PDA with phone and GPS

[dobbo]

My mobile is on it's last legs thanks to an incident with a horse and a bucket of water (don't ask). I have made a decision to upgrade to a pda phone, it will be used primarilly as a phone and offroad for GPS scrolling of Topo maps. What ones are easy to use and which ones should be avoided like the plague. I have looked in a few shops over the last few days but no obe seems to stock any. I have had a look at OZI explorer CI and it's the program I would like to run. (is it compatible with all PDA's)

[Mick-Kelly]

Ive got a nokia N95 which is a useful bit of kit. Can be customised with different GPS programs such as destinator etc. but unsure whether the standard GPS receiver works with these.

[scrambler]

I'll watch this with interest, dobbo.

I've got an imate jam, now about 2 years old, and it works fine for phone and PDA functions (the soft keypad is a but hard to use for the phone but otherwise ok). I have a bluetooth GPS which was an ebay cheapie but works fine - just need to spend time and/or money getting maps to work.

My only comments would be that something with a keypad is much easier to dial with, but if you use a contact list, then the PDA phones are fantastic. Get something with voice dialing and you'll be laughing- can be added via software from Microsoft if not included.

With a BT GPS you'll just need to watch the power consumption - a power cable in the car for the PDA is essential.

I don't know that I'd go the extra to get the GPS built in - seems to end up with a tradoff on the PDA functions. Specifically, I'll be going for a retracting thumbpad if/when I replace mine, and they seem hard to get with GPS integrated models.

[FenianEel]

Dobbo,

I've got a hp6515.
It seems pretty good to me, and there are a HEAP of cheap new ones on enay too.
It's got a lot of bells n whistles, and inbuilt GPS receiver.
It also has SD card and mini SD card, which is great.
I have Route66 for nav on this, mainly for 'town' directions.
Apparently you can load other programs on these, for topo type stuff and mapping too, but i'm yet to check this out.

I'd be more inclined to use a seperate GPS if I was going bush, or 'extended trip'. For street stuff and GPS plotting it seems fine though.

I concur about a power source in the vehicle though, my old phone used to go for days, but these things obviously use a heap of power and wouldn't last 2 days on their own, me thinks.

Slainte

Matt

[scrambler]

My phone, as a phone, lasts about a week between charges when on standby - even after 2 years. I can't knock the battery. But the screen uses a fair bit of power so regular use as a PDA eats into the battery time - but still about 2-3 days. However the BT radio/screen on combination when being used as a GPS chews through the battery in about 6-8 hours.

[Utemad]

I've never had anything to do with PDA phones but to run Oziexplorer CE it would have to have a Windows operating system. The Oziexplorer site lists the operating systems it will run on.

I use an old PDA with a CF GPS and 1gig SD card with Oziexplorer and Destinator.

I'm just giving myself a crash course in Blackberrys at the moment as my boss wants one but knows nothing about them either.

[solmanic]

Dopod D810

I researched long and hard and this is THE all-in-one solution.

3.5G phone
GPS built-in
Wi-fi 802.11b/g
Bluetooth 2

Ultra-compact form factor. Stylus input only (no keyboard) but that just helps keep it small. Side scroll wheel for one-handed operation. 2Mp camera on the back and a smaller one on the front for video calls.

http://www.asia.htc.com/asia/au/products/pda_d810/pda_d810_fea.html

They have just released a free Windows Mobile 6 ROM upgrade for it which enables the previously disabled GPS.

[waynep]

A mate just bought a dopod. I don't know those but seems they re the bees knees. You'd need something that works on NextG if you want to surf the net etc for the bandwidth.

I just got a HP iPAQ rx5965Travel Assistant.Haven't played with it much but it comes with tom tom street navigator and you can run OziExplorer as well. The supplied car cradle for these is nice and solid and easy to remove the unit from. Has gps, wifi, bluetooth, mp3 etc etc. No phone though. 2Gb internal memory and up to 2GB external on SD card.

OziExplorer's website says it won't work with "smartphones" but I'm not sure about Smartphones running Windows Mobile 5. -ask Grumpy Bastard he seems to know a bit about these things.

Others to look at are ASUS, MIO etc. ( mostly these don't have phones either )

[jik22]

Dopod D810

I researched long and hard and this is THE all-in-one solution.



