VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- Geodiscovery GPS and aviation (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=10495)

Geodiscovery ( Geodiscovery.com) launched their new GPS unit'GEODE', on paper it seems to be in an other leauge than i.e. the Nexian.
Since I'm a pilot and want to use my handspring Visor with the Geode for navigation purposes I have the following questions and I'm looking for forum feedback.
Questions:
1-Can someone, of the""Beta" team, provide me with some feedback on the the actual performance.?
2-I would like to use the navigation software from GPS Pilot (GPSPILOT.com), does some use it and what is the actual performance.?

Jaap Zondag, Netherlands, Europe

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JZ

Geode

1. betateam members all have to sign a non-disclosure statement, so you won't be able to get info from them on this open forum (legally, anyway). However, you can always join the betatester team yourself, which will allow you access to lots of discussion by the betatesters. It's a good deal if you're really interested in the unit (and you should be!).

As to #2, can't help you there, but if you're interested in how it would interface w/ the Geode, you can always contact them via email...they've been very responsive to my questions (and judging by the beta discussion groups, to most others as well). I'm sure that there are pilots involved in the betatesting who might be able to help you.

Aviation GPS

You may also want to check out

http://www.aspenleaf.com/palm/

Aviation Nav software which will work with any GPS that outputs a certain standard of data (very common standard). I'm considering buying something like either the Garmin eTrex or eMap, because I'd also like to use a GPS for both hiking and boating, and would like something a bit more rugged and weatherproof that the Visor, and then link the Visor to it for aviation using the above listed software. Good luck, let us know what your results are.

Flying Pilot with Geode

I have flying pilot too (love it!) and have ordered the Geode expressly for aviation, using it with Flying Pilot. According to what I read on both web sites, it should work perfectly. Flying Pilot requires an NMEA compatible GPS, any NMEA compatible GPS. The Geode is NMEA compatible. I'll let you know once it arrives. Also, I'm hoping there's a way to use the multimedia RAM cards that come with the Geode to download maps (sectionals charts converted with topographer) to, freeing up my Visor RAM a bit.

Dave

P.S. a little off topic, but are you experienced in using topographer to import maps into Flying Pilot? I've been using the "trip tix" maps from Aeroplanner.com, but the resolution the site spits out makes it so I can only see the map in Flying Pilot when zoomed real close in, which is pretty unusable. I'd like to know farther in advance if I'm about to fly into an MOA or something. :-)

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Yup.

It will be great but not yet

NMEA is a protocol that was developed to allow devices from different vendors to communicate in a marine setting, typically over a serial connection.

The Geode GPS Module connects to a Handspring Visor handheld computer via the springboard bus, and not a serial connection. At this point, most applications that are "NMEA compatible" require a serial connection, that is, they look for data from the serial port and therefore will require modification to work with the Geode GPS Module.

The Geode GPS Module uses the SiRFstar II GPS which can communicate in multiple protocols including SiRF binary and NMEA V2.2. GeoDiscovery is investigating methods to provide a solution to applications that require NMEA serial connections without requiring changes to the application. The Geode GPS Module includes powerful features such as the digital compass and two Multimedia Card slots that go beyond what the NMEA protocol is capable of handling. At GeoDiscovery we understand the great value in allowing multiple applications to take advantage of these unique features of the Geode GPS Module. With this understanding, work is progressing on developing an SDK to allow developers to accomplish this.

Until that solution is ready, the Geode will not function with NMEA compatible applications.

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