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Re: [GPS] Re: gps for axims
by Christopher W Brown
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Alex and Doug,
I'm using a Dell Axim X51v integrated with a Garmin ForeTrex 101 using
cables from Pc-Mobile (http://www.pc-mobile.net/) for my aquatics surveys
down here. The customer service at Pc-Mobile said that the two were not
compatible, but I just needed to modify the NMEA parsing script we used
with the Garmin 12XL by adjusting the number of expected digits in one of
the lines of code.
I liked having the GPS on my wrist for navigation at the site and it
needed to be waterproof, then when I needed to plug in the PDA, it was
right there and I can plug in the unit with the cables coming through the
otterbox. I do wish it had bluetooth though.
Chris
___________________________________________
Chris Brown
U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center
4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 225-6433
cwbrown@...
"Alex Mandel" <amandel@...>
Sent by: dfgpda@...
12/06/2007 10:43 AM
Please respond to
dfgpda@...
To
"Doug Burch" <DBurch@...>
cc
<dfgpda@...>
Subject
[dfgpda] [GPS] Re: gps for axims
>
>>>> Jane Arnold 12/5/2007 12:02 PM >>>
> Linda
> here is one potential GPS for the axims.
>
http://reviews.cnet.com/gps-kits/pharos-igps-pocket-gps/4505-9337_7-31230283.html?tag=prod.txt.4
> Let me know what you think,
> Jane
>
>>>> Linda Miller 12/5/2007 2:57 PM >>>
> Jane,
>
> I talked to Doug about the PDA/GPS integration. I guess I had
> misunderstood, he has not looked into the GPS integration. The fisheries
> applications he has worked with do not require it. However, he agreed to
> talk with Alex Mandel in Sacramento, who has worked with PDA/GPS
integration
> a lot. Can you tell us what PDA models you are working with?
>
> Also, Doug did look up quickly in the Visual CE manual that there is a
way
> to add a command button to your application to communicate with external
> devices. So as long as you have a way to connect the GPS to your PDA,
you
> just have to add the button, and a new field to your database.
> Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to do it for you at this time.
>
> Doug will also ask Alex if there are any particular GPS units that talk
well
> with the PDAs. Doug, one thing that may be important is GPS units that
do
> best under canopy. Also, maybe Alex has some feedback on the Pharos ipgs
> that Jane provided a link to below.
>
> Linda
>>>> Jane Arnold 12/5/2007 3:56 PM >>>
> Linda,
> Thanks. Yes, I am aware of the GPS information in the Visual CE manual.
> Linking the pda and GPS in the field seems the most problematic as well
as
> setting up the database to include GPS data.
> We mostly have Dell Axims X30s and X51s. I think we have a couple of
older
> Axims as well.
> I would love feed back on what GPS to use. I think there are several
that
> can connect to pdas via bluetooth, however, these are for field use so
we
> encase the pdas in a waterproof Otter Box. We will need GPS that can not
> only get a signal in canopy and topographic shade but also be dropped in
> water or on rocks.
> Thanks for all the help from both of you.
> Jane
>>> On 12/5/2007 at 16:09, Doug Burch <DBurch@...> wrote:
> Hi Alex,
>
> I left you a phone message regarding this. Again, sorry to hit you up
with a
> tech. support call, but I think that you could probably get me up to
speed on
> what you've learned fairly quickly, and I could take it from there.
>
> Hope to hear from you.
> Thanks, Doug
Quick Answer:
Any Bluetooth GPS that transmits NMEA strings will work.
I've tested:
* Delorme Bluelogger (Not recommended, there are better cheaper options
now)
* Holux M-1000 - Decent, cheap, not tested under high canopy
There's been a lot of talk about the new MTK chipset vs. the Sirf III,
both look good.
Check out a comparison in urban
settingshttp://www.gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=175&page=5
* iBlue 757 has a built in Solar Charger which looks pretty sweet.
http://www.semsons.com/i757prosobtd.html
Most of the options are represented on
http://www.semsons.com/bluetgpsrec.html
If you want it waterproof put it in a case or bag, since there's no need
to hold it in your hand, your fairly unlikely to drop it if it's clipped
to your pack.
Visual CE:
To read the GPS you need to write a macro that scans the com port.
It's a little complicated and better if I show you an example and explain
it.
Ports mentioned here are for the x50 and may vary by device.
1. I use JAL splitter to split the incoming Bluetooth on Port 7 to a
virtual feed on mulitple ports (X50)
http://www.gpsmeter.com/index.php?page=portsplitter
Port 6 - Visual CE
Port 4 - Ozi Explorer
2.In Visual CE you need a macro to open the COM and read the value to a
variable. You can then either store the full variable or split it using
the built in GPS functions @lat @lon and @alt
Take a peak at the Observation.vce file, you'll need to have RADB.cdb
loaded on a connected PDA to open it (or emulator).
The location for RADB.cdb is \My Documents\RADB\RADB.cdb
As and alternative you can use the exe installer to do it for you.
Download the sample installer from
http://www.cdfg-rap.net/applications/apps/pdaapps/copy_of_RapDB.exe/
The macro is the set of gray buttons running in order top down just off
the main screen to the right. The macro is triggered by the READ GPS
button.
If I wanted to store the full NMEA I would add a calculation that stores
@var(0) to a field called NMEA in my OBSERVATION table. I know I've tested
this to prove it works but don't remember where that beta is right now.
I think this highlights exactly why I want to get all of our forms and
knowledge into some central places.