Interesting - this looks identical to the JasJam (http://www.cnet.com.au/mobilephones/pdaphones/0,239036203,339272756,00.htm) work are supposedly sending me this week, and I didn't know that had GPS. Will be v.happy if it does - though I bet the corporate software load will stop me running WM6 anyway!

[kaa45]

Try this site for some info:
http://www.gpsaustralia.net/
;)

[worraps]

Dopod D810

I researched long and hard and this is THE all-in-one solution.

3.5G phone
GPS built-in
Wi-fi 802.11b/g
Bluetooth 2

Ultra-compact form factor. Stylus input only (no keyboard) but that just helps keep it small. Side scroll wheel for one-handed operation. 2Mp camera on the back and a smaller one on the front for video calls.

http://www.asia.htc.com/asia/au/products/pda_d810/pda_d810_fea.html

They have just released a free Windows Mobile 6 ROM upgrade for it which enables the previously disabled GPS.




another vote on this one i myself have the dopod 838pro same phone cept its ot a qwerty keyboard and no gps the 810 is teh way to go imho


worraps

[damo]

I have found a need for a rugged PDA to take bush with the army, so I can keep an eye on business.
This is what I'm looking at.
http://www.opentec.com.au/products/pdas.shtml
I don't intend to use it as a phone, just an email/internet device.

[dobbo]

I have found a need for a rugged PDA to take bush with the army, so I can keep an eye on business.
This is what I'm looking at.
http://www.opentec.com.au/products/pdas.shtml
I don't intend to use it as a phone, just an email/internet device.


Now your talking, one that will go in an open top series and still survive. I know I'll hate to ask and get an answer but here goes.

How much are they?

[Blknight.aus]

im swearing by my mio a701, its had the usual mechanics treatment, done a 2 week stint on a truckies course and a 4 weeks stint on a bushmasters course

runs all the good software without missing a beat.

I got mine for $700 on fleabay.

[damo]

I've been looking at all the commercial ones, but am still leaning toward the opentec. I will have a need on occasion to take it out in a Zod (zodiac) as well as being on tropical beaches etc. (love my posting!)
It's waterproof to 1m for 30 mins.
Enough time to get it out of trouble when we flip the zod.

[scrambler]

And back to the price, damo?

I'm guessing $2.5K with the GPS?

[damo]

$2.9K inc gst and freight, with GPRS and WLAN.
GPS not included.
Don't need that bit, we usually have $500K +/- 1mm Trimble gear with us.
And a couple of those useless issue PLGRS's.
We have to write down each way point as we do it with those. It just takes to long to retrieve and the army bought the data cable, just not the software:mad:

[Blknight.aus]

And a couple of those useless issue PLGRS's.


Theres nothing wrong with the PLGR...

It works great as a paper weight on the aircon box of the Bushmaster to hold the map down while you cross reference off of the mio thats been tracking your position across pucka from inside the IMV (I didnt even think it was going to work when i turned it on, I was pleasantly surprised)

[damo]

They're a good source of 'AA's for my razor, mini-maglite, portable speakers etc.....

What has the army become!

Now we have a fantastic highly mobile MBT, can you imagine the poor little vegi bins trying to keep up, only to become sport for the enemy!

[solmanic]

Interesting - this looks identical to the JasJam (http://www.cnet.com.au/mobilephones/pdaphones/0,239036203,339272756,00.htm) work are supposedly sending me this week, and I didn't know that had GPS. Will be v.happy if it does - though I bet the corporate software load will stop me running WM6 anyway!

I don't think they are the same. The Dopod D810 is code named Trinity and manufactured by HTC - also sold as the HTC P3600 in some overseas markets.

[Blknight.aus]

hmmm possable hijack here..

something about a abrhams v a hercules(the recovery tank) on the standing hill start up mt pucka.....

lets just say the tank didnt do as well as its bragging rights might suggest.

[dobbo]

Just had a little experiment with two of my workmates mobile phones

1: A nokia N95
2: A nokia 6110 destinator

both took 3.5 minutes to establish a GPS signal (from a rooftop in Redfern) no trees, no obstructions. Is it me or does this seems a bit slow for an urban environment test. Plus on scrolling the maps they both show Sydney harbour but not Lake Macquarie, just shows a void between the surrounding roads (not too good if you want to take a shortcut and haven't got access to an amphibious vehicle.

