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ZL3AI > APRDIG 29.05.03 09:07l 154 Lines 6732 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: TAPR Digest, May 26, 4/4
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From: ZL3AI@ZL3VML.#80.NZL.OC
To : APRDIG@WW
Subject: RE: My wandering car
From: "Matt Werner" <mwerner@duluth.com>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 19:30:30 -0500
X-Message-Number: 19
I have a Garmin Geko 201 that does similar things. I have found it to be
the GPS itself - it will sometimes list a max speed of over 100 mph. I have
emailed Garmin about it and was told that it is "probably multipath" after I
described the setup (just velcroed to the front center of the dash inside
the windshield). I wasn't too impressed with their response, but when I
tried to question it further they stopped responding to the email. Oh
well... I have a Garmin II+ that works with no problems ever, but the Geko
will keep spitting out erroneous results. It seems to do this about 3 times
a week or so...
73 - Matt
KB0KQA
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Re: DB-9 pin outs
From: John <bigjohn45@cox.net>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 20:42:35 -0400
X-Message-Number: 20
At 07:42 PM 5/26/03 -0400, Joseph C. Bender wrote:
>
>Is it possible to feed power back up the DB-9 to the GPS? Or do you
>plan on modifying it to do so?
>
>Also, by definition, RS-232 at a PC is +12/-12V. The problem usually
>isn't feeding a PC from an external device, it's feeding the external
>device from the PC, matching RS-232 levels back down to TTL. The only pin
>I'd stay away from is pin 5, which is RS-232 signal ground.
>
>....Okay, I'm changing my mind here as I think about this...
>
>Actually, it's not a good idea to feed it anywhere back into the computer.
>There's not really a good place to put voltage, without screwing up
>handshaking or potentially frying something.
>
>I'd keep it a separate connector, to be on the safe side, maybe using a
>coaxial power socket on the battery case and connector on the GPS side.
>It'd be one thing if the device were just attached to the GPS all the
>time, but if it gets moved around, it's a risk I personally wouldn't take
>with my gear.
>
>>By the way this makes a great 6 watt tracker radio setup. AES sells them
>>for < $xxx and often < $xx.
This is pretty much what I decided to do. I just changed the arrangement
around so that the powerpole splitter cable is attached to the GPS rather
than as a separate cable. This gives me the ability to attach the GPS to
any of my trackers easily and supply power as well. I just wasn't happy
with the 10 foot long cord the GPS came with and wanted to cut it down to
about 5 feet. I plan to write up the project one of these daze:). I did
keep all the connectors powerpoles though as I prefer to standardize and I
don't like coaxial connectors. I have had them fall or get pulled out to
many times. When I absolutely positively want a powerpole to remain
connected I use a cable tie across the connector.
Building the tracker into an HT makes for a much more useful tracker for
hiking than the mobile rig based units. With a 1.2Ah battery or a AA or
C-cell Nicads or NIMH pack the system works great at either 1 watt or 6
watts especially if you attach it to a pack frame and use a long whippy
whip with counterpoise wire. Another alternative is to mount the antenna to
the pack frame of an external frame pack. Disconnecting the tracker
connector and plugging in a speaker mike gives voice comms as well.
I figure the weight is about the same as a D-7 although it has no receive
capability it is much cheaper. I do wish there was a way to build a KISS
TNC / TINY TRACK with sufficient memory to do effective digipeating.
Perhaps a 3 in one board with switch selectable PICS.
PIC 1 KISS/TNC
PIC 2 Tiny track
PIC 3 Simple digi. (Smart if possible RELAY only if not.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: RE: My wandering car
From: "Scott Johnson" <kd5mhm@kd5mhm.org>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 19:47:28 -0500
X-Message-Number: 21
I go geo-caching (http://geocaching.com) and hunt for 'treasures' that
someone else (gps unit unknown) has placed and marked. I've done a quite
few 'hunts' over the last 10 months or so.
My garmin eTrex (legend and vista models) give me a little note on the
screen about 'accurate to xx feet', often to 9 feet out here in West Texas
(translate flat) Land. When using a geocache waypoint and garmin's goto
waypoint feature, we always seem to be within 5 feet of the hidden cache.
This has been so reliable that I have taught kids (6, 7, and 8 years of age)
to program the gps and hunt down the geocache. Thay have not failed yet!
I've also taken the two gps units (hung around my neck) and periodically
compared their position and distance to a waypoint. They have always
matched when I checked. Also, with both on my motorcycle, (the speedometer
doesn't work) their speeds and distances travelled tracked identically.
These two units were purchased about 18 months apart and are different
variations of the eTrex model.
I have checked some waypoints that I set last year (March & April) again
this year and found that when the distance said 0.0 feet to the waypoint, I
was within arm's reach of my original point (I marked the spot on the
buildings so I could get back to the precise spot again).
Frankly, I've been very impressed since SA was turned off.
Geocaching has turned out to be a nice add-on hobby to my APRS stuff because
there are always some near where I'm travelling and it gives me another
reason to rationalize my 'need' for my gps unit(s)... <grin> Great family
fun as well.
Scott
kd5mhm
Subject: [aprssig] RE: My wandering car
>Not sure how you are determining an accuracy of 9 ft but I would not believe
>the accuracy number on any GPS screen other than smaller is better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Garmin GPS/FRS RINO
From: Bob Bruninga <bruninga@usna.edu>
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 23:10:41 -0400 (EDT)
X-Message-Number: 22
Does anyone on APRSSIG have a Garmin RINO?
I have read the manuals and like what I see.
My guess is that getting the position of everyone a RINO sees is as easy
as downloading waypoints from it. Probably Brent Hilderbrand will be best
at figuring that out..
Garmin calls the list of other RINO users as the "CONTACT" list. But says
they are treated like waypoints and have all the same attributes. It
already has some filtering built in. It will not automatically accept a
new position from a stranger. I first asks if you want to accept them or
not to your CONTACT list. If you dont, then he is ignoered.
Again, with PCSAT2 on my todo list, I dont have time to persue the details
and hope someone else will work out the interface details. All I can do
is kibitz on how we can use them.
Bob
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