Alex
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
I'm using a Dell Axim X51v integrated with a Garmin ForeTrex 101 using
cables from Pc-Mobile (http://www.pc-mobile.net/) for my aquatics surveys
down here. The customer service at Pc-Mobile said that the two were not
compatible, but I just needed to modify the NMEA parsing script we used
with the Garmin 12XL by adjusting the number of expected digits in one of
the lines of code.
I liked having the GPS on my wrist for navigation at the site and it
needed to be waterproof, then when I needed to plug in the PDA, it was
right there and I can plug in the unit with the cables coming through the
otterbox. I do wish it had bluetooth though.
Chris
___________________________________________
Chris Brown
U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center
4165 Spruance Road, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 225-6433
cwbrown@...
"Alex Mandel" <amandel@...>
Sent by: dfgpda@...
12/06/2007 10:43 AM
Please respond to
dfgpda@...
To
"Doug Burch" <DBurch@...>
cc
<dfgpda@...>
Subject
[dfgpda] [GPS] Re: gps for axims
>
>>>> Jane Arnold 12/5/2007 12:02 PM >>>
> Linda
> here is one potential GPS for the axims.
>
http://reviews.cnet.com/gps-kits/pharos-igps-pocket-gps/4505-9337_7-31230283.html?tag=prod.txt.4
> Let me know what you think,
> Jane
>
>>>> Linda Miller 12/5/2007 2:57 PM >>>
> Jane,
>
> I talked to Doug about the PDA/GPS integration. I guess I had
> misunderstood, he has not looked into the GPS integration. The fisheries
> applications he has worked with do not require it. However, he agreed to
> talk with Alex Mandel in Sacramento, who has worked with PDA/GPS
integration
> a lot. Can you tell us what PDA models you are working with?
>
> Also, Doug did look up quickly in the Visual CE manual that there is a
way
> to add a command button to your application to communicate with external
> devices. So as long as you have a way to connect the GPS to your PDA,
you
> just have to add the button, and a new field to your database.
> Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to do it for you at this time.
>
> Doug will also ask Alex if there are any particular GPS units that talk
well
> with the PDAs. Doug, one thing that may be important is GPS units that
do
> best under canopy. Also, maybe Alex has some feedback on the Pharos ipgs
> that Jane provided a link to below.
>
> Linda
>>>> Jane Arnold 12/5/2007 3:56 PM >>>
> Linda,
> Thanks. Yes, I am aware of the GPS information in the Visual CE manual.
> Linking the pda and GPS in the field seems the most problematic as well
as
> setting up the database to include GPS data.
> We mostly have Dell Axims X30s and X51s. I think we have a couple of
older
> Axims as well.
> I would love feed back on what GPS to use. I think there are several
that
> can connect to pdas via bluetooth, however, these are for field use so
we
> encase the pdas in a waterproof Otter Box. We will need GPS that can not
> only get a signal in canopy and topographic shade but also be dropped in
> water or on rocks.
> Thanks for all the help from both of you.
> Jane
>>> On 12/5/2007 at 16:09, Doug Burch <DBurch@...> wrote:
> Hi Alex,
>
> I left you a phone message regarding this. Again, sorry to hit you up
with a
> tech. support call, but I think that you could probably get me up to
speed on
> what you've learned fairly quickly, and I could take it from there.
>
> Hope to hear from you.
> Thanks, Doug
Quick Answer:
Any Bluetooth GPS that transmits NMEA strings will work.
I've tested:
* Delorme Bluelogger (Not recommended, there are better cheaper options
now)
* Holux M-1000 - Decent, cheap, not tested under high canopy
There's been a lot of talk about the new MTK chipset vs. the Sirf III,
both look good.
Check out a comparison in urban
settingshttp://www.gpspassion.com/fr/articles.asp?id=175&page=5
* iBlue 757 has a built in Solar Charger which looks pretty sweet.
http://www.semsons.com/i757prosobtd.html
Most of the options are represented on
http://www.semsons.com/bluetgpsrec.html
If you want it waterproof put it in a case or bag, since there's no need
to hold it in your hand, your fairly unlikely to drop it if it's clipped
to your pack.
Visual CE:
To read the GPS you need to write a macro that scans the com port.
It's a little complicated and better if I show you an example and explain
it.
Ports mentioned here are for the x50 and may vary by device.
1. I use JAL splitter to split the incoming Bluetooth on Port 7 to a
virtual feed on mulitple ports (X50)
http://www.gpsmeter.com/index.php?page=portsplitter
Port 6 - Visual CE
Port 4 - Ozi Explorer
2.In Visual CE you need a macro to open the COM and read the value to a
variable. You can then either store the full variable or split it using
the built in GPS functions @lat @lon and @alt
Take a peak at the Observation.vce file, you'll need to have RADB.cdb
loaded on a connected PDA to open it (or emulator).
The location for RADB.cdb is \My Documents\RADB\RADB.cdb
As and alternative you can use the exe installer to do it for you.
Download the sample installer from
http://www.cdfg-rap.net/applications/apps/pdaapps/copy_of_RapDB.exe/
The macro is the set of gray buttons running in order top down just off
the main screen to the right. The macro is triggered by the READ GPS
button.
If I wanted to store the full NMEA I would add a calculation that stores
@var(0) to a field called NMEA in my OBSERVATION table. I know I've tested
this to prove it works but don't remember where that beta is right now.
I think this highlights exactly why I want to get all of our forms and
knowledge into some central places.
Alex
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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