PDA w/ Bluetooth GPS

[Ken Kochanski (KK)]

Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
in a glider?

If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
are using ....

Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
interference, etc ....

thanks,

KK

[Adam]

On Jun 7, 6:49*pm, "Ken Kochanski (KK)" >
wrote:
> Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
> in a glider?
>
> If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
> are using ....
>
> Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
> interference, etc ....
>
> thanks,
>
> KK

I use this rechargeable puck-style bluetooth gps:
http://www.buygpsnow.com/GlobalTop-G33-51-channel-MTK-Ultra-Low-Power-Bluetooth-GPS-Receiver-w-Smart2go-DVD-7-day-Trial-Version-(WAAS--20hr--Auto-Off)_914.aspx

It connects to the internal bluetooth in my Dell Axim X51v which runs
Windows Mobile 5. I run the latest XCsoar release and and an in-car
navigation system with this setup. No issues whatsoever over
approximately 50 hours use in both.

/Adam

[AGL]

I use a TDS Recon running Mobile 5 using SoaringPilot with a Styletap
Palm emulator.
The GPS is a GobalSat BT-338

Next time I'll get the PDA with an SD card to save me having to hook
up the PC to get the igc files. There's a bit of fooling around to
figure it out the first time, but if you're over a 5 on the 10 point
geek scale it's ok.
The GPS has 10 hours (at least) of battery capacity. It sticks to the
bulkhead behind me with Velcro. It's flawless.

The other day I forgot my GobalSat GPS and used my Garmin 76S, set up
with the distance and "idiot arrow" to the next waypoint. If you want
something foolproof that's the way to go. I've also used that as a
receiver connected to a Palm "T" by wire, but that's two lumps in the
cockpit.

Zero RF issues.

Both these setups make igc files good enough for the OLC. (anybody at
your club will know if you're cheating anyway)

Martin

[Yannick]

I'm using a Royaltek + iPaq RX3115 with XCSoar of course ;) and it's
working fine. The only issue is the battery on the PDA, but the GPS is
ok for at least 7 hours.

[Olin]

On Jun 7, 5:49*pm, "Ken Kochanski (KK)" >
wrote:
> Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
> in a glider?
>
> If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
> are using ....
>
> Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
> interference, etc ....
>
> thanks,
>
> KK

I am using a BTGPS and HP ipaq 4700 running WinPilot that communicate
via bluetooth. It works fine. There's a little front end work to do
before you take off as you have to establish bluetooth communications
with between the two devices and then fire up WinPilot. But it works
fine every time.

I noticed that the GPS eats batteries like popcorn so I added a 12v to
5 v converter to my panel and power both the GPS and my ipaq off of
the glider battery. As a result, I get some kind of electrical pulse
on my electrical system that breaks the squelch on my radio about once
every two seconds. If I unplug the ipaq from converter and just run
it off it's internal battery, the problem goes away. I'd like to fix
that but I can live with it as the ipaq battery lasts as long as I
want to fly normally.

[Berry[_2_]]

In article
>,
"Ken Kochanski (KK)" > wrote:

> Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
> in a glider?
>
> If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
> are using ....
>
> Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
> interference, etc ....
>
> thanks,
>
> KK

I use a Palm Tungsten T running SoaringPilot. My bluetooth GPS is an
iTrek M5 (Semsons.com). The GPS will run at least 12 hours (manufacturer
claims over 20 hours, I have only tested it to 12).

The GPS is very small. I just stick it to the canopy rail with velcro.

This setup has worked reliably for me for the last 5 years. Never fails
to connect immediately. Never had it drop out on me.

[Peter Wyld[_2_]]

At 19:00 08 June 2009, Olin wrote:
>On Jun 7, 5:49=A0pm, "Ken Kochanski (KK)"
>wrote:
>> Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
>> in a glider?
>>
>> If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
>> are using ....
>>
>> Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
>> interference, etc ....
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> KK
>
>I am using a BTGPS and HP ipaq 4700 running WinPilot that communicate
>via bluetooth. It works fine. There's a little front end work to do
>before you take off as you have to establish bluetooth communications
>with between the two devices and then fire up WinPilot. But it works
>fine every time.
>
>I noticed that the GPS eats batteries like popcorn so I added a 12v to
>5 v converter to my panel and power both the GPS and my ipaq off of
>the glider battery. As a result, I get some kind of electrical pulse
>on my electrical system that breaks the squelch on my radio about once
>every two seconds. If I unplug the ipaq from converter and just run
>it off it's internal battery, the problem goes away. I'd like to fix
>that but I can live with it as the ipaq battery lasts as long as I
>want to fly normally.
>

Sounds like you're detecting the NMEA data stream squirting through the
cable. Try looping the cable through a Ferrite ring at the converter end.

