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This page was
last updated on January 2004 GPS
> PDA cables from Pc-Mobile
Even
if you do not need GPS now, it is fun, and very much affordable. In a few
years time, you probably wonder how you would live without it, just as mobile
phones are to you now.
At present,
we supply cables for Garmin
GPS with E-type (E) and round-type (R) interfaces, and Rino (O) interface, Magellan
(M3xx, Sportrak, Meridian), most GPS with PC serial interface/cable. Recently
introduced is support for the new Delorme USB.
and Radio Shack Digitraveler. (Most
faq on this page apply to Garmin/Magellan only and may not apply to Delorme/Digitraveler)
We choose
these because they are affordable (which is really is an understatement, the word
should be CHEAP, for what it is). The mouse type (serial) GPS are primarily designed
for Laptops, but can be used for PDA. Their prices are coming down all the time
and you can buy one for less than $100 easily. (one problem with mouse type GPS
for use with PDA is to find power source for the GPS) We
recommend the Garmin Etrex, particularly for beginners. Because the basic Etrex
(which is all you need to connect to PDA) costs around $100. It can also be used
on its own without connecting to PDA or PC and that is where the fun begins. Most
importantly, it uses AA batteries. Power supply is a problem for GPS not using
batteries if for PDA use. You could also pick up a second hand Garmin 12 for very
little (less than $50) which is just as good as any $300 GPS if you connect it
to PDA use. So if you already have a PDA, you do not have to spend a lot to get
something potentially very useful (have fun at least).
Before
you can use your PDA with GPS, you also need software and maps. Please find out
details from links above.
FAQ: (part
numbers quoted are for Garmin E-type interface, prefix-GE.
They also apply to Round-type interface, prefix-GR, Rino,
prefix-GO and
Magellan, prefix-GM)
My PDA is not in your list, do you
have any cable to connect the Garmin GPS? Generally,
if you have a PC serial sync cable of your PDA, yes. You need GE9PM. Note that not all PDA serial cables work (e.g. Sony Clie T-series
and some Handspring will not work).
See Will
your cable work with my GPS and PDA? below
I have a GPS not on your list,
do you have any cable to connect to PDA? Generally,
if you have a PC serial cable of your GPS, yes. You need our Serial/GPS
interface for the PDA. Note that not all PDA / GPS
combination will work (e.g. PSTGS/PAXGS/PX3GS
do not work with Delorme or RandMcNally GPS) See Will
your cable work with my GPS and PDA? below
How do I connect Garmin GPS for PDA
use? 1. Garmin PC interface cable (or
our GE9SF) PLUS the appropriate Serial/GPS
interface for the PDA. 2. Our Garmin-PDA Interface
Cable (GE9PM) PLUS the serial sync cable supplied
with your PDA (not all serial cables work, eg. Clie T/NR, Handspring))
3. Our special Garmin to PDA cable (GEQ36,
GEQ38, GEHJ5, GESN7, GEST6, GEP50, GEPVX, GEP03, etc.), which is your
best option
How do I connect
PDA to Mouse Type (serial) GPS (or any other GPS with serial interface/cable)? 1. Our Serial/modem interface for the
PDA. (Serial/Modem interface should work with almost all GPS, but GPS interface
do not work with all GPS. e.g. PSTGS will not work with Delorme/RandMcNally serial
GPS)) 2. Serial sync cable supplied with your PDA PLUS
Null Modem Adapter (DB9N) (Note: some PDA
serial cable do not support this function. e.g. Sony Clie T-series, some Handspring)
Note: for mouse type GPS, you also
need to find a way to power up the GPS (it is usually powered from PC PS/2 port).
We now have PS2>USB adapter (PS2UA) which you can use
with our car adapter (CUSB) and power your mouse GPS
in car. or PS2DC with CKUC. See
also alternatives here. (if
you use only one PDA and do not intend to change PDA/GPS you can buy a serial/GPS
interface here)
Will your
cable work with my GPS and PDA? We guraantee
all GPS/PDA combination listed on our web site. As for other GPS, We cannot answer
you because we have not tested. You should direct the question to your GPS and
PDA supplier. If they say they are compatible to each other (which is asking a
lot for them to answer), our cables should work. If your GPS and PDA are not compatible
to each other, our cable WILL NOT make it work ! Some GPS or PDA may have minor
differences from others so they may or may not be standard. e.g. a software may
work in Palm M505 but not a Sony Clie. (same also applies to different PPC)
My GPS and PDA do not seem to communicate
with each other, what should I do? It
usually is a matter of configuring your GPS and PDA software correctly. We cannot
answer individually how to configure each GPS and software (there are too many
combinations and we do not have the GPS/software). You should consult your GPS/software
manual for the correct configuration for the GPS/software to talk to each other.
If you suspect whether the cable is functioning, the simplest
way to test is to use Compass
or GPilotS (for
Palm) or OziExplorerCE (for
PPC), which can be downloaded for trial for free. Note
that not all software are compatible with all PDA (even with same platform).
If your problem cannot be solved (assuming it is not hardware
fault) from information you find on the internet, posting your problem on the
newsgroups (links above) may get positive results. There are many knowledgeable
GPS users reading the news everyday. Some
common problems: 1.
If you have external keyboard installed, it may be grapping the com port
thus preventing GPS software to access the com port. You have to disable or uninstall
the keyboard for the GPS software to work. 2.
XDA - this is particular to XDA only. By default, IR connection is enabled thus
preventing other application to access the com port. Goto Settings>Connections>Beam
and uncheck IR connection.
Is
it possible to connect external power supply to GPS through your GPS cable? No. Power line is not connected. It is our opinion that if you
can use batteries, there is no need to use any other means. Almost all GPS using
batteries can use rechargeable batteries. These are getting better and cheaper.
Even if you do not already own some (and charger), it is worth investing one rather
than cigar lighter lead. If you do want to power both PDA and GPS in car, see
here.
Can
you make a longer cable? No. Most users
prefer shorter cable. But there is a good solution for this. We offer 1 metre
extension cable (G25E) which you can join
between the cable and interface. If you do need very long cable for some reason,
you can buy a good quality 2.5mm stereo extension cable (male>female) from good
H-Fi shop for lengths up to several metres long. Note that longer cable may affect
quality of signal so it is not advised to use very long cable.
I
see from the picture that the DB9 end of PC Interface (G9SF) does not have screws,
do you make one with screws? The screws
are left out deliberately. We find that most people never screw this on when they
connect to a PC and it is secured enough without. It is also easier to store/transport
without screws. If you do need one with screws to connect to the back of the PC
permanently (probably the only reason you want to screw it on), let us know in
the instruction when you order and we do make some with screws if you do want/need
it.
Do you sell the Garmin/Magellan
connectors? Yes, see connectors
page.
I am thinking of
buying a PDA and GPS, any tips? It depends
on what you want to use it for. So the software is important. Take a look through
above links on the software (and cost) available for each platform (WinCE or Palm)
and then decide which to buy. We test our cables on the PDA but we do not really
use them so we are not qualify to give you any opinion.
Please
also write to us if you have bought our cable and find out that it works or does
not work with any combinations of hardware/software that we have not mentioned
so that we can put it up on our FAQ.
We
do believe that as a result of availability of our cables, we help Garmin/Magellan
sell more GPS to people who otherwise might have considered other brands !!! (But there is also the down side: people
are buying the cheaper units rather than the more expensive mapping GPS)
Use
your browser <Back<
button to go back to previous page If you have specific
questions about the above products please write to us at pcm-gps
@ pc-mobile.net
