Portability?

GoochyB · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 10

Has anyone tried taking a Tungsten E/Kirrio/ViaMichelin out on foot?

It appears to me that the GPS receiver power comes via the cradle power source, as it doesn't seem to activate when connected directly to the mini USB on the palm. I'm wondering therefore if it is possible to provide an equivalent level of power by battery/ies & suitable connector into the cradle power socket, & take cradle out on foot.

As a further tweak, for "off road" use, does anyone know if any software with OS type maps, such as fugawi, would work with the GPS receiver? Obviously the mapsonic software gets lost when you leave the road as it doesn't have any other map data.

MissyC · Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 8:41 am Post subject:

Bumping this as I'd like to know the answer to this as well.

I have fugawi (tho still trying to work out how to get full colour maps into the SD card!). Fugawi works with my TomTom GPS connected to the Palm T3 in the car, but as GoochyB has asked... is there any add-on battery pack so it will all work on foot off toad with Fugawi maps.

Anyone?

Thanks

C

networkned · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 4

Surely it's just a case of having a 12V power supply to plug into the unit??

If that's the case, get some NiMH batteries with a reasonably high capacity and get a 12Vpower lead connector on the battery pack to plug you receiver/PDA into and you should be away. Try powerstoredirect.co.uk for your batteries: they do some big 9Ah D cell battereis which are REALLY good! I've got some powering my bike lights & they last ages.

GoochyB · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 10

I've had some success, at least for a short trial period, with a 9V battery (connected using a lead & connector from maplin, ref L07AK, £3.99). Much more portable than 8 D cells in a pack, although probably much shorter battery life. Although less than the 12V car supply I guess that since the cradle obviously does some power splitting/regulation it is still adequate.

Next thing to try is some map software to communicate with the GPS. The GPS claims to use the standard protocol, so hopefully most software should recognise it. I'm going to give PathAway a try.

GoochyB · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 10

Pathaway works perfectly with the kit. However, my PP3 solution is not very practical - it seems to fully drain the battery in a matter of minutes.

Back to trying the bulky pack of 8x1.5V AA, C or D then!

jblackmore · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:14 pm Post subject:

It is probably draining the PP3 as the Palm is running/charging from it at the same time. Maybe if you modified the cable so the power only goes to the GPS receiver (Palm can run on its internal battery), it would last longer.

GoochyB · Occasional Visitor Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 10

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