[Andrew Henderson]

"I get some kind of electrical pulse on my electrical system that breaks
the squelch on my radio about once every two seconds."

A common problem I'm afraid when feeding via a 12 to 5v converter. You
will probably find it's not so bad when the Ipaq battery is fully charged
as the converter is not doing a lot. It gets worse if the battery in your
Ipaq is low as the converter is now supplying the 5v charge. You can try a
ferrite core at the supply end. If you can loop it once around a small core
as in the Lnav's etc then do so. If you have plugs at both ends you need
to get a round 1" ferrite core and wrap it round the outside of the core.
How many times is guesswork unless someone else knows better?

Another solution is to have a battery solely for the ipaq/gps charger away
from the radio and it's power supply/aerial etc.
You don't need a 7.2A/h battery for this.

I use one of the small batteries used in burglar alarms. Can't remeber
what A/h it is but it is ample to keep the Ipaq going for a few day's.

Andy





At 19:00 08 June 2009, Olin wrote:
>On Jun 7, 5:49=A0pm, "Ken Kochanski (KK)"
>wrote:
>> Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
>> in a glider?
>>
>> If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
>> are using ....
>>
>> Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
>> interference, etc ....
>>
>> thanks,
>>
>> KK
>
>I am using a BTGPS and HP ipaq 4700 running WinPilot that communicate
>via bluetooth. It works fine. There's a little front end work to do
>before you take off as you have to establish bluetooth communications
>with between the two devices and then fire up WinPilot. But it works
>fine every time.
>
>I noticed that the GPS eats batteries like popcorn so I added a 12v to
>5 v converter to my panel and power both the GPS and my ipaq off of
>the glider battery. As a result, I get some kind of electrical pulse
>on my electrical system that breaks the squelch on my radio about once
>every two seconds. If I unplug the ipaq from converter and just run
>it off it's internal battery, the problem goes away. I'd like to fix
>that but I can live with it as the ipaq battery lasts as long as I
>want to fly normally.
>
>

[KiloKilo]

On Jun 7, 10:53*pm, Adam > wrote:
> On Jun 7, 6:49*pm, "Ken Kochanski (KK)" >
> wrote:
>
> > Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
> > in a glider?
>
> > If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
> > are using ....
>
> > Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
> > interference, etc ....
>
> > thanks,
>
> > KK
>
> I use this rechargeable puck-style bluetooth gps:http://www.buygpsnow.com/GlobalTop-G33-51-channel-MTK-Ultra-Low-Power...
>
> It connects to the internal bluetooth in my Dell Axim X51v which runs
> Windows Mobile 5. I run the latest XCsoar release and and an in-car
> navigation system with this setup. No issues whatsoever over
> approximately 50 hours use in both.
>
> /Adam

What Serial Port setting do you need for the G33 ... I can't get it
to talk to eval copies of CU Mobile or FlyWithCE on a x50v ... but the
Axim is new and perhaps I don't have it set up correctly ... :-/

[KiloKilo]

On Jun 12, 10:43*pm, KiloKilo > wrote:
> On Jun 7, 10:53*pm, Adam > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jun 7, 6:49*pm, "Ken Kochanski (KK)" >
> > wrote:
>
> > > Anybody using a bluetooth GPS unit to support navigation on a PDA ...
> > > in a glider?
>
> > > If yes, appreciate if you can mention what hardware and software you
> > > are using ....
>
> > > Do you gave any reliability issues ... any issues with RF
> > > interference, etc ....
>
> > > thanks,
>
> > > KK
>
> > I use this rechargeable puck-style bluetooth gps:http://www.buygpsnow.com/GlobalTop-G33-51-channel-MTK-Ultra-Low-Power...
>
> > It connects to the internal bluetooth in my Dell Axim X51v which runs
> > Windows Mobile 5. I run the latest XCsoar release and and an in-car
> > navigation system with this setup. No issues whatsoever over
> > approximately 50 hours use in both.
>
> > /Adam
>
> What Serial Port setting do you need *for the G33 ... *I can't get it
> to talk to eval copies of CU Mobile or FlyWithCE on a x50v ... but the
> Axim is new and perhaps I don't have it set up correctly ... :-/

never mind ... did a reset and port 7 worked fine ... the G33 is a
nice unit ... pulls in a signal in the house ... thx ... KK