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-- GPS for the VDx (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=2823)

Does anyone know if there is a way to connect one of the various GPS' to the Visor? From my brief look, it appears there are GPS
receivers with cables that can be connected to the 3COM PDAs. Will these work on the Visor?

Thanks,
Gregg

Gregg,

Ones serial (palm) the other is USB (visor), I would think it possible through the serial cradle or cable that is availible for the visor. But why not look at the gps springboard?

Mike

The company making the springboard GPS, Marcosoft, told me you can't create a route and send it to the PDA. I was using DeLorme's Street Atlas 6.0 with the Pilot, and could send a route. This lets you set the Pilot/GPS combination in the car and it would alert you to upcoming turns, etc.
The Marcosoft Handy GPS will basically let you see where you are on a map at any given time.

You can connect a GPS to your Visor. All that is needed is a serial connector, visit my webpage to make one: http://get.to/engineer

The GPS just uses the TxD and RxD, which is all the visor has, which is just fine. Next the GPS just continually sends out the position, all that is need is to capture it on the Visor side with a map program. I have an idea on how to do it, now I am just waiting for a GPS to try it on. My father has an Eagle Explorer, but he is in MN and I am in TX.

If you go to: http://wwwdi.com/eagle/pinout.htm
you can see the connection that is need and go here: http://wwwdi.com/eagle/software.htm
for software help to interface with the GPS.

I don't know why hasn't anyone already done this? The info is out here and all that is need for a map program is one that is design for the PalmPilots that have the GPS that plug into the bottom of it. All they use is RS232 (serial) which might just work if you just make the connector for the GPS and plug it in your Visor. The PalmPilot software just needs the PalmOS, which the Visor has. Anyone with a GPS? Try it for me!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
more info I posted on another thread.....

The GPS connects to the Pilot using serial (three pins GND, TxD, RxD). We have all three pins on the visor, but you need to convert the visors serial from TTL to RS232. Now what does this mean?

TTL has logic 0 that is 0v and logic 1 that is 5v. Now RS232 has logic 0 ranging from -3v to -13v and logic 1 ranging from 3v to 13v. Do you see the difference?

In conclusion (in theory) if you have a device that is connected to the Pilot and you want it to work on the Visor then all that is need is the serial cable from my webpage at http://get.to/engineer. The software (PalmOS) works the same in both the visor and pilot, or that is so far my experience, so just load the software to your visor and connect the GPS.

But one more thing, the Pilot has two more pins for serial communication that allows the serial to be greater that 9600kbs (the visors max, because the lack of the pins DTR, CTS, and RTS). The good thing is that the GPS don�t use these pins, all they use is the three pins GND, TxD, RxD at 9600kbs.

I hope this helps, I have yet to try it. I can try it on an Eagle Explorer GPS but I haven�t found a program that is compatible with it. Maybe I will just have to write my own software to test it? Good luck anyway and have fun!

EE_Fun


[This message has been edited by EE_Fun (edited 05-13-2000).]

One other resource you can check (for GPS with PalmOS units and cables) is www.pocketaprs.com

Although the site is dedicated to the ham radio application of the PalmOS and GPS, there are a few links that are of interest if you have a Visor and want to hook up a GPS unit (like http://www.pocketaprs.com/visor.html and http://www.blue-hills-innovations.com/blmstr.htm)

[This message has been edited by ProjectZero (edited 05-12-2000).]