Poor man's GPS (Palm TX + Holux 240)

[Grolar]

Hi guys

I've had a nav system for two years on my Matrix (Blaupunkt DX-V) and I decided I couldn't live anymore without one in my Cruiser.

But as I was a little bit cash-strapped those days, I wanted to go DIY and low priced, ie second hand or bargain. After I looked a Romer's setup, I thought that was the way to go: PDA+GPS receiver, allowing for future software updates.

Romer's setup was still a bit expensive for me, as the Dell Axim PCs are seemingly sought after. So I chose the Palm TX, ie a good sized, well built PDA, with two nice features: wireless and Bluetooth.

Retail is more or less $250-300 depending on the sources. I got one used from eBay for some $180. Added $29 for a 2 GB SD card, on sale at Staples. A better deal on the net is possible, but the shipping costs will likely kill it.

Then came the GPS receiver. Numerous reviews made me choose the Holux GPS slim 240, a Bluetooth device. I bid on one on eBay and nabbed it for 50ish.

Pairing those two devices was a bit of a pain but I finally managed to. The setup now works with a TomTom nav 5 application and I still have to install some kind of Topo handheld in the event of an offroad trip.

Going on with low-tech and not willing to invest in some mounts, I velcro'd the palm on the RPM meter. Who needs one with an auto gearbox, anyway? The receiver can be put pretty much everywhere in the car once it catches a sat signal, which can take some 30 seconds depending on where I am. But this stuff works even in the first of seven levels of a mammoth parking lot.

I power/recharge those two through an inverter, but I'm mulling some fresh setup to reduce the number of wires running amok around the dashboard.

Pics:

1°) The two devices (quarter for scale)


2°) Installed and working

[spressomon]

Resourceful! My uses for a GPS unit are almost 100% off-road...I am curious to see how your setup does with 1:24,000 scale topo software like National Geographic (NG). One of the challenges is the get a system that provides lower scale maps like NG but also with some type of easy & quick to use while driving that allows you to scroll around the map to check terrain features, other trails, etc. without disconnecting navigation...

[sandcruiser]

cool!
have been thinking of doing something similar via my Dell Inspiron 710m computer. Big screen means I'll have to put it somewhere else....
but I like the bluetooth idea

[Grolar]

Originally Posted by spressomon

Resourceful! My uses for a GPS unit are almost 100% off-road...I am curious to see how your setup does with 1:24,000 scale topo software like National Geographic (NG). One of the challenges is the get a system that provides lower scale maps like NG but also with some type of easy & quick to use while driving that allows you to scroll around the map to check terrain features, other trails, etc. without disconnecting navigation...

I'm curious as well! I'm trying to tame and integrate this initial setup first, and then hopefully I'll be able to reach higher. But FYI, a fifth of the 2 GB SD Card is plain enough to store road maps for the Western states so this leaves some space for the TOPO maps.

Thanks!

[sprocket3]

Does that holux unit have 12v power supply to it? I notice you have a wire going to it..

Do the holux units perform better than some of the other "slave" type GPS recievers?

[Grolar]

Originally Posted by sprocket3

Does that holux unit have 12v power supply to it? I notice you have a wire going to it..

It actually has a USB cable that I use for charge through my inverter.

Do the holux units perform better than some of the other "slave" type GPS recievers?

That I have no idea as my experience with that stuff is quite limited. It works well so far.