only gps receiver'. What is that? and thanks for the info. | ||
| Reepicheep |
There are three I am familiar with from Delorme, others make them as well. They have no displays or controls whatsoever, just a Serial or USB connector. Originally there was the Delorme Tripmate, a big dongle about the size of 4 decks of cards, runs on AA batteries. Full NEMA support, good to about 20 feet, takes a good 5-10 minutes to get a lock, runs forever on batteries, holds a lock well (within it's accuracy). Probably $30 on eBay. Then came the Delorme Earthmate. Size of one deck of cards, uses 4 AAA, gets a lock in 2-5 minutes, accurate down to maybe 10 or 15 feet. Runs a good 10 hours on a set of AAA, holds a lock well. Not NEMA compatible, you have to use Delorme software with it. Probably $50 on ebay. Then the new delorme Earthmate USB came out. USB port, about the sise of your thumb, gets a lock in 30 to 90 seconds, parasitically powered off the USB. Works VERY well, very accurate, no fuss no muss. A solid rumor has it that it will support serial communications without an adapter if you cobble together your own cable. I think it is full NEMA compliant, but I am not sure. The lack of NEMA compliance on the Earthmate serial bugged me when I got it, but the Delorme software is well done and affordable, so it has not really been an issue. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
Reepi, That's some good stuff indeed. I can't think of a bad use for the much maligned StinkPad's. Rugged, tough, and they continue to roll on. I do all my Cisco/Nokia console stuff with a 570 (of course I don't run Window$ on it -- BSD only.) | ||
| 99x1 |
Has anyone tried a Garmin ForeTrex? It is wearable (like a big watch), has a serial connection (on the charging unit cradle), has (sort of) lap timers and countdowns, and is waterproof. I'm curious how well it would lock when it was strapped to my throttle wrist on a winding road. (or connected to a laptop while sitting on my dash) | ||
| Reepicheep |
I don't have firsthand experience with that model, but the technology should have zero issues keeping a lock once established, unless you get into some really heavy tree canopy next to a mountian or something, or go into a parking garage. |
