Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

Earthmate vs. eTrex

I was wondering if anyone knows how the Delorme Earthmate compares to the eTrex? It is also reasonably priced at $119 on the delorme site. If I am going to buy a GPS receiver which is not a springboard module, and hook it up to my Visor using mapping software, I might as well get the best receiver for the buck. Also, will the QuoVadis software work with the Earthmate? Just curious, although the Solus software from Delorme looks a bit better but is also more expensive.

Chad

Registered: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 40

I've had a Magellan 320 unit for over a year, and it is definitely a good unit. Used with a laptop and Delorme's Street Atlas, I get superb location info, and the laptop will speak the directions and time to turns for you.
What I want to know is if there is a way (cable?) to hook up the GPS to the Visor. anyone?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: King William, Virginia USA
Posts: 70

I've had some experience with DeLorme's Road Warrior setup (albeit with a Palm IIIC)...

You'd need the same cable/adapter for either the Earthmate or the Etrex so that shouldn't be a factor.

Think of the Earthmate as a GPS antenna that needs a PDA or Laptop to display its information via Solus. From my project notes last summer: ...Earthmate won't work with non-DeLorme software ("even though it outputs an industry standard protocol")... The version of Solus I was using could only deal with pre-determined maps although a new, vector-based version was due to come out (I haven't checked...).

If this project goes forward, I'll be looking at the Etrex since it's fully-functional GPS unit on its own and can either feed its signal to maps on the handheld or you can download maps to the Etrex itself for use stand-alone.

We were using Pendragon Forms for data collection and it was a pain having to wait for the Solus/Earthmate to "find itself" after entering data. With the Etrex, we'll have the GPS "live" continuously and be able to import location information directly into Pendragon Forms.

Keep in mind that I haven't done too much with this since a capability demo this past summer so some things may have changed...

Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

Just for your info, the Solus is now vector based and looks pretty promissing (http://www.delorme.com/roadwarrior/solus.asp).

My main concern between the two had to do with comparing such information as:
1) Max. satellite lock
2) Time it takes to lock on
3) Range accuracy *** always a big one
etc.

Anyone bothered to compare these? I would but I have been very busy lately.

Chad

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

You folks should really take a good look at the latest Magellan 330. Very nice unit compared to the Garmin Emap. Has all the features of the eMap, + built-in flash memory and comes with a data cable and free CD of USA maps. Very good price of $239 (street)

Mike

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 1

Thank you

I'm sorry for everyone's rotten experience with the HandyGPS, but I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for this thread. The HandyGPS has been in my shopping cart @ Amazon.com for a few days now waiting to be purchased as a Christmas gift. What a lousy gift that would've been! Time to find a different gift. Thanks again. Paul

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH, USA
Posts: 79

Is there a separate power source for the Delorme or the Magellan? Can either be charged or run from a car outlet?

Registered: Nov 1999
Location:
Posts: 341

Yes vis a vis Magellan

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

eTREX and Visor

Greetings,
I have a Garmin eTREX on order. I also have ordered the Visor modem cable from MarkSpace (www.markspace.com). This cable uses power from the Visor, so it will work with the eTREX unit.

The complete setup will look like this:

<GPS>--(9-pin serial cable)--<Gender changer>--(MarkSpace cable)--><--<Visor>

The Garmin cable is available from several sources.

__________________
s. kay

Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 38

Answers to some questions

There seem to be several unanswered questions posted in this thread, so I am going to try and lend what I know. I was one of the original HandyGPS users and I too had a lot of problems. I sent it back after a week and forgot about them forever. I now have a Garmin eTrex that I use alone and with my Visor using Solus Pro 2.0 and some freeware software. This setup works really well, anyone thinking about options, I would really recommend the eTrex, it is a superb unit and value.

Many of the questions asked above have been discussed/answered in other threads:

1) Comparison of handheld or springboard GPS units and discussion of problems with original HandyGPS - http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...?threadid=5597. There is a lot of text in this thread but a lot of it is worth reading. I have a long post in there with some general GPS info and some Palm with GPS info, links, software, etc. I would really encourage anyone thinking about getting a separate GPS unit to NOT get the Delorme Earthmate. I think that not being able to use it alone is a real negative. I mean there are Garmin and Magellan units for the same price that provide as good performance AND can be used alone (without a computer or Palm unit). I will also repeat that the eTrex works great, good accuracy, very quick lock on (I don�t think it has EVER taken more than a minute for me), easy to use, etc.

2) The above thread also has info on cable options for connecting an external GPS. A summary of this can be found at - http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...?threadid=8020. Bottom line is that you DO need a cable to connect ANY separate GPS to your Visor, but there are several options for this. Also some more info on WAC�s cable and overall setup can be found at - http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...?threadid=7583. This setup is really nice (I use it), inexpensive and very slick. Remember that the Delorme cable was not even rumored at the time that I made my choice so I can�t really comment on that option. I will say that WAC�s cable is a LOT cheaper than Delorme�s. I should also note that I am not sure if he is still making/selling connectors and cables, you will need to contact him directly.