[incisor]

3.5 minutes is not unusual

[EchiDna]

3.5 minutes?
it has to be a low power chipset??
my SIRFstarIII (the chipset name) based bluetooth unit gets a signal in my companies underground carpark in about 1 minute tops when siting on the dashboard...

[solmanic]

D810 - about 1 minute to first lock outside. Not SIRFstar - some other chipset I don't know the name of.

[p38arover]

I've driven into Sydney and back without my iPaq getting a lock - in other words, nearly two hours .

I've driven Emu Plains to Newcastle and not got a lock - three hours.

Do I think they are reliable? Need you ask?

Have I nearly thrown it out the window? Need you ask?

Ron

[p38arover]

Dobbo, you can salary sacrifice a PDA

See http://intranet.railcorp.nsw.gov.au/My%20HR/Policies%20&%20Procedures/3.%20Remuneration/Salary%20Sacrifice%20Procedure.pdf

Ron

[waynep]

I've driven into Sydney and back without my iPaq getting a lock - in other words, nearly two hours .

I've driven Emu Plains to Newcastle and not got a lock - three hours.

Do I think they are reliable? Need you ask?

Have I nearly thrown it out the window? Need you ask?

Ron


Thanks - I just bought an IPAQ ! :(

doesn't work very well in my wife's car ( Pug 307 ) but i think that has some sort of metalised windscreen - the E tag won't work inside either unless I put it in a special spot up near the mirror.

The GPS seems to lock Ok in the Disco I just can't hear the nice English Tom tom girl directing me above the noise of the diesel
- you can put an external antenna on mine I see - I wonder if the one off the old Garmin XL will work ?

[FenianEel]

I've driven into Sydney and back without my iPaq getting a lock - in other words, nearly two hours .

I've driven Emu Plains to Newcastle and not got a lock - three hours.

Do I think they are reliable? Need you ask?

Have I nearly thrown it out the window? Need you ask?

Ron


Thanks - I just bought an IPAQ ! :(

Don't worry I've got one and haven't any issues - yet.

I think it's just Ron's curse or the phenomenon "Becketts law" previously known as Murphys:D

[p38arover]

If it's had lock then loses it, one has to do a soft reset for it to find the GPS again.

[dobbo]

Dobbo, you can salary sacrifice a PDA

See http://intranet.railcorp.nsw.gov.au/My%20HR/Policies%20&%20Procedures/3.%20Remuneration/Salary%20Sacrifice%20Procedure.pdf

Ron


I know, hence why it has to be a PDA/phone.

[EchiDna]

metalised windscreens often do not allow the signal to get through, but it's also much tougher for a GPS to get a lock when moving. I suggest you guys having difficulties buy/borrow an external antenna and see how it goes. Snorkel tops make ideal mounting points!

The beauty of the little bluetooth units is that you can leave it in the car and switched on. For me the battery lasts up to 3 days without recharging and uses a USB charger cable (same as my phone) when I need it. This way the GPS always has a lock when I get in the vehicle and as soon as my PDA gets within Bluetooth range, the two devices pair and my GPS software auto runs... if I have the address I want to go to in my outlook calendar, I can select the calendar item and it will auto load the address and calculate the route without me doing anything :) fantastic...

my plan is to wire in the GPS to a spare cigarette lighter socket under the dash so I don't have to remember to charge it either...

[worraps]

I don't think they are the same. The Dopod D810 is code named Trinity and manufactured by HTC - also sold as the HTC P3600 in some overseas markets.

that is correct sort of the jasjam is teh same as the dopod 838pro ie the "wizard" the 810 is virtually the same the just missing the keyboard and has gps chip inside dopod is actally the owner of htc they brought them out earlier this year and have now combined under one website name ect but have both sold identical products for years

[Blknight.aus]

my worst lock in time so far is one hour from pucka to melboure but to be fair that was from the inside of The IMV....

from a cold start (ie hard reset) 3-8 minutes is about the best you will get ever. With a predetermined fast find loaded that time comes down to seconds.... and ditto with a warm start.

So sayeth the manuals........

If you get up my way before you buy one you can play with the mio the biggest hassle I have is using the pen to scroll the maps when they're on the upclose and personal zoom but I can deal with that, most times I leave it on follow mode and setup my tracks in Ozi on the pc..