Delorme or Streets and Trips GPS

NewbeeMC9 · June 15, 2006, 08:42:13 PM

Good thinking len, people don't respond well to polls

I'm going thruough the same issues, does anyone use thier Pocket PC for there GPS?

airless · June 20, 2006, 08:08:35 AM

I have both delorme and MS. I purchased the MS because of issues I was having with the delorme but I like delormes software better. The delorme gps has a very thin cable that can not take much abuse. (moving) The MS has a much nicer cable better quality of gps just their software is weak. I am currently on a 6400 mile trip thru lots and lots of areas. My vote from tons of experience now not prior to purchase is that MS gps is much much better but their software is lamer.

Dallas · June 20, 2006, 09:36:42 AM

Quote from: airless on June 20, 2006, 08:08:35 AM
I have both delorme and MS. I purchased the MS because of issues I was having with the delorme but I like delormes software better. The delorme gps has a very thin cable that can not take much abuse. (moving) The MS has a much nicer cable better quality of gps just their software is weak. I am currently on a 6400 mile trip thru lots and lots of areas. My vote from tons of experience now not prior to purchase is that MS gps is much much better but their software is lamer.

The mistake I've found that a lot of people make is that they figure that the only GPS receiver that will work with they're software is the one that came with it.
I have 2 different GPS receivers and about 5 programs. Both of them work with all of the software and only one came with mapping software. The other I bought off eBay for $30 and works with the Sirf II system. It sees up to 22 sats at once and seems to be a lot more accurate than my old Rand-McNally.
If you are having issues with the delorme receiver, try changing the parameters so that the other one is seen by the software.

Good Luck on your trip!

Dallas

gumpy · June 20, 2006, 09:48:21 AM

Quote from: Dallas on June 20, 2006, 09:36:42 AM

... It sees up to 22 sats at once and seems to be a lot more accurate than my old Rand-McNally. ...

That's funny. Probably just a marketing ploy, but that's impossible. It would a neat trick if it were actually true, but the constellation is configured such that at most, only 11 satellites are visible at any one time at any particular location on the globe.

Maybe they designed it for anticipated space travel

Dallas · June 20, 2006, 05:35:44 PM

Quote from: gumpy on June 20, 2006, 09:48:21 AM
Quote from: Dallas on June 20, 2006, 09:36:42 AM

... It sees up to 22 sats at once and seems to be a lot more accurate than my old Rand-McNally. ...

That's funny. Probably just a marketing ploy, but that's impossible. It would a neat trick if it were actually true, but the constellation is configured such that at most, only 11 satellites are visible at any one time at any particular location on the globe.

Maybe they designed it for anticipated space travel

Hey Craig, Check it out:

http://www.holux.com/product/search.htm?filename=gpsreceiver_mouse_gr213_chpts.htm&target=gpsreceiver10&level=grandsonson

http://www.sirf.com/products-ss3.html

Oh, and I was wrong. It's 20 sats. not 22. Sorry about that.

gumpy · June 20, 2006, 07:59:10 PM

Ok, now I get it. It's designed for aviation up to 60,000 ft, and it's tracking up to 20 satellites, not necessarily seeing them. Once it's acquired them and they go out of view, the unit continues to "track" them using mathematical predictions. When they reappear it can immediately reacquire them. I suppose that' useful if you're flying around the world in your personal jet at 60,000 feet.

Wasn't doubting you, Dallas, I just found the advertisement a bit amusing. My military GPS receivers are only 12 channel capable, though they are a bit more precise.

tucsontattoo · June 20, 2006, 10:42:23 PM

well, read this thinking I might learn about those GPS gizzmos.Afraid I'm not smart enough. Guess I'll just keep workin on map folding.Damn

Tucson

Dallas · June 20, 2006, 11:50:17 PM

Quote from: Dallas on June 20, 2006, 05:35:44 PM
Quote from: gumpy on June 20, 2006, 09:48:21 AM
Quote from: Dallas on June 20, 2006, 09:36:42 AM

... It sees up to 22 sats at once and seems to be a lot more accurate than my old Rand-McNally. ...

That's funny. Probably just a marketing ploy, but that's impossible. It would a neat trick if it were actually true, but the constellation is configured such that at most, only 11 satellites are visible at any one time at any particular location on the globe.

Maybe they designed it for anticipated space travel

Hey Craig, Check it out:

http://www.holux.com/product/search.htm?filename=gpsreceiver_mouse_gr213_chpts.htm&target=gpsreceiver10&level=grandsonson

http://www.sirf.com/products-ss3.html

Oh, and I was wrong. It's 20 sats. not 22. Sorry about that.

It does seem a lot more accurate than my old GPS. I don't find my track driving through lakes and off to the side of the freeway nearly as much as I use to.

One problem I have seen is that as it samples different satelites and you are standing still, the altitude will vary by up to 20 feet.

It can get weird watching the the altitude wiggle up and down. The old one never did that.

gumpy · June 21, 2006, 05:29:21 AM

Quote from: Dallas on June 20, 2006, 11:50:17 PM
It does seem a lot more accurate than my old GPS. I don't find my track driving through lakes and off to the side of the freeway nearly as much as I use to.

One problem I have seen is that as it samples different satelites and you are standing still, the altitude will vary by up to 20 feet.

It can get weird watching the the altitude wiggle up and down. The old one never did that.

20 feet is within the SPS accuracy, but it shouldn't jump around noticably.

GPS receivers typically use only 4 satellites of the up to 11 visible to produce their solution. They choose the 4 satellites with the best positions to one another for optimal reduction in error. As satellites go out of view, or others become better positioned, they will be swapped in and their data will be used resulting in variations in the output solution. Typically, the data is passed through filters to reduce the jitter.

I wonder if there's some user options you can enable to better smooth the solution and reduce the altitude jitter?

There are also some DGPS and WAAS capabilities available which will virtually eliminate errors in precision, but I'm not very familiar with those or where they are available. They're primarily used for aviation and surveying, but I think some of the consumer hand held units incorporate these
capabilities.

gcarter · June 21, 2006, 08:46:08 AM

I also have the Ique3600 and love it. It is mounted on the steering column with a homemade mount and if viewed thru the steering wheel.

Laptops are technaclly illigal in CA if they can be seen by the driver, although have never heard of anyone be ticketed for it.

We also use our gps for out of vehicle use. Our favorite is GeoCaching. Try doing this with a laptop.

airless · June 21, 2006, 09:05:30 PM

The issue that I am having with the delorme is the poor quality of USB cable that they have attached to it. When I land I will remove and resolder a better cable in place of the OEM. The OEM is just using to small of guage wire for the movements it is subject to.

gumpy · June 22, 2006, 05:20:37 AM

Well, all this talk about GPS got me kind of fired up. I went and ordered a Garmin GPSMAP 76CSx, external antenna, cigarette adaptor, dash mount, and TOPO Map set.

I've been wanting to get one for some time, but I'm cheap and couldn't justify the cost. I finally decided if I was ever going to play Geocaching (http://www.geocaching.com), which I've been interested in for some time, I should probably just do it! So I went all out

I was going to get the Rino 530 with FRS/GMRS radio, but finally decided I really didn't need the radio. We already have FRS radios, and unless everyone has the Rino units, the position inquiry and mapping feature of other radios nearby is not usable. Also, use of the GMRS requires an FCC license, which costs $75 for 5 years. Plus, the Rino didn't have an external antenna port and it's memory was pretty limited. So I decided on the 76CSx. gpsnow.com had a pretty good price on it, plus there's a $100 rebate from Garmin. It has some mapping software on it which supposedly will tell you what's at each of the interstate exits, plus a ton of other features, so should be beneficial in travel, too.

We started planning for some geocaching already. Seems like a great way to get rid of some of those little trinkets you collect all your life which are basically useless, but which shouldn't be thrown away. Dr. Phil had a show on chronic hoarders yesterday, and we got all fired up (i.e. scared) and started cleaning out some drawers last night and finding all sorts of things which will work great in geocaching. I've been planning cache locations out in WY for some time, so this summer we're going to place some, as well as search out some that are close to where we go camping.

This is going to be another great way to enjoy bussing with the family!

Dallas · June 22, 2006, 06:20:02 AM

Geez, Craig!
You sure make it hard for a guy to ignore a doctors orders.
I was told yesterday to get some special stuff for my hips and knees, and to do a lot more walking. (I guess 3 or 4 miles a day via pedometer isn't enough).
I've also been interested in the geocaching stuff. Now I'll have to get a hand held and start doing it.

Gee, thanks a LOT! LOL

Hey, maybe at the Timmonsville Teaparty in October, we could set up a treasure hunt for the kids or adults!
Kids could look for candy and video games and stuff.
Adults could look for their keys and glasses and false teeth.
Think it would work? Especially after a night of cold fluid intake?

Dallas

gumpy · June 22, 2006, 10:52:44 AM

LOL

Well, you could take the coordinates off the web site and plug them into your mobile unit. It'll get you close. Before you leave home (unless you have onboard internet) plug them into Google Earth and get printouts of the exact area. When you get there, you can use the printouts to find the caches

There are some other topo mapping sites that you can use to plug the coordinates into which will give you topo pages of the area in question.

On the other hand, a nice handheld would give you everything you need, including the pedometer equivalent