3) There is some general info on Solus 2.0 at this thread - http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...?threadid=7867. I am very happy with Solus 2.0. I think that Quo Vadis might be a little quicker loading maps (although I have not tried it) but the ability to use the Delorme map products, or the free web download option, the route directions functionality, and the option to use topo maps made it the obvious choice for me. The vector maps work very well and they are not that large. The web interface is a little slow, but it works fine, I have not tried it with a stand alone Delorme map, but that would probably be the premiere way to go.

Hope this helps,
- Ryan

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 222

btw, for those of you that do own an etrex, garmin has released the next version of the software, v2.10. the biggest difference is the addition of a more detailed satellite view -- great for when the signal is a little spotty and you want to know which sattelite it is that you can't get a decent fix on.

just go to their website (http://www.garmin.com/products/etrex/agree.html), download the update, plug in your etrex to your computer via the serial cable, and execute the file.

the guys with the newer etrex's (1-2 months old) may already have v2.10 on their units.

[Edited by Nhatman on 12-01-2000 at 08:14 PM]

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

Re: Just going to wait... thanks

quote:

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Originally posted by CWaldman
Thanks everyone for all the feedback. I think I am just going to wait till another company comes out with a GPS module. The GeoDiscovery looks very promising.

Chad

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

stand alone GPS?

Let me add some more infos/comments here:

1) I agree. Better use a stand-alone GPS or a good GPS springboard, when available ...hopefully very soon.

2) any GPS outputting NMEA data can be easily connected to a Palm OS PDA (Visor) as long as you have the right cable setup.Usually all you need is a couple of plugs from Radio Shack (Gender changer + null modem) and a serial hotsync cable.

The Earthmate GPS has a binary output. QUO VADIS allows to select various inputs, including Earthmate, so it works perfectly well with most GPS. You can get it and try it out free from their web site http://www.marcosoft.com

3) Quo Vadis maps are much faster and smaller in size.
You can have the entire Silicon Valley area in a 2Mb Visor and still have plenty of room for your usual stuff. I keep San Francisco to San Jose in my pocket and often I use it even without the GPS. It works just fine.

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 2

DXBUP
Can you give any more info on the new GPS module you've heard about?

-thanks

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 30

Visor to Emap

Anyone ever connected a Visor to the Emap? I just got an Emap, and its great. I would still like to connect it to the visor for road trips.

There has been a great deal of talk about the WaC cable. My question is what's on the other end (opposite the Visor)? Is it just a standard serial connection?

The Emap came with a serial cable to connect to a computer. Does this mean that I only need a serial hotsync cable and gender changer?

Thanks for any help

Jason

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 13

quote:

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Originally posted by jb1219
DXBUP
Can you give any more info on the new GPS module you've heard about?

-thanks

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

Re: stand alone GPS?

quote:

---

Originally posted by DXBUP
Let me add some more infos/comments here:

1) I agree. Better use a stand-alone GPS or a good GPS springboard, when available ...hopefully very soon.

2) any GPS outputting NMEA data can be easily connected to a Palm OS PDA (Visor) as long as you have the right cable setup.Usually all you need is a couple of plugs from Radio Shack (Gender changer + null modem) and a serial hotsync cable.

The Earthmate GPS has a binary output. QUO VADIS allows to select various inputs, including Earthmate, so it works perfectly well with most GPS. You can get it and try it out free from their web site http://www.marcosoft.com

3) Quo Vadis maps are much faster and smaller in size.
You can have the entire Silicon Valley area in a 2Mb Visor and still have plenty of room for your usual stuff. I keep San Francisco to San Jose in my pocket and often I use it even without the GPS. It works just fine.

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Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 222

Chad, the 2 main differences that I can think of from the top of my head are:

1) Earthmate package comes with software and serial cable. Which means you'll need to add to the total cost of the eTrex the eTrex PC cable (about $30-40) and additional mapping software ($30-70).
2) The eTrex is smaller and can be used as a standalone unit (a BIG plus).

Jason, the WaC cable has a hotsync connector on one end and a serial on the other. He rigs it up so that you don't need a null modem or a gender changer. Also, why would you want to connect an eMap to a Visor? The eMap has mapping capabilities, doesn't it?

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 30

Emap and Visor

quote:

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Originally posted by Nhatman

Jason, the WaC cable has a hotsync connector on one end and a serial on the other. He rigs it up so that you don't need a null modem or a gender changer. Also, why would you want to connect an eMap to a Visor? The eMap has mapping capabilities, doesn't it?

[/B]

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Registered: Nov 2000
Location:
Posts: 12

quote:

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Originally posted by Nhatman
Chad, the 2 main differences that I can think of from the top of my head are:

1) Earthmate package comes with software and serial cable. Which means you'll need to add to the total cost of the eTrex the eTrex PC cable (about $30-40) and additional mapping software ($30-70).
2) The eTrex is smaller and can be used as a standalone unit (a BIG plus).

Jason, the WaC cable has a hotsync connector on one end and a serial on the other. He rigs it up so that you don't need a null modem or a gender changer. Also, why would you want to connect an eMap to a Visor? The eMap has mapping capabilities, doesn't it